"No, it is not," said I. "Dawson in the pulpit, or on the tub--or whatever platform he uses--is absolutely genuine. He is the finest example that I have ever met of the dual personality. He is in dead earnest when he preaches on Truth, and he is in just as dead earnest when, stripped of every moral scruple, he pursues a spy or a criminal. In pursuit he is ruthless as a Prussian, but towards the captured victim he can be strangely tender. I should not be surprised to learn that he hates capital punishment and is a strong advocate of gentle methods in prison discipline." The chief assistant stared, opened a drawer, and pulled forth a slim grey pamphlet. It was marked "For Office Use Only," and was entitled, "Some Notes on Prison Reform," by Chief Inspector William Dawson. I had begun to read the pamphlet, when a step sounded outside; the assistant snatched it from my hand, flashed it back into its place, and jumped to attention as Dawson entered. He surveyed us with those searching, unwinking eyes of his--for we had the air of conspirators--and said brusquely: "Clear out, Wilson. You talk too much. And don't admit any one except Petty Officer Trehayne." "The _Antigone_!" cried Cary, who thought only of ships. "The _Antigone_! Is she much damaged?" "No. Whoever tried to cut her wires was disturbed, or in too great a hurry to do his work well. The main gun-cable was nipped, but not cut through. She will be delayed till to-morrow, not longer. I am not worrying about the _Antigone_, but about the new battleship _Malplaquet_, which was commissioned last month, is nearly filled up with stores, and is expected to leave the river on Saturday. We can't have her delayed by any hanky tricks, not even if we have to put the whole detective force on board of her. Still, I'm not so anxious as I was. This _Antigone_ business has cleared things up a lot, and one can sift out the impossible from the possible. To begin with, the _Antinous_ was in for repairs to her geared turbines, and the _Antigone_ for damage to her forefoot. Engineers were on one job, and platers and riveters on the other. Different trades. So not a workman who was in the _Antinous_ was also in the _Antigone_. We can rule out all the workmen. We can also rule out my lieutenant R.N.R. with the German name who has gone to sea in the _Antinous_. The care and maintenance party in the _Antigone_ was not the same as the one in the _Antinous_, not a man the same." "You are sure of that?" cried I, for it seemed that my daring theory had gone to wreck. "You are quite sure."