"I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of the Admiralty’s message of even date. In order to prove conclusively that this reply is authentic, I have taken steps to see that this document is placed in the hands of the Commander-in-Chief of the Devonport Command. Mr. Arnold Hythe and A.B. O’Shaunessey, official number K14,027, are on board my vessel ’Aphrodite.’ In the interests of the Service, and also in my own, it is desirable that Mr. Hythe remain on board for a period not exceeding six months. Any information the officer in question may gain is entirely at the disposal of the British Admiralty, and since the possibilities of so doing are great, I would suggest that covering permission be given for Mr. Hythe’s absence from his official duties. Incidentally I may mention that this suggested permission is merely formal, for in any case my guests will not be put ashore until I think fit. "I am at present giving a series of demonstrations in British waters, but not with any aggressive intent. It is hopeless to attempt the capture of my submarine, and no useful purpose will be thereby served. "I take this opportunity of explaining the cause of the hostile acts committed against an outwardly friendly State, in the hope that the calamity of a great war may be averted. "The submarine in Baltic waters is the property of Karl von Harburg, a German renegade, who has certain motives in committing these excesses, which can neither be justifiable nor excusable. His submarine, itself a craft of great abilities, is but a feeble imitation of my ’Aphrodite.’ It will not help matters to any great extent by explaining my reasons, but I can assure you that at the first available opportunity I mean to destroy the submarine owned and commanded by Karl von Harburg, as I regard the man as an unprincipled international scoundrel and a scourge to humanity. "Will you kindly forward this document to the Secretary of the Admiralty, and inform him that my agent will receive his reply per telephone, at the hour of 10 a.m. to-morrow. "I have the honour to be, Sir, "Yours, etc., "JOHN RESTRONGUET." CHAPTER IX. THE FIRST DAY IN THE "APHRODITE." A bell rang out sharply in the captain’s cabin of the "Aphrodite," and one of the electric indicators oscillated rapidly. "Accumulators charged," announced Captain Restronguet laconically. "It is a revelation to me," said Hythe. "And when one comes to consider that at every hour of the day hundreds, nay thousands, of ships are straining idly at their moorings, it is certainly remarkable that no satisfactory attempt has hitherto been made to harness the tides." "That’s only one of the many lessons you will learn," remarked the Captain. "But we are getting under way once more. Perhaps you would like to see the mechanism on Number Three Platform?" "Most certainly I should," replied the sub.