“Ask Mr. Bedells to come here at once,” he told the servant, “and tell your mistress I am exceedingly sorry, but I shall be detained here for some time.  She had better go on without me and send the car back.  I will come as soon as I can.  Explain that it is a matter of official business.  When you have seen Mrs. Hebblethwaite, you can bring me a glass of sherry and a biscuit.”

The man withdrew, and Mr. Hebblethwaite opened a telephone directory.  In a few moments Mr. Bedells, who was his private secretary, appeared.

“Richard,” his chief directed, “ring up Mr. Spencer Wyatt.  Tell him that whatever his engagements may be, I wish to see him here for five minutes.  If he is out, you must find out where he is.  You can begin by ringing up at his house.”

Bedells devoted himself to the telephone.  Mr. Hebblethwaite munched a biscuit and sipped his sherry.  Presently the latter laid down the telephone and reported success.

“Mr. Spencer Wyatt was on his way to a city dinner, sir,” he announced.  “They caught him in the hall and he will call here.”

Mr. Hebblethwaite nodded.  “See that he is sent up directly he comes.”

In less than five minutes Mr. Spencer Wyatt was ushered in.  He was wearing the uniform of an Admiral of the Fleet—­a tall, broad-shouldered man, fair complexioned, and with the bearing of a sailor.

“Hullo, Hebblethwaite, what’s wrong?” he asked.  “Your message just caught me.  I am dining with the worshipful tanners—­turtle soup and all the rest of it.  Don’t let me miss more than I can help.”

Mr. Hebblethwaite walked to the door to be sure that it was closed and came back again.

“Look here, Wyatt,” he exclaimed, “what the devil have you been up to?”

Wyatt whistled softly.  A light broke across his face.

“What do you mean?” he demanded.

“You know perfectly well what I mean,” Hebblethwaite continued.  “Five weeks ago we had it all out at a Cabinet meeting.  You asked Parliament to lay down six battleships, four cruisers, thirty-five submarines, and twelve torpedo boats.  You remember what a devil of a row there was.  Eventually we compromised for half the number of battleships, two cruisers, and the full amount of small craft.”

“Well?”

“I am given to understand,” Hebblethwaite said slowly, “that you have absolutely disregarded the vote—­that the whole number of battleships are practically commenced, and the whole number of cruisers, and rather more than the number of smaller craft.”

Wyatt threw his cocked hat upon the table.

“Well, I am up against it a bit sooner than I expected,” he remarked.  “Who’s been peaching?”

“Never mind,” Hebblethwaite replied.  “I am not telling you that.  You’ve managed the whole thing very cleverly, and you know very well, Wyatt, that I am on your side.  I was on your side in pressing the whole of your proposals upon the Cabinet, although honestly I think they were far larger than necessary.  However, we took a fair vote, and we compromised.  You had no more right to do what you have done—­”