I thought Jenkins would explode when he found me sitting there.  He was a big, florid-faced man with a black moustache waxed into points, and a neck the color of rare roast beef—­a man not given to self-restraint in any shape or form.  But he had to make a quick decision.  Sir Louis’ footsteps were approaching.  He glared at me, made a sign to me to sit still, twisted his moustache savagely, and listened, breathing through his mouth to avoid the tell-tale whistle of his hairy nostrils.  I heard Grim start toward the hall, but Sir Louis turned him back and came straight in.

“It occurred to me I’d save you the time of coming up to see me this morning, Grim, and look in on you instead before I start my rounds.  Any new developments?”

“Not yet, sir.  I’ll need forty-eight hours.  If we move too fast they may touch the stuff off before we get the whole gang in the net.”

“You’re sure you’d rather not have the police?”

“Quite.  They mean well, but they’re clumsy.”

“Um-m-m!  All the same, the thing’s ticklish.  There are rumours about all ready.  The Grand Mufti* came to me before breakfast with a wild tale.  I’ve promised him some Sikhs for special sentry duty.  He’d hardly gone before some Zionists came with a story that the Arabs are planning to blow up their hospital; I gave them ten men and an officer.” [The religious head of the Moslem community.]

“Is the city quiet?” Grim asked him.

“Fair to middling.  The Jews refused to take their shutters down this morning.  I had to issue an order about it.  I hear now that they’re doing business about as usual, but I’ve ordered the number of men on duty within the city walls to be doubled.  At the first sign of disturbance I shall have the gates closed.  Are you quite sure you’re in touch?”

“Quite. sure, sir.  I’m positive of what I told you last night.  Will you be seeing Colonel Goodenough?”

“Yes, in ten minutes.”

“Please ask him to hold his Sikhs at my disposal for the next two days.  You might add, sir, that if he cares to see sport he could do worse than lend his own services.”

“I’ll do that.  You can count on Goodenough.  That’s a soldier devoid of nonsense.  Anything else?”

“That’s all.”

“Keep me informed.  Remember, Grim, I’m responsible for all you do.  I’ve endorsed you in blank, as it were.  Don’t overlook that point.”

“I won’t, sir.”

Sir Louis walked out.  Almost before his spurs ceased jingling in the tiled hall, Brigadier-General Jenkins strode out in a towering rage from behind the screen.

“’Pon my soul, a spy’s trick!” he exploded.  “Had an eavesdropper, did you?  Listening from behind a screen while you tricked me into a promise on Catesby’s account!”

“Sure,” Grim answered, folding the screen back, and letting his face wrinkle in smiles all the way up to the roots of his hair.  Very comical he looked, for his eyebrows were only partly sprouted again.  “Had two of you to listen in on the Administrator!”