“I see you are,” replied Chester.

“Now I want you boys to understand that I am under your orders,” said Uncle John.  “You are older heads at this game than I am.  I am willing to obey orders.”

“Which is the first essential of every good soldier,” said Chester quietly.

“By the way,” said Uncle John, patting his pocket, “this is the first time I have had a gun in my hands for a good many years.  However, I used to be able to hit the side of a barn.  I guess I haven’t forgotten.  Do you think we shall have to do any shooting?”

“I hope not,” said Hal, “but you never can tell.”

Uncle John lapsed into silence and the three made their way along slowly.  The hour was early, and, as Hal had said, there was no rush.

“Have you formed any definite plan?” asked Chester of Hal, as they walked along.

“Well, no,” was the reply.  “We shall have to let events shape themselves.”

“Which is the best plan, after all,” said Chester.

An hour’s walk brought them to the embassy building.

“The first thing,” said Hal, “is to find out if Robard is in.”

“And how are you going to do that?” asked Uncle John.

“Simple,” replied Hal.  “I’ll go up and ask.”

He approached the door and rang the bell.  A servant opened the door.

“Is Herr Robard in?” asked Hal in perfect German.

The man shook his head.

“I have an important message for him,” said Hal.  “When shall I find him in?”

The servant glanced at him sharply, then leaned close.

“Are you the messenger Herr Robard expects?” he asked, in a low voice.

Hal glanced sharply about him, more for effect than anything else, and replied, speaking softly: 

“From the Wilhelmstrasse.”

“Good,” said the man, nodding his pleasure.  “I am instructed to tell you to come back at a little before ten o’clock.”

“Will Herr Robard be here then?”

“Possibly not, but you can wait.”

“I shall be here,” said Hal, and walked down the steps.

He rejoined Chester and Uncle John, who had waited around the corner.

“I was beginning to fear something had happened to you,” said Uncle John.

“What luck?” demanded Chester.

“Better than could be expected,” said Hal, and repeated the conversation with the servant.

“And who do you suppose this messenger is?” asked Chester.

“A German secret agent,” replied Hal decidedly.

“That was the first thought that flashed through my head when he asked me who I was, which is the reason I took a long chance and mentioned the Wilhelmstrasse.”

“You seem to have hit the nail on the head,” said Chester.

“Which was luck,” said Hal.

“Or quick wit,” interposed Uncle John.

“Well,” said Chester, “what next?  And what are we to do while you are in the house?  Surely you are not expecting that we shall all be admitted?”