“I have been sandbagged,” he announced impressively, and proceeded to relate the night’s adventure to his host.

“This,” declared Julian, about a couple of hours later, as he helped himself for the second time to bacon and eggs, “is a wonderful tribute to the soundness of our constitutions.  Miles, it is evident that you and I have led righteous lives.”

“Being sandbagged seems to have given you an appetite,” Furley observed.

“And a game leg seems to have done the same for you,” Julian rejoined.  “Did the doctor ask you how you did it?”

Furley nodded.

“I just said that I slipped on the marshes.  One doesn’t talk of such little adventures as you and I experienced last night.”

“By the bye, what does one do about them?” Julian enquired.  “I feel a little dazed about it all, even now living in an unreal atmosphere and that sort of thing, you know.  It seems to me that we ought to have out the bloodhounds and search for an engaging youth and a particularly disagreeable bully of a man, both dressed in brown oilskins and—­”

“Oh, chuck it!” Furley intervened.  “The intelligence department in charge of this bit of coast doesn’t do things like that.  What you want to remember, Julian, is to keep your mouth shut.  I shall have a chap over to see me this afternoon, and I shall make a report to him.”

“All the same,” persisted Julian, “we—­or rather I—­was without a doubt a witness to an act of treason.  By some subtle means connected with what seemed to be a piece of gas pipe, I have seen communication with the enemy established.”

“You don’t know that it was the enemy at all,” Furley grunted.

“For us others,” Julian replied, “there exists the post office, the telegraph office and the telephone.  I decline to believe that any reasonable person would put out upon the sea in weather like last night’s for the sake of delivering a letter to any harmless inhabitant of these regions.  I will have my sensation, you see, Furley.  I have suffered—­thank heavens mine is a thick skull!—­ and I will not be cheated of my compensations.”

“Well, keep your mouth shut, there’s a good fellow, until after I have made my report to the Intelligence Officer,” Furley begged.  “He’ll be here about four.  You don’t mind being about?”

“Not in the least,” Julian promised.  “So long as I am home for dinner, my people will be satisfied.”

“I don’t know how you’ll amuse yourself this morning,” Furley observed, “and I’m afraid I sha’n’t be able to get out for the flighting this evening.”

“Don’t worry about me,” Julian begged.  “Remember that I am practically at home.  It’s only three miles to the Hall from here so you mustn’t look upon me as an ordinary guest.  I am going for a tramp in a few minutes.”

“Lucky chap!” Furley declared enviously.  “Sunshine like this makes one feel as though one were on the Riviera instead of in Norfolk.  Shall you visit the scene of your adventure?”