第35章 CHAPTER XV(1)

TWO MORE GERMAN SUBMARINES SUNK WITH ALL HANDSThe Admiralty report that they received last night a message from Commander Conyers of the destroyer "Scorpion," announcing that he has destroyed German submarines U 22 and 27, with all hands.

"Well, I'm damned!" the Admiral exclaimed, as he laid down the newspaper a few mornings later. "Ralph's done it this time, and no mistake."Geraldine looked over his shoulder, her cheeks aglow.

"I knew at seven o'clock," she declared. "Harris brought me the paper up.

They are all so excited about it in the kitchen. You'd just gone out in the Park.""I want to know how it was done," the Admiral speculated. "Can't have been ramming if he bagged two of them, and they surely never came to the surface voluntarily, with a destroyer about."Geraldine glanced around the room to be sure that they were alone.

"Don't you remember when Olive and I were at Portsmouth?" she said. "Ralph has been absolutely dumb about it but he did just give us a hint that he had a little surprise in store for the submarines. There was something on deck, covered all up and watched by a sentry, and just before we sat down to lunch, you know, we were turned off and had to go to the Ship. Ralph wouldn't tell us a word about it but I'm sure he's got some new contrivance on the Scorpion for fighting the submarines.""There may be something in it," the Admiral admitted cheerfully. "I noticed the Morning Post naval man the other day made a very guarded reference to some secret means of dealing with these vermin."Lady Conyers sailed into the room, a telegram in her hand.

"A wireless from Ralph," she announced. "Listen."Have sunk two of the brutes. More to come. Love.

Ralph.

They pored over the telegram and the newspaper until the breakfast was cold.

The Admiral was like a boy again.

"If we can get rid of these curses of the sea," he said, settling down at last to his bacon and eggs, "and get those Germans to come out, the war will be over months before any one expected. I shall go down to the Admiralty after breakfast and see if they've got anything to tell. Ralph gave me a hint about the net scheme but he never even mentioned anything else."The telephone rang in the next room and a servant summoned Geraldine.

Captain Granet wishes to speak to Miss Conyers," he announced.

Geraldine left her place at once and hastened into the library. She took up the receiver.

"Is that you, Captain Granet?" she asked.

"I felt that I must ring you up," he declared, "to congratulate you, Miss Conyers, upon your brother's exploit. I have had half a dozen soldier fellows in already this morning to talk about it, and we're simply mad with curiosity.

Do you think we shall be told soon how it was done?""Father's going down to the Admiralty to try and find out," Geraldine replied.

"Ralph doesn't say a word except that he sunk them. We've had a wireless from him this morning.""It really doesn't matter much, does it," Granet went on, "so long as we get rid of the brutes. I was perfectly certain, when we were down at Portsmouth, that your brother had something up his sleeve. Does give one a thrill, doesn't it, when one's ashore and doing nothing, to read of things like this?""You'll soon be at work again," she told him encouragingly.

"I don't know," he sighed. "They talk about giving me a home job and I don't think I could stick it. Are you walking in the Park this morning, Miss Conyers?"She hesitated for a moment.

"No, I am playing golf at Ranelagh."

Might I call this afternoon?"

"If you like," she assented. "After four o'clock, though, because I am staying out to lunch.""Thank you so much," he replied gratefully.

She set down the receiver again and went back to the breakfast-room.

"Captain Granet just wanted to congratulate us all," she announced, "and to know if he could come in to tea this afternoon.""Better ask him to dinner, my dear," the Admiral suggested hospitably. "He's a fine young fellow, Granet. Very thoughtful of him to ring us up."Lady Conyers made no comment. Geraldine was bending over her plate. The Admiral rose to his feet. He was much too excited to pursue the conversation.

"I shall walk down to the Admiralty and see if I can get hold of old Wilcock,"he continued. "If he won't tell me anything, I'll wring the old beggar's neck."The Admiral left the house a few minutes later and Lady Conyers walked arm in arm with her daughter into the pleasant little morning-room which looked out upon the Square. The former paused for a moment to look at Thomson's photograph, which stood upon one of the side tables. Then she closed the door.

"Geraldine," she said, "I am not very happy about you and Hugh.""Why not, mother?" the girl asked, looking out of the window.