The Double Traitor | Page 4

name was
Ansell, replied; "telephoned for the first thing this morning. Ghastly
habit William has of getting up at seven o'clock and suddenly
remembering that he wants to talk diplomacy. The Chief will be furious
all day now."
Norgate lit a cigarette and began to open his letters. Ansell, however,
was in a discoursive mood. He swung around from his desk and leaned
back in his chair.
"How can a man," he demanded, "see a question from the same point of

view at seven o'clock in the morning and seven o'clock in the evening?
Absolutely impossible, you know. That's what's the matter with our
versatile friend up yonder. He gets all aroused over some scheme or
other which comes to him in the dead of night, hops out of bed before
any one civilised is awake, and rings up for ambassadors. Then at
night-time he becomes normal again and takes everything back. The
consequence is that this place is a regular diplomatic see-saw. Settling
down in Berlin pretty well, aren't you, Norgate?"
"Very nicely, thanks," the latter replied.
"Dining alone with the Baroness von Haase!" his junior continued. "A
Court favourite, too! Never been seen alone before except with her
young princeling. What honeyed words did you use, Lothario--"
"Oh, chuck it!" Norgate interrupted. "Tell me about the Baroness von
Haase! She is Austrian, isn't she?"
Ansell nodded.
"Related to the Hapsburgs themselves, I believe," he said. "Very old
family, anyhow. They say she came to spend a season here because she
was a little too go-ahead for the ladies of Vienna. I must say that I've
never seen her out without a chaperon before, except with Prince Karl.
They say he'd marry her--morganatically, of course--if they'd let him,
and if the lady were willing. If you want to know anything more about
her, go into Gray's room."
Norgate looked up from his letters.
"Why Gray's room? How does she come into his department?"
Ansell shook his head.
"No idea. I fancy she is there, though."
Norgate left the room a few minutes later, and, strolling across the hall
of the Embassy, made his way to an apartment at the back of the house.

It was plainly furnished, there were bars across the window, and three
immense safes let into the wall. An elderly gentleman, with
gold-rimmed spectacles and a very benevolent expression, was busy
with several books of reference before him, seated at a desk. He raised
his head at Norgate's entrance.
"Good morning, Norgate," he said.
"Good morning, sir," Norgate replied.
"Anything in my way?"
Norgate shook his head.
"Chief's gone to the Palace--no one knows why. I just looked in
because I met a woman the other day whom Ansell says you know
something about--Baroness von Haase."
"Well?"
"Is there anything to be told about her?" Norgate asked bluntly. "I
dined with her last night."
"Then I don't think I would again, if I were you," the other advised.
"There is nothing against her, but she is a great friend of certain
members of the Royal Family who are not very well disposed towards
us, and she is rather a brainy little person. They use her a good deal, I
believe, as a means of confidential communication between here and
Vienna. She has been back and forth three or four times lately, without
any apparent reason."
Norgate stood with his hands in his pockets, frowning slightly.
"Why, she's half an Englishwoman," he remarked.
"She may be," Mr. Gray admitted drily. "The other half's Austrian all
right, though. I can't tell you anything more about her, my dear fellow.
All I can say is that she is in my book, and so long as she is there, you
know it's better for you youngsters to keep away. Be off now. I am

decoding a dispatch."
Norgate retraced his steps to his own room. Ansell glanced up from a
mass of passports as he entered.
"How's the Secret Service Department this morning?" he enquired.
"Old Gray seems much as usual," Norgate grumbled. "One doesn't get
much out of him."
"Chief wants you in his room," Ansell announced. "He's just come in
from the Palace, looking like nothing on earth."
"Wants me?" Norgate muttered. "Righto!"
He went to the looking-glass, straightened his tie, and made his way
towards the Ambassador's private apartments. The latter was alone
when he entered, seated before his table. He was leaning back in his
chair, however, and apparently deep in thought. He watched Norgate
sternly as he crossed the room.
"Good morning, sir," the latter said.
The Ambassador nodded.
"What have you been up to, Norgate?" he asked abruptly.
"Nothing at all that I know of, sir," was the prompt reply.
"This afternoon," the Ambassador continued slowly, "I was to have
taken you, as you know, to the