The Lost Naval Papers | Page 7

and his like for just so long as they can be useful, and then the jaws of
the trap close. By letting him take those faked Notes we have done a
fine stroke for the Navy, for the Yard, and for Bill Dawson. We have
got into close touch with four new German agents here and two more
down south. We shan't seize them yet; just keep them hanging on and
use them. That's the game. I am never anxious about an agent when I
know him and can keep him watched. Anxious, bless you; I love him
like a cat loves a mouse. I've had some spies on my string ever since
the war began; I wouldn't have them touched or worried for the world.
Their correspondence tells me everything, and if a letter to Holland
which they haven't written slips in sometimes, it's useful, very useful,
as useful almost as your faked Notes."
Half an hour before the night train was due to leave for the South,
Dawson, very simply but effectively changed in appearance--for Hagan
knew by sight the real Dawson--led Cary to the middle sleeping-coach
on the train. "I have had Hagan put in No. 5," he said, "and you and I
will take Nos. 4 and 6. No. 5 is an observation berth; there is one fixed
up for us on this sleeping-coach. Come in here." He pulled Cary into
No. 4, shut the door, and pointed to a small wooden knob set a few
inches below the luggage rack. "If one unscrews that knob one can see
into the next berth, No. 5. No. 6 is fitted in the same way, so that we
can rake No. 5 from both sides. But, mind you, on no account touch
those knobs until the train is moving fast and until you have switched
out the lights. If No. 5 was dark when you opened the peep-hole, a ray
of light from your side would give the show away. And unless there
was a good deal of vibration and rattle in the train you might be heard.
Now cut away to No. 6, fasten the door, and go to bed. I shall sit up and
watch, but there is nothing for you to do."

Hagan appeared in due course, was shown into No. 5 berth, and the
train started. Cary asked himself whether he should go to bed as
advised or sit up reading. He decided to obey Dawson's orders, but to
take a look in upon Hagan before settling down for the journey. He
switched off his lights, climbed upon the bed, and carefully unscrewed
the little knob which was like the one shown to him by Dawson. A
beam of light stabbed the darkness of his berth, and putting his eye with
some difficulty to the hole--one's nose gets so confoundedly in the
way--he saw Hagan comfortably arranging himself for the night. The
spy had no suspicion of his watchers on both sides, for, after settling
himself in bed, he unwrapped a flat parcel and took out a bundle of blue
papers, which Cary at once recognised as the originals of his stolen
Notes. Hagan went through them--he had put his suit-case across his
knees to form a desk--and carefully made marginal jottings. Cary, who
had often tried to write in trains, could not but admire the man's
laborious patience. He painted his letters and figures over and over
again, in order to secure distinctness, in spite of the swaying of the train,
and frequently stopped to suck the point of his pencil.
"I suppose," thought Cary, "that Dawson yonder is just gloating over
his prey, but for my part I feel an utterly contemptible beast. Never
again will I set a trap for even the worst of my fellow-creatures." He
put back the knob, went to bed, and passed half the night in extreme
mental discomfort and the other half in snatching brief intervals of
sleep. It was not a pleasant journey.
Dawson did not come out of his berth at Euston until after Hagan had
left the station in a taxi-cab, much to Cary's surprise, and then was
quite ready, even anxious, to remain for breakfast at the hotel. He
explained his strange conduct. "Two of my men," said he, as he
wallowed in tea and fried soles--one cannot get Dover soles in the
weary North--"who travelled in ordinary compartments, are after
Hagan in two taxis, so that if one is delayed, the other will keep touch.
Hagan's driver also has had a police warning, so that our spy is in a
barbed-wire net. I shall hear before very long all about him."
Cary and Dawson spent the morning at the hotel with a telephone

beside them; every few minutes the bell would ring, and