Part 49 (1/2)
”Well,” said Lord Hastings, ”as you know, I told you when we parted that I had an important diplomatic duty to perform. First, it carried me to Roumania, where, I may say, I was successful.”
”You mean that Roumania has decided to cast in her fortunes with the Allies, sir?”
”Exactly. She will take that step some time in August, though the exact date I am unable to say. My mission there at an end, I was ordered to report to Berlin. As you know, we still maintain a staff of correspondents in the German capital, although their ident.i.ties are closely hidden.”
Frank and Jack nodded, for they had known this some time before.
”Well,” Lord Hastings continued, ”in Berlin I was instructed to learn what Germany planned to do to offset the Roumanian menace, for she is sure to know of Roumanians decision by this time. I had some trouble, but I succeeded at last.”
”And what will she do, sir?” asked Frank.
”That,” was the reply, ”I am unable to state at this minute. It is a secret that I am guarding carefully and I cannot even tell you lads about it.”
Frank and Jack asked no further questions along that line.
”But how came you aboard the German vessel, sir?” Jack wanted to know.
Lord Hastings smiled.
”In Berlin,” he said, ”I was supposed to be a Roumanian officer, who had hopes of changing the att.i.tude of that country. The Kaiser wished to show me how foolish it would be for the little Balkan state to join the Allies, and for that reason, had me shown through the German naval fortifications. That information, too, I am carrying back with me.”
”But why didn't you tell us who you were in Bremen, sir?”
”I don't know. At first I guess because I wanted to surprise you both when you did learn who I was.”
”But you told us not to try and learn who you were.”
”Well, that was for a good reason. For, if you should have sought to pry, it might have aroused suspicions and there is no telling what would have happened.”
”I see, sir,” said Frank. ”But you almost lost us when you didn't get back in time.”
”I know that now. I wouldn't do the same thing again.”
”And what are you going to do after you return to London, sir?” Frank wanted to know.
Again Lord Hastings smiled.
”That's hard to tell,” he replied. ”Still, I imagine it will not be very long before I feel a deck under my heels again.”
”You mean you will leave the diplomatic service again, sir?” asked Jack.
”I expect to. The king promised me a new command before he despatched me to the Balkans. But I do not know how long I shall be kept waiting.”