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Authors: Alexander Wilson
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stands to suffer the bigger blow. Why, then, are you so eager for this organisation to be smashed? Why do you come in this apparently frank manner? There is something else influencing you and those who sent you, monsieur. What is it?’
Monsieur Damien nodded slowly. His manner became impressive.
‘You are right,’ he declared. ‘The sale of our plans for offensive and defensive alliances to either Britain or Germany is a serious matter, but not of paramount gravity. Sooner or later the world will be aware of those arrangements, though naturally the nation that knows them now could act very much to our disadvantage. I confess, however, that, if those plans of France were placed by her in the balance against the purchase of copies of Britain’s two military inventions, she would risk the loss of them to obtain the others. As you guess, monsieur, that is not the real reason I have come to you. The organisation apparently exists in this country;you have the best chance of ferreting it out, and destroying it. And it must be destroyed, monsieur. It is becoming a terrible menace to the peace of Europe. The French Government is greatly perturbed.’
‘Why?’ asked the Foreign Secretary.
‘Blackmail is now the trump card,’ replied the Frenchman quietly, but with grim deliberation. ‘Think of it, gentlemen; the blackmailing of a nation. Last night another letter was received at the Quai d’Orsay, posted this time in London. You, of course, have heard that the whole frontier of France has been strengthened until it is considered now to be almost impregnable? Well, the writer of the letter claims to have complete copies of maps and details, even to the smallest item, regarding the fortifications. These he promises will be handed over intact to France on payment of two hundred million francs. If that sum is not paid by January the fifteenth the plans will be sent to Germany.’ He paused, noting the effect of his pronouncement on his hearers. The Foreign Secretary looked decidedly startled; Sir Leonard Wallace appeared almost uninterested. ‘You see now,’ continued Damien, eyeing the latter with some disappointment, ‘that there is grave reason for my presence here today. It seems impossible that the plans of the fortifications can have been copied, they have been guarded with care of the greatest. Yet what sense could there be in making such a – what you would call – gigantic bluff?’
‘I don’t think it’s bluff,’ remarked Wallace. ‘In fact, knowing how copies of the plans of the British military secrets were obtained, I am convinced it is not.’
‘You will do your utmost to destroy the gang?’ asked the Frenchman earnestly.
‘You may rely on that, monsieur, and for more reasons than one. For our own sakes it is urgent that their activities must beended once and for all. It is now evident also that the peace of Europe will be broken, if they are not suppressed very soon, which gives me more reason than ever for getting on their track at the earliest possible moment.’
‘Good Lord!’ exclaimed the Foreign Secretary. ‘Fancy daring to hold a revolver to the head of a whole nation in that barefaced manner. Who, in Heaven’s name, Wallace, can these people be? They must comprise a pretty powerful organisation, and be au fait with everything that goes on in government and diplomatic circles.’
Sir Leonard Wallace nodded.
‘Yes,’ he agreed, ‘there is no doubt about it now. I think we will be startled to find who is behind it all, if we are fortunate enough to bring the gang to book.’
‘Why,’ queried the Frenchman, ‘are you so certain that everything is not bluff? You say you know how copies of the British military secrets were made. Would it be injudicious on my part to ask how it was done? You see, monsieur, the French plans may have been copied in the same way.’
‘Very likely they were; in fact it is pretty certain, I think. There is no reason why you should not know, Monsieur
Monsieur Damien nodded slowly. His manner became impressive.
‘You are right,’ he declared. ‘The sale of our plans for offensive and defensive alliances to either Britain or Germany is a serious matter, but not of paramount gravity. Sooner or later the world will be aware of those arrangements, though naturally the nation that knows them now could act very much to our disadvantage. I confess, however, that, if those plans of France were placed by her in the balance against the purchase of copies of Britain’s two military inventions, she would risk the loss of them to obtain the others. As you guess, monsieur, that is not the real reason I have come to you. The organisation apparently exists in this country;you have the best chance of ferreting it out, and destroying it. And it must be destroyed, monsieur. It is becoming a terrible menace to the peace of Europe. The French Government is greatly perturbed.’
‘Why?’ asked the Foreign Secretary.
‘Blackmail is now the trump card,’ replied the Frenchman quietly, but with grim deliberation. ‘Think of it, gentlemen; the blackmailing of a nation. Last night another letter was received at the Quai d’Orsay, posted this time in London. You, of course, have heard that the whole frontier of France has been strengthened until it is considered now to be almost impregnable? Well, the writer of the letter claims to have complete copies of maps and details, even to the smallest item, regarding the fortifications. These he promises will be handed over intact to France on payment of two hundred million francs. If that sum is not paid by January the fifteenth the plans will be sent to Germany.’ He paused, noting the effect of his pronouncement on his hearers. The Foreign Secretary looked decidedly startled; Sir Leonard Wallace appeared almost uninterested. ‘You see now,’ continued Damien, eyeing the latter with some disappointment, ‘that there is grave reason for my presence here today. It seems impossible that the plans of the fortifications can have been copied, they have been guarded with care of the greatest. Yet what sense could there be in making such a – what you would call – gigantic bluff?’
‘I don’t think it’s bluff,’ remarked Wallace. ‘In fact, knowing how copies of the plans of the British military secrets were obtained, I am convinced it is not.’
‘You will do your utmost to destroy the gang?’ asked the Frenchman earnestly.
‘You may rely on that, monsieur, and for more reasons than one. For our own sakes it is urgent that their activities must beended once and for all. It is now evident also that the peace of Europe will be broken, if they are not suppressed very soon, which gives me more reason than ever for getting on their track at the earliest possible moment.’
‘Good Lord!’ exclaimed the Foreign Secretary. ‘Fancy daring to hold a revolver to the head of a whole nation in that barefaced manner. Who, in Heaven’s name, Wallace, can these people be? They must comprise a pretty powerful organisation, and be au fait with everything that goes on in government and diplomatic circles.’
Sir Leonard Wallace nodded.
‘Yes,’ he agreed, ‘there is no doubt about it now. I think we will be startled to find who is behind it all, if we are fortunate enough to bring the gang to book.’
‘Why,’ queried the Frenchman, ‘are you so certain that everything is not bluff? You say you know how copies of the British military secrets were made. Would it be injudicious on my part to ask how it was done? You see, monsieur, the French plans may have been copied in the same way.’
‘Very likely they were; in fact it is pretty certain, I think. There is no reason why you should not know, Monsieur
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