Douglas stroked his clean-shaven chin reflectively for a moment. "Don't you think, Mr. Secretary, that there is danger of being too secretive, and that the guilty party may slip through our fingers?"
"It is a risk which we will have to take. Frankly, I think you and Brett are equal to the situation." The Secretary glanced at his watch. "Have you any engagement just now, Mr. Hunter?"
The Secretary reached up and touched the electric buzzer hanging above his desk, and in a few seconds his stenographer appeared from another room.
"Jones, call up Secretary Wyndham and ask if he can see me," and, as the clerk disappeared to execute his order, he turned back to Douglas. "There are certain charts of the Pacific which I wish you to see; they have been made recently. Well, Jones?" as the clerk reëntered his office.
"Secretary Wyndham is expecting you, sir."
"Thanks. Now, Mr. Hunter, get your hat, and we will go to the Navy Department."
The Secretary of State and Douglas hastened through the wide corridors of the immense State, War, and Navy Building. As they passed an elevator shaft in the navy wing, Douglas caught a fleeting glimpse of Eleanor Thornton in one of the lifts as it shot downward toward the ground floor. On their arrival they were ushered at once into Secretary Wyndham's private office.
"Glad to see you," exclaimed Wyndham, "your call is most opportune"--he stopped on seeing Douglas standing behind the Secretary of State, and his eyebrows went up questioningly.
"This is Mr. Douglas Hunter, attaché of the American Embassy at Tokio, Wyndham," explained the Secretary of State.
"How are you, sir." The Secretary of the Navy shook hands brusquely. "Will you both be seated?"
"I brought Mr. Hunter with me that he might tell you of certain information which he gathered in Japan about some prospective movements of their navy." He glanced significantly at Douglas, who nodded understandingly, and without more words gave a clear, concise statement of naval affairs in Japan, omitting all mention of other matters.
Secretary Wyndham listened to his remarks with the closest attention. When he ceased speaking Wyndham sprang from his chair and, walking over to the adjoining room, spoke to his confidential clerk, then closed the door and returned.