The sub was perforce obliged to partake of a repast with his superior officer, who kept him busily employed the whole while in answering questions. Presently the Admiral’s secretary entered.
"Ah, good morning, Holmes; anything startling?"
"No, sir. Captain Restronguet has apparently vanished into thin air. All inquiries at Falmouth have proved fruitless. But I expected to find Mr. Hythe here."
"Because there is a telegram sent to him, care of the Commander-in-Chief, sir," replied the secretary.
The sub took the proffered envelope and opened it, with a muttered apology to his superior officer.
"That’s all right!" he exclaimed with a sigh of relief. "Read this, sir."
"Hythe, care of C.-in-C., Portsmouth. Thoroughly glad you acted as you did. Aphrodite is the nation’s. Still I have kept my vow.--Tretheway."
"Tretheway, sir, was Captain John Restronguet, until yesterday commander of what is now the latest and most powerful acquisition to His Majesty’s Navy--the ’Aphrodite.’"
WILLIAM BRENDON AND SON, LTD., PLYMOUTH, ENGLAND