Renoux, delighted, stood under the electric light unfolding document after document, and nodding his handsome, mischievous head with satisfaction.
"What luck, Barres! What did you do to the fellow?"
"Thumped him to sleep and turned out his pockets. Are these really what you want?"
"I should say so! This is precisely what we are looking for!"
"No, I don't. Why should I? You're my loyal comrade and you understand discretion.... _What_ do you think of _this_!" displaying a typewritten document marked "Copy," enclosing a sheaf of maps.
It contained plans of all the East River and Harlem bridges, a tracing showing the course of the new aqueduct and the Ashokan Dam, drawings of the Navy Yard, a map of Iona Island, and a plan of the Welland Canal.
"Included in report by _K17_ to Diplomatic Agent controlling Section 7-4-11-B. Recommended that detail plan of DuPont works be made without delay.
Followed several sheets in cipher, evidently some intricate variation of those which are always ultimately solved by experts.
But the documents that were now unfolded by Captain Renoux proved readable and intensely interesting.
These were the papers which Renoux read and which Barres read over his shoulder:
Berlin Military Telegraph Office Telegram
Berlin. Political Division of the General Staff Nr. Pol. 6431.
8, Moltkestrasse, Berlin, NW, 40. March 20, 1916.
"Referring to your correspondence and conversations with Colonel Skeel, I most urgently request that the necessary funds be raised through the New York banker, Adolf Gerhardt; also that Bernstorff be immediately informed through Boy-Ed, so that plans of Head General Staff of Army on campaign may not be delayed.
"Begin instantly enlist and train men, secure and arm power-boat assemble equipment and explosives, Welland Canal Exp'd'n. War Office No. 159-16, Secret U. K.:--T, 3, P."
"DEAR SIR ROGER:--I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 23d inst., in which you submitted to his Imperial Majesty's Government a proposal for the formation of an Irish brigade which would be pledged to fight only for the cause of Irish nationalism, and which is to be composed of any Irish prisoners of war willing to join such a regiment.
"In reply I have the honour to inform you that his Imperial Majesty's Government agrees to your proposal and also to the conditions under which it might be possible to train an Irish brigade. These conditions are set out in the declaration enclosed in your letter of the 13th inst., and are given at foot. I have the honour to be, dear Roger, your obedient servant,