CHAPTER XXIX

"Did you ever hear of the Shamrock League, sir?".

"No, I can't say that I did. What is it? It sounds like the name of an Irish benefit society."

"Well, it is rather different to that. As a matter of fact, it is just as harmless, as far as its outward profession goes, being merely an association for the promotion of the Irish language and literature. But, beneath the surface, it is really a hotbed of dangerous treason and some of it members are fanatics of the worst type; but the majority of the people who belong to it are only allowed to know the literary side of the thing at first, and are not told anything about its political aspect until they have been well sounded and proved trustworthy. That is what makes it such a dangerous affair--if one tries to probe it, one gets no further than the discovery of just a harmless society of dilettanti."

"Well, but what about it? Do you mean to say that this man Sheridan is a member of this society? I don't see that we can bring that up against him in any way?"

"He is not only a member, but one of the secret Inner Circle of the Shamrock League, and even there he holds very high office. That badge that I told you about; the badge he tried to cover with his foot when I saw him in his cabin, is one that only a very few people indeed in the League are possessed of."

"How do, you know?"

"Well, sir, I _do_ know--it would take me too long now to tell you the ins and outs of the way I came to learn the fact. Of course, as you say, it may have no bearing whatever upon this sad business, but--well, one naturally distrusts a man who is known to belong to the inner circle of a league of rebels!"

"Quite right, quite right! But I still don't see exactly what we can do about it. By the way, have you got him here?"

"He will be present as a witness at the court, sir. In view of my--well, my suspicions, I considered that all three of them ought to be there, so I made arrangements for the two girls to come also."

"You acted quite rightly, Dimsdale. Indeed, I don't see that you could have very well done otherwise, though it certainly seems rather a shame to put those two poor things up to be fired at with questions, after all they have been through."

"It does, indeed, sir," remarks Dimsdale, with a keen recollection of his last meeting with Netta the previous evening. He held her in his arms then, and called her his dear--and presently he will have to subject her to a formal examination; it is distinctly unpleasant, and he feels it would be a great relief to kick himself.

"I hope you haven't found a mare's nest," broods the admiral rather gloomily; "What sort of questions do you propose to put to them?"

"I intend simply to begin with asking them for a clear account of what happened while they were on board the _Marathon_. Their story of what took place beforehand seems to be genuine enough, so far as I can make out--except for one small detail. Oh, how perfectly hateful it is to have to try deliberately to be suspicious! But there is just one thing which does not exactly tally with their story as they have already told it!"

"What do you mean? Explain yourself."

"Well, I see from this Confidential Weekly Shipping Report," taking another paper from his bundle as he speaks, "that the s.s. _Botopi_, the ship in which the Sheridan party were alleged to have taken passage, really did sail from Galveston, Texas, on the exact date they mentioned. She was due the day before yesterday--and she has not arrived. She sent out the S.O.S. call that same morning; and the patrol vessels sent out in search could find no trace of her."

"By Jove, Dimsdale, you have been collecting information pretty thoroughly! But the result seems to be that the facts of the case tally precisely with the Sheridans' account."

"Yes, so they do. That is what I said. But, on the other hand, it would not be outside the bounds of possibility to acquire all these details from German, or rather pro-German sources."

"Y-yes; I suppose it could be done; though it seems very unlikely. I'm not surprised at your describing yourself as a suspicious fellow, Dimsdale."

The secretary feels the sting of the implied rebuke, the more so as he knows it to be a deserved one. But he has steeled himself to an unpleasant task and will not be deterred from pursuing it to the very end.

"I have to be suspicious in a case like this, sir," he quietly answers; "and that is why I took the steps I did next."

"What did you do?"

"I cabled to the _Botopi's_ agents at Galveston, and asked if the Sheridans' names were on the passenger-list."

"Yes? By Jove, Dimsdale, you're a smart fellow! I should never have thought of doing that! Well?"

The secretary takes yet another paper from the bundle in his hand.

"Here is the reply cable," he says, handing it to the admiral.

It reads:

"_No Sheridan in passenger-list._"

"Hm! That looks bad, I must admit," remarks the admiral, pursing up his lips. "But," he adds after a moment's reflection taking a brighter view of the case, "of course there may be some very simple explanation of that! You're right, though, it does make the case somewhat more serious. Is that the one exception you referred to in the truthfulness of the Sheridans' story?"

"That was it, sir. It may be nothing, as you say; and yet----"

There is a knock at the door. The admiral's coxswain opens it and announces:

"Three ladies to see you, sir."

"_Three?_" exclaims the admiral, ruefully guessing who the third one is. "Don't be afraid, Dimsdale, you shan't be left alone with them! Ask them to come inside! Why have they come at this hour, I wonder? I didn't expect them for another half an hour or more."

He has no time for further reflections--and Dimsdale, poor man, has no means of escape. Through the open doorway sails in a very angry Mrs. Shaw, with the two girls in close company.

She wastes no time in empty courtesies and greetings, but begins at once to unburden herself of the wrath that is swelling her motherly bosom.

The admiral himself is the first object of her attack. She faces him with anger glittering in her eye as she begins her remonstrance.

"I understand, Admiral Darlington, that you have sent for these poor girls on a matter of extreme importance. I cannot imagine what it may be, but I must say that I think it is very inconsiderate of you to drag them out, across the water, at this hour of the day--_most_ inconsiderate, seeing how ill they both are and what they have been through, poor things! Of course, I could not dream of allowing them to come alone--they are scarcely fit to walk. Even Miss Norah, who seemed to be recovering splendidly, has had a strange relapse since yesterday afternoon, and what the effect of this thoughtless business of dragging them from their beds in the early morning will be is more than I should like to say! I hope you will feel satisfied at your work, if it brings them to their graves, as I daresay it will--Mr. Dimsdale! Are there no chairs in this room? _Really!_--Yes, it is _you_ who are chiefly to blame in this matter. It is all _your_ doing! You are supposed to be the admiral's man of business, aren't you? Very well, then, I think you ought to be thoroughly ashamed of yourself persecuting two poor helpless, girls in this heartless manner! Yes, I am angry. And now, perhaps, Mr. Dimsdale, you will be good enough to say what it is you want with them. _Which_ of them is it you wish to interview? Or is it _both_?"

"I--I--I----" the unhappy secretary, in a state of complete nervous prostration, is quite unable to make a fitting reply, and takes refuge in busily bringing chairs for the three ladies; in fact he brings not three chairs but six, and is going to get more, till stopped by Mrs. Shaw's "Good gracious! Is the man trying to barricade himself? Do sit down and be quiet, and allow us to do the same."

"My dear Mrs. Shaw," says the admiral in soothing tones, seizing the first opportunity of getting a word in edgeways, "I assure you that Mr. Dimsdale is not to blame in any way. It is I who am entirely responsible, and I must apologise humbly to these young ladies, and to yourself, for all the trouble and inconvenience to which you have been put. But the matter is really a serious one, or else I should never have thought of asking you all to be here."

A silvery voice breaks in with a most astonishing effect; in fact, if a lamb were to turn upon the shepherd defending it, and speak a good word for the wolf, the effect could hardly be more surprising! It is Netta who speaks, the weak, gentle Netta! And she says to the good lady at her side:

"I think you are very unkind to speak to Mr. Dimsdale in that way, Mrs. Shaw! He was most considerate and good yesterday, sitting with us and talking to us while you--while you went off with the admiral!"

"_While I went_--And I thought you were a timid little thing afraid to say Bo to a--yes, I suppose I _am_ a goose to get so angry and flurried. But the poor girls really _are_ weak and ill, you know, admiral!"

"That's right, Mrs. Shaw," he replies, greatly relieved to find the sudden storm has subsided. "When _you_ cease to be cheery and good-humoured I shall know that things are going very wrong indeed! Now, if you will be good enough to wait in another room for just a very little while some refreshment shall be brought to you."

"Refreshment!" The storm threatens to work back again. "Thank you, we don't require any refreshing so soon after breakfast, as I am told you naval officers often do!"

"Well, then, just rest yourselves," hastily comes the amended suggestion. "I am sure you need it. I promise you that you shall not be detained very long."

Dimsdale jumps up eagerly to open the door for the ladies to depart into the room indicated; he is glad to find something to do, and glad also that the very alarming interview has come to an end. Mrs. Shaw again gathers her convoy and sails majestically away with them.

Dimsdale closes the door gently after them, and falls into a chair heaving a deep sigh of relief and wiping the perspiration from his brow.

The admiral surveys him with a twinkle of malicious amusement.

"By Jove, Dimsdale," he laughs, "you were let in for it properly that time! You must have had the fright of your life, didn't you?"

But Dimsdale is not to be cowed by a mere man, even an admiral.

"I thought that little girl was simply splendid, the way she stuck up for me," he replies sturdily. "A nice, gentle creature, that!"

"What!" cries the astonished admiral, "why, that's the first time in all these years I've known you that I've ever heard you say a good word for a woman!"

"Well, she seems to me to be different, somehow, from other girls."

"They all do!" chuckles the admiral.

"I thought so yesterday, too, when you--_when you went off with Mrs. Shaw_. She talked so sensibly then, it seemed to me. If ever I really had to marry, it would be a girl of that sort that I should choose for a wife."

"Well," says the admiral, very ungallantly, "I thought she seemed rather a weak sort of creature; no mind of her own, so to speak."

"That's the only sort I should like, sir," quickly explains the secretary, "I should be too much afraid of any other kind."

"But--if there's any truth in this yarn of yours, the girl may turn out to be an anarchist, or a Sinn Feiner, or a pro-German, or something of that sort; possibly the whole lot at once."

"Oh, well," says the secretary, turning the matter over with deliberation, "I don't know that I should mind _that_ very much; every girl must have some sort of a hobby, I suppose."

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