as that.â
I waited while he screwed out the last half inch of his cigar.
âNext week, this conference in Milan. Itâs something quite separate from political discussions like meetings on the Brenner Pass and pow-wows between Keitel and Badoglio. Chief man at this meeting is Professor Brayda. Heard of him?â
âNo.â
âAbout six weeks ago we got news that he was on the track of a new poison gas. Heâs going to demonstrate it. Then another scientist has an electro-magnetic improvement for aerial torpedoes. Weâve already got most particulars of that. A top German scientist will be there, representing his government and following the general policy of pooling information.â
âAnd you expect me to attend? How can I?â
âWait. Iâm not sure of the number of people whoâll be at this conference, but apart from the half dozen scientists and their assistants, thereâll be officials representing the services. The Admiralty will send a Captain Bonini whoâs attached to the Scientific Division of the Naval Staff in Venice. You will go as his secretary.â
So that was it. It would have been kinder for Colonel Brown to have told me. But perhaps Colonel Brown did not know.
âYou are lucky,â I said, â to have found a traitor so highly placed. Is he trustworthy?â
âNeither a traitor nor trustworthy by choice. Fortunately he has one hobbyâbeautiful women, and one preoccupationâhimself. Itâs a good combination, Mencken. Iâve been playing him, through an intermediary, for a couple of years. Perhaps it would reassure you if I told you about that first.â
âAs you please.â Andrews had this slight accent but I could not place it. The inflexions of the various English counties still sometimes puzzle me.
â⦠he loves some woman and she has expensive tastes; so he must gratify them. But not only pretty girls can be exacting: so can creditors, so can the social demands of his position; he has risen quickly in the navy by his own scientific talents but he has no family, no money behind him. So he goes to a credit house recommended by a friend of mine, run by a friend of mine. He is given a loan on good security. He repays part of this but later borrows moreâon less good security. He also repays part of this. But why worry?â Andrews spread his plump pale hands. â Why worry? The rate of interest is low. The head of the credit house is tolerant and has become a personal friend. There is no hurry to repay. So the loan gradually increases.
âBut eventually, quite suddenly, the source of the bounty dries up. The credit house would be glad of a substantial repayment. Captain Bonini cannot oblige. He is irritated. The house should know his position by now and also his expectations. The money is perfectly secure against his future salary. One cannot produce money out of a hat. So good. The matter is dropped. But three months later it is raised again. The credit house itself is to some extent embarrassed and must have some repayment. Bonini cannot make it. Dear, dear, this is very unfortunate. If he were to be bankrupted it would ruin his career. But stay; an idea. The head of the credit house has s brother who is head of a foreign news agency In Venice. The agency has asked his brother for particulars of the new Italian destroyer which has just been launched. Naturally he cannot get ithem. But if Captain Bonini were to get them they would share the payment when it was received.â
Andrews took out another cigar and dipped the end. â Captain Bonini does not like this idea at all: it savours of treachery, and Bonini is a patriot. But eventually after careful consideration he agrees. When the information is obtained he is pleasantly surprised at the amount paid himâand also secretly amused. For although details of the destroyer are not yet released to the Italian Press he happens to know
Brauna E. Pouns, Donald Wrye