The Island Mystery Part 33

Gorman sat down and lit his pipe. Donovan turned to Smith.

"You're a valuable man, Smith," he said, "and I'd like to retain your services."

"Thank you, sir," said Smith. "I've done my best to give satisfaction."

"But if you're to stay on with me," said Donovan, "we've got to have some straight talk. I'd like it to be clearly understood that your engagement with me is to be a whole-time job for the future."

"More satisfactory, sir, certainly."

"At present," said Donovan, "you're also engaged by Mr. Steinwitz."

"Not by Mr. Steinwitz, sir, if you'll excuse my correcting you. By the Emperor."

Gorman groaned deeply. Smith turned to him, solicitous, anxious to be of use.

"Beg pardon, sir, can I do anything for you, sir? Anything wrong, sir?"

"No," said Gorman, "no. The mention of the Emperor upsets me a little.

That's all. Don't do it again, if you can help it, Smith. I'm sorry, Donovan. I didn't mean to interrupt."

Smith turned to Donovan again.

"Perhaps I should say, sir, the Imperial Secret Service."

"Salary?" said Donovan.

He showed no surprise, anger or disgust. Smith was equally cool. He answered the question snapped at him as if it had been the most natural in the world.

"Well, sir, that depends. The salary varies according to circ.u.mstances. And there are allowances, travelling, sir, and subsistence, sometimes."

"Average?" said Donovan, "average net profit?"

Smith thought for a minute before answering. He was apparently anxious to be accurate and honest.

"I think, sir, I may say 200 a year, taking one thing with another."

"Well," said Donovan, "I'll double that, in addition to what I'm paying you at present; on condition that you're in my service only. As I said before, Smith, you're a valuable man."

"Thank you, sir," said Smith. "Very generous of you. I appreciate the offer, but----"

He paused. He had some objection to make, but he hesitated to put it into words.

"I treble the Emperor's two hundred pounds," said Donovan.

"I beg pardon, sir. I wasn't meaning to stand out for a larger salary. That's not my point, sir. What I was going to say, sir, was----"

Again he hesitated.

"Patriotic scruples?" said Donovan. "Loyal to the Emperor? Feel kind of mean deserting the service of your country?"

"Oh no, sir, not at all. Scruples aren't in my line, sir, and I am Swiss by birth. No particular feeling of loyalty to anybody. The fact is, sir, a man must keep his self-respect. I daresay you'll understand. I had no objection to taking on a valet's job, sir, in the way of business, as an agent of the Intelligence Department. But it's rather a different thing, sir--if you catch my point--to enter domestic service as a profession. A man doesn't like to lose caste, sir."

"That's a real difficulty," said Donovan. "As an American citizen I understand your feeling and respect it. See any way out?"

"It occurs to me, sir--it's for you to decide, of course. But it occurs to me that if I might enter the Intelligence Department of Salissa, there'd be no interference with my work in the palace.

Anything I could do to make you comfortable. But as agent of the Queen's Secret Service I should be----I hope you catch my point, sir.

You see I held a commission at one time in the Megalian Army."

"You may consider yourself engaged, Smith," said Donovan, "or perhaps I ought to say nominated, as head of the Intelligence Department of the Kingdom of Salissa."

"Thank you, sir. When would you like me to take over my new duties?"

"You can begin right now," said Donovan.

"Very good, sir. I beg to report that England declared war on Germany this morning. The news came by wireless to the admiral."

Gorman dropped his pipe and sat upright suddenly.

"Good Lord!" he said. "England. Germany. I say, Donovan, if this is true----"

Donovan motioned him to silence with a wave of his hand.

"Salissa," he said, "is a neutral State."

"But," said Gorman, "if there's a European war----"

Donovan ignored him.

"Smith," he said, "that admiral informs me that he has orders to deport us from this island and dump us down somewhere in Sicily. That so?"

"Yes, sir," said Smith. "Those are the Emperor's orders. Very urgent orders. In the case of your refusal to obey, the admiral is to fire on the palace."

"So I understand," said Donovan. "Now what I want you to do is to go off to the steamer and negotiate with the admiral."

"Yes, sir."

"Shall we say 500? or ought I to go higher?"

"I don't think," said Smith, "that it will be necessary to give so much. If you will allow me to suggest, I'd say an offer of 10."

For the first time since the interview began Donovan was startled.

"Ten pounds!" he said. "Do you mean ten?"

"Giving me permission to rise to twenty pounds if necessary," said Smith.

"But an admiral!" said Donovan. "Remember he's an admiral."

"Yes, sir. But admirals aren't quite the same thing here as in England. Don't belong to the same cla.s.s. Don't draw the same salary."