Understand, therefore, my friend, that the sight of these carefully traced plans, which you hint to have obtained at the risk of your life, excites me not at all." The other man's reply was inaudible.

In a moment or two Selingman spoke again.
"The information which I am lacking just at present in your sphere of operations, is civilian in character.

Take Ghent, for instance.

What I should like here, what our records need at present, is a list of the principal inhabitants with their approximate income, and, summarising it all, the rateable value of the city.

With these bases it would be easy to fix a reasonable indemnity." Norgate was wide-awake now.