In other words, if she did not carefully regulate the world"s trade with, for instance, Denmark and Holland, those countries would sell much of their importations to Germany, whereby the duration of the war would be prolonged by reason of help obtained by Germany in that manner.
"As you can readily understand, the situation is full of delicate points, and many sensibilities are wounded. There have been times when only a spark was needed to kindle a serious blaze of mutual wrath between Great Britain and the United States. And you may be sure there are some governments in this world that would be delighted to see feelings of deep hostility engendered between Britons and Americans.
"At present, however, there seems to be not the slightest cloud over the relations between Great Britain and our country.
"Now, Mr. Darrin, you have obtained clues to a startling plot that has for its object the causing of distrust between the two greatest nations. If one or more British warships should be sunk, by some means that we do not at present know, and if the blame could be plausibly laid against Americans, there would be hot-tempered talk in England and a lot of indignant retort from our country. It would seem preposterous that any Englishman could suspect the American government of destroying British warships, and just as absurd to think that Americans could take such a charge seriously. Yet in the relations between nations the absurd thing often does happen. Should England lose any warships it would seem that only Germany or Austria could be blamed, yet it might be possible for plotters to manage the thing so successfully, and with so much cleverness, that the United States would really seem to be proven to be the guilty party. Our duty as officers of the Navy can be performed only by frustrating the hideous plot altogether.
"So, Ensigns Darrin and Dalzell, while we are at Naples you will spend as much of your time as possible on sh.o.r.e. You will go about everywhere, as though to see the sights of the city and as if bent on getting your fill of pleasure. Unless under pressing need you will not be extravagant in your expenditures, but will conduct yourselves as though sight-seeing within the limits of your modest pay as ensigns.
You will, however, not be put to any expense in the matter, as all your expenditures will be returned to you out of an emergency fund in my hands.
"Your object in going ash.o.r.e will be to report if you see Gortchky in Naples. I feel rather certain that the fellow is already there. You, Mr. Darrin, will also keep your eyes wide open for a sight of either or both of that pair whom you overheard talking at Monte Carlo. You will also note and report if you find the Countess Ripoli in Naples."
"And if we meet her and if she speaks to us, sir?" asked Dalzell.
"What if she even wishes to entertain us, or to claim our escort?"
"Do whatever you can to please the Countess," replied the Admiral, promptly. "Be agreeable to her in any way that does not interfere with other and more important duties to which I have a.s.signed you."
Judging by a sign from the fleet commander that the interview was now at an end, Dave and Dan rose, standing at attention.
"Perhaps I have given you a wrong impression in one particular,"
Admiral Timworth continued. "I do not wish you to understand, gentlemen, that I have intimated that any power, or any combination of powers, has directly ordered any act that would lead to the sinking of British warships. Governments, even the worst, do not act in that way. The thing which the power I have in mind may have done is to give certain secret agents a free hand to bring about war between England and the United States. Undoubtedly, the secret agents at the bottom of this conspiracy have been left free to choose their own methods. Thus the foreign government interested in this conspiracy could feel that it did not _order_ the commission of a crime, no matter what might happen as the result. Now, gentlemen, have you any questions to ask?"
"None, sir," Dave Darrin responded immediately.
"None, sir," echoed Dalzell.
"Then you may go," rejoined Admiral Timworth, rising and returning the parting salutes of the young officers.
It was presently noised about among the ship"s company that Ensigns Darrin and Dalzell had been ordered ash.o.r.e on special duty.
"How did you work it?" Lieutenant Barnes irritably demanded of Danny Grin.
"Why? Do you want to work a trick yourself?" asked Dalzell, unsympathetically.
"No such luck for me," growled Barnes. "While in port I am ordered to take charge of shifting stores below decks."
"Fine!" approved Dan.
"And I wish I had you for junior officer on that detail," growled Barnes.
"If I get tired of staying ash.o.r.e," Danny Grin proposed genially, "I"ll make humble pet.i.tion to be a.s.signed as junior on your detail."
CHAPTER IX
M. DALNY PLANS A TRAGEDY
"Say, I wonder if these people call this a square deal," muttered Danny Grin, as he surveyed the dish that the waiter had just left for him. "I called for ham and eggs and potatoes, and the fellow has brought me chicken and this dish of vegetables that none but a native could name."
"Call the waiter back and ask him to explain his mistake," Ensign Darrin suggested, smilingly.
"I can"t talk their lingo," returned Dalzell plaintively.
"Nor can I speak much of it, either," admitted Dave.
"Can you speak any Italian?"
"Only a little, and very badly at that."
"Where did you learn Italian?" demanded Danny Grin.
"From an Italian-American cook on board our ship," Darrin explained.
"Whew! You must have done that while I was asleep," Dalzell complained.
"I don"t know enough Italian to carry me very far," laughed Darrin.
"Perhaps between two and three hundred useful words, and some of the parts of a few verbs. Let me see just what you thought you were ordering."
Dan held out a somewhat soiled bill of fare on which the names of the dishes were printed in Italian and English.
"I tried to p.r.o.nounce the Italian words right," Dan went on, with a grimace.
"Let me hear you read the words over again," Dave begged.
Dan did so, his comrade"s smile deepening.
"Dan," said Dave dryly, "you speak Italian as though it were French.
Italian is too delicate a language for that treatment."
"But what am I to do about this chicken?" Danny Grin persisted.
"Eat it," suggested Darrin, "and use some of your time ash.o.r.e in getting closer to the Italian language."
Dave was served with just what he had ordered for a pleasing meal--an omelet, spaghetti and Neapolitan tomatoes, with dessert to follow.
"I"m no great admirer of chicken, and I did want ham," sighed Dan, as he glanced enviously at his chum"s dainty food. Nevertheless Ensign Dalzell ate his meal with an air of resignation that greatly amused Dave Darrin.
The restaurant was one of the largest and handsomest to be found along that great thoroughfare of Naples, the Riviera di Chiaja. The place would seat perhaps four hundred guests. At this hour of the day there were about half that number of persons present, many of whom were Americans.
The chums had succeeded in obtaining a small table by themselves, close to an open window that overlooked the sidewalk.
Watching the throngs that pa.s.sed, both on foot and in carriages of many types, the young naval officers felt certain that at no other point could they obtain as good a general view of the city of Naples.
Many well-to-do Italians were afoot, having sold their carriages and automobiles in order to buy the war bonds of their country. As there were several Italian warships in port, sailors from these craft were ash.o.r.e and mingling with the throng. Soldiers home on sick leave from the Austrian frontier were to be seen. Other men, who looked like mere lads, wore new army uniforms proudly. These latter were the present year"s recruits, lately called to the colors and drilling for the work that lay ahead of them, work in deadly earnest against hated Austria.