The trip up and down the river was a great success for Hagan and for Dawson, but for Cary it was rather a bore.

Hagan thinks no end of your Notes, but he is not taking any risks.

"But I warn you that my sympathies are steadily going over to Hagan.

He was now able to recognise Hagan, who again appeared as a brass-bounder, and did not affect to conceal his deep interest in the naval panorama offered by the river.

Nothing of real importance can, of course, be learned from a casual steamer trip, but Hagan seemed to think otherwise, for he was always either watching through his glasses or asking apparently artless questions of passengers or passing deckhands.

Hagan has the original masterpiece.

"And what will become of Hagan?" asked Cary.

This man Hagan is a black heartless devil.

" Half an hour before the night train was due to leave for the South, Dawson, very simply but effectively changed in appearancefor Hagan knew by sight the real Dawsonled Cary to the middle sleeping-coach on the train.

"I have had Hagan put in No. 5," he said, "and you and I will take Nos. 4 and 6.

" Hagan appeared in due course, was shown into No. 5 berth, and the train started.

He decided to obey Dawson's orders, but to take a look in upon Hagan before settling down for the journey.

Dawson did not come out of his berth at Euston until after Hagan had left the station in a taxi-cab, much to Cary's surprise, and then was quite ready, even anxious, to remain for breakfast at the hotel.

"Two of my men," said he, as he wallowed in tea and fried solesone cannot get Dover soles in the weary North"who travelled in ordinary compartments, are after Hagan in two taxis, so that if one is delayed, the other will keep touch.

Hagan's driver also has had a police warning, so that our spy is in a barbed-wire net.

"Hagan has applied for and been granted a passport to Holland, and has booked a passage in the boat which leaves Harwich to-night for the Hook.

As for Hagan, he is not going to arrive.

"Hagan is an American citizen," explained Dawson.

Dawson was very civil and pleasant, but I was in fact as tightly held upon his string as was the wretched Hagan.

Dawson always kept away from me whenever Hagan might have seen us together.

The steamer had drawn in to the Hook beside the train, and Hagan was approaching the gangway, suit-case in hand.

Hagan's face, which two minutes earlier had been glowing with triumph and with the anticipation of German gold beyond the dreams of avarice, went white as chalk.

" "What became of Hagan?"

But I rather think that I have here Hagan's epitaph."

"Now, Mr. Dawson," said I. "Perhaps you will tell me to what happy circumstance I owe the honour of this visit?" He had been chuckling over certain rich details in the Hagan chasewith an eye, no doubt, to future enlarged editionsbut these words of mine pulled him up short.