"But Woodhouse--this British captain who's being transferred from the Nile country to the Rock; has he ever served there before? If he has, why, when I get there--when I am Captain Woodhouse, of the signal service--I will be embarrassed if I do not know the ropes."
"Seven years ago Woodhouse was there for a very short time," Doctor Koch explained. "New governor since then--changes all around in the personnel of the staff, I don't doubt. You'll have no trouble."
Silence between them for a minute, broken by the captain:
"Our friends at Gib--who are they, and how will I know them?"
The doctor bent a sudden glance of suspicion upon the lean face before him. His thick lips clapped together stubbornly.
"Aha, my dear friend; you are asking questions. In my time at Berlin the Wilhelmstrasse taught that all orders and information came from above--and from there only. Why----"
"I suppose in default of other information I may ask the governor to point out the Wilhelmstrasse men," Woodhouse answered, with a shrug. "I was told at Berlin I would learn all that was necessary to me as I went along, therefore, I supposed----"
"Come--come!" Doctor Koch patted the other's shoulder, with a heavy joviality. "So you will. When you arrive at Gib, put up at the Hotel Splendide, and you will not be long learning who your friends are. I, for instance, did not hesitate overmuch to recognize you, and I am under the eyes of the English here at every turn, even though I am a naturalized English citizen--and of undoubted loyalty." He finished with a booming laugh.
"But Woodhouse; you have arranged a way to have him drop out of sight before the _Princess Mary_ sails? There will be no confusion--no slip-up?"
"Do not fear," the physician reassured. "Everything will be arranged. His baggage will leave the Hotel Khedive for the dock to-morrow night; but it will not reach the dock. Yours----"
"Will be awaiting the transfer of tags at the Cap de Liberté--Mouquère's little place," the captain finished. "But the man himself--you're not thinking of mur----"
"My dear Nineteen Thirty-two," Doctor Koch interrupted, lifting protesting hands; "we do not use such crude methods; they are dangerous. The real Captain Woodhouse will not leave Alexandria--by sea, let us say--for many months. Although I have no doubt he will not be found in Alexandria the hour the _Princess Mary_ sails. The papers he carries--the papers of identity and of transfer from Wady Halfa to Gibraltar--will be in your hands in plenty of time. You----"