altogether. What his Majesty says is in part correct. I did
not take this gentleman to jail; I did take him to a cafe, and
there he told me much more concerning the expedition than I
had learned from those directly interested. His information,
he told me, had been sold to the Republic by one who visited
the island and who claimed to act for one other. I
appreciated the importance of what he said, and I also guessed
that my word and his unsupported might be doubted, as you have
just doubted it. So I took the liberty of verifying what
General Renauld told me by cabling to the President of
Messina."

There was a shout of consternation at these words, but
Gordon's manner was so confident and the audacity of his
admission so surprised his hearers that they were silent again
immediately, and waited, with breathless interest, while
Gordon unfolded one of the pieces of paper.

"This is a copy of the cablegram I sent the President," he
said, "and to which, with his permission, I signed General
Renauld's name. It is as follows:--


The President. The Palace, Messina.--They will not believe
you are fully informed. Cable at once the exact hour when
they will leave Tangier, at what hour they expect to land, at
what place they expect to land, what sum you have promised to
pay for this information, and the names of those to whom it is
to be paid.