There was an instant’s amazed silence. Suddenly Admiral Hausen–Aubier covered his face with his hands, and stood, his great shoulders shaking. Straining nerves had broken at last. Baron Von Hartzfeldt, ripe in diplomatic experience, seemed merely astonished, if one might judge by the face of him.
“How do you know that?” he inquired quietly, after a moment. “Outside of the secret service and my own agents, there are not six persons in the world who are aware —”
“How do I know it?” interrupted The Thinking Machine. “You have just told me. Logic, logic, logic!”
“I have told you?” There was blank bewilderment on the diplomatist’s face.
“You and Admiral Hausen–Aubier together,” The Thinking Machine declared petulantly.
“But how, man, how?” demanded Baron Von Hartzfeldt. “Of course, you kne
