Microbes of Power (Wallace of the Secret Service Series) by Alexander Wilson

prepared to rise?’
    ‘I think they must be – they are so enthusiastic, you see.’
    ‘You mentioned that also in your cable?’
    ‘Of course.’
    ‘Good girl. L.W. will have put the Colonial Office wise by now, and instructions will be received by the governor to make preparations quietly. You have done jolly good work, Barbara, in spite of your assertion that your investigations have not produced a great deal.’
    ‘It seemed so little to me,’ she confessed. ‘I should have liked to have discovered all that is happening, for there is obviously a great conspiracy brewing.’
    ‘My dear girl,’ he laughed, ‘don’t be greedy! Leave something for me to find out. Are the people who are working for you quite reliable?’
    ‘Quite. They are both Syrians, and entirely devoted to Major B. It was he who sent them here.’
    ‘Oh, that’s good hearing. I should hate you to be in danger. You haven’t been conducting any investigations yourself, have you?’
    She was silent a moment; then she nodded slightly.
    ‘I have been doing a little – when I thought it was quite safe,’ she confessed. ‘I haven’t taken risks.’
    ‘But, my dear girl, you mustn’t do things like that. Apart from the danger in which you might involve yourself – that, in our game, doesn’t count, of course, if it is necessary – you might render your position here useless. If it was suspected that you were collectingand giving information to the British Intelligence Department, your usefulness would cease at once. Don’t let your keenness get the better of your discretion, Barbara. The men placed under your orders must be left to conduct investigations, while you must be content to receive their information, send it home, and give them instructions. Remember always that by keeping in the background you will accomplish the best work and more thoroughly earn L.W.’s approval. Besides, you must not run your pretty little head into danger.’
    ‘Why shouldn’t I take my chance of that like you and the rest, who do the big things?’ she murmured.
    ‘So you do, simply because you are the SSA here,’ he reminded her gently, ‘but it is your duty not to do anything that might involve you in discovery. For God’s sake, Barbara,’ he added hastily as he noticed her woebegone expression, ‘don’t think I’m preaching. I’m not. I’m trying to be big brotherly, and give you a little advice. I’ve been in the game for several years now, and you won’t resent it, I know. You’ve done such jolly good work that I don’t want you to spoil it by taking needless risks.’
    She turned and smiled at him.
    ‘I understand – and thank you. I promise to be more careful in the future, Hugh.’
    ‘Splendid!’ he returned, and gave her hand a little pat. ‘I suppose,’ he asked, lowering his voice again, ‘you did not find out where Radoloff, Doreff and Bruno come in?’
    ‘No,’ she told him regretfully; ‘that seemed to be a puzzle to everybody. It was also a great puzzle why they all departed so suddenly with Paul Michalis on Wednesday. They booked their passages for Marseilles.’
    ‘Yes; I’m aware of that, and I’m hanged if I can guess why. I’ll know before morning whether or not they changed their mindsand disembarked at Constantinople. If they remained on board, I’ll leave here for Naples by air tomorrow, and I shall be on the boat with them to Marseilles.’
    ‘You’re leaving – tomorrow?’ she asked, and he caught the note of regret in her voice.
    ‘I must,’ he declared, giving her hand a brotherly little pat again, ‘but I’ll be back with Helen before long. I’m due for a spot of leave – we’ll spend it here. She’ll badly want to know you, when I’ve told her about you.’
    ‘That will be lovely,’ she cried enthusiastically. ‘I’m awfully keen to meet her, too. By the way, do you know that Monsieur Bikelas and Signor Bruno are accompanied by their wives?’
    ‘Yes. That seems like a blind to