human
What makes you think our old servant was a---- she broke off. She could not bear to use the word
gpt
I'll tell you, he said slowly,
human
He waited a moment.
gpt
Are you following what I say, Mrs. Blake?
human
Yes, she said quickly.
gpt
I think I understand. You are telling me about some telegrams--a great many telegrams----
human
Well, I repeat that a hundred and four telegrams were worded almost exactly alike: 'Father can come back on about 14th. Boutet is expecting him.'
gpt
Yes?
human
Well, your old German servant, Mrs. Blake, sent one of these telegrams on Monday, August 10th. She explained that a stranger she met in the street had asked her to send it off. She was, it seems, kept under observation for a little while, after her connection with this telegram had been discovered, but in all the circumstances, the fact she was in your mother's service, and so on, she was given the benefit of the doubt.
gpt
But--but I don't understand even now?
human
I'll explain. All these messages were from German agents in this country, who wished to tell their employers about the secret despatch of our Expeditionary Force. 'Boutet' meant Boulogne. Of course we have no clue at all as to how your old servant got the information.