Touching the wood of the central
tea-table, she had remarked to Lady Victoria and Lady Helen
Freebooter how fortunate they (who lived within the prescribed area
defined by Lady Jeune) had been in so far escaping air-raids.
"But don't you know why?" said Lady Victoria.
Mrs. Rossiter didn't.
"Because in Manchester Square, in Cavendish--Grosvenor--Hanover
Squares, in Portland Place--a few doors off your own house--in
Harley Street and Wigmore Street: there are special friends of the
Kaiser living. They _may_ call themselves by English names, they may
even be ex-cabinet-ministers; but they are working for the Kaiser,
all the same. And _he_ wouldn't be such a fool as to have them
bombed, would he?"
"Especially as it is well known that there _is a wireless
installation_ on a house in Portland Place which communicates with
a similar installation in the Harz Mountains," added Lady Helen.
This was a half-reassuring, half-terrifying statement. It was
comfortable to know that you lived under the Kaiser's wing--Mrs.
Rossiter hoped the aim of the aeronauts was accurate, and their
knowledge of London topography good. At the same time it was
alarming to feel that you might be involved in that final blow up of
the villains which must bring such scoundreldom to a close. But if
Lady Vera and Lady Helen knew all this for a fact, why not tell the
Police? "What would be the good? They'd deny everything and we
should only be sued for libel.
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