CHAPTER I

WAR AND THE INTRODUCING OF JIM PAGE THE PROSPERITY OF 1914--AN OMINOUS CALM--MULTITUDE OF GERMAN SPIES--HOW ENGLAND WAS UNDERMINED--SHORTSIGHTEDNESS OF OUR LIBERAL GOVERNMENT--SECRET KNOWLEDGE OF PROMINENT MEN--SIR EDWARD GOSCHEN'S HISTORICAL DESPATCH--RUSH TO THE COLOURS--OUR UNPREPAREDNESS--INTRODUCING JIM--PATRIOTS FROM AFAR--F. C. SELOUS' ROUGHRIDERS--INITIATION INTO THE FOREIGN SECRET SERVICE--ADVISORY TESTAMENTARY DISPOSITIONS 27