Grey was merely a pseudonym for the famous Madame Nadina. Sheās a celebrated Russian dancer, you know. Sheās never appeared in London, but Paris has been quite mad about her. She had a terrific success there all through the War. A thoroughly bad lot, I believe, but most attractive. The purser expressed his regrets that she wasnāt on board in a most heartfelt fashion when he gave me her cabin, and then Colonel Race told me a lot about her. It seems there were very queer stories afloat in Paris. She was suspected of espionage, but they couldnāt prove anything. I rather fancy Colonel Race was over there simply on that account. Heās told me some very interesting things. There was a regular organized gang, not German in origin at all. In fact the head of it, a man always referred to as āthe Colonelā was thought to be an Englishman, but they never got any clue as to his identity. But there is no doubt that he controlled a considerable organization of international crooks. Robberies, espionages, assaults, he undertook them allā āand usually provided an innocent scapegoat to pay the penalty. Diabolically clever, he must have been! This woman was supposed to be one of his agents, but they couldnāt get hold of anything to go upon. Yes, Anne, weāre on the right tack.
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