“I remember the marshal saying that,” he said “I’m not so sanguine, myself. In fact, that’s a particular maxim I’d like to try to disprove some day. However—that’s not what I meant. I didn’t mean to suggest we attempt to take Newton; but that we attack it. I suspect the Newtonians are as maxim-ridden as ourselves. Seeing us try the impossible, they’re very like to conclude we’ve suddenly discovered some way to make it possible. From their reactions to such a conclusion we might learn a lot— including about the Oriente affair.”

Lludrow’s look of amazement was tightening into a frown.

“Any force attacking Newton would suffer fantastic losses,” he began.

“Only if they intended to carry the attack through,” interrupted Donal, eagerly. “It could be a feint—nothing more than that. The point wouldn’t be to do real damage, but to upset the thinking of the enemy strategy by introducing an unexpected factor.”

“Still,” said Lludrow, “to make their feint effective, the attacking force would have to run the risk of being wiped out.”

“Give me a dozen ships—” Donal was beginning; when Lludrow started and blinked like a man waking up from a dream.

“Give you—” he said; and smiled. “No, no, commandant, we were speaking theoretically. Staff would never agree to such a wild, unplanned gamble; and I’ve no authority to order it on my own. And if I did— how could I justify giving command of such a force to a young man with only field experience, who’s never held command in a ship in his life?” He shook his head. “No, Graeme— but I will admit your idea’s interesting. And I wish one of us at least had thought of it.”

“Would it hurt to mention it—”

“It wouldn’t do any good—to argue with a plan Staff has already had in operation for over a week, now.” He was smiling broadly. “In fact, my reputation would find itself cut rather severely. But it was a good idea, Graeme. You’ve got the makings of a strategist. I’ll mention the fact in my report to the marshal.”

“Thank you, sir,” said Donal.

“Back to your ship, then,” said Lludrow.

“Good-by, sir.”

Donal saluted and left. Behind him, Lludrow frowned for just a moment more over what had just been said—before he turned his mind to other things.

ACTING CAPTAIN