o Eileen. "Then, Miss Holland, every time you did me the
honour to appear kind and visit me you were carrying out one of this
gentleman's plans? And every word you spoke was said to entangle me in
your net, or to keep me quiet while something was being done behind my
back? I hope that some day you may enjoy the recollection as much as I
am enjoying it now!"

"Mr Belke," she cried, "I am very deeply sorry for treating even an
enemy as I treated you!"

She spoke so sincerely and with so much emotion that even Captain
Phipps assumed a certain solemn expression, which was traditionally
never seen on his face except when the Chaplain was actually
officiating, and jumping up she came a step towards the prisoner.
There she stood, a graceful and beautiful figure, her eyes glowing with
fervour.

"All I can say for myself, and all I can ask you to think of when your
recollections of me pain you, is only this--if you had a sister, would
you have had her hesitate to do one single thing I did in order to
defeat her country's enemies?"

Von Belke looked at her for a moment with frowning brow and folded
arms. Then all he said was--

"Germany's cause is sacred!"

Her eyes opened very wide.

"Then what is right for Germany is wrong for her enemies?"

"Naturally. How can Germany both be right--as she is, and yet be
wrong?"

"I--I don't think you quite understand what I mean," she said with a
puzzled look.

"Germany never will," said Blacklock quietly. "That is why we are at
war."

A tramp of footsteps sounded on the gravel outside, and Captain Phipps
sprang up.

"Your guard has come for you, Mr Belke," he said. "I'm sorry to
interrupt this conversation, but I'm afraid you must be moving."

III.

THE EMPTY ENVELOPE.

Commander Blacklock closed the front door.

"Chilly night," he observed.

"It is rather," said Eileen.

The wind droned through a distant keyhole mournfully and continuously.
That melancholy piping sound never rose and never fell; monotonous and
unvarying it piped on and on. Otherwise the house had that peculiar
feeling of quiet which houses have when stirring events are over and
people have departed.

The two remaining inhabitants re-entered the parlour, glanced at one
another with a half smile, and then seemed simultaneously to find a
little difficulty in knowing what to do next.

"Well," said Blacklock, "our business seems over."

He felt he had spoken a little more abruptly tha