e we shan't
be disturbed."

Together they left the hall. As they passed through the bar-room Stuler
looked questions, but refrained from asking them. Maurice put away the
revolver. As they went out into the street he drew Kopf's arm within his
own.

"What do you want?" asked Johann, savagely.

"First. What is your place in this affair?"

"What affair?"

"The abduction."

"I had nothing to do with it, Herr, on my honor. I was only a porter,
and I supposed my errand was in good faith."

"How about the gentle push you gave me when the door opened? My friend,
I'm no infant. Lies will do you no good. I know everything, and wish
only to verify. You are a police spy, in the employ of the duchess."
Maurice felt the arm draw, and bore down on it.

"If I was, do you suppose I'd fool my time on this side of the
Thalians?" Johann shrugged.

"I'm not sure about that," said Maurice, puffing into Johann's face.
"When cabinet ministers play spy, small fry like you will not cavil at
the occupation. And you are not in their pay?" Johann glared. "I want
to know," Maurice went on, "what you know; what you know of Colonel
Beauvais, his plans, his messengers to the duchy, what is taking place
underneath."

Johann's face cleared and a cunning light brightened his eyes. "If that
is all you are after, I'll tell you. I'm a spy no longer; they have no
more use for me, despite their promises. I'll play them off for quits."

"If that's all," repeated Maurice, "what did you think I wanted to ask
you?"

Johann bit his lip. "I'm wanted badly by the chancellor, curse you, if
you must know. I thought he might be behind you."

"Don't worry about that," said Maurice, to whom this declaration seemed
plausible. "We'll talk as we go along."

And Johann loosened his tongue and poured into Maurice's ear a tale
which, being half a truth, had all the semblance of straightforwardness.
What he played for was time; to gain time and to lull his captor's
suspicions. Maurice was not familiar with the lower town; Johann was.
A few yards ahead there was an alley he knew, and once in it he could
laugh at all pursuit. It might be added that if Maurice knew but little
of the lower town, he knew still less about Johann.

Suddenly, in the midst of his narrative, Johann put his leg stiffly
between his enemy's and gave a mighty jerk with his arm, with the result
that Maurice, wholly unprepared, went sprawling to the pavement. He was
on his feet in an insta