levelling his accusing finger at her. "And you, sir," shifting the
direction of his finger to point at the supposed Mr. Launce, "are the
Earl of Denby!"

"I have risen in the world since I went to sea!" jested the Englishman.

"We know who you are, now," von Schellen continued, with brutal
bluntness, "and we know as much more about you as we need. We know of the
Admiralty office that you visited, and we know the information that you
two were expected to gather along the Kiel Canal when you should have
entered Germany! Oh, you will soon understand that we have most excellent
information from England! You journeyed to Denmark on a poor old tramp
steamer, under assumed names and with fraudulent passports furnished by
your government. From Denmark you were to work your way to Holland, and
thence into Germany, which country you would enter with still other
passports furnished you in Holland. We know all about the noble pair of
Denby! Of course you will deny this, but save your denials for use before
a German court!"

Having said which von Schellen turned and left them. The Englishman and
woman gave each other a swift, horrified glance, then lowered their eyes.
As they looked up again Dave sent them a swift glance of sympathy, but
there was a look of defiant pride on the Englishwoman's face.

The same thought was in the minds of all three. Von Schellen or some
other German had been eavesdropping near enough to hear the whispered
conversation that had taken place.

That was a fair ruse for use in war-time. Darrin, as he looked at the
English pair, felt sure that they really were the Earl and Countess of
Denby.

From the cabin under the conning tower came a chorus of hoarse laughter.
The Englishwoman's swift look said plainly:

"They are laughing over the discovery that they have made."

After that, gloom fell upon the trio. Darrin had never heard, before, of
the Earl of Denby. Later he learned that the Earl had led a recluse's
life among books until the war began. About that time he had married a
young noblewoman, and the pair had gone promptly into effective war work,
though not in ways that caused their portraits to be published in the
illustrated weeklies.

Von Schellen re-appeared five minutes later, casting first a look of
triumph at the English couple, next turning to Dave.

"The American officer may take the air briefly on deck if he so desires,"
said the German. "It is by gracious permission of the command