rsued.

"If you'll consult my passport, you'll see that I am."

"Did either your father or your mother have any German blood?"

I could hear a slight rustle back of me among the passengers, none of
whom, it was plain, had been subjected to such cross-questioning. I was
growing restive, but I couldn't tell him it was not his business; of
course it was.

"No; they didn't," I briefly replied.

"About your destination now." He was making notes of all my answers.
"You are going to Italy, and then--"

"To France."

"Roundabout trip, rather. The Bordeaux route is safer just now and
quicker, too. Why not have gone that way? And how long are you planning
to stop over on this side?"

"It depends upon circumstances." What on earth ailed the fellow? He was
as annoying as a mosquito or a gnat.

"I beg your pardon, but your plans seem rather at loose ends, don't
they? What are you crossing for?"

"To drive an ambulance!" I answered as curtly as the words could be
said.

I saw his face soften and humanize at the information. For once I had
made a satisfactory response, it seemed. But on the heels of my answer
there rose the voice of Mr. McGuntrie, sensational, accusing, pitched
almost at a shriek.

"Look here, lieutenant," he was crying, "don't you let that fellow fool
you. I asked him the first night out if he was an ambulance boy, and
he denied it to me, up and down. I thought all along he was too smart,
hooting like he did at submarines. Guess he knew one would pick him up
all right if the rest of us did sink."

"How about that, Mr. Bayne?" asked the Englishman, his uncordial self
once more.

It was maddening. One would have thought them all in league to prove me
an atrocious criminal.

"Simply this," I replied with the iciness of restrained fury, "that this
gentleman has been the steamer's pest ever since the night we sailed. If
I had answered his questions, every one, down to the ship's cat, would
have shared his knowledge within the hour. I did not deny anything; I
simply did not assent. You are an officer in authority; I am answering
you, though I protest strongly at your manner; but I don't tell my
affairs to prying strangers because we are cooped up on the same boat."

"H'm. If I were you I would keep my temper." He regarded me
thoughtfully, and then with rapier-like rapidity shot two questions
at my head. "I say, Mr. Bayne, you're positive about your parents not
having German blood, are you? And you are