The German military authorities duly
reported him a prisoner of war and then let him 'escape' as' the
easiest and least suspicious means of getting him back to
London!"
The Chief smiled genially.
"That's a dashed clever idea," he observed shrewdly, "'pon my
word, that's bright! That's very bright! I should like to
compliment the man who thought of that!"
"Then you may address your compliments to me, Chief," said
Strangwise.
The Chief turned and looked at him.
"I've met many of your people in my time, Strangwise," he said,
"but I don't know you! Who are you?"
Strangwise laughed.
"Ask Nur-el-Din, " he said, "that is to say, if you haven't shot
her yet!"
"And if we have?" asked the Chief.
Desmond sprang tip.
"It isn't possible!" he cried. "Why, the woman's a victim, not a
principal! Chief..."
"What if we have?" asked the Chief again.
A curious change had come over the prisoner. His jaunty air had
left him and there was an apprehensive look in his eyes.
"I would have saved her if I could have," Strangwise said, "but
she played me false over the jewel. She imperiled the success of
my mission. You English have no idea of discipline. To us
Prussian officers an order stands above everything else. There is
nothing we would not sacrifice to obey our orders.
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