Presently I was enlightened. When the conductor came along, the
"husband" coolly requested my detention on grounds of interference
with his wife's luggage. He was stanchly supported by the other man
and by the lady who had come to me for assistance. I attempted to
explain, but it didn't go down with the conductor. Pending our
arrival at Cologne, he locked me up in my compartment and leaving me,
said that he intended to hand me over to the station master here.
I had time to ponder over my situation. I was thoroughly angry,
chiefly with myself. Here I was, an old, and presumably experienced,
secret agent and I was caught by a simple device. But the simplicity
got me! When one is prepared for elaborate schemes, the simplest
trick lands one high and dry. Still I could see no daylight. They
could not hope to keep me on this preposterous charge. A single wire
to Berlin would settle the matter, but then there would be a delay. I
would not reach Paris until six o'clock at night. Wedel had insisted
that I be there at noon. Hum!
Delays at this time were of tremendous importance. A difference of
six hours might mean war. Powerful influences in Germany were all for
war. It filled the air. It needed only a false or overstep on the
part of any government official to bring about an explosion. France
seemed fairly itching for a fight. My verbal message to the captain
of the Panther must be delivered on schedule or the explosion might
occur.
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