One has to admit that to be fair.
Within six months three German spies had been arrested in England.
There was a plague of them. Knowing this and also knowing the general
efficiency of England's public servants and system, I was rather loath
to stick my head into it. That penalty for being caught--seven years'
penal servitude--loomed ominously, for penal servitude in England is
plain hell. Also, I knew that although no passports are required in
England, they still know pretty well what is going on, especially in
regard to foreigners. It is easy to get into England, but deuced hard
to get out. Also, knowing the secret understanding between the two
governments, I had an uneasy premonition that everything was not quite
right in the state of Denmark. Subsequent events proved to me that
this feeling of mine, very seldom at fault, was correct.
However, strong pressure and great inducements were brought to bear on
me and I undertook the mission, against my better judgment. When I
left Berlin I was thoroughly equipped to carry out instructions.
Every war vessel of the British navy, every fortification, naval base
and depot of supplies was coded in Secret Service ciphers.
Arrangements had been made with the Intelligence Department to
transmit telegrams to addresses in Brussels, Copenhagen and Paris. In
the event of the Brussels channel of communication being closed, I
could resort to either of the others.
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