ant to know now are two definite facts. The
first of these is how long she has had these bombs in her possession,
and how she procured them? She may possibly be willing to tell you how
long she has had them, even if she still remains obstinately silent as
to where she got them. The second question, and of course much the more
important from our point of view, is whether she knows of any other
similar stores in Witanbury or elsewhere? That, I need hardly tell you,
is of very vital moment to us, and I appeal to you as an Englishwoman to
help us in the matter."

"I will do as you wish," said Mrs. Guthrie in a low voice. "But, Mr.
Reynolds? Please forgive me for asking you one thing. What will be done
to my poor old Anna? Will the fact that she is a German make it better
for her--or worse? Of course I realise that she has been wicked--very,
very wicked if what you say is true----"

"And most treacherous to you!" interposed the young man quickly. "You
don't seem to realise, Mrs. Guthrie, the danger in which she put you;"
and as she looked at him uncomprehendingly, he went on, "Putting
everything else aside, she ran the most appalling danger of killing
you--you and every member of your household. Of course I don't know what
you mean to say to her----" he hesitated. "I understand that your
relations with her have been much closer and more kindly than are often
those between a servant and her employer," and as she nodded, he went
on: "The Dean was afraid that it would give you a terrible shock--in
fact, he himself seems extremely surprised and distressed; he had
evidently quite a personal feeling of affection and respect for this old
German woman, Anna Bauer!"

"And I am sure that if you had known her you would have had it too, Mr.
Reynolds," she answered naively. Somehow the fact that the Dean had
taken this strange and dreadful thing as he had done, made her feel less
miserable.

"Ah! One thing more before I take you to her. Anything incriminating she
may say to you will _not_ be brought as evidence against her. The point
you have to remember is that it is vitally important to us to obtain
information as to this local spy conspiracy or system, to which we
believe we already hold certain clues."

* * * * *

The police cell into which Mrs. Guthrie was introduced was in the
half-basement of the ancient Council House. The walls of the cell were
whitewashed with a peculiar, dusty whitewash tha