begins_, we
are as safe here as in the middle of Berlin. Once it begins--well, it
will be a very different story."

"And you don't think my coming will rouse any suspicion?" asked Eileen,
with, for the first time (I fancied), a faint suggestion of anxiety.

"Suspicion? Certainly not! Just think. Put yourself in the shoes of
the neighbours in the parish, or even of any naval officer who might
chance to learn you were here. What is more natural than that the
minister who--at the request of the people--is staying a week longer
than he intended, should get his sister to look after him? The
danger-point in both cases was passed when we got into the islands. We
know that there was no suspicion roused in either case."

"How do you know?" I interposed.

"Another quality required for this work," replied Tiel with a detached
air, "is enough imagination to foresee the precautions that will be
required. One wants to establish precaution behind precaution, just as
an army establishes a series of defensive positions. In this case I
have got our good friend Ashington watching closely for the first
evidence of doubt or inquiry. So that I _know_ that both my sister and
I passed the barrier without raising a question in anybody's mind."

"But how do you know that Ashington can be absolutely relied on?" I
persisted.

"Yes," put in Eileen, "I was wondering too."

"Because Ashington will certainly share my fate--whatever that may be,"
said Tiel grimly. "He knows that; in fact he knows that I have
probably taken steps to ensure that happening, in case there might be
any loophole for him."

"But can't a man turn King's evidence (isn't that the term?) and get
pardoned?" asked Eileen.

"Not a naval officer," said Tiel.

"No," I agreed. "I must say that for the British Navy. An officer
would have no more chance of pardon in it than in our own navy."

"Well," smiled Eileen, "I feel relieved! Don't you, Mr Belke?"

"Yes," I said, "I begin to understand the whole situation more clearly.
I pray that suspicion may not _begin_!"

"In that case," said Tiel, "you realise now, perhaps, why we have to
keep up acting, whether any one is watching us or not."

"Yes," I admitted, "I begin to see your reasons a little better. But
why didn't you tell me all this before?"

"All what?"

"Well--about Ashington, for instance."

"I suppose," he said, "the truth is, Belke, that you have laid your
finger on another instance of peop