s I went to the door I said--

"Don't be long about it, please!"

More and more the thought of leaving those two alone together, even for
a short while, filled me with angry uneasiness, and I paced my bedroom
floor impatiently enough. Judge then of my relief and delight when
within a few minutes Eileen knocked at my door and said--

"I have come to pay you a morning call if I may."

I began to wish then that Herr Tiel would spend an hour or two in
looking out clothes for me, and as a matter of fact he did. Eileen
explained that he had said he must do some errand in his capacity as
parish minister, but what the mystery-monger was really about, Heaven
knows!

"Now," said I to Eileen, when we were seated and I had lit a cigarette,
"I want to ask you something about this new scheme that we three are
embarked upon."

She began to shake her head at once.

"I am very much in the dark," said she. "Tiel tells me as little as he
tells you."

"You must surely know one thing. What is your own part in it? Why
were you brought into the islands? Such risks are not run for nothing."

"What is a woman's part in such a plan usually?" she asked in a quiet
voice.

I was a little taken aback. It was not exactly pleasant to think
of--in connection with Eileen.

"I believe they sometimes act as decoys," I said bluntly.

She merely nodded.

"Then that is your _role_?"

"I presume so," she said frankly.

"Who are you going to decoy?" I asked, and I felt that my voice was
harsh.

"Ask Herr Tiel," she answered.

"Not that gross brute Ashington surely!"

She shook her head emphatically, and I felt a little relieved.

"You have seen for yourself that he needs no further decoying," she
said.

"Then it must be some even higher game you're to be flown at."

"I wonder!" she said, and smiled a little.

I hated to see her smile.

"I don't like to think of you doing this," I exclaimed suddenly.

"Not even for Germany?" she asked.

I was silenced, but my blood continued to boil at the thought of what
might not be asked of her.

"Would you go to any lengths," I asked abruptly.

"For my country I would, to any lengths!" she answered proudly.

Again I felt rebuked, yet still more savage at the thought.

"You would even become some British Admiral's mistress?" I asked in a
low voice.

Her colour suddenly rose, and for an instant she seemed to start. Then
in rather a cool voice she said--

"Perhaps we are think