t
before."

He smiled in the darkness as the car sped smoothly through the deserted
streets.

"I must plead guilty to being rather unoriginal," he said, "but I
promise you that this little adventure shall not end as did the last."

"It can hardly do that," she laughed, "I can only be married once
whilst Mr. Beale is alive."

"I forgot you were married," he said suddenly, then after a pause, "I
suppose you will divorce him?"

"Why?" she asked innocently.

"But you're not fond of that fellow, are you?"

"Passionately," she said calmly, "he is my ideal."

The reply took away his breath and certainly silenced him.

"How is this adventure to end?" she demanded. "Are you going to maroon
me on a desert island, or are you taking me to Germany?"

"How did you know I am trying to get to Germany?" he asked sharply.

"Oh, Mr. Beale thought so," she replied, in a tone of indifference, "he
reckoned that he would catch you somewhere near the coast."

"He did, did he?" said the other calmly. "I shall deny him that
pleasure. I don't intend taking you to Germany. Indeed, it is not my
intention to detain you any longer than is necessary."

"For which I am truly grateful," she smiled, "but why detain me at all?"

"That is a stupid question to ask when I am sure you have no doubt in
your mind as to why it is necessary to keep you close to me until I have
finished my work. I think I told you some time ago," he went on, "that I
had a great scheme. The other day you called me a Hun, by which I
suppose you meant that I was a German. It is perfectly true that I am a
German and I am a patriotic German. To me even in these days of his
degradation the Kaiser is still little less than a god."

His voice quivered a little, and the girl was struck dumb with wonder
that a man of such intelligence, of such a wide outlook, of such
modernity, should hold to views so archaic.

"Your country ruined Germany. You have sucked us dry. To say that I hate
England and hate America--for you Anglo-Saxons are one in your soulless
covetousness--is to express my feelings mildly."

"But what is your scheme?" she asked.

"Briefly I will tell you, Miss Cresswell, that you may understand that
to-night you accompany history and are a participant in world politics.
America and England are going to pay. They are going to buy corn from my
country at the price that Germany can fix. It will be a price," he
cried, and did not attempt to conceal his joy, "whi