looked straight at Mr.
Naylor, who smiled; but there was guile behind the momentary exposure
of his yellow teeth.

"The crossing," continued Van Helder, "three times the alarm of
U-boats." He smiled a crafty little smile. "The Germans they make the
sea unsafe." Again he smiled.

"So you have been in London since the 21st." Mr. Naylor's tone was
casual; but his eyes glinted.

Van Helder nodded indifferently.

"Where are you staying?" Mr. Naylor's eyes never left his visitor's
face.

"At the Ritzton."

"You have been comfortable?" The tone was conversational.

Again Van Helder shrugged his shoulders.

"You have been seeing the sights?" Again the tone was casual; but in
Mr. Naylor's eyes there was a crafty look.

"It is as I have been told," said Van Helder with a smile. "Always
cautious. You are fond of dogs," he added irrelevantly, "I heard one."

"James does not like strangers." This with a sinister smile.

"No?" continued the other; taking a cigarette-case from his pocket and
offering it to Mr. Naylor who declined. "I may smoke?"

Mr. Naylor nodded.

Van Helder lighted a cigarette and proceeded to blow smoke rings with
quiet content. He wanted to think. It was obvious to him that
something was wrong, something lacking. There was the suggestion in
his host's manner of a cat watching a mouse, watching and waiting.

"You are becoming, how do you call it, ungeschickt," he said with a
disarming smile, as he blew three rings in rapid succession.

"You think so?" Mr. Naylor smiled amiably.

"Yes, how do you call it, awkward, clumsy. You have lived long in
England," he continued a little contemptuously, as he ejected more
smoke-rings.

"You find London interesting?" asked Mr. Naylor, with ominous calm. He
was determined to pick up the thread of conversation that had been
snatched from his hand.

"You are a fool." Van Helder turned just as he emitted a smoke-ring.
At the calm insolence of his tone Mr. Naylor started slightly, but
quickly recovered himself.

"What do you mean?"

"I have been in the Tower." For the fraction of a second Van Helder's
eyes sought those of Mr. Naylor. Was it relief that he saw? The
change was only momentary, just a flash.

Van Helder continued to blow smoke-rings as if entirely indifferent
alike to his host's presence and emotions. "I was released yesterday
morning. They apologised for my detention."

"And you came here?" f Mr. Naylor's voice was ev