rn ten
minutes--sometimes two and sometimes would merely flash up and down. A
more successful irritant could hardly have been devised. The shock of
the extreme contrast was in itself enough to infuriate an ordinary
individual. Richard would gladly have accepted total darkness in
preference to the blinding changes. This, however, was no part of his
tormentors' programme--it was clearly evident they intended to prey
upon his nerves as actively as possible. He reflected that no doubt
many other devices were in preparation to induce him to speak. There
was this talk of pineapple which appeared to carry with it some kind of
threat.

"Pineapple. Why the deuce should pineapple loosen a man's tongue?" he
said aloud as he struggled into a pair of pyjamas that had been laid on
the bed. "Might make his mouth water perhaps but----"

At this particular moment the lights came on and he was able to finish
undressing and nip between the sheets before the darkness fell again.

He observed with satisfaction that there was nothing funny about the
bed. It was soft and "cushy" and there were ample coverings. It was
vastly more comfortable than the bench which had supported him during
the preceding nights and this in itself was something to be grateful
for. After all, even if these earnest financiers perpetrated a few
ill-humoured practical jokes upon him he was being absurdly overpaid to
endure them.

Five thousand pounds for a fortnight's badgering. Who wouldn't put up
with a bit of discomfort for that. The wily Hun had handed him over
far more substantial terrors than these gentlemen were likely to
command and his pay for enduring them had worked out at approximately
three pound ten a week. He fell to considering in what manner he would
invest his earnings and a very attractive farming scheme in New Zealand
began to formulate prettily. Farming had always appealed to him and
there was a spot in the Canterbury district which had taken his fancy
when he had visited the South Island two years before. There were
green plains there and lettuce green woods and it was watered by a
network of fast running streams, great and little, where fat rainbow
trout sunned themselves in the shallows or leapt and jostled where the
water tumbled creaming over rock and boulder. By Gad! it would be
something like to build one's house in such surroundings--and maybe
later on to marry and----

It was the word marry that switched his thoughts