 Chapter 9 of the Yellow Dove by George Gibbs This LibriVox recording is in the public domain, recording by Tony Oliva. THE VIKINGS TOWER There in the middle of the afternoon, the butler brought her a note. For a moment before she read the superscription, a wild rush of something which might have been joy yet could not be, sent a pale flush of color into her cheek, that she glanced at the envelope carelessly, and when the man had gone, quickly opened it. It was from John Rizio, signed with the familiar initials, and begun without either name or qualification. It will think it's strange, perhaps, that I should write to you, after the events of last night, because the modesty of a woman is the last thing that forgives. My action is beyond apology, and I offer none for fear that it may be construed into a hope, a selfish hope, of an unimaginable forgiveness. Hope has passed. That with the others, but something else remains. Something less selfish than hope, and more vital than self-interest. And that is a whole-hearted wish that your honor may be kept free from the taint of the dark and fatty things with which it has come into contact. I am not a man, as you know, to boast of disinterestedness. I have lived a life in which my own affairs were always paramount, my own aims always most important. I am telling you this to warn you, that my generosity to Hammersley is not actuated by any love of a man who has spoiled my dearest ambition, but by the continued esteem with which I still regard yourself. I do not love him, and my own wish, my duty, my own honor, my loyalty to England, all acclaim that he should be delivered at once to those in authority, and yet I have refrained for you, Doris. But I have learned that H is in communication with G, and that Crenshaw of Scotland Yard is on the alert. I may not be able to save him. This is an appeal to the one person who has the most influence with him, and I ask that you use whatever power over him you possess to bring him to a sense of the impossibility of his mad plans. If you still have doubt as to the character of the work he has undertaken, I ask that you go to Benakilt tonight and listen secretly to convincing proof of what he is. For tonight, at one o'clock on the cliffs near the Old Vikings Tower, he will meet a personal messenger from G. I appeal to you for England, but more than for England, for yourself. Yours, J.R. Doris read the note through again and again, her thoughts blurring unpleasantly like a photograph out of focus. It seemed impossible that she could do what he asked of her. Every instinct wounded and sore from her last encounter revolted at the thought of meeting Cyril again, under the conditions presented. It was impossible that she should go. Cyril would only laugh at her or, what would be worse, show her the callousness and brutality that he had done this morning. Ritcio asked her to do what she could. Why should she save him? What had he done to merit such a sacrifice of pride on her part? The past? That was dead, and Cyril buried with it. England? She put her head forward into her hands and pressed her fingers to her temples. England? As the afternoon faded into night, the conviction grew in Doris' mind that the situation made personal considerations unimportant. After dinner, she excused herself and, dressing warmly, toward twelve o'clock went downstairs, past the library door and out to the stables. She found a sleepy groom and, giving him a liberal fee as the price of his silence, had a sidesaddle put on a good horse and made her way in the direction of Ben Achilt. She knew the road well, for she had traveled it many times with Cyril and Betty during the previous summer, when all the world was gay, and she and Cyril were lovers. She was a little nervous at being alone on the moor in the darkness, but not frightened. She gave herself greater hardy-hood by trying to remember that Cyril and Ritzio were gentlemen, one of whom she had thought she could have trusted with her life, the other a friend, who wanted to be trusted with it, and now, protested, he held her honor dearer than his own. Not her enemies, surely, and the thought of physical harm from either of them, the only thing that could have deterred her from this midnight venture, did not occur to her. But as she came to Sultum Rocks, the scene of Cyril's last nights encounter, she pressed forward more rapidly, with a keen eye upon the gray blur of the road. She reached the crossroads, her breath coming a little more rapidly, pulled her horse down to a walk, and turned in upon Cyril's property, going forward more slowly, until the present moment she had formulated no plan of action, nor had counted upon the possibilities of discovery. So she rode cautiously, making a long detour across the moor to avoid the lights of one of the Keeper's houses, which stood upon the road. She found that she had to choose her way among the rocks and winds, but her horse was sure-footed, and at a walk there was little danger of a cropper. She kept the road in sight, and by the fitful light of the stars, between the rack of mist and clouds that were coming in from the sea, she made her way in the general direction of the lodge. On her right, she had glimpses of the sea beyond the cliffs, and heard the pounding of the surf upon the rocks and shingle. The Viking's Tower was up among the rocks near Beaufort Head, half a mile beyond the house. She had been there with Cyril many times, and from the ruined wall had set with him and looked out over the North Sea, while he had told her in his sporty vernacular, The Story of the Tower, and of the Johnny's who had built it. It was difficult to identify that Cyril, now, with the man of mystery lurking out there somewhere in the dark, his mind set on the odious business of betraying his country. The lodge was set inland from the sea, in a valley between two ridges, which narrowed down to a fissure in the rocks that fell away to Beaufort Cove, a small harbor almost landlocked, where Cyril kept his motorboats in sloop. As the girl approached the lodge, she turned far to the left, and made a wide circle among the hills, so that there could be no chance of inquisitive eyes discovering the bold silhouette of her horse against the sky. Slowly she climbed the lower ridges of Benacilt, until she reached a level spot, high above the house, garage, stables, and hangar, where she stopped for a moment to rest her winded horse. Below her, a wild panorama of land and windblown sky, the rugged profile of black rocks etched deep into the sullen gray of the sea. Seen from this height, the contours were unfamiliar to her, and the purpose of her grim visit gave the grim vista a dramatic significance that was almost theatrical. Long lines emerged from the dark blur of sea and sky, and broared in upon the rocks that guarded the harbor, upon which they were shivered into foam. Inside the rim of rocks, the placid cove calmly reflected the sky. She saw the motorboats near the landing, made out the specter lines of Cyril's sloop, the windbird, and in the shadow of the cliffs saw another vessel, the lines of which were unfamiliar. This craft was long and slender, with a wireless mast and two large smokestacks. No light showed a board of her, but there were signs of activity. For while the girl looked, a small boat was lowered, and was pulled for the landing, and suddenly the real meaning of this dark vessel was born to her. There was no mistaking the grim profile of the thing that projected from the forward superstructure and the curving decks, which met the water in such slender lines. It was a war vessel, a destroyer, and the man who was putting out for the shore was the German messenger, who was to meet Cyril Hammersley at Benekeelt. She trembled and clung to the pommel of her saddle, the brief joyous moments that had come to her at intervals during the evening, as she thought of the inflections of Cyril's voice, of the weary look she had seen in his eyes, and hoped that even tonight he might be able to justify himself, in her own thoughts at least, were engulfed in the damning conviction of what she saw before her. John Ritzio had told her the truth, how he had learned what was to happen, she did not know or care, but the accuracy of his information was no longer a matter to doubt. She looked around her in the darkness toward the way by which she had come, really frightened for the first time that evening, as at the palpable presence of sin. For a moment she hesitated in her intention to go forward, she had seen enough to convince her, there was no need of more, but the real object of her mission nerved her to her task. She must go on at once if she wished to reach the tower in time to conceal herself. So she pressed her horse along the hill, and when she had crossed the ridge, rode down in a path parallel to the edge of the cliffs, which brought her, after a while, into a line with Beaufort Head, where she could see the dim mass of the ruin rising above the chaos of rock that surrounded it. When she reached a spot not too far distant, she dismounted in a clump of bushes and, fastening the bridle of her horse to the gnarled limb of a stunted tree crept forward on foot. The excitement of the venture and its possible consequences now gave her renewed strength and caution. Moving to the left toward the northern side of the tower, she clambered over the rocks toward the sea. There should be plenty of time to reach a place of concealment before the occupant of the Beaufort Head time to climb the steep and tortuous path from the landing, and peering from side to side, pausing from time to time to listen, she reached the shadow of Table Rock, a huge slab of granite, which had been tossed by some convulsion of nature upon the very summit of the head. The physical contours of the place made her approach an easy one, for the cliffs were strewn with boulders, and it was easy to slip from one to another without detection. Assured that the spot that she had reached was as near the tower as she dared approach for the present, she wedged herself into a crevice between two rocks into which she might pass and go out by the other side, and sank down upon her knees and waited. The moments passed slowly, where was John Ritcio? Would Cyril never come? She had a moment of horror in the thought that the German messenger might come and discover her before Cyril arrived. What would he do to her? Kill her, of course, and in a panic of sinking nerves, she thought of getting to her feet and fleeing into the friendly darkness from which she had come. She had even risen, and her head was just below the level of the top of her refuge, when she heard footsteps close by and got the odor of a cigarette, so she sank back, her hand at her heart, to quiet its throbbing. The footsteps passed her, returned, and then went toward the tower, and she bared her head and peered cautiously out. A tall figure in a long coat and deer stalker cap was standing, watching the path to the landing. She could not see his features, but she knew that it was Cyril. For one moment she thought of running to him and throwing herself at his feet and pleading with him, while there was still time, to go away into the darkness with her, anywhere before this stranger should reach him. But her courage failed her, and she sank back into her corner, and when she straightened again her moment had passed, for she heard other footsteps to her right of a man as he clambered up the rocks. He passed quite near her, a burly man in a naval cap and coat, out of breath from his exertions. Cyril came forward to meet him, and she heard the short words of their greeting, Herhamersli, ja. She peered out and saw the burly man straighten, his heels together, and touched his fingers to the rim of his cap. Cyril bowed, and asked a question, and the other replied in a sentence that contained the word Hochheit, which was the only word she understood. She crept a little closer, so that she could hear more distinctly, hoping that her slight knowledge of German might aid her. She watched Cyril to see if he passed anything to the German officer. Instead of this, the German took a letter from an inside pocket and handed it to Cyril, and she heard the words Hochheit again, and, excellent, a message it seemed, from some prince, or from some general, or high official of the German government. Cyril appeared to offer apologies, and broke the seal of the envelope, bringing from the pocket of his overcoat an electric torch, by the aid of which he read the letter. Doris could see his face quite plainly, in the reflected light from the page, and mark the deep lines at his brows, and the stern look at his mouth and chin. He went over the document twice, very carefully, and then as he turned to his companion, she heard his voice saying quite distinctly in German, You know the purport to this paper? No Herr Hammersley, said the officer. My orders are merely to deliver this letter, which was to receive your acceptance. Cyril paused for a long moment, tapping the document lightly with his finger, and then taking a pencil from his pocket, bent over, and, upon the nearest rock, wrote something. Then he slipped the letter into its envelope, and handed it to the other, who put it into his pocket, saluted again, and with a hurried farewell, turned down the path, and was gone. That was all. The interview had not lasted more than five minutes, but Doris knew, by the look she had seen on Cyril's face, that danger threatened. The letter had contained a command, a command from a German officer of high rank, to Cyril Hammersley, a spy, receiving his orders from the government he served. If he had gone back to the lodge at this moment, she would have let him go past her without a word, for the bitterness came back into her heart, and engulfed all purpose. She sat in her place of concealment, peering out at him, fascinated. He moved nearer, and then stood, his feet braced on the rocks, gazing down the path by which his midnight visitor had disappeared. How long he stood there motionless she could not know, but as the moments passed, and he did not move, she rose from her cranny, her trembling nerves, seeking an outlet in motion, or speech. Why didn't he move? At last her overtaxed nerves could no longer endure, and she came out of the shadow, and spoke his name. Still he made no motion, and she realized that her lips had made no sound. But her foot touched a small stone, which fell among the rocks, and she saw him wheel around and face her quickly, something glittering in his hand while his voice rang sharply. Stand where you are! It took a few threatening steps toward her, his look studying her small bulk. It's I, Cyril, she said faintly, Doris! You, he glanced to right and left, putting the thing in his pocket, and faced her incredulous, What are you doing here, Doris? I came to, to see you again. His eyes were still searching the darkness around them. Who told you to come here? No one, she lied. I followed you. Who saw you come? You heard. Yes, slowly. Oh, Cyril, I can't let you go from me like this. She put her face into her hands and felt his arms enfold her. She trembled, but in this weakness a new kind of strength came to her. I want you to come with me away, away from all this. For me, for England, it's my last appeal. You must not refuse it. I, I want you so, Cyril, as it used to be. She felt his lips gently touch her brow and heard his whisper. God bless you. She clung to him desperately, to his caress, the one sure symbol of his purity. I love you, Cyril. She murmured. I can't help it. I've tried not to. But you couldn't kiss me like this reverently if you did not love me well enough to forget everything else. Say you do, dear. I love you. He whispered again, but you must not stay here. You must. Doesn't it mean something to you that I came? She went on breathlessly that I could forget what happened that the love that was in my heart for you was greater than my hatred of what you are. I came so that you could know it by the difficulty, the danger that I ran. I don't care what others may think of me. The only thing that matters is to have you again. You don't know what it costs me to come. I am not the kind to be held so lightly, Cyril. I have forgotten my pride, even my sense of what is fitting for a girl to do in the hope that you will listen to me. Yes, he murmured, but not now, Doris. You must go back. Not yet, she protested. I have much to do, he said. That messenger. Oh, Cyril, you mustn't come back with me. Tonight. Now. I can't. He muttered, It is important for me to stay here. She loosened his arms and stood away from him, peering down into the cove where the clouds of black smoke were belching from the funnels of the black vessel. The water of the cove was churning in its wake and its prowl was turning toward the harbor mouth. Suddenly she saw Cyril start and peer around him in the darkness. Who sent you here? She heard his voice in a strangled whisper at her ear. No one. She denied again. I followed you. That isn't possible, Doris, he said quickly. I have reasons for no one. You were here before I came. Rizio told you. He knew what was to happen. He was the only one who could have known. Why? Her curiosity sent all subterfuge flying. She could see his pale face in the moonlight. Because it was Rizio who sent this messenger to meet me. Rizio? The mystery was deepening. I can't understand. He hesitated a long moment before replying, as though weighing something in his mind. I'll tell you this much, he said at last. You've a right to know. Rizio told you that he was an agent of the English government. It's my word against his. You can believe me or not if you like. Rizio is a spy of Germany. Impossible. John Rizio. She whispered a gasp. He laughed. The pot calling the kettle black. What? It's the truth. But Rizio, what object would he have in between England? A man of his position. That's the kind of men England's enemies want. Put in sterile dryly. But he has no need of money. Impossible. No, not money. There are other things that John Rizio values more than money. What? He caught her by the arm impressively to make his meaning clear. You don't know the passion of collectors. They would sell their souls for the things they want. The things that seem impossible are the things they want the most. But I don't understand. After the war, Rizio is to be permitted to buy Ruben's descent from the cross, from the German government. Oh, she gasped in horror. A new idea of the terrible possibilities of duplicity was born to her. But she couldn't believe. How do you know this? She asked. He laughed. It's one of the things I stopped in London to find out. Then you? I am a German spy. I don't believe you. She cried proudly. There was a note of joy in her voice, a momentary note which seemed to trail off into one of terror. Cyril, she whispered, Rizio, he wrote me to come here. I knew it. But he said he. She hesitated. Why did he want me to come? There must have been some other reason besides wanting me to see. He's here, Cyril, somewhere. Hammersley started and turned his hand in his pocket. And Doris followed his look. Three men had risen from the rocks toward the tower. Don't move, Hammersley, said Rizio's voice. You're in danger, Doris. But the girl was cleaning to Cyril's arm. No, no, she was crying. Several shots rang out as Cyril threw her aside, dashing forward. One of the men seemed to stumble among the rocks and fall heavily. The other came in toward Cyril, his arm raised. But another shot from behind the rocks made him pause, twist half around, his hand to his shoulder, as Cyril caught him a blow which sent him reeling to the edge of the cliff, over which he hung for a moment, peering downwards in horror, and then disappeared from view. Well done, striker, she heard Cyril cry. The other, this way, don't let him get off. And striker disappeared after Rizio. End of chapter 9. Chapter 10 of The Yellow Dove by George Gibbs. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain, recording by Tony Oliva. The Yellow Dove. In a daze, Doris saw Cyril bend over the prostrate figure and then come toward her. Dead, she whispered in horror, but he didn't seem to hear her. He caught her by the arm and forcibly led her inland. Dead, she whispered again. It might have been you, or you, she heard him say sharply. Me, yes, but it's my fault. I should have gazed. John Rizio wouldn't kill me. Oh, it's unbelievable. You know too much. He gave a short laugh. Far too much for your own good, or mine. He caught her suddenly by both arms and made her look straight into his eyes. Doris, you've seen nothing. You've heard nothing tonight. Do you understand? His grasp on her arms heard her, but she bore it without a murmur. Yes, she said. You swear it? Yes, faintly. I do. I've got to go away from Benakir tonight. I can't tell you why. You've got to go straight to Kilmorak House now. You're owed over. Take the shortcut by Horsham Hill. It's not so well known. I would go with you, but I haven't a moment to spare. Don't trust anyone, not even the maids at the house. Go back to London tomorrow with Jack Sandys, and don't let him leave you until you're safe at Ashwater Park. Where's your horse? She told him and followed blindly. Where are you going, Cyril? She pleaded. It doesn't matter. He found the horse and untied the bridle. Tell me, Cyril, I've earned the right to know. Something has happened, he said quietly, which has put all my plans in danger. And you? Yes, the thing I've been trying to do may fail. It hangs or falls by this issue. But what? What? You can't know that, he said quickly. Don't ask me anything more. I can't answer, but trust in me if you can. Trust in me, Doris. And if you love me, silence. He gave her a lift into the saddle and kissed her hand. Then he looked around him and gave a parting injunction. Now, cut sharp off the right in the darkness until you strike the old sheep trail. You can see it quite plainly in the heather. Follow it to the head of the ridge, then take the road to Horsham Hill. Goodbye, and God bless you. A sob rose in her throat, and she could only wave a hand in reply. And so she left him standing there, alone, gazing after her with bared head in the darkness. The strain on her nerves had told on her, and she set her side saddle listlessly, holding on by the pommel and peering into the darkness before her, with eyes that saw nothing but pictures of death. She could not forget the wounded man grasping at space as he tottered on the rim of the rocks. Cyril had killed a man. War. She had thought war a more glorious thing. This seemed very like murder. She blessed God for striker, who had come so opportunely. Ritcio had tried to kill Cyril. In horror she had seen him raise his pistol and aim, but at her cry he had missed his shot, and with the disabling of his Confederates he had fled. Ritcio was a German spy. Then, since they were enemies, of course, Cyril was loyal, playing a part to deceive the enemy, learning its secrets that England might profit by them. The message. What was the message that the German naval officer had brought, which had so disturbed Cyril? What was this mysterious duty of Cyril's, which meant so much to his cause, the success or failure of which hung by a thread? She tried to think what Cyril could do in England, and after a time the thing began to come to her. Cyril was acting for England. He had succeeded in the guise of a German secret agent, in finding the traitor in the war office, and it was Cyril who had caused the arrest of Captain Byfield. Ritcio, too, was a German spy, who for some reason or other had been sent. Oh, God, that was it! The German suspected Cyril and had used John Ritcio to put him to the test. Had set a thief to catch a thief. Cyril had found that the message was a dangerous one, and had refused to give it up to Ritcio. That seemed to explain everything. Cyril's willingness to have her burn the papers. Ritcio's anxiety to save them, that he might send them to his employers. The second packet of papers? A false message, prepared for a purpose which Cyril was to fulfill. The German naval officer, his message, what was it? Imagination refused to aid her. She could not understand. He brought a command, a test of Cyril's loyalty to Germany perhaps. Was that it? And if so, what? A test which meant victory or defeat. That was what Cyril's last words had meant. Victory or defeat, life or death. It was a desperate game that he was playing. And what was he going to do tonight, that made it necessary for him to leave her, to ride to Kilmora House alone? Bewildered and weary with excitement and much thinking, she gave it up, and as in a days set her mind to the task of finding the way to Horsham Hill, she rode on inland, searching for the old sheep trail as Cyril had described it to her. But as the minutes went by and she did not find it, she began to think that she must have passed it in the darkness. She had ridden at a walk for hours, it seemed, keeping as she thought, in a direction which would surely lead her to a road toward the hill, but she realized now that she was lost on the moor, and that it might be morning before she would find her way to Betty Heath Coats. She stopped her horse and peered in every direction. Nothing but the undulations of the moor, hill and dale, a dead tree outlined against the sky, masses of rock uncouth in form, bushes which whispered in the wind, the babble of a tarn somewhere behind her, though she had not remembered passing it, there were no lights in any direction, none even from the heavens, for the stars had gone out. After a long while she wondered vaguely what time it was. She had no watch, but it seemed that a paleness like that which precedes the dawn had spread along the sky, though it hardly seemed possible it could be so late as that. Three, four o'clock she thought it might be, perhaps later. The one thing that now seemed to persist in her mind was the hope that Wilson had obeyed orders and kept Lady Heath Coat in ignorance of her absence. She was startled by her horse which, without moving, had stretched his neck and whinnied loudly. He too had realized the aimlessness of their wanderings and wanted the warm stalls at the Kilmoric stables. Doris tried to think what was best to do, although a sense of direction was gone and she was beyond even the sound of the sea. At last she decided to try a slight eminence and see if she could make out the bulk of Ben-Aquilt, but a mist had fallen, and when she reached the height she was no wiser than before. Fortunately it was not cold, and if she did not fall from the saddle and utter weariness, daylight would show her away. But down from her horse, and fastening him to a bush, walked to and fro to keep awake, waiting for the day. For at sunrise she could make her way toward the east until she reached the coast, after which by following the cliffs to the right she would reach the lodge, and from there the way to Kilmoric house. She had grown accustomed to the silences and now and then paused in her pacing to stop and listen. She thought she heard a sound different from the others. Behind her it seemed a subdued murmur, which as she listened grew in intensity until she clearly made it out to be the quick reverberations of a motor running with its cut-out open. It was coming fast, and in a moment a long fan of light shot across the sky from below the brow of a distant hill, and then fell suddenly to earth, where it picked out the shapes of trees and bushes, along which appeared to be its road. The motor was not travelling toward her, but at an angle which would make it pass near her. But quickly, as she mounted and rode toward it, she was unable even to come within earshot before the machine had passed, and was lost to sight in the distance. It had not gone by so rapidly that Doris had not been able to make out on a rise of ground against the sky the profile of a roadster and the shapes of two men. Cyril and Striker there could be no doubt about it for the body of Cyril's car was familiar to her and the chances of any other machine being abroad in this locality at this hour were remote indeed. Where were they going? In which direction? Toward Saltum Rocks or northward? She did not know, but decided to take the chance and follow. She reached the road without difficulty. A trail it appeared to be with well-defined wheel tracks and the marks of hoofs. She pressed her horse onward in the wake of the speeding machine, not to overtake it, but to reach a destination of some sort which would be better than the utter loneliness of the desolate moor, the silence and inaction of which made her a prey to unhappy thoughts. Her horse was willing and as the going was good, broke into a brisk trot which for a while kept the glow of the swinging searchlight of the machine in sight. Presently that too disappeared and all was as before and glancing above, she understood. To her right, a pale streak of light was showing along the horizon and above her between patches of dark clouds she caught a faint reflection of violet light. It was the beginning of the dawn. Dawn on her right, that meant the east. She was riding north then, north then to what destination? She had ridden this road with Cyril, but never to its end which as she knew was among the unhospitable crags of Ruda Moor, a wild spot unfrequented by any except Cyril's gamekeepers. What was Cyril's errand in the night to such a place when everything that had happened would seem to indicate the necessity for his immediate return to London? The same kind of curiosity that had made her open the package of cigarette papers against Cyril's wishes stimulated her to follow this quest to its end. She forgot that she had had no sleep all night and little the night before. A physical weariness now she seemed to have none and in the growing light she urged her tired horse forward into a hard gallop which covered the miles swiftly. She came to the cliffs and saw the sea past inland again. The going was rougher here, less turf and more rocks and winds. While to her left the hills were split by crags which protruded in fantastic shapes like heads of prisoned monsters of the underworld which had forced their way up through the crust of the earth to the light of day. It was curious. The trail was well-worn here as it had been before and there were signs of much hauling. What was going on at Rudamore? The place could not be far distant for she saw that the road wound up the rocks and fell away rapidly into a deep gorge the further side of which she could see dimly colored with the opalescent tent of the east. This, she thought, must be nearly the end of her ride. She did not know what was in store for her and was doubtful as to her wisdom but she was eaten with curiosity and dismounted, led her horse slowly to the lip of the gorge and peered over. What she saw made her gasp. She drew quickly back tethered her horse to a bush and came forward again. Nearby, under a shed built on the brink of the cliff was Cyril's Roadster but of Cyril and Stryker she saw no sign. Beneath her feet the cliffs fell away rapidly by easy steps down which she marked a well-worn footpath. The bottom of the gorge was of rock and sand salving gradually toward the sea and fairly in its middle built strongly of rough lumber. She saw a shed with wide doors which even now were open a large hanger from which as she looked several figures wheeled forth a huge aeroplane to a platform of planks which extended for a long way toward the sea. From a distance it was difficult to judge its measurements but by comparison with the heights of the men Doris knew that she had never seen a machine so large. As the east grew lighter she could see Cyril plainly. He came out of the hanger dressed in leather gave some orders which made the other figures hurry and a series of deafening explosions from the engine as they tuned it up gave Doris a sense of immediate departure. For a while she watched fascinated her interest in the size of this huge toy and its possibilities making a separate mind picture which superseded all those that had gone before but as the light grew stronger and she made out the color of the wide yellow planes she started up with a cry which would have been heard by the men below her the racket that the engine was making a huge machine with yellow wings she remembered Jack Sandy's description a thousand horsepower at least the yellow dove this was the yellow dove and the man of mystery its driver was Cyril spellbound and trembling with excitement she watched Cyril climb up into one of the seats Cyril was going to fly to the Germans she knew it now to obey the commands which had been brought last night by the German officer commands to come to Germany and explain his failure to deliver his secret message to Ritzio they suspected him and yet he was going to face them it was desperate, foolhardy, insane he would never come back not victory but death that was what it meant she ran out to the very edge of the rocks shrieking his name but the sounds were lost in the fearful den of the motor below the explosions echoed and re-echoed in the gorge which seemed to quiver with the volume of sound not a head from below was turned up to look at her and she had a sense of her own unimportance in the immensity of Cyril's viewpoint she saw the yellow machine start slowly down the incline gathering momentum as it ran until it left the runway and rose magnificently its engine roaring steadily clearing the surf and rocks and heading straight into the growing day oh god that she could have suspected him of anything base and dishonorable a man who could face death as he was doing as he had been doing for months Cyril, the yellow dove there could be no doubt of it for she had seen with her own eyes she understood now many things that had been a mystery before why he could not speak to her the reasons for his occasional absences for his air of indifference for his coolness in the face of adverse criticism she understood about John Ritcio and the reasons why Cyril had wanted her to take such precautions in getting safely back to Ashwater Park precautions which she had disregarded but what mattered about her when Cyril every day every hour for months had taken chances against death the most ignominious death of all her heart was big with pride in him and she followed the yellow dove with her gaze now rising high and diminishing rapidly in the mist her soul in her moist eyes and on her lips which were whispering words that she hoped could follow him into the distance her Cyril still hers and England's the honorable Cyril whom the world had come to know as the yellow dove she stood in the shelter of the rocks for she knew now in which way her duty to Cyril lay and waited until the aeroplane was but a speck against the sky when she turned with a sigh which was almost a gasp of weariness and walked slowly toward her horse the ride before her was long but by good riding she might still reach Kilmork house before Lady Betty's guests were up otherwise her reputation was gone she knew that for she could make no explanation of any kind on that she was quick footsteps behind her her arms caught from behind a glimpse of a strange face and then something white over her head a pungent odor and unconsciousness End of Chapter 10 Chapter 11 of the yellow dove by George Gibbs this Liberfox recording is in the public domain recording by Tony Oliva Von Stromberg in the Tonnes range north of the Schwarzwald lies the village of Vindenberg on the slopes of the well-wooded hills that lead by slow stages to higher elevations of the Grosse Feltberg in the valleys are vineyards orchards chestnut and almond groves and in times of peace the people are contented well to do and industrious the Schloss of the Counts von Vinden stands upon an eminence and looks down upon a rolling country of velvety woods extending for miles along the slope of the range in this region of furs and beech trees one might walk for miles off the roads coming upon a sign of human habitation or indeed without passing the boundaries of the von Vinden estate but three miles from Vinden Schloss well hidden among the hills was a spot of cleared land containing perhaps 200 acres which had once been used by the von Vinden family as a farm but had been taken since the beginning of the war by the state for purposes of its own a good road led to Vindenberg five miles away through the forest but much secrecy attached to Blauffelden as the place was called men of the Imperial Forest Service kept guard upon all the roads and no one but those having official permission were allowed to come within two miles of the place a visit would have soon explained the reasons for this extraordinary care on the part of the men in uniform for not far from the house and stables unobtrusive buildings of brick and stone were aviation sheds a well supplied garage and storage houses which indicated at almost any hour of the day or night a military activity within the farmhouse of Blauffelden rather late in a night in March a tall iron grey figure slender button to the neck and a close fitting uniform coat pay slowly up and down a plain wooden table stood in the center of the room it was lighted by a lamp with a green shade and covered with papers arranged in orderly piles there were chairs strongly but simply made colored rug and the walls were decorated with pictures of hunting scenes while over the stone fireplace in which the pine logs intermittently blazed there was a colored lithograph of the emperor of Germany it was the kind of room and the kind of furniture one would expect to find in any of the rural districts of the great empire the difference that nowhere was there visible the touch of a woman's hand whatever its original purpose the room at the present moment contained only the essentials of the barest comfort and the figure of the man in uniform erect silent and austere completed the impression which the barrack likes simplicity of his surroundings created cleanliness efficiency expressed in the simplest terms the German officer stopped pacing the room and touched a bell upon the table his brows were furrowed and his broad capable hands tapped impatiently upon the documents his summons was answered almost immediately by a man in the uniform of the Jägers the imperial forest service who stood silently his heels together awaiting orders there has been no word asked the officer in German none excellence you stationed your men as I directed yes excellence the officer paused and then send Herr Hauptmann von Winden the moment he arrives the man saluted wheeled and went out closing the door noiselessly behind him the tall figure regarded the door fixedly for a moment in deep thought and then tapped the back of his left hand with the fingers of his right a habit he had when things were not going to his liking General Graf von Strombeck privy counselor to the German emperor and head of the military sections of the secret service was not a person accustomed to have things go wrong and delay of any kind annoyed him exceedingly but the door of the room opened and a young officer in uniform appeared and stood awaiting the will of his superior he was blond, ruddy and well set up and bore all the marks of the army training a member beyond doubt of the military cast with something in the clearly cut if somewhat arrogant features of his face suggested good blood and lineage ah Herr Hauptmann said the general frowning you have heard yes excellence he should be here by midnight what was the cause of the delay he was forced to come down at Ostend yesterday it has taken him all day to make repairs he is on the way now von Strombeck grunted his chair at the table motioning the younger officer into one beside him come sit down let's forget that we are parts of the intricate machinery of state here is a cigar smoke it will do you good von Winden flattered by this mark of condescension obeyed you are glad von Strombeck asked yes excellence it is not the kind of thing one wants to be worried about one's own flesh and blood but I knew there must have been a mistake general von Strombeck puffed his smoke toward the ceiling and stretched his long legs upon the floor it is very curious I am not sure that I understand Helizio is a careful man and he has much at stake why should your cousin Hammersley have refused to take cognizance of his credentials he had doubtless good reasons of his own but since he will soon be here he will answer your questions himself the fact that he comes at all excellence should be proof of his loyalty yes said the general thoughtfully that should be true one doesn't thrust one's head to the lion's mouth for the mere pleasure of examining his teeth who sent this message general von Betzdorf there were no other wireless communications non-excellence but Stammer should reach Wilhelm's half-in tonight the general smoked silently for a moment and then her Hammersley's mother was a prussian yes excellence yes I remember now von Eppingen the general muttered his brows wrinkled and then you saw much of your cousin for a while he went with me to the gymnasium then to the university of Heidelberg his come over each year and shot with me here at Windenberg you are fond of him von Winden shrugged he is my relative we have always got along I should not have cared to find that he was a traitor the general smoked silently his gaze on the fire but his father was an englishman graph von Winden we can't forget that tell me you have known him always what was his attitude at the university did he show a real affection for german life and customs in short was he ever able to forget that half of him was english Udo von Winden pulled at his small blond mustache thoughtfully I can only say that he was quieter than most of us but he was popular he was a member of the Saksbusia and represented the corps on the Menzio Bodin against Swethia and Gestfalia oppression for all that any of us knew Prussian of Prussians his father died when he was quite young I believe yes excellence but his father too had lived much in Germany he was a diplomat and scholar and enjoyed the friendship of the iron chancellor that was before the Husk-Zong excellence or before the talk growled the general your loyalty to your cousin is natural but loyalty to the Vaterland Udo von Winden rose quickly you would not suggest excellence Clutch! sit down captain I suggest nothing there are merely some phases of the question which puzzle me perhaps when he arrives he can explain them he will explain I will stake my honour on it trust so this is hardly a time when my department can afford to make mistakes in the character of those in its employ but, excellence you surely have no cause to doubt the exactness of the information he has furnished you it depends on what you mean by exactness our information as you know comes from a number of sources some of it has proven valuable some useless Herr Hammersley's has been neither the one nor the other but the British fleet at Cookshafen yes he gave us that but they came two days earlier than we expected it cost us the Blücher but you knew that the orders were changed and he sent a wireless the morning the Blücher was sunk said von Stromberg but excellence he gave us a clear see for the reed on the foul mouth General von Stromberg rose and laid his hand on von Winden's shoulder you are younger than I graph von Winden the secret service makes a maxim to believe everyone guilty until he proves his innocence but Herr Hammersley we have a reason to believe that the British government permitted the reed on foul mouth as a means of increasing the enlistments he slowly paced the floor and then said reassuringly oh I merely question I merely question his words trailed off and Udo von Winden stood silently until he spoke again oh very well we shall see a knock at the door and an orderly entered well dispatches excellence Udo von Winden watched his superior officer as he dismissed the man and broke the seal of a large envelope and read the lamplight playing on his long bony features giving his sharp nose a peculiarly vulture like a vitity the importance of the communication was obvious for the small eyes under the heavy thatch of brows flamed in sudden interest the general read the paper through quickly and then slipped it between the buttons of his coat that would be all Herr Hauptmann he said with a return of his military abruptness you will go at once to the hangar and await the arrival of Herr Hammersley and as the officer moved toward the door also Herr Hauptmann wintz that I wish to see him at once von Winden clapped his heels together saluted and went out while the general paced the floor of the room again tapping the back of his left hand with his right it is curious he muttered to himself a coincidence perhaps but strange and yet possible while he was reading the document again Captain Wenz entered he was short thickly set and dark with a blue chin and heavy eyebrows the type of a man who rises in the surface from sheer ability he waited at the door immovable in the presence of the great man until ordered to approach an important message has come from the Wilhelmstrasse which indicates a mission of peculiar importance the general paused a moment his keen eyes searching Captain Wenz with a terrible density but the face of the younger man remained expressionless he was merely a piece of machinery excellent machinery you may have thought it curious Herr Hauptmann wintz that I should have come from the Wilhelmstrasse to Blauffelden is it not so it is not my duty to think excellence unless ordered to do so said the other briefly the general smiled the answer pleased him I wish to see Herr Hammersley as you know that is important and the yellow dove cannot go to Berlin he stopped and then went on quickly Herr Hauptmann you have been attached to the secret service department three years yes excellence I have performed several important duties and have won promotion I am now about to commit to your care ah at a gesture of von Stromberg's thumb the officer went on tiptoe to the door and opened it quickly no one excellence good now sit first you speak French without accent that was part of my qualification for this service yes it is in my mind to give you an important mission one which will require great skill and fortitude thence listened attentively but he made no comment it is unnecessary of course to warn you to hold what I tell you in the strictest confidence I do not talk excellence this is a matter of grave importance to the empire which concerns one of the enemies of the Vaterland the safe delivery of certain dispatchers which I am to receive may mean a readjustment of the European situation perhaps the end of the war with Germany victorious and England humiliated the eyes of Captain Vence grew a little rounder and sparkled ever so slightly but he said nothing I am telling you this but you may know the importance of the duty I am giving you it is an honor which I hope you will appreciate an honor that may lead to greater favors than you have hitherto received I hope I may deserve them excellence General von Stromberg took the paper from his breast and glanced over it again you will remember he continued the affair of the socialist Schalck I knew nothing of the details excellence that matter came in the duty of obelieutnant von Wehringrad this much than only I need tell you Hergot Schalck Ledetschendorf near here came into the possession in a manner which need not be described of certain important papers it kept them for some time to wear of their importance and then realizing their value and being a good German though opposed to the war two weeks ago communicated with the government the result of this correspondence was a summons from Berlin and the delivery of these papers into the hands of the emperor do you follow me yes excellence this letter which I have just received by special messenger informs me that his majesty has decided to act at once and gives me three days in which to make arrangements to have these papers which will be forwarded tomorrow delivered to General Daumier commanding at Verdun to be handed before a certain date to the president of the French Republic you are to be the bearer of those letters they must be delivered personally you will be provided with the proper passes and facilities including an armed escort to the French lines from there you must trust to your own resources the important matter is that no one not even captain von Winden shall suspect your mission now you will realize the confidence I am reposing I am honored excellence these papers will arrive tomorrow tomorrow night by automobile at 11 by the Schendorf road and until then you will have time to make your arrangements I shall prepare excellence Captain Vence rose but the general halted him one thing more Captain Hammersley is returning tonight from England with dispatches he is to be carefully watched tonight and tomorrow though I shall let him believe that he moves in perfect freedom you will give the necessary orders also I would like you to keep watch outside the door when he is brought to this room which may be at any moment super fail excellence that is all you may go left alone General von Stromberg took a chair facing the fire and lighted another cigar for many years he had been engaged in deciphering interesting problems and in preparing problems for other persons to decipher therefore it may be truly said that his was the analytical mind the mind of the chemist of the mathematician and the philosopher with so complete a schooling in the trade of deception that all things and all persons in the cosmic scheme except himself were objects of suspicion for him the obvious was the negligible and by converse the negligible of prime importance as he had said to von Vinden every man was guilty until he was proven innocent he had a rare nose for senting unsuspected odors and a fine hand for finding the weak links in the armor of those he used as well as those who sought to use him he had a faculty for appearing at places where he was least expected and a prescience almost miraculous in forestalling the moves of his adversaries with fear and by admiration and there was not a man in the empire with a skeleton in his closet no matter how high his station who did not live without a terror of von Stromberg in his heart but the habit of mind of suspecting everybody while it had placed him upon the safe side of every equation had also resulted through the elimination of the sentimental in eliminating the more direct contacts with human nature to judge a man by his possibilities for finality is like judging a rose by the sharpness of its thorn something of the weakness of this cynicism had been apparent to the keen intellect of von Stromberg and he had been finding of late a rare pleasure in trifling with his convictions admitting into the stored cavern of his mind for experimental purposes an occasional ray of optimism at the present moment he was analyzing the result of his summons to Herr Hammersley to come to Germany at once and the communication from Herr Ritzio which impugned Herr Hammersley's loyalty to Germany von Stromberg had known Herr Ritzio for years and had done him more than one service in finding ways to cater to his passion for collecting objects of art it was German social influence secretly exerted that had helped to make easy Ritzio's rise in favor at the court of St. James there had been a possibility that someday John Ritzio might be of service to von Stromberg and to Germany and von Stromberg had long been laying the plans which had made his system of espionage the most perfect in Europe von Stromberg had found Ritzio's weakness and had traded on it saving his most tempting bait for his greatest service the betrayal of the home of his adoption he weighed Ritzio contentedly sure of his own power over him and despising him for having been so easily bought Rubens dissent from the cross there were fortunately other Rubens's in conquered territory some very good ones that John Ritzio might like von Stromberg had made a list of them he had learned that it was as necessary to be provided with bribes as with threats fortunately Ritzio himself had given him material for the latter racially the great counselor did not like Latins and he was quite sure he cared less for Italians now than he did before the proclamation of neutrality they were not to be trusted by good Germans if Ritzio had played false to the country of his adoption for the sake of a paltry picture was within the bounds of possibility that he could be false to Germany if the necessity arose for an even smaller consideration yesterday morning before leaving Berlin for Windenberg von Stromberg had received a dispatch from Ritzio which told of his departure on his yacht from Scotland for Bremen this was curious also interesting Ritzio was needed in England and was useless in Germany why was he coming had something been learned of him at Scotland yard or had his departure to do with the case of Herr Hammersley whatever the visit meant it was necessary very necessary to have Ritzio and Hammersley together at once so he had deemed it wise for Bremen to have Ritzio caught on the wireless and when he reached port sent through at once to Windenberg von Stromberg smiled in self-gratulation there would be no loose ends about this affair merely as a precaution in so important a matter he had set one agent to watch another Byfield had been watched by Hammersley who in turn had been watched by Ritzio who had been watched by Herr Maxwell an agent long in von Stromberg's service Ritzio had been given the power and credentials to use his discretion with Hammersley why had not Hammersley relinquished the cigarette papers to Ritzio Hammersley should have good reasons for his refusal was there reason for Hammersley to suspect Ritzio Herr Maxwell who had been set to watch Ritzio was silent this was puzzling what had happened to Herr Maxwell General von Stromberg threw his finished cigar into the fire and got up rubbing his hands together oh it was very interesting very the situation was rapidly approaching culmination in a short while all the threads of this pretty tangle would be within reach of his long fingers and all that he von Stromberg had to do was to catch them by the ends and hold what would Herr Hammersley bring General von Stromberg straightened listening the sound of voices and men outside so he was here already there had been no sound from the machine of course he had planed down knock on the door and von Winden Vence and Hammersley entered end of chapter 11 chapter 12 of the Yellow Dove by George Gibbs this LibriVox recording is in the public domain recording by Tony Oliva Hammersley explains at the site of the tall figure of von Stromberg Hammersley halted for the fraction of a second and then came forward into the room he still wore his leather jacket and cap but the wind burn on his cheeks gave his eyes which had been protected by Goggles a singular greyness he had had no sleep and his face was drawn in haggard lines but his greeting showed no signs of uneasiness et anonia would await me excellent, I should perhaps have made quicker repairs it does not matter that you are late said von Stromberg quickly the thing of main importance is that you are here the general turned and made a motion to the door of the room I wish to be alone with her Hammersley her helpman von Winden you are relieved from duty for the night her helpman Vence called the two officers saluted and retired and the general motioned Hammersley to approach you have it he asked briefly yes, excellence, here he produced from an inner pocket a small package wrapped in oiled paper and handed it to von Stromberg ah, he went quickly over to the table and tearing off the wrapper of the bundle opened the packet of rilacois and found the hidden message which he scanned quickly with muttered ejaculations of satisfaction and surprise Hammersley by the fireplace was warming his hands ganz gut said the general straightening and turning you had difficulties more than usual excellence captain Beifield is in prison caught, Hammersley nodded they found letters at his rooms Schafskopf where there are no files Hammersley shrugged he is to be tried by court martial he will be shot von Stromberg deliberated a moment and were you suspected yes they followed me to Scotland but fortunately the yellow dove is still a mystery at least it was yesterday morning and I got safely away von Stromberg was scrutinizing him keenly hmm what makes you think that you were followed I left London by night train but got off at Edinburgh where my motor met me but the wear was faster and they had sent word to stop me they stretched a rope across the road but I saw it in winter round they fired at me when was this three nights ago they didn't hit you a mere scratch across the arm let me see it Hammersley looked into von Stromberg's face and laughed really? he asked yes rather stiffly Hammersley took off his leather jacket and sweater and rolled up the sleeve of his flannel shirt von Stromberg examined the wound with interest so he said put on your coat and after that I kept away from Benakilt and put up for the night at my cousins who is that? Lady Heathcourt oh yes it was at her house in London that the message passed to you yes excellence von Stromberg paused a moment and then spoke abruptly why did you not give the paper to Ritzio? Hammersley's gaze met the general squarely they were too important I could not take the risk his orders superseded yours I saw but I could not take the risk why? because I had reason to believe that Ritzio was acting for the English government von Stromberg's burning gaze flickered and went out he took a few paces across the room his right hand tapping the back of his left at last he came and stood before Hammersley hands behind his back what were your reasons for believing that? Maxwell learned it from Byfield Maxwell you saw Maxwell when the night I left London as anything happened to him quickly I do not know the general frowned into the fire it is strange he muttered very strange you did not realize then that I suspected you? Hammersley laughed not at once did later that is your privilege excellence but I refused to be caught under the circumstances I preferred to take the risk of failure after all you see I succeeded General von Stromberg was not immune from the frankness of Hammersley's smile he turned toward the table and scrutinized the papers with great care these are the very papers you got from her captain Byfield Hammersley's reply was startling unfortunately no the original papers were burned burned cried the general turning on his chair but not before I had made this copy which I put in a safe place explain I was followed leaving Lady Heathcote's dinner party in an automobile by agents of Scotland Yard I had the slower machine in the court me but not before I had passed the original papers to my companion your companion a woman yes excellence there was nothing else to do she escaped while they were searching me and kept the papers who was this woman? my fiancee her name no American and what happened then excellence she read them she's devoted to the English cause I could do nothing she learned that I was acting for Germany and rather than let them fall into my hands she burned them it makes no difference to you or to the Futterland since I have brought the message here except that my own utility in England is gone I should be sorry to be obliged to believe you I am afraid that there is nothing left for you to do General von Stromberg was again busy examining the cigarette papers suddenly he raised his head his gaze boring into Hammersley's face you say this is a copy of the original message yes excellence and where did you make it in the library upstairs at Lady Heathcote's in Park Lane when after my interview with her it's written as you will observe it is written with a pen finer than those usually employed by ladies I took what offered excellence said Hammersley what was your thought when you made the copy that Ritzio or his agents would attempt to get it away from me it seems that I was right are you sure that he was acting for England and not for me ask von Stromberg quickly for you excellence did it not occur to you that your failure to exceed to his request might have given her Ritzio the idea that you were saving this document from him in order that you might deliver it to the war office how could such an idea occur to me when I already knew what his object was oh, you are convinced that he is for the English cause naturally I can concede no reason why Ritzio should be for Germany von Stromberg smiled if this was skill in Perry he rejoiced in having met his match if it were merely ingenuousness he was equally at a loss he had often admitted to himself that there were but two kinds of people in the world he could not cope with those who never lost their tempers and those who told the truth he had taken advantage of Hammersley's physical condition to provoke him into irritation but the man was quite unruffled the piercing eye the threatening tone and the dominant air of authority which von Stromberg had so frequently found effective with others had been of no avail here here Hammersley stood by the fire erect and unperturbed calmly awaiting his dismissal if he had told the truth then Ritzio here Ritzio has advised me that you are disloyal to Germany said the general at last you inform me that he is loyal to England Hammersley shrugged and laughed if I were disloyal to Germany surely I had proof enough of your suspicions in your secret summons to remain at Menachilt it is unnecessary for me to say that I should have come without that summons because it was dangerous for me to stay you would then have me disregard the message from her Ritzio no I merely ask that you wait until you hear from Hermaxwell and if Hermaxwell be dead asked von Stromberg quietly Hammersley's face became grave in that case excellence I must rely on your keenness to decide the issue between us von Stromberg slipped the packet of papers into an inner pocket and rose with a laugh he covered the distance between himself and Hammersley in three paces with extended hands I was only trying you here Hammersley it is a habit of mine it amuses me I will forgive me willingly excellence if you will provide me with food in a bed failing those you may have me shot at once food you shall have and a bed is prepared in your room upstairs as for the shooting perhaps we may as well postpone that until morning he laughed jovially showing a very fine set of teeth when touching a bell which was answered by Captain Vence directed that food and coffee be prepared at once one word more he went on when Wens went out where did you put this copy after leaving Lady Heathcoats in London I slipped it down the window sash in my automobile they did not even search for it I got away by a ruse no one saw it no one the message is the same you have a good memory excellent are you sure that the war office knew of your movements positive I know no one who would try to kill me Ritzio acting for England yes and if he were acting for Germany then he is a fool von Stromberg folded his long arms and gazed at the lamp you do not feel that it would be possible to return at once not unless I wish to be shot as a spy what will you do take whatever service you will give me failing that I will volunteer for aviation the general without pursuing the subject further motioned hammer's lead to the door you will find food ready after eating you had better get to bed I will talk with you further in the morning as the door closed behind his visitor von Stromberg sank into the chair by the fire and lighted a third cigar upon which he pulled steadily for some moments rehearsing by question and reply almost every word of Hammersley's story by every rule of the game as he knew it her Hammersley should be a liar and yet his story from first to last held water there was not a flaw in its texture from beginning to end if Hammersley had not told the truth he was the most skillful liar in Europe a man who gave the appearance of truthfulness to the last hair of his head and yet it was much more easy to lie if one knew that there was no man to oppose him Hammersley did not know that Ritzio was on the way tomorrow they would meet it would be interesting to watch that meeting for as to this thing the mind of the general was clear one of these men was false to Germany the other true but which both had come willingly or was it by necessity and Herr Maxwell it was strange that Maxwell should have failed in his report at this crucial moment and if Maxwell were dead who had betrayed him General von Strombeck's thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door and the entrance of the orderly a telegram excellence by motorcycle from Windenberg the general opened the paper it was in code and he translated it rapidly von Strombeck withhold judgment until my arrival will be at Bremen tomorrow or early with Miss Mather who possesses valuable information Ritzio General von Strombeck sank deeper into his chair the paper in his fingers a smile broadening upon his features the woman it was almost too good to be true Miss Doris Mather the American girl Hammersley's fiance coming to Germany with Ritzio and Hammersley obviously did not know it intrigue mystery and now romance tomorrow the man still stood awaiting orders von Strombeck rose with a yawn is my room prepared yes excellence which one the same as before next to that of Herr Hammersley well move it into the wing and when I go up you will set a watch upon my door also one outside my windows so befell excellence in the meanwhile send Herr Hauptmann Vince to me here the man went out and Captain Vince entered immediately closing the door behind him what time does the northern express leave Bremen in the morning at seven General von Strombeck sat and wrote out a message this message sent at once and then that train reaches Windenburg at what hour 12 good this mountain air is excellent for the nerves I shall sleep late tomorrow and do not wish to be called you will go personally to Windenburg at eleven o'clock with a closed carriage you will meet Herr Ritzio whom you will recognize by his tall distinguished appearance and excellent clothing it will be accompanied by a young lady it is my wish that they be brought to this house and given separate rooms on the upper story and placed under guard until I summon them no one must see them enter this house to accomplish this purpose Herr Hammersley must go to the hangar the means I leave to you Captain von Winden will be of service do you understand? perfectly for the present that is all I shall go to my room good night good night excellence meanwhile upstairs in his room Hammersley after having eaten was preparing for bed for a tired man he went about it in a very leisurely way smoking a cigarette and wondering about the room stretching his long limbs and yawning between wiles then after a time he took off his clothes and bathed it was perhaps an hour before he blew out his candle and even then he did not get immediately into bed he sat on the edge of the couch for a while listening and watching the cold moonlight outside his dormer window or the dim line of light that came from beneath the door into the hall then apparently satisfied that he was to be quite free from interruption he straightened and stood up waiting again still no sound he reached for the table where he had put his watch and the things from his pockets and picked up a large pocket knife carefully opening the large blade then with quick noiseless footsteps he crossed the room to the fireplace and felt with the fingers of one hand carefully along the edge of the chimney breast his fingers reached a spot where there was an unevenness and feeling carefully thrust the knife blade its full length beneath the paper slowly withdrawing it something protruded which was taken quickly into the palm of his left hand with great care he smoothed the broken wallpaper back into its place and noiselessly closing the knife got softly into bed he lay on his back for a while his eyes wide open watching the window and the door and then pulling the heavy blankets up slipped lower and lower under the covers until he disappeared from view in the room all was dark but under the blankets he read by the light of an electric pocket torch some writing in German upon a thin slip of paper papers arrive tomorrow night eleven from Berlin automobile by Schendorf Road End of Chapter 12