"The shoddy article submitted and marked K. V. S. has been returned as not up to sample and unworthy of retention. Next please!--JIM." CHAPTER VII FIGHTING GERMAN AGENTS WITH FAKED WEAPONS DANGER WARNING--DISGUISED TEUTONS--HAIR TESTS--OBSERVATION FROM WITHOUT--CLEVER FEMALE GUARD--DEPORTED HUN AGENTS--TOO MANY WRECKS--BOOT CHANGE TRICK--FLIGHT--PATIENCE UNREWARDED--NIGHT WORK AT THE DOCKS--A SUDDEN ATTACK--ODDS OF THREE TO ONE--PIPE-FAKING FOR MAKE-BELIEVE REVOLVER--A STERN CHASE--AMERICAN RUSE BAFFLES PURSUERS--THE SANCTUARY OF CONVIVIALITY. The sudden transportation and exile of an alleged invalid German officer back to the home of his fathers had been a distinct secret score for the British Foreign Secret Service Intelligence Department, although probably no one was aware of this except those in the innermost circles of the Service of the two countries directly concerned. As a necessary precaution for my own safety I had very discreetly removed myself some hundreds of miles in another direction as soon as it was certain that my trap had been properly sprung. With my mind concentrated on other matters I had almost forgotten the episode, when a whisper echoed and re-echoed from the south that the full fury of the Northern German espionage bureau had been invoked upon my fortunate or unfortunate head, and that I must beware of a certain Baron Nordenpligt,[8] which irate Teuton had started hot on my trail, vowing the direst vengeance imaginable. "Nordenpligt" in English means "the North duty or obligation," and I was at no loss to comprehend the full force of the hinted warning thus so auspiciously conveyed to me. Whilst musing over events under the benign influence of my usual black cigar, some stir became apparent in the entrance hall of the hotel at which I was then stopping. Several new-comers had arrived. One very fat lady appeared over-concerned regarding the handling of her many belongings. A wheezy, consumptive-looking weakling of humanity was trying to assist her. Most probably he would have been crushed under an iron-bound trunk which a porter was lowering from the roof of the hotel bus had not another traveller, seeing the danger, rushed forward to his assistance. As he did so he involuntarily ejaculated the short exclamation, "Mein Gott!" My ears tingled at once. The Teutonic oath had given away the nationality of this individual, at all events. It became my immediate business to ascertain who he was, and what his business might be. Without a moment's hesitation I also sprang to the rescue.