It was from Volheno, thanking me for some information I had given him and saying that it had been acted upon the previous night with excellent results. “It will of course be considered by the Government when we come to decide the matter of the Beira concessions; and I need scarcely say that if you can give us any more information of the same kind, you will render the Government a great service.” I had given no information and would see him in the morning and explain. The man was mad; and I tossed the letter down and went off to bed. I must have slept heavily after the day in the fresh air, for I was roused by some one shaking me roughly. I opened my eyes to find the lights switched up and the police in my room. Two of them were searching the room and a third stood over me and ordered me sternly to get up and dress and be quick about it. “What does it mean?” I asked, blinking like an owl in the sudden light. “You are arrested. That’s what it means. Dress and come with us, unless you want to go as you are;” and the fellow gave point to his words by stripping off the bedclothes. A curious sequel, this, to Volheno’s letter. CHAPTER IX THE INTERROGATION Dignity in a nightshirt is impossible; so I rolled off the bed and dressed myself quickly. Why I should be arrested I could not imagine, unless it was in some way the outcome of that row in the streets. Even if that were so, the thing could not be serious. I had been mistaken for one of the mob and nearly clubbed by a policeman; but it was scarcely likely I should be punished because he had missed his aim. Probably some fool or other had blundered, and the whole thing was just a mistake. I was disposed to smile at it, therefore. I might lose half a night’s sleep; but that was no great matter; and as a recompense I should have an experience at first hand of police methods under a dictator. “What am I supposed to have done?” I asked the man who had awakened me. “Wait and see.” He jerked the words out with scowling gruffness. “In England when a man is arrested like this it’s usual to tell him the reason.” “This isn’t England.” “There’s no need to make the affair more unpleasant than necessary by talking in that tone. The whole thing’s a mistake; but I don’t blame you. Why growl at me, therefore?” “Orders.” “Well, who ordered this?” “Hurry.” And he accompanied the word with an emphatic gesture. “Thank you,” I said with a grin; and as it was evident I should not get anything out of him, I finished dressing in silence. In the meanwhile the two men finished their search of the drawers and wardrobe and my luggage; and we went to my sitting-room. This had also been ransacked; and the work must have been done before they roused me. “Your men certainly understand their work,” I said; for the search had been very thorough; “but you might have put some of the things back in their places. If you’ll give me a couple of minutes, I’ll do it myself, however.”