Willie’s suspicions were aroused. The owners of handsome and beautifully-upholstered cars do not usually drive about with packing-cases full of sugar at their feet. And this was a very large case. It contained a hundredweight or a hundredweight and a half of sugar--if it contained sugar at all. The words of the Colonel recurred to Willie: “There’s not a trick they’re not up to. They’d deceive the devil himself.” Well, no earl or pretended earl should deceive Willie Thornton. He gave an order to the sergeant. “Take that case and open it,” he said. “Damn it,” said the Earl, “you mustn’t do that.” “My orders,” said Willie, “are to examine every car thoroughly.” “But if you set that case down in the mud and open it in this downpour of rain the--the contents will be spoiled.” “I can’t help that, sir,” said Willie. “My orders are quite definite.” “Look here,” said Lord Ramelton, “if I give you my word that there are no arms or ammunition in that case, if I write a statement to that effect and sign it, will it satisfy you?” “No, sir,” said Willie. “Nothing will satisfy me except seeing for myself.” Such is the devotion to duty of the young British officer. Against his spirit the rage of the empire’s enemies breaks in vain. Nor are the statements of “these fellows,” however plausible, of much avail. Lord Ramelton swallowed, with some difficulty, the language which gathered on his tongue’s tip. “Where’s your superior officer?” he said. Willie Thornton believed that all his superior officers were at least ten miles away. He had not noticed--nor had anyone else--that a grey military motor had driven into the village. In the grey motor was a General, with two Staff Officers, all decorated with red cap-bands and red tabs on their coats. The military authorities were very much in earnest over the business of searching motor-cars and guarding roads. Only at times of serious danger do Generals, accompanied by Staff Officers, go out in the wet to visit outpost detachments commanded by subalterns. The General left his car and stepped across the road. He recognised Lord Ramelton at once and greeted him with cheery playfulness. “Hallo!” he said, “Held up! I never expected you to be caught smuggling arms about the country.” “I wish you’d tell this boy to let me drive on,” said Lord Ramelton. “I’m getting wet through.” The General turned to Willie Thornton. “What’s the matter?” he said. Willie was pleasantly conscious that he had done nothing except obey his orders. He saluted smartly. “There’s a packing-case in the car, sir,” he said, “and it ought to be examined.” The General looked into Lord Ramelton’s car and saw the packing-case. He could scarcely deny that it might very easily contain cartridges, that it was indeed exactly the sort of case which should be opened. He turned to Lord Ramelton. “It’s marked sugar,” he said. “What’s in it really?”