"You take it as a huge joke!" she said in dissatisfaction, disengaging herself slowly from his embrace. "I do. Because I can't see why you should warn me. Who has put such thoughts into your head? Surely I know how to take care of myself?" he exclaimed. "Perhaps you do. But that a grave danger threatens you, Jack, I happen to know," was her serious reply. "How do you know?" he asked quickly, facing her. He had, all along, seen that, for some unaccountable reason, she was hesitating to tell him the truth. "Well," she said slowly, "if--if I tell you the truth, Jack dear, you won't laugh at me, will you?" she asked at last. "Of course not, my darling. I know full well that you love me, and, as a natural consequence, you are perhaps a little too apprehensive." "I have cause to be," she said in a low voice, and, taking from the breast of her low-cut gown a crumpled letter, she handed it to him, saying: "A week ago I received this! Read it!" He took it and, opening it, found it to be an ill-scribbled note, upon a sheet of common note-paper such as one would buy in a penny packet, envelopes included. The note, which was anonymous, and bore the postmark of Willesden, commenced with the words "Dear Miss," and ran as follows: "Your lover, Sainsbury, has been warned to keep his nose out of other people's affairs, and as he continues to inquire about what does not concern him his activity is to be cut short. Tell him that, as he has disregarded the advice given him by letter two months ago, his fate is now sealed. The arm of Germany's vengeance is long, and reaches far. So beware--_both of you_!" For a few seconds Jack held the mysterious missive in his hand, and then suddenly he burst out laughing. "You surely won't allow this to worry you?" he exclaimed. "Why, it's only some crank--somebody we know who is playing a silly practical joke,"--and folding the letter, he gave it back to her with a careless air. "Such a letter as that doesn't worry me for a single minute." "But it contains a distinct assertion--that you are doomed!" cried the girl, pale-faced and very anxious. "Yes--it certainly is a very cheerful note. Whom do you know at Willesden?" "Not a soul that I can think of. I've been puzzling my brains for days as to anybody I know there, but can think of no one." "It was posted out there on purpose, no doubt!" he laughed. "Well, if I were you, Elise, I wouldn't give it another thought." "Ah, that's all very well. But I can't get rid of the distinct belief that some mischief is intended," answered the girl very gravely. "No, no, darling?" he assured her, placing his arm again round her slim waist, and kissing her fondly upon the lips. "Don't anticipate any such thing. Somebody's having a game with us. They think it a huge joke, no doubt."