The official's lips curled slightly. "I know that, full well. But how do you explain away the fact that your friend, the doctor, committed suicide rather than face a prosecution?" "He had nothing to fear. Of that I am quite confident. No braver, more loyal, or more patriotic man ever existed than he, poor fellow." "I'm afraid the facts hardly bear out your contention." "But what are the facts?" demanded the young man fiercely. "As I have already said, it is not within my province to tell you." "But I've been arrested to-night upon a false charge--a charge trumped up against me perhaps by certain officials who may be jealous of what I have done, and what I have learnt. I am discredited in the eyes of my friends at the house where I was arrested. Surely I should be told the truth!" "I, of course, do not know what truths may be forthcoming at your trial. But at present I am not allowed to explain anything to you, save that the charge against you is that you have attempted to communicate with the enemy." "What!" shouted Jack, astounded: "am I actually charged, then, with being a German spy?" "I'm afraid that is so." "But I have no knowledge of any other of the enemy's agents, save those which were discovered by Jerrold and reported to Whitehall by him." "Ah! the evidence, I think, goes a little further--documentary evidence which has recently been placed in the hands of the War Office." "By whom, pray?" "You surely don't think it possible for me to reveal the name of the informant in such a case?" was the cold reply. Jack Sainsbury stood aghast and silent at the grave charge which had been preferred against him. It meant, he knew, a trial _in camera_. He saw how entirely he must be discredited in the eyes of the world, who could never know the truth, or even the nature of his defence. He thought of Elise. What would she think? What did she think when Littlewood told her--as he had told her, no doubt--of how he had been mysteriously hustled into a taxi, and driven off? For the first time a recollection of that strange anonymous warning which his well-beloved had received crossed his memory. Who had sent that letter? Certainly some friend who had wished his, or her, name to remain unknown. "The whole thing is a hideous farce," he cried savagely, at last. "Nobody can prove that I am not what I here allege myself to be--an honest, loyal and patriotic Englishman." "You will have full opportunity of proving that, and of disproving the documentary evidence which is in the hands of the Director of Public Prosecutions." "Public Prosecutions! Mine will be _in camera_," laughed Jack grimly. "I suppose I shall be tried by a kind of military inquisition. I hope they won't wear black robes, with slits for the eyes, as they did in the old days in Spain!" he laughed. "I fail to see much humour in your present position, Mr Sainsbury," replied Tennant rather frigidly.