A bomb from a Zeppelin could not cause greater injury to life and property than that ingeniously contrived machine, the delicately constructed fuse of which, fashioned on the lathe by her father's own hands, could be arranged to detonate at any given time. A second's pause, and then the girl, beneath her breath, took a deep oath of vengeance against the ruler of that hated land wherein she had been born. "Thank Heaven that I am English!" she whispered to herself. "And I will live--and die, if necessary--as an English girl should." With those words upon her lips she crept away from the laboratory, down the stairs to her room, and, swiftly putting on her fur coat, she went into the basement, from which she let herself out noiselessly, and then hurried through the night, in the direction of Hammersmith Bridge. On gaining the bridge, she saw the red rear-light of a motor-car, and knew that it was Kennedy's. He had drawn up against the kerb, and had been consuming cigarettes waiting in impatience for a long time. "Well, darling?" he asked, as they met. "I got your message from the theatre to-night. What is in progress?" "Something desperate," was her quick reply. "Let's get into the car and I'll explain." Both entered the comfortable little coupe, and then Ella explained in detail to her flying-man lover all that she had discovered. The keen-faced, clean-shaven young officer in uniform who, before he had gone in for aviation duties, had graduated at Osborne, and afterwards been at sea and risen from "snotty" to lieutenant, sat beside her, listening intently. "Just as we thought, darling," he remarked. "For me, loving you so dearly, it is a terrible thing to know that your father is such a deadly and ingenious enemy of ours as he is. Truly the German plotters are in our midst in every walk of life, from high society down to the scum of the East End. The brutes are out to win the war by any underhand, subtle, and brutal means in their power. But we have discovered one line of their enemy intentions and, with your aid, dearest, we will follow it up and, without exposing your father and bringing disgrace upon you, we'll set out to combat them every time." "Agreed, dear," declared the girl with patriotic enthusiasm. "I have told you all along of my suspicions. To-night they are verified. Father, and that devilish scoundrel, Nystrom, mean mischief--for payment too--one thousand pounds each!" "The infernal brutes!" exclaimed the man at her side. "At least it is to you, dear, that this discovery is due. I had no idea what you were after when you sent me that wire to-night." "I suspected, and my suspicions have proved correct," said the girl. "Shall we wait here and follow them? They must cross the river if they intend to go into London to-night--as no doubt they do." "Yes. They believe you to be soundly asleep, I suppose?" "I locked my door, and have the key in my pocket," replied his well-beloved with a light laugh.