The girl motioned him back into the room and closed the door softly. Then, replacing the pitcher gently, she caught up a pile of Stewart's socks and stuffed them tightly under the door. Finally she set a chair snugly against it--for there was no lock--and turned to Stewart with a little sigh of relief. "There," she said in a low tone; "no one can see our light nor overhear us, if we are careful. Perhaps they really do not suspect us--but we must take no chances. What hour have you?" Stewart glanced at his watch. "It is almost midnight." "There is no time to lose. We must make our plans. Sit here beside me," and she sat down in one corner against the wall. "We must not waste our candle," she added. "Bring it with you, and we will blow it out until we need it again." Stewart sat down beside her, placed the candle on the floor and leaned forward and blew it out. For a moment they sat so, quite still, then Stewart felt a hand touch his. He seized it and held it close. "I am very unhappy, my friend," she said, softly, "to have involved you in all this." "Why, I am having the time of my life!" Stewart protested. "If I had foreseen what was to happen," she went on, "I should never have asked you to assist me. I would have found some other way." "The deuce you would! Then I'm glad you didn't foresee it." "It is good of you to say so; but you must not involve yourself further." "What do you mean by that?" "I am in great danger. It is absolutely necessary that I escape. I cannot remain till morning. I cannot face that inspection. I should be denounced." "Yes," agreed Stewart; "that's clear enough." "Well, I will escape alone. When the police come for us, they will find only you." "And will probably back me against a wall and shoot me out of hand." "Oh, no; they will be rough and angry, but they will not dare to harm you. They know that you are an American--they cannot possibly suspect you of being a spy. You can prove the truth of all your statements." "Not quite all," Stewart corrected. "Of your statements, at least, so far as they concern yourself." "Yes--but I will have considerable difficulty explaining my connection with you." "Oh, no," said the girl, in a low voice; "that can be easily explained." "How?" "You will say," she answered, her voice lower still, "that you met me at the Kölner Hof, that I made advances, that you found me attractive, and that I readily agreed to accompany you to Paris. You can say that it was I who suggested altering your passport--that you saw no harm in it--and that you knew absolutely nothing about me except that I was a--a loose woman." Stewart's lips were trembling so that it was a moment before he could control his voice. "And do you really think I would say that, little comrade?" he asked, hoarsely. "Do you really think anything on earth could compel me to say that!" He heard the quick intake of her breath; then she raised his hand to her cheek and he felt the hot tears upon it.