"I suppose because it is an English custom," replied Commander Blacklock quietly. "Also, you will be exceedingly glad some day to find yourself still alive. Please sit down and listen. I am anxious to explain this point fully, for a very good reason." With a groan their captive sat down, but with his head held now between his hands and his eyes cast upon the floor. "We agreed that at all costs this must be managed, and so I tried my hand at exercising my authority over you. I saw that was going to be no good, and gave it up at once for fear you'd smell a rat. And then I thought of Miss Holland." Von Belke looked up suddenly. "Ah!" he cried, "so that is why this lady appeared--this lady I may not call a decoy!" "That is why," said Blacklock. II. THE LADY. Lieutenant von Belke looked for a moment at the lady who had enslaved him, but for some reason he averted his gaze rather quickly. Then with an elaborate affectation of sarcastic politeness which served but ill to conceal the pain at his heart and the shock to his pride, he inquired-- "May I be permitted to ask what agency supplies ladies so accomplished at a notice so brief?" "Providence," said Blacklock promptly and simply. "Miss Holland had never undertaken any such work before, and her name is on the books of no bureau." "I believe you entirely," said von Belke ironically. "You taught her her trade then, I presume?" "I did." The German stared at him. "Is there really any need to deceive me further?" he inquired. "I am telling you the simple truth," said Blacklock unruffled. "I had the great good fortune to make Miss Holland's acquaintance on the mail-boat crossing to these islands. She was going to visit Mr Craigie--that intellectual gentleman you met yesterday--under the precise circumstances he described. I noticed Miss Holland the moment she came aboard the boat." He paused for a moment, and then turned to Eileen with a smile. "I have a confession to make to you, Miss Holland, which I may as well get off my chest now. My mind, naturally enough perhaps, was rather running on spies, and when I discovered that you were travelling with a suit-case of German manufacture I had a few minutes' grave suspicion. I now apologise." Eileen laughed. "Only a few minutes!" she exclaimed. "It seems to me I got off very easily!" "That was why I was somewhat persistent in my conversation," he continued, still smiling a little, "but it quickly served the purpose of satisfying me absolutely that my guns were on the wrong target. And so I promptly relieved you of my conversation." He turned again to von Belke.