“But that is impossible,” he went on, with greater signs of excitement than she had ever seen in him. “Don’t you realize now that every moment the things are in your possession you’re in danger--great danger? Isn’t what you’ve gone through--isn’t this”--and he indicated his arm--“the proof of it?” “Yes,” she said firmly. “But I would rather suffer injury myself than see you share the fate of Captain Byfield.” He started. “Oh, you heard that?” “Yes. Jack Sandys is here.” She put her face in her hands in the throes of her doubts of him and then suddenly thrust out her hands and laced her fingers around his arm. “Oh, give it up, Cyril, for my sake give it all up. Can’t you see the terrible position you’ve placed me in? If I give these papers to Jack Sandys they’ll come and take you as they took Captain Byfield. I’ve kept them for you, because I promised. But I cannot let this information get to Germany. I would die first. What shall I do?” she wailed. “What on earth _can_ I do?” His reply made her gasp. “There’s a fire,” he said quietly. “Burn ’em.” Her fingers went to her corsage and her eyes gleamed with a new hope. She took the crumpled rice-papers out and looked at them. Then in a flash the thought came to her. “You know the information contained in these papers?” she asked in an accent of deprecation. “No,” he replied shortly. “I merely glanced at them.” “You hadn’t the chance to study them?” “No.” Still she hesitated. “But what--what is Rizzio?” He walked to the door of the room, opening it suddenly. Then he shut it quietly and coming back to the fire took the poker and made a hole between the glowing coals. “Burn ’em!” he commanded. She obeyed him wonderingly and together they watched the package of rice-papers flame into a live coal and then turn to ashes. When the last vestige of them had disappeared, they sat together on the davenport, Cyril thoughtful, the girl bewildered. “What is Rizzio?” she repeated. “He told me that he was an agent of the English Government.” “I can’t tell you,” he whispered hoarsely. “I can’t tell you anything--even you. Don’t you understand?” “No, I don’t. It’s your word against his. I would rather believe you than him. I want to, Cyril. God knows I want to.” “Didn’t I ask you to burn the papers? Didn’t he try to prevent it?” “Yes.” “Can’t you see? If he were acting for England, it wouldn’t matter what became of ’em if they didn’t reach Germany.” “Oh, I thought of that--but what you have told me bewilders me. Why should you run away with secrets of England--given you by a traitor who is about to pay the penalty with--with death? What does it mean? Why didn’t you take those papers at once to the War Office? Why did Captain Byfield give them to you? He--a traitor--to you--Cyril! It is all so horrible. I am frightened. Your danger--Rizzio’s men, here--tonight--all about us.”