“I was followed, leaving Lady Heathcote’s dinner party in an automobile, by agents of Scotland Yard. I had the slower machine and they caught me. But not before I had passed the original papers to my companion----” “Your companion--a woman?” “Yes, Excellenz, there was nothing else to do. She escaped while they were searching me and kept the papers----” “Who was this woman?” “My fiancée.” “Her name?” “Doris Mather.” “English?” “No, American.” “And what happened then?” “Excellenz, she read them. She is devoted to the English cause. I could do nothing. She learned that I was acting for Germany and, rather than let them fall into my hands, she burned them. It makes no difference to you or to the Vaterland, since I have brought the message here, except that my own utility in England is gone.” “I should be sorry to be obliged to believe you.” “I am afraid, Excellenz, that there is nothing left for you to do.” General von Stromberg was again busy examining the cigarette papers. Suddenly he raised his head, his gaze boring into Hammersley’s face. “You say this is a copy of the original message?” “Yes, Excellenz.” “And where did you make it?” “In the library upstairs at Lady Heathcote’s in Park Lane.” “When?” “After my interview with Herr Rizzio. It is written hurriedly, as you will observe.” “It is written with a pen finer than those usually employed by ladies.” “I took what offered, Excellenz,” said Hammersley. “What was your thought when you made the copy?” “That Rizzio or his agents would attempt to get it away from me. It seems that I was right.” “Are you sure that he was acting for England and not for me?” asked von Stromberg quickly. “For _you_, Excellenz?” “Did it not occur to you that your failure to accede to his request might have given Herr Rizzio the idea that you were saving this document from him in order that you might deliver it to the War Office?” “How could such an idea occur to me when I already knew what his object was?” “Oh! You are convinced that he is for the English cause?” “Naturally. I can conceive of no reason why Rizzio should be for Germany.” Von Stromberg smiled. If this were skill in parry, he rejoiced in having met his match. If it were merely ingenuousness, he was equally at a loss. He had often admitted to himself that there were but two kinds of people in the world that he could not cope with--those who never lost their tempers and those who told the truth. He had taken advantage of Hammersley’s physical condition to provoke him into irritation, but the man was quite unruffled. The piercing eye, the threatening tone and the dominant air of authority which von Stromberg had so frequently found effective with others had been of no avail here. Herr Hammersley stood by the fire, erect and unperturbed, calmly awaiting his dismissal. If he had told the truth, then Rizzio----