Gretel’s white lips moved, but no sound came from them. She resolutely shook her head. Mrs. Becker clasped her hands, with an exclamation of dismay. Mr. Becker laid a heavy hand on the girl’s trembling shoulder. “Do you realize what you are doing?” he asked, and his voice shook a little, but whether with anger or fear Gretel did not know. “I can’t swear not to tell,” she whispered. “It would be disloyal to my brother, and--and to my country.” “Then,” said Mr. Becker, sternly, “you will not be allowed to leave this house. Do you understand what that means?” Gretel gave a little frightened sob. She glanced towards the open window, with some wild idea of screaming for help, but as if anticipating her intention, Mr. Becker sprang across the room and closed the window with a bang. “Now,” said the man, turning fiercely upon her again, “perhaps you will realize that I am in earnest. I will give you one more chance. Will you solemnly swear not to mention to any human being where you have been this afternoon, or repeat one word of what has passed?” Again Gretel shook her head. “I can’t swear,” she whispered, in a voice so unlike her own that it startled her. Mr. Becker seized her roughly by the arm. His eyes were blazing with anger. “You little fool!” he cried. “You little obstinate fool!” He half led, half dragged her out of the room, down the narrow hall of the apartment. “Go in there!” he commanded, “and, remember, if you make one sound, try in any way to attract attention, you will have a gag put into your mouth. That will not be pleasant, so you had best do as I say. There are other Germans in this house, besides myself, and they know what loyalty to their country sometimes requires.” In another moment Gretel found herself in a small dark room; the door was closed, and she heard the turning of the key in the lock. She was a prisoner. It had all been so sudden, so unexpected, that for the first few minutes Gretel scarcely believed it was true. It seemed so much more like the things that happened in bad dreams that she half expected to wake up suddenly and find herself on the library sofa, where she had been dozing when Mr. Becker’s summons came. But gradually the awful truth began to dawn upon her, and then she sank down in a little heap on the floor, and lay there, moaning in a terror greater than any she had ever known in her life.