"But--in that terrible moment when I stood there leaning against the wall, I remembered what was said to me about the lives of many people depending upon my keeping my promise. It was a hideous thing to remember at such a time.... But I could not break my word--for the sake of these imperilled people also--could I, Kervyn?... So I took the papers and locked them in my satchel. And afterward I--I _asked_ you to leave--" Her voice quivered; she bent her head and sat twisting her slim fingers on her lap. "That is all I know," she faltered--"all I know about it. I have tried to be true to my word, and loyal to--you." Her emotion was reflected in his own face; he bent forward, laid his hand over her restless fingers. "Karen," he said, "you are the pluckiest, straightest, whitest woman I ever knew." "I'm only--honest," she whispered.... "And I want you to think me so." "I do!--Karen, dearest, sincerest, most fearless of women!" "Do you believe me--that?" "Karen, I----" A sharp knocking at the door cut him short. They looked at each other, startled. At the same moment he realized that the ship had stopped. "Could it be the stewardess?" she whispered. "I don't know." He rose, picked up the satchel and went to the open port. "If a British guard-ship has stopped us to search us, we can't have this thing found," he said. She stared at him in frightened silence. "They may have found those men we tied up and left in your house at Westheath!" he whispered. "A wireless would set a score of warships ready to intercept us. If they board us they must not find that satchel." The sharp, loud rapping came again. Guild went to the open port, pushed the satchel through it, leaned out himself. As he did so something brushed his head, and, looking up, he saw a rope's end dangling there. In an instant he had tied it to the handle of the satchel, stepped back, screwed the heavy glass fast, and then, motioning Karen to fling herself on the bed, he went to the door, opened it, and stood yawning in the face of a ship's officer. "Don't wake my wife," he said drowsily. "What is the trouble?" "The trouble is," replied the officer coldly, "that a British cruiser has signalled us to stop, and has asked whether an American named Guild is aboard." CHAPTER IX H. M. S. WYVERN "Well," said Guild coolly, "have you any idea what a casual British cruiser might want of _me_?" "I have not," said the officer, "so perhaps you had better tell _me_ what is wanted of yourself and your wife by the captain of that warship. It might save some argument between him and our own captain. We are due in Amsterdam at noon tomorrow," he added meaningly. "Do you mean to say that the officer in command of this British ship desires to speak to my wife?" "His signals stopped us and his wireless told us to detain you and your wife."