a case for apologies, but if it's any consolation to you I feel the
lowest dog in Europe at this moment.'

He was sitting up rubbing his bruised shoulders. 'What do you
mean?' he asked hoarsely.

'I mean that you and I are allies. My name's not Brand. I'm a
soldier - a general, if you want to know. I went to Biggleswick
under orders, and I came chasing up here on the same job. Ivery's
the biggest German agent in Britain and I'm after him. I've struck
his communication lines, and this very night, please God, we'll get
the last clue to the riddle. Do you hear? We're in this business
together, and you've got to lend a hand.'

I told him briefly the story of Gresson, and how I had tracked
his man here. As I talked we ate our supper, and I wish I could
have watched Wake's face. He asked questions, for he wasn't convinced
in a hurry. I think it was my mention of Mary Lamington
that did the trick. I don't know why, but that seemed to satisfy
him. But he wasn't going to give himself away.

'You may count on me,' he said, 'for this is black, blackguardly
treason. But you know my politics, and I don't change them for
this. I'm more against your accursed war than ever, now that I
know what war involves.'

'Right-o,' I said, 'I'm a pacifist myself. You won't get any
heroics about war from me. I'm all for peace, but we've got to
down those devils first.'