The girl nodded and left the room.

"I need not caution you," said Mrs. Schweiring, as she led the way
upstairs -- and showed to Hal a suite of three comfortably furnished
rooms. "A little slip will spoil all. I shall introduce you to my
friends as a Dutch war correspondent who, nevertheless, has in him a
strain of German, with a little American blood. I shall represent that
you have lived several years in America, but that your heart is with
the Fatherland."

"And my friends?" questioned Hal.

"They shall be just what they represent themselves to be."

"Very well," said Hal. "You perhaps know best. But I must, as soon as
possible, be introduced either to the prime minister or to one of his
trusted assistants."

"I will tell you something," said his hostess. "The list which you
seek is no longer in the hands of the prime minister. It is now in
possession of General Rentzel, chief of the secret service; and the son
of the general comes frequently to see my daughter, Gladys. But we
shall talk more later. I will leave you now and see that sufficient
wardrobes are procured for you and your friends."

She left the room.