Page:War's dark frame (IA warsdarkframe00camp).pdf/262

224 them, showing no fear, declaring his innocence with a tolerant air. They hurried him to London and before the official who told me the story.

"I spoke to him in German," the official went on, and at odd times—suddenly. I couldn't trap him. He said he was a South American merchant on a peaceful commercial enterprise. He didn't know a word of German. I began to doubt, because when I spoke the language his eyelids never moved. It seemed to me he must show some response if he understood. As a last resort I simply shouted out, 'Achtung!'"

The official smiled a trifle sadly.

"His heels," he went on, clicked together. His chin came up. His hands straightened at his sides. He tried with a convulsive effort to check that mechanical response, but it was too late. I had him and he knew it. He broke down and took his medicine. He was a German reservist. A military command was the one thing to which his whole nature had to respond."

Even if that defence at the ports is overcome, there's an interior net to furnish spies to the executioner. I learned to understand the misgivings of hotel acquaintances that their luggage had been entered although they missed nothing. One man complained that the servants were a badly-