“Well, it’s a thousand pities we don’t serve some of your blighted countrymen the same as they are serving me,” I shot back.

“Yes, I know.  I am very sorry for you.  But it is our way.  Now I, myself, don’t think you are a spy.  I think your story is honest and straightforward.”

“Then why in the name of Heaven don’t they treat me so until they have tried me?”

“Ah!  That is the English way.  Here, in Germany, a man is guilty until he is found innocent!”

“Oh!  So that’s your much-vaunted German ‘Kultur,’ is it?” I laughed sarcastically.

Seeing that I was a bit overwrought he sought to pacify me.

“Would you like a cigarette?”

At the thought of a smoke I nearly jumped for joy.  There was nothing for which I had been yearning so much as the solace of a cigarette.  I took one from his proffered case.

“H’sh!  I cannot stay any longer now.  The guard might get suspicious.  But I will do all I can for you.  I will come to see you every night at this time.  I will make you as comfortable as I can as a return for the many courtesies and kindnesses I received while in London.  Now light up and jump up to the ventilator to puff the smoke out.  If they smell tobacco in the cell you will get into serious trouble.”

He bade me good-night and the next instant I was at the window to enjoy the only peaceful few minutes of pleasure which had come my way since my arrest.  My smoke completed I settled down to sleep with additional comfort.

At 2.30 in the morning I was once more awakened.  The door flew open and in rushed my friend the young officer.  He was terribly agitated.  He grasped both my hands and I felt that he was trembling like a leaf.  His voice was so broken that he could scarcely speak.

“Good God!  Do you know what has happened?  Great Britain has declared war on Germany!” Like a child he burst out crying.  As for myself I knew hardly what to think.  I had been hoping against hope that the circumstance of our still keeping friendly relations would facilitate my speedy release.  This hope was fairly blasted now, and I was certain to meet with far shorter shrift and harsher treatment than had already been meted out to me.  I may say that this was the first intelligence I had received about the outbreak of war with Great Britain.

Stifling his emotion the officer went on.

“I am very sorry it has happened.  I shall not be able to see you again!”

“Why?”

“I have to leave for the front.  I have ten minutes to say farewell to my poor old mother.”  Here he broke down once more.  “My poor mother,” he wailed.  “It will kill her.  She does not know a soul in Wesel.  We are utter strangers.  I was summoned back from London only a week or two ago.”  He gave vent to another outburst of sobbing.

“Cheer up!” I said soothingly, “you’ll see her when you come back!”

“Come back?” he echoed bitterly.  “No!  I shall never come back.  I shall never see her again!  Good-bye!  Remember that I always thought kindly of the English.  But I won’t forget you before I go!”