"She'd be sent to Krustadt and the Commandant—— Never mind; you can leave the rest to me. You won't know anything."
I couldn't trust myself to speak for a time, I was so furious at the suggestiveness of the leering brute's words and manner. But there was probably more to learn yet, so I choked down my rage and at last even forced myself to nod and smile meaningly. "And my part?" I asked.
"Two things; both easy enough. Old Gratz has shoved a spoke in the wheel so far, curse him, and as you're in the house you can tell him you know I'm right that she is a spy and you can give him proofs."
"Proofs?" I echoed, with a start.
"I said proofs, didn't I? I'll give you some papers and you can plant one or two on her and give the rest to him saying you've found them in her room or somewhere. He'll be obliged to order a search then, and that'll do the trick."
"Confound the thing!" I exclaimed, jumping up and wringing my fingers as if I'd burnt them with my cigar.
"Here, take another," he said, and by the time I had lit it, I had myself in hand again.
"But if she was caught red-handed like that, she might be shot, and that wouldn't help you much."
"You leave that to me," he replied with a leer and a wink. "The question is, are you going to help me?"
"I don't like it, von Erstein, and that's the truth," I said.