“We shall have the police with us soon,” said the landlady, in a low tone. “Hans will run at once to tell them of Madame’s arrival.”
“Why do you keep him?” Stewart asked.
“It is by keeping him that I avert suspicion. If there was anything wrong here, the police tell themselves, this spy of theirs would discover it. Knowing him to be a spy, I am on my guard. Besides, he is very stupid. But there—I will leave you. He may be back at any moment.”
He came back just in time to serve the coffee, with the information that their train would not arrive until seven-thirty; then he stood watching them and listening to their talk of home and friends and plans for the future.
Stewart began to be proud of his facility of invention, and of his abilities as an actor. But he had to admit that he was the merest bungler compared with his companion. Her mental quickness dazzled him, her high spirits were far more exhilarating than the wine. He ended by forgetting that he was playing a part. This woman was really his wife, they were going on together——
Suddenly Hans stirred in his corner. Heavy steps were coming toward the court along the sanded floor of the corridor. In a moment three men in spiked helmets stepped out into the fading light of the evening.
“The police to speak to you, sir,” said Hans, and Stewart, turning, found himself looking into three faces, in which hostility and suspicion were only too apparent.
CHAPTER VI
THE SNARE
As the three men advanced to the table, Stewart saw that each of them carried a heavy pistol in a holster at his belt.
“You speak German?” one of them asked, gruffly.