“Most Americans are rather sentimental over Alsace-Lorraine,” said Stewart, who had recovered his composure, and he fished for a cigar and offered one to the officer, who accepted it with a bow of thanks.
“That is because they do not understand,” said the other, quickly. “Alsace and Lorraine belong of right to Germany. Of that there can be no question.”
“But haven’t you been rather harsh with them?”
“We have not been harsh enough. Had we done our duty, we would have stamped out without mercy the treason which is still rampant in many parts of those provinces. Instead, we have hesitated, we have temporized—and now, too late, we realize our mistake. The spy for whom we are searching at this moment comes from Strassburg.”
Stewart started at the words; but the girl threw back her head and burst into delighted laughter.
“So you took us for spies!” she cried. “What a tale to tell, Tommy, when we get home!”
“There is but one spy, madame,” said the officer; “a woman young and beautiful like yourself—accomplished, distinguished, a great linguist, a fine musician, of good family, and moving in the highest society in Alsace. She was on terms of intimacy with many of our officers; they did not hesitate to talk freely to her. Some of them, fascinated by her wit and beauty and wishing to prove their own importance, told her things which they had no right to tell. More than that, at the last moment she succeeded in getting possession for a time of certain confidential documents. But she had gone too far—she was suspected—she fled—and she has not yet been captured. But she cannot escape—we cannot permit her to escape. We know that she is still somewhere in Germany, and we have made it impossible for her to pass the frontier. A person who knows her is to be stationed at every post, and no woman will be permitted to pass until he has seen her. The man to be stationed here will arrive from Strassburg in an hour. As a final precaution, madame,” he added, smiling, “and because my orders are most precise and stringent, I shall ask you and your husband to remain here at Herbesthal until morning. As I have said, you could not, in any event, go on to-night, for the frontier is closed. In the morning, I will ask my man from Strassburg to look at you, and will then provide you with a safe-conduct, and see that every possible facility is given you to get safely across the frontier.”
“Thank you,” she said; “you are most kind. That is why you are keeping all those people shut up in the station?”
“Yes, madame. They cannot pass until my man has seen them.”
“But you are not searching them?”