"Come, come," said Hal. "I'm afraid you are too hard on us."
"I'm not half as hard on you as the French and British will be when they get hold of you!" exclaimed the woman angrily.
Hal looked at her in surprise. He supposed that all women in territory conquered by the Germans had long since realized the value of keeping a silent tongue in their head. Aloud he said:
"I would advise you to be more careful of your speech. If words like those came to the ears of the general staff, you probably would be shot."
"You can't frighten me," declared their hostess. "'I say what I please, Germans or no Germans."
"Well, suit yourself," said Hal, "but don't forget that I have warned you."
"Thank you," sneered the woman. "Here's your room," kicking open the door at the top of the stairs. "You can sleep there if you wish, but I hope the British have arrived when you wake up again."
She waited for no reply, but descended the stairs hastily.
"By Jove!" muttered Hal. "The Germans snared a Tartar when they caught her."
"They certainly did," Chester agreed with a smile. "Great Scott! Seems to me she could have given us a candle or something. It's as dark as pitch in this room."