Albert turned quickly.
"Good or bad?"
"Bad," answered Rintelen. He reached into his pocket and brought out a slip of paper, unfolding it as he held it for Albert to read.
Dr. Albert glanced over it, then frowned, inquiringly.
"Well, what of this? Is it not right that Germany should place bombs on ships leaving American ports? I see here a list of ten or twelve sugar vessels which are now at sea, with bombs in their cargoes due to explode some time today. What of that? These are orders being carried out."
Von Rintelen pointed.
"Read the last line again carefully, my friend. The Cragside is listed there and—the Cragside is still in port!"
For a moment of tense silence the plotters stared at each other, consternation growing in the expression Albert bent upon Rintelen.
"What! And there are bombs in the Cragside's hold?"
Von Rintelen nodded. "Five of them—sewed into sugar sacks. They are due to explode any time now."