'After your attempts to escape,' Major Elwell announced, 'I shall be compelled to search you.'
Johnson drew a revolver from his pocket. His manner remained bellicose.
'Look here,' he said, 'if you're looking for trouble you can have it. I don't recognize the right of anybody to interfere with my movements.'
Major Elwell strolled slowly across the room to where Johnson was standing, looking all the time down the muzzle of the outstretched revolver.
'One moment, Mr. Johnson,' he said. 'Do you mind glancing out of this window? No, you can keep your weapon—I've no designs on that. Just look down into the street.'
Johnson did as he was bidden. Half a dozen soldiers were lined up outside the entrance.
'Then out of the door, if you please,' the Major further suggested.
He held it open. At the bottom of the stairs a sentry was standing with drawn bayonet. Johnson stared at him for a moment. Then he turned abruptly away.
'Look here,' he said hoarsely, 'this censor business don't go with me. You're lying!'
'Perhaps so,' Major Elwell admitted smoothly, 'and so are you. You mentioned, I think, that you had been in the American Embassy at Berlin. You omitted to mention, however, that you have since joined the German Secret Service. As that fact is well-known to us, you can understand, I dare say, why we regard this landing of yours upon a lonely part of the coast with some—shall I say suspicion?'