One course of action seemed clear enough at the moment, and that was that progress must be made immediately with his work of retaliation. He bade Regina remove the dishes and bring another bottle of wine. Then he fetched his writing materials and motioned her to sit down in the place she had occupied on Christmas evening. With shy delight she obeyed, for since that night she had spent her evenings till bed-time alone in the vestibule.
"I'm going to ask you, Regina," he began, "to answer very briefly, and to the point, several questions!"
She started, then whispered, "Yes, Herr."
"Drink, and that will make you more talkative."
She struggled to do as he desired, but to-day the effect the wine had upon her was to make her more nervous and reserved, instead of less so.
"To go back to the night in which you led the French across the Cats' Bridge. Was there any one on the premises who knew of the expedition?"
"No, Herr."
"How did it get wind in the village then?"
She cast down her eyes. "I believe through me, Herr," she stammered.
"To whom did you confide the information?"