"Mr Belke," she cried, "I am very deeply sorry for treating even an enemy as I treated you!"
She spoke so sincerely and with so much emotion that even Captain Phipps assumed a certain solemn expression, which was traditionally never seen on his face except when the Chaplain was actually officiating, and jumping up she came a step towards the prisoner. There she stood, a graceful and beautiful figure, her eyes glowing with fervour.
"All I can say for myself, and all I can ask you to think of when your recollections of me pain you, is only this—if you had a sister, would you have had her hesitate to do one single thing I did in order to defeat her country's enemies?"
Von Belke looked at her for a moment with frowning brow and folded arms. Then all he said was—
"Germany's cause is sacred!"
Her eyes opened very wide.
"Then what is right for Germany is wrong for her enemies?"
"Naturally. How can Germany both be right—as she is, and yet be wrong?"
"I—I don't think you quite understand what I mean," she said with a puzzled look.
"Germany never will," said Blacklock quietly. "That is why we are at war."