"I am a naval officer."
"You are a spy. Come with us!"
The usual spy mania spread throughout the restaurant. Blows were threatened, chairs were brandished, and there were shouts of "Kill the spy, kill him!" on all sides. If the officers hadn't fought the crowd off, I would have been badly beaten.
At headquarters I was shown a description and even a picture of myself. So there was no doubt but what I was their man.
"Under what name does this spy travel?" I demanded.
"Under the name of Marine Inspector von Eckmann.
"Why, I am he."
"But you just said you were Count von Luckner."
I was compelled, with great injunctions of secrecy, to take them into my confidence, and had them telephone the Admiralty for confirmation.
The prying old captain at Geestemunde soon took himself to other parts—by request!