"Of Halle."
"A spy?"
"Yes." The answer was given with considerable hesitation. It was the man speaking in spite of his inclination to maintain silence and discretion.
"You stole my plans. Where are they?"
"It was my employer, Karl von Secker, who took the plans. We were here last night. He went away yesterday, taking the plans with him; but before he went he gave me orders to destroy this machine."
"You know where he is?"
"On my honour, no. He could not tell me. Perhaps he will make his way back to Germany. It is easy for him to do so."
Blake asked several more questions, not once shifting his eyes from the thoroughly cowed Hun.
"Very good," he concluded. "In a few hours' time you will be handed over to the authorities for trial. If it be any satisfaction to you I might add that you will be the first German—and I hope the last—to set foot on this battleplane."
He turned and went for'ard. Directly his back was turned the spy broke into a torrent of oaths, defying his captors and reviling himself for having given away so much information.