She raised her still eyes to his, but made no other movement.
“Miss Norne,” he said, “we in the International Service know enough about you to desire to know more.
“We already knew the story you have told to me. Agents in the International Secret Service kept in touch with you from the time that the Japanese escorted you out of China.
“From the day you landed, and all across the Continent to New York, you have been kept in view by agents of this government.
“Here, in New York, my men have kept in touch with you. And now, to-night, the moment has come for a personal understanding between you and me.”
The girl’s pale lips moved—became stiffly articulate: “I—I wish to live,” she stammered, “I fear death.”
“I know it. I know what I ask when I ask your help.”
She said in the ghost of a voice: “If I turn against them—they will kill me.”
“They’ll try,” he said quietly.
“They will not fail, Mr. Cleves.”