“Nothing, indeed! Tell me at once!”

“I’ve been rowing.”

“Where to?”

“Oh, out to a ship.”

“There aren’t any ships, except the Dutch warship. Was it to her?”

“Yes.”

“To carry our message—my message?”

He squirmed.

“I’m awfully sleepy,” he protested. “It isn’t fair to cross-examine a witness—”

“When was it?” his ruthless interrogator broke in.