The Traitor Read Online Free PDF Page A

arranged everything?”
    â€œYes, Herr Lieutenant.”
    â€œWhen Marie comes up, wait for your opportunity, and give her this. She’ll know what to do.”
    The waiter took the phial that was extended to him.
    â€œYes, Herr Lieutenant. Has the Englishman brought anything important?”
    The officer glared at him as though resenting such impertinence. Then, excitement rising in his voice, he replied: “Something colossal, I am told. We mustn’t miss it.”
    â€œ Himmel , no! It is not every day we get such a chance. Were you cramped up there, Herr Lieutenant?”
    The other made a grimace.
    â€œHorribly. Still, it’s worth some discomfort to do such work for the Fatherland.” With youthful enthusiasm—he did not look more than twenty-six—he continued: “This fool Englishman has brought the formula of a new gas—at least, that is what they wired us from London. It is something big, without a doubt.”
    â€œWe must hurry, Herr Lieutenant,” stated the waiter, looking anxiously at the door.
    For reply, von Ritter pointed to the phial.
    â€œThat is what you are to give to Marie,” he said. “That will keep him quiet—while we deal with the contents of his case.”
    â€œBut he has taken the case with him. We must wait until he returns.”
    â€œNever mind. See that Marie has that stuff.”
    â€œWon’t he taste it, Herr Lieutenant?”
    â€œNo; it’s practically tasteless. He’ll be off like a log in a quarter of an hour.”
    The waiter smiled evilly.
    â€œYou’d better go now,” observed the other; “he may be back any minute.”
    â€œVery well, Herr Lieutenant.” Saluting, he turned and left the room.
    Waiting only until he heard the key click in the lock again, von Ritter re-entered the spy trap, shut it, and the picture of Napoleon swung back into place.
    ***
    When, five minutes later, Alan Clinton entered the room by the side of a remarkably pretty girl of nineteen he looked as though he had cast all his cares aside. But he did not give Marie Roget the passionate embrace she expected until he had locked the door behind them and deposited the dispatch-case in a chair by the farther side of the room.
    â€œHave I to wait so long?” plaintively inquired his companion.
    He turned quickly.
    â€œDarling!” he cried.
    After kissing her passionately he held her at arm’s length and looked long into her face.
    â€œDo you know, you’re prettier than ever, Marie.”
    The girl laughed.
    â€œYou say such nice things, Alan,” she replied, with only a trace of accent. “That is perhaps one of the reasons why I love you so.”
    She yielded herself to his caressing hands.
    â€œIt is lovely to be with you again—it has seemed so long since you went away. Englishmen are so frank and charming,” she added with a certain naïveté.
    â€œEnglishmen?”
    She laughed at her mistake—“One Englishman, I should have said.”
    Still he was not quite satisfied.
    â€œThere’s no one else?” he asked suspiciously. “My God, if I thought there was, Marie—”
    She satisfied him with a kiss.
    â€œOf course not. Don’t be so silly. I love you—and you alone. Oh, Alan, how I do love you!”
    He was mollified.
    â€œIf you hadn’t told me that I think I should have gone mad.” The suspicion passing, he became himself again.
    The girl took off her hat and flung it gaily into a chair.
    â€œNow tell me,” she said, “why have I had to wait so long? Why have you not written to me before?”
    â€œDarling child, you seem to forget that there’s a war on. I’ve been terribly busy in London.”
    â€œToo busy to think of even love?” she provoked him.
    â€œOnce more, child, let me remind you that we’re at war.”
    â€œBut isn’t that the time for love? The warrior and the woman,