The Traitor by Sydney Horler Read Free Book Online

mustn’t leave Paris—didn’t von Jago tell you that?”
    â€œHe merely said I must co-operate with you.”
    â€œAs soon as I have taken the photographs, you must go straight to Schlasser—oh, I’m sorry, I forgot. Not Hans Schlasser, but the very respectable Monsieur Delaine. He’ll make it easy for you to get back to Berlin.”
    She shrugged her beautiful shoulders.
    â€œBut I don’t require his help.”
    â€œFräulein, you must not be presumptuous. Already to-night you have shown far too many signs of it.”
    This time his manner—and words—cowed her.
    â€œHaven’t I done enough?” she inquired.
    He almost spat the rejoinder at her.
    â€œThe cause of the Fatherland must be always the first consideration of any secret agent.” He turned away as though his choler would master him if he carried on any further talk. “Have you got the camera?” he demanded of Pierre.
    â€œIt is here, Herr Lieutenant.” The speaker took a tiny camera from a secret drawer which he had unlocked in the table.
    â€œGood. Now, fix these papers against the wall, but don’t mark them.”
    Pierre laughed.
    â€œYou can trust me, Herr Lieutenant. It is not the first time.”
    â€œI know; but in matters of this importance you can’t be too careful.”
    The girl interposed: “Aren’t you taking a big risk with photography? Supposing the pictures turned out no good?”
    Von Ritter licked his lips.
    â€œYou need not worry; I have never failed to get a good picture yet.”
    While the two were talking, Pierre had fixed the first paper against the wall.
    â€œNow the flash-powder.”
    Pierre filled a small flash apparatus.
    â€œIt will be an instantaneous exposure,” continued von Ritter, “and then back go the papers into our friend’s dispatch-case, where they are locked up all safe and sound exactly as they were when he left London. When he comes to he will consequently never know what has happened. Are you ready?”
    â€œReady, Herr Lieutenant,” said Pierre.
    Von Ritter pointed the camera at the paper.
    â€œGo!” he called.
    A flash of magnesium from the flash machine filled the room with glaring light. The girl put her hands over her eyes.
    â€œExcellent,” announced the Prussian. “That is the first one. Now for the others.”
    When the various papers had been photographed von Ritter superintended the disposal of them back into the dispatch-case.
    â€œWe must be careful to replace them exactly as they were,” he said. “We don’t want our friend the Englishman to suspect that they have been tampered with. There—they are exactly as in the beginning.” Locking the dispatch-case, he placed it on the chair from which he had originally taken it. “Now put these keys back into his pocket and then we will go into my room and I’ll write my report for Headquarters.” Disregarding Pierre, he turned to the girl. “And after that you must get away quickly, Minna.”
    â€œBut first I must write a note.” Taking a fountain pen from her bag, she scribbled on a piece of paper, reading the words aloud as she wrote:
    â€œDarling, I hadn’t the heart to waken you, you slept so peacefully. I have now gone to see my sick friend. I will ring you up in the morning.”
    The two men laughed.
    â€œIs that all you wish to tell him?” observed von Ritter cynically.
    â€œNo. I will add a little more.”
    â€œYou need sleep so badly that I have broken my promise to wake you in an hour. With all my undying love,
    â€œM arie .”
    â€œThere!” She placed the paper by the side of the empty wine bottle on the table. “He’ll find this when he wakes up; it will help to console him, perhaps.”
    â€œAlthough he is such a fool, he is bound to be suspicious.”
    â€œWhat does it matter?” returned the girl. “I