Page 31 - A Hero of Liége

CHAPTER II

--THE FIRST TRICK

With the door shut, the room was almost wholly dark. It contained no
furniture but a plain deal table and a wooden chair. Kenneth sat down and

ruminated. His position was annoying, but also mildly exciting. It would be
something to tell his people when he got home, that he had been arrested as

a spy.

It was now five o'clock. Dinner was at seven: his train left at half-past nine,

and the stationmaster had advised him to be at the station at least an hour in
advance. He had addressed his note to Finkelstein at the office, and

expected that his friend would arrive within half an hour or so and procure
his release. In the absence of any evidence against him a prolonged
detention would surely be impossible.

Perhaps half an hour had passed when he heard footsteps on the passage;

the key turned in the lock, and he started up, expecting to see Finkelstein.
But there entered a constable, bringing a mug of beer and a piece of rye
bread.

"My friend Herr Finkelstein has not come?" Kenneth asked.

"Nobody has come for you," replied the man.

"My note was taken to him?"

"If you wrote a note, I daresay it was."

"Aren't you sure?"

"I have only just come on duty, sir."

The constable set the food on the table and went out, locking the door.