CHAPTER XVI
THE GENERAL PLAYS TO WIN
WHEN General von Stromberg went out of the room Doris turned toward Cyril, her happiness in her eyes where he could read it if he wished. But instead of coming to her he made a warning gesture and then walked slowly around the room, peering out of the windows and listening at the doors until satisfied that they were unobserved. Then he beckoned her to a spot out of the line of vision of the door into the adjoining room. She obeyed it wonderingly while he caught her in his arms and kissed her passionately.
“Thank God,” he whispered, “you understood.”
“Oh, Cyril,” she gasped, “if anything had happened to you”
“We must be careful,” he went on, whispering hastily. “My success hangs by a hair. Tonight—the thing that I came for will be within my reach. I must have it.”
“There will be danger?”
“I hope not. But you must not trust his promises to send you away. You must get away from here tonight before eleven. I will help you. Before then I must see you alone. It is not safe to talk here.”
He pressed her hand hurriedly and moved slowly across the room close to the wall and door, which he examined as he passed.
“But, Cyril”
206
