“A bomb?” he said.

Anonyma thought that he was evidently a foreigner, though his accent was English.  He seemed to find English rather difficult to understand.

“Why do you tell me all this?” he asked finally.

“Because I recognise your face as that of a sp—­I mean a fellow-worker in the great brotherhood of espionage,” said Anonyma.

“Come on, then,” said the man.

So they walked off together.

“Why did you take up this—­calling?” asked the man presently.  “Are you a German?”

“Well, more or less,” said Anonyma.  “At least, I have never been a Christian.  I believe that one must take either War or Christianity seriously.  Hardly both.”

It was a good opportunity for a monologue.  Obviously the stranger was not one who would resent a monopoly of the conversation.

“After all, men are only minor gods,” said Anonyma, “and War is what gods were born for.  Germany knows that.  That’s why, under the present circumstances, I’d rather take German money than English.”

“Are we anywhere near D——­ yet?”

Anonyma hoped that he still had no suspicions.  His voice was distinctly nervous.  To reassure him, she said, “Why did you take up espionage yourself?”

“Why, indeed?” said the stranger in an ardent voice.  “Of course the pay was enormous.  Twenty thousand francs if I could get an exact chart of the South Coast.”

“Why francs?” asked Anonyma.

“Not francs.  I find these various currencies so confusing, don’t you?  Of course I mean pfennigs.”

“Twenty thousand pfennigs?” said Anonyma.  “Look here, are you trying to be funny?”

“Far from it,” said the man.  “To tell you the truth, I am awfully nervous.”

“Of me?”

“Yes.  No.  I mean of discovery.”

“You don’t seem to be absolutely cut out for your job,” said Anonyma.

They walked in silence for a while.  Anonyma sought through her mind to find something she could say in keeping with her part.  She decided finally on a rather ambiguous though imposing attitude.

“The Germans have discovered the truth that anything good is belligerent, love included.  You can’t fight properly with any weapon but your life.  Death is not the only thing that passes by the peace-man.  He remains alive, but he also remains ignorant.  All peace-men are really women in disguise, and all women are utterly superfluous to-day.  We only know men.  People who disapprove of War shall have no part in peace.  The peace shall be ours who suffered for it, and only we have earned it.  The only decent thing left for the Americans and Quakers to do now is to hold their tongues when peace comes.  They haven’t earned the right to rejoice.”

“I am a Quaker,” said the stranger.

“I didn’t know the Germans allowed Quakers at large.”

“I am not a German,” said the stranger.

“Then what has happened?” asked Anonyma, standing suddenly still at the top of the main street of D——.  “Why did you want my notebook?”