‘It lies with you whether your father goes to Gallipoli or not,’ he said curtly.  ‘I have sufficient influence to prevent his being sent there.’

‘How do you mean?’ Ken asked thickly.

’I will tell you plainly.  Your father still holds the title deeds of certain property near Ipsala.  This property he has, of course, forfeited since his conviction.  I wish to purchase this land from the Turkish Government, but owing to the absence of the deeds, which are, apparently, in a London bank, there are difficulties as to the transfer.

’What I require is a letter from you to your father, asking him to authorise the return of these deeds.  In return for this small service I will arrange for you and your companion to be treated as prisoners of war and sent to Constantinople, where you will remain until the end of the war, as will also your father.’

He stopped, and stood watching Ken keenly.

Ken was in an agony of indecision.  So far as he himself was concerned, he would not have hesitated a moment in refusing the terms offered by Henkel.  But there was his father to think of—­and Roy.

His voice was strained and harsh as he spoke again.

’How do you know that my father would agree to any such letter, even if I was to write it?’ he asked.

‘Because,’ answered Henkel, ’your life will depend upon a favourable answer.’

Ken paused again.

‘Don’t do it, Ken,’ broke in Roy.  ’I don’t know your father, but I’m mighty sure he wouldn’t stick for this kind of blackmail.’

Henkel swung round on him in a fury.

’Potztausend!  Keep silence, fool!  Your own life as well as two others depends upon Carrington’s answer.’

’I wouldn’t give sixpence for my life if I had to keep it on terms like those,’ retorted Roy.

‘Nor would I,’ said Ken sharply.  ’And I know my father would say the same.  Whatever happens, he would never consent to letting you blackmail him, Colonel Henkel.’

’Blackmail, schelm!  What are you talking about?  Don’t I tell you that by his sentence your father has forfeited all right to any landed property under the Turkish Government?’

’Yes, but that country won’t be Turkish any more after the war.  And then my younger brother, who is at school at home, will inherit.  No, we are not going to cut him out and leave him penniless.  Do your worst, Henkel.’

Henkel’s great coarse face went livid.  He burst into a storm of savage profanity.

‘Enough!’ he cried at last.  ’You have brought your fate upon yourselves.  You have sealed your own death warrant.  You shall be shot within an hour, and as for your father, he shall be taken to Gallipoli within the week, and if he survives the fire of your own warships, I shall find other means of dealing with him.’

He rushed out, slamming the door behind him.

‘Got his monkey up pretty thoroughly,’ said Roy with a laugh.  Then seeing how grave Ken’s face was.