“I wanted to know a little more fully what was required of me before answering; but he did not say.  He insisted, rather, on my answering his question FIRST....  To be perfectly frank I was not anxious to commit myself unreservedly without knowing ALL he expected of me, but it sounded cowardly ... so with a mental reservation I finally said:  ’You don’t look like a man who would ask another to commit suicide.  Go ahead!  I’ve decided to take a chance.’...  Colonel Z——­ S——­ looked me straight in the eye and said:  ’We expect you to use the same tactics that are used against you.  We can’t be squeamish....  The interests at stake are too sacred to allow personal considerations to affect your conduct....  You will be required to undertake a journey in the capacity of a guide....  How you make it will be left entirely to yourself ... but we expect results....  Every resource will be placed at your disposal, but if YOU get into trouble you’ll have to get yourself out without calling on us for help....  We must not be known in the matter.  And understand this—­the assignment is dangerous from start to finish; no official help can be given you under ANY circumstances.’...  To get a line on things I asked, casually, what my compensation would be....  He replied:  ’You will be allowed a regular retainer fee, an allowance for daily expenses and a bonus sufficiently attractive to make the undertaking worth while, as you should know.’  I thought a little while before asking, ’When do I start?’...  ‘There’s another thing,’ he said.  ’I suppose you know we retain one-third of your fee for the benefit of your family in the event of any trouble.’...  I merely nodded and said, ‘All right.’”

In a moment a clerk brought in a check for 400, which Colonel Z——­ S——­ gave me, saying:  ’This is your first month’s allowance for expenses; your retainer will be paid quarterly.’...  ’How do you KNOW I won’t swindle you?’ I asked, being a perfect stranger to him.  ’I am taking my ORDERS from above,’ he answered.... ‘Who?’ I asked.  ’Young man!’ he thundered, ’learn this QUICK—­don’t ask questions; keep your ears and eyes open and your mouth SHUT.... Be here at 10 tomorrow.’

5.  The next entry of interest read as follows: 

“I met Colonel Z——­ S——­ at 10 today.  My head was not clear.  Guess I had too much at Kempinsky’s last night....  A saturnalia of spending on the theory that the Allies will pay....  Even the ride in the Grunewald this morning didn’t clear the cobwebs away.  I was constantly thinking of that girl at the Metropole with her long eyelashes and dimpling smile; resembles the veiled lady at Buckingham,—­and I was trying to make out why she managed to occupy a seat at the next table to mine at the Admiral’s Palace an hour or two later.  She seems to know some of the performers who mingled in the audience, especially the energetic dark-eyed Circe with the Greek nose,