The other side-shows also did excellent business, especially the gambling tables where roulette was in full swing.  At the end of the day all the roulette boards and other gambling impedimenta were confiscated.  This was the arrangement.  But between sunrise and sunset we did not suffer the slightest interference with our enjoyment and merriment.  This unexpected spell of free action revived the spirits of the prisoners to a remarkable degree, and we were all warmly grateful to the German authorities for allowing us to do and to enjoy ourselves exactly as we pleased for even one brief day.  It was a Bank Holiday according to the British interpretation of the term, and I, in common with all my fellow-prisoners, must certainly admit that it was the jolliest day I remember during the whole period of my incarceration, and the only day on which we were allowed to indulge in sport ad lib. and according to the dictates of our fancies.  I mention this concession because I am anxious to give credit to the Germans where it is due.

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I was not only making sufficient money out of my various commercial transactions to keep myself in clover within the camp, but I was successful in finding means to remit some of my income, earned in Ruhleben, to England “To keep the Home Fires Burning.”  This I considered to be a distinct achievement, especially as I was making it at the expense of my captors.

Only once did I have an acute shock.  It was at the time when the Germans were making such frantic efforts to rake in all the gold upon which they could place their hands.  In my stock was a certain gold article which had cost me L30, as well as another item also of this metal which I had secured at the low price of L20.  An officer swooped down upon my kiosk and went through my stock.  I trembled as to what would happen when he alighted upon the two valuable articles.  He picked up the first named article, examined the metal critically, and then asked me how much I wanted for it.

“Three marks!” I ventured nonchalantly, with a view to taking him off his guard.

“But it’s gold,” he persisted, staggered at the idea of being able to buy such an adornment for the trivial sum of three shillings.

My heart thumped as he held the article hesitatingly.  If he offered me three shillings for it I should be bound to accept it in which event I should be a heavy loser over the deal.  So I went on desperately: 

“Well, if you think it’s gold why don’t you buy it for three marks?  I will give no guarantee, so don’t come back and say it’s only metal!” Then assuming a deprecating tone I continued:  “It is got up only for show.  It looks very pretty, but you couldn’t give it to a lady!”

He appeared to be quite satisfied because he replaced it, while when he picked up the other item I pitched a corresponding yarn.  After he had taken his departure I promptly transferred the two articles to a place of safety in case he should take it into his head to make another examination.