I did not attempt to speak but contrived by sundry movements and shuffling on one pretext or another to get closer to him.  Then I resorted to subterfuge.  Standing with my hands in front of me I began to twiddle my fingers rapidly.  The action appeared to be natural and did not arouse the slightest suspicion.  Within the limitations available I was forming some of the letters of the deaf and dumb alphabet with which I am fully acquainted and dexterous.  Did he understand the language?  I watched him closely.  Presently I saw his fingers begin to move with apparent equal aimlessness.  I watched intently.  He was answering me and to my joy I discovered that he understood English.

Our fingers were now working briskly and we carried on a brief monosyllabic conversation while the other prisoners were completing their work.  From him I learned that I was certainly in great danger.  But he urged me to cheer up.  Then he asked me the number of my cell, which I gave.  He replied that he was directly opposite me, and he told me to look out for him whenever I got a chance, which, needless to say, under the stringency of my life, was not likely to be often.  He had such a frank open face that I felt as if I could trust him, although I had come to regard every German, no matter how apparently innocent his conversation might be, with the gravest suspicion.  But a quaint, quiet, suppressed smile which he gave restored my confidence completely.

The hours dragged along as during the previous day.  It was wearying and exhausting.  I refused all my food and was making an imposing collection of bowls of foodstuff.  None was taken away.  The gaoler merely observed that I had not touched anything, but he made no comment.  When night fell I essayed to lie down, but this was impossible.  The sores on my projecting thigh bones had broken into large wounds which were now bleeding and suppurating and were so painful as to render lying down impossible.  As a matter of fact more than two months passed before those wounds healed and the scars are still visible.

I was lying as best I could upon my bed vainly striving to woo sleep.  It was about midnight.  The key grated in the lock and a young officer entered.  He was gruff of manner, but according to the German standard was not unkind.  I found that his manner was merely a mask to dissipate any suspicion among others who might be prowling round, such is the distrust of one German of another.  After he had shut the door his manner changed completely and he was disposed to be affable.  But I resented his intrusion.  Had he come to fathom me?  Was he an emissary seeking to induce me to commit myself inadvertently?  Frankly I thought so.  He spoke softly and his voice was intentionally kind, while he spoke English perfectly.

“I would like to help you,” he began.

“Would you?” I retorted cynically.

“Yes, I am very fond of the English.  I have lived in London several years and have many friends over there.”