This prisoner unnerved me.  From morning to night, as he paced his cell, he groaned dismally:  not fitfully but continually.  It was like the wail of a dog suffering excruciating agony, only a thousand times more irritating and nerve-racking.  Even during the night he groaned, apparently in his sleep.  Another day, when similarly paraded beside him, I asked if he would like a piece of black bread.  He made no reply, but turned such a wolfish look upon me that I hastily told him to dive into my cell—­No. 11.  He watched the guard for a second, and while all backs were turned he was gone and back beside me with the prize which he clutched in his hand.  I have never seen such a rapid movement.  He slid into the cell like a shadow and as stealthily and as quickly returned.  This poor wretch doubtless enjoyed this unexpected addition to his quantity of food, since he was apparently being given just enough to keep him alive, and no more.  Otherwise he could never have become so fearfully thin.

Once again I was to receive another shock from my mysterious prisoner who had acted as interpreter.  On Thursday he came to my cell in the uniform of a warder.  Consequently I saw a good deal of him, and, he being friendly, we had many brief snatches of surreptitious conversation.  He was highly intelligent, well-educated and sympathetic.  I enquired as to how he happened to be in our unsalubrious avenue.  He informed me that he was awaiting the Kaiser’s pardon.  His offence was not heinous.  He had not responded to his country’s call, upon mobilisation, with the celerity which the officials declared he should have shown.  As a punishment he was committed to the cells for three days.  Upon the expiration of this sentence he had been made under-gaoler.  His name was M——­, and he told me he had a prosperous business outside Germany.

I was on the tip-toe of anticipation and suppressed excitement throughout Thursday and Friday, hoping for news concerning the decision of the Tribunal.  But when Friday passed without my receiving any tidings I commenced to get fidgety and anxious.  My feelings were not assuaged by hearing volleys ring out every morning, followed by a death-like stillness.  These reports appeared to stifle the cries and groans of the prisoners a little while.  To me the sounds presaged serious news.  Apparently there were several prisoners condemned for spying, and each volley, I was told, signified the flight of one or more hapless souls.  My spirits were not revived by noticing the cells on either side of me rapidly emptying, while the little party which went down into the yard in the morning began to dwindle in numbers very rapidly.

When the head-gaoler came round on Friday night I decided to tackle him.  The suspense was becoming intolerable.  By this time he had become somewhat more friendly towards me, and if in the mood would talk for a brief while.

“Were any other prisoners tried on Wednesday as spies?” I asked innocently.