Heideck took leave of the Commander and retired to his cabin to draw up a report and take a well-deserved rest.

When he sent for M. Camille Penurot on the following morning, he found a striking alteration in him.  That foppish gentleman no longer showed the dejection of the day before, his dark eyes were bright and full of confidence.  By daylight, Heideck saw that his captive was a good-looking man about thirty years of age, more like a Spaniard than a Netherlander.

He bowed politely to Heideck and then asked, with a certain amount of confidence, “Pardon me, Herr major, if I serve the German Empire well, may I count on an adequate reward?”

“I have already told you, M. Penurot, that we are prepared to pay more than the English.”

“Oh, that was not what I meant.  You mustn’t class me with Maaning Brandelaar and people of that sort.”

Heideck smiled.

“Will you be good enough to tell me, then, M. Penurot, with whom I am to class you?”

“I am willing from this moment to devote all my energies to the cause of the allies.”

“Granted.  But what are your wishes in the matter of reward?”

“I should like you to use your influence to obtain me the honour of an order.”

Heideck was unable to conceal his astonishment at this strange request.

“Such distinctions are, as a rule, only given in Germany for acts of bravery or for services which cannot be adequately requited in hard cash.”

“What I am willing to do requires bravery.”

“You are only going to help me to find out the spies in Antwerp.”

“But they are dangerous people to make enemies of—­people whose tools would be capable of anything.”

“Rest assured, M. Penurot, that your reward will correspond with the services rendered.  You know that I have no order to bestow, and besides, I do not quite understand of what importance a decoration can be to you.”

“You rate my sense of honour too low, Herr major!  But in order that you may understand me, I will tell you a secret.  I am in love with a lady of very good family, and her people would be more ready to welcome me, if I had an order.”

“Then you have fixed your affections very high, I suppose?”

“That’s as one takes it.  In the matter of birth, I am in that painful situation which is the inheritance of all children born out of wedlock.  My mother was a Spanish dancer, my father is the wealthy Amelungen.  He is fond of me and provides for me.  It was he who bought the business in Breskens for me.  But his wife, who is English, has no liking for me.”

“I understand you even less than before.  If you have such resources at your disposal, why on earth do you mix yourself up in such dangerous undertakings?”

“Herr Amelungen wished it.”

“So, then, he really is the guilty party?”

“For God’s sake, Herr major, you won’t abuse my confidence.  I should never forgive myself if anything I said were to harm Herr Amelungen.”