"Very true, sir, but with good reason. There are others aboard the _Sylph_ whom he did not wish to overhear such a communication. She was seen to steal a message relating to the movements of the fleet from the wireless room. Also she is a German. Lord Hastings requests that she be tried at once!"
"Very good, sir," replied Captain Johnson.
"Have Miss Beulow summoned here at once," he commanded.
A moment later, the young girl, smiling, stood before them.
"Miss Beulow," said the captain, "I have an unpleasant duty to perform. You are accused of being a German spy!"
"Who makes this absurd charge?" she demanded, after she had to some degree regained her composure.
"I do, at Lord Hastings' command," he replied.
The girl stared at him with the greatest contempt. Then she turned to the captain.
"I am innocent of this charge," she said; "but this man," and she pointed an accusing finger at the lieutenant, "I know to be a spy. He is accusing me to save himself."
"A very natural reply," he said. "Captain, she was seen to put the message I spoke of in her purse. Perhaps she still has it there. Will you see for yourself?"
"Your purse, if you please," said Captain Johnson, extending his hand, and speaking in a harsh voice, for he had no reason to doubt the truth of Lieutenant Taylor's words.
The girl's face turned white. For the first time she realized the full seriousness of her situation. For a moment she held her purse even closer to her.
"Your purse, if you please," interrupted the captain.
Slowly the girl extended it to him. Quickly he opened it, and a moment later withdrew a little piece of paper, which he opened and read. It was the message containing the supposed plans of the British fleet.
After a hasty perusal, the captain turned to Lieutenant Berkeley, his first officer.
"But, captain," exclaimed the girl in terror, "a message to Lord Hastings will confirm the truth of my story."
"I shall communicate with Lord Hastings at once," was the reply, "but I am convinced that no answer he can make will exonerate you."
"The case is perfectly plain," agreed Lieutenant Taylor.
"Have this young woman confined to her cabin," commanded Captain Johnson to Lieutenant Berkeley, "and have a court-martial summoned to sit at 8 o'clock in the morning. That is all. Take her away. Now you, sir," he continued, turning to Lieutenant Taylor, "I suppose are to stay here to make the charge?"