'It's the truth,' growled Roy from the background.
'Your evidence in a case like this is valueless,' said Henkel shortly. He turned to Ken again.
'Have you heard from your father since you last saw him?' he asked suddenly.
'From my father?' he said, with sudden eagerness. 'No. Is he alive?'
There was a gleam of triumph in Henkel's prominent eyes.
'Yes,' he answered. 'He is alive and--under the circumstances--well.'
'You thought that he had been shot,' said Henkel grimly. 'That would indeed have been his fate but for my interference. I used my influence to get his sentence altered to a term of imprisonment.'
Ken changed colour. He found it desperately difficult to keep a cool head. The news that his father was alive had filled him with burning excitement. The two had always been the best of chums, more like an elder and younger brother than father and son.
'At present in Constantinople,' replied Henkel, who was watching Ken keenly. 'But it is likely that he will presently be sent elsewhere.'
'What--into Asia Minor?' said Ken in dismay. Constantinople was bad enough, but nothing to the horrors of the Turkish prisons in Asia.
'Not so far as that. He is to be moved, with others of the British and French, to Gallipoli.'
Ken's cheeks went white. His eyes were full of horror.
'You are perhaps aware,' continued Henkel, 'that the Turkish Government has decided upon this step as a response to the bombardment of unfortified places by your fleet. If Turkish civilians are to be killed, it is only fair that enemy civilians should share their fate.'
'Enver Bey seems to have learnt his German pretty thoroughly,' put in Roy sarcastically.
Henkel's eyes glared as he turned upon him.
'Be silent!' he ordered, with a fury he could hardly repress.
Roy merely smiled, and Henkel turned again to Ken.
'It lies with you whether your father goes to Gallipoli or not,' he said curtly. 'I have sufficient influence to prevent his being sent there.'
'I will tell you plainly. Your father still holds the title deeds of certain property near Ipsala. This property he has, of course, forfeited since his conviction. I wish to purchase this land from the Turkish Government, but owing to the absence of the deeds, which are, apparently, in a London bank, there are difficulties as to the transfer.