"Keep your wits and say nothing unless you have to," was the young
lieutenant's whispered advice. "Leave the talking to me."

"Where are you from?" asked the officer.

"Berlin," replied the Englishman.

"Where are you bound?"

"Stettin."

"Your business?"

"Our business is purely private. Two of my companions are young American
lads and the third is a Belgian gentleman. I am an Englishman. You will
interfere with us at your peril."

"In times of war we interfere with whom we choose. A state of war exists
in Germany, as you know."

"There is no state of war between your country and ours."

"Perhaps not, but I am not sure of it; there may be by this time. You
have no passports, I take it?"

"We have not."

"Then I must ask you to leave your machine and come with me."

"For what reason?"