Read The Traitor for Free Online Page B

Ritter turned still more pages. At last he made an exclamation.
    â€œI’ve got it!” he cried.
    â€œIs it the one that Lessing sent us from London?” inquired the girl.
    â€œI think so. Be quiet, please, both of you, while I try to decode this.”
    Sitting at the table, he got to work. The others watched him with nervous impatience as he worked out a few words. After he had written a dozen or so, the girl, who had been looking over his shoulder, gave a cry.
    â€œColossal, as you say!”
    Over the other shoulder Pierre leaned forward, muttering to himself disjointedly. Von Ritter turned to both of them. His face was avid with excitement.
    â€œA triumph for the Fatherland!” he declared. “This will mean an Iron Cross of the First Class.” Turning back to his task, he wrote eagerly.
    â€œYes, yes,” remarked the girl; “but we do not gather all the spoils. The British Intelligence has been busy lately.”
    Von Ritter made an angry rejoinder.
    â€œYou talk like a fool, Minna.” He sprang up at the words. “ Donnerwetter! Do you see that? Do you understand what that means?” he demanded.
    â€œNot exactly.”
    â€œIt means that these,” tapping the dispatches, “have averted a most terrible disaster. The British know that von Kramer’s sector is the weak point of our line on the Somme. They have somehow found out that an Army Corps has been withdrawn for the offensive in the extreme west.”
    â€œBut how?” asked Pierre.
    â€œTreachery of some sort, or one of their cursed spies—that you”—glowering at the girl—“were praising just now. Von Kramer’s sector is to be left practically unprotected for several days. The British must have found this out. Their chemists have been at work. This,” pointing to one of the papers on the table, “proves that a new gas is to be used on that day by the Allies. If we hadn’t found this, our line might have been irretrievably broken, and perhaps the enemy would have pushed their way through. There it is, you can see for yourself”—pointing to certain words. “‘ Attack to be made on August 7 at 6.30 a.m.’”
    â€œBut now we are safe!” declared Pierre fervently.
    â€œYes, the Fatherland will be safe,” returned von Ritter with fanatical zeal. “But that fool must never know his precious dispatches have been tampered with. He will deliver them according to plan, and on the morning of the seventh the British attack will take place. There will be machine guns in the front line all ready for them, the artillery will be reinforced, and instead of finding a weak defence they’ll run into a hell. They’ll all be blown to pieces!”
    â€œAnd this new gas?” queried Marie.
    â€œHere is the formula”—taking up one of the papers. “This will be passed to our chemists, who will be certain to be able to find a neutralising agent. They always have, up to now”—with a laugh. “Our triumph will be complete.”
    But his enthusiasm was not completely shared by the girl.
    â€œIt will not do for us to crow too loudly. I know the British,” she declared. “Let us get the news through before we indulge in any more ecstasy.”
    It seemed as though von Ritter might strike her. Indeed, his right hand was already raised.
    Then: “Perhaps you’re right, Minna,” he returned, with a drawing-in of his breath. “But you must allow me some little exultation.”
    â€œWe are wasting valuable time,” was her curt rejoinder.
    Again von Ritter conquered himself.
    â€œI accept your reproof,” he said. He picked up the papers. “These are all in the same code, I find.”
    â€œYou will photograph them?”
    â€œOf course.”
    â€œBe careful you don’t get caught with the copy.”
    He stared at her coldly.
    â€œThat’s your job. I