A gleam of light shot across Anna's mind. But she
made no remark, and her host went on:

"You realise that great care must be taken of those
things. In fact, you had better leave it all to him."

"Oh, yes," she nodded understandingly. "I know
they are fragile. I was told so."

It was extraordinary the relief she felt -- more than
relief, positive joy.

"As to the other matter -- the matter of your returning
to Germany," he said musingly, still speaking
in his and her native language, "I think, yes, on the
whole your idea is a good one, Frau Bauer. It is
shameful that it should be so, but England is no place
at present for an honest German woman who has not
taken out her certificate. I wonder if you are aware
that you will only be allowed to take away a very little
money? You had better perhaps confide the rest of
your savings to me. I will take care of them for you
till the end of the War."

"Very little money?" repeated Anna, in a horrified,
bewildered tone. "What do you mean, Herr Hegner?
I do not understand."

"And yet it is clear enough," he said calmly. "The
British Government will not allow anyone going to the
Fatherland to take more than a very few pounds -- just
enough to get them where they want to go, and a mark
or two over. But that need not distress you, Frau
Bauer."

"But it does distress me very much!" exclaimed
Anna. "In fact, I do not see now how I can go----"
She began to cry. "Are you sure -- quite sure -- of what
you say?"

"Yes, I am quite sure," he spoke rather grimly.

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v?