durance. I thought I could safely make the bargain and found out just a fortnight ago that I couldn't. Since then I have been between two stools; telling you and possibly losing you, or going on and torturing myself. I stood the latter a fortnight but now -- " and his head drooped wearily -- "it is too much".

There was a moment's silence, and the girl laughed with just the faintest trace of nervousness in her tone. Then she said:

"I do believe you are trying to flirt with me, and I will say this, you have adopted a rather novel method, but --"

"I am not flirting with you," he interrupted. "Why do you always rake up the past? And you know practically nothing of it -- only distorted gossip! Why don't you judge for yourself? You've seen a lot of me during the last two months and know something of my work and general life. Do you think it's all insincere?"

"Please don't got excited and shout," was her cool remark.

Alllison recovered himself immediately.

BC Archives, MS-2570 Box 1 File 6 / MIST, Henry Masterman, Ruhleben magazine, Prisoners' Pie, 1916