"You may as well confess your imposture，"said he."Itwill make your punishment lighter.However，if on further examination you prove to be spies，your fate is beyond my power to mitigate.""See here，"said Uncle John，when this was translatedto him，"if you dare to interfere with us，or cause us annoyance，I shall insist on your being courtmartialed.You are responsible to your superiors，I suppose，and they dare not tolerate an insult to the Red Cross，nor to an American citizen.You may have the sense to consider that if these papers and letters are genuine，as I declare they are，I have friends powerful enough to bring this matter before the Kaiser himself，in which case someone will suffer a penalty，even if he is a general or a colonel."As he spoke he glared defiantly at the older officer，whocalmly proceeded to translate the speech to the colonel.Cargreported that it was translated verbatima.Then the general sat back and squinted at his companion，who seemed fairly bewildered by the threat.Patsy caught the young officer smotheringb a smile，but neither of them interrupted the silence that followed.
Once again the colonel picked up the papers and gave them a rigid examination，especially that of the German ambassador，which was written in his own language."I cannot understand，"he muttered，"how one insignificant American citizen could secure such powerful endorsements.It has neverhappened before in my experience.""It is extraordinary，"said the general.
"Mr.Merrick，"said Patsy to him，"is a very important man in America.He is so important that any indignity to him will be promptly resented.""I will investigate your case further，"decided ColonelGrau，after another sotto vocec conference with the general."Spies are getting to be very clever，these days，and we cannot take chances.However，I assure you there is no disposition to worry you and until your standing is determined you will be treated with every consideration.""Do you mean that we are prisoners？"asked Uncle John，trying to control his indignation.
"No，indeed.You will be detained，of course，but youare not prisoners—as yet.I will keep your papers and submit them to the general staff.It will be for that august body to decide."Uncle John protested vigorously；Patsy faced the oldgeneral and told him this action was an outrage that would be condemned by the entire civilized world；Captain Carg gravely assured both officers that they were making a serious mistake.But nothing could move the stolid Germans.The general，indeed，smiled grimly and told them in English that he was in no way responsible，whatever happened.This was Colonel Grau's affair，but he believed，nevertheless，that the colonel was acting wisely.
The young officer，who had stood like a statue during the entire interview，was ordered to accompany the Americans to a hotel，where they must be kept under surveillancea but might follow，to an extent，their own devices.They were not to mail letters nor send telegrams.
The officer asked who should guard the suspects.
"Why not yourself，Lieutenant？You are on detached duty，I believe？""At the port，Colonel.""There are too many officers at the port；it is a sinecureb.I will appoint you to guard the Americans.You speak their language，I believe？"The young man bowed.
"Very well；I shall hold you responsible for their safety."They were then dismissed and compelled to follow their guard from the room.
Patsy was now wild with rage and Uncle John speechless.Even Carg was evidently uneasy.
"Do not mind，"said the young lieutenant consolingly."Itis merely a temporary inconvenience，you know，for your release will come very soon.And since you are placed in my care I beg you to accept this delay with good grace and be happy as possible.Ostend is full of life and I am conducting you to an excellent hotel."