I had begun to suspect he was coming over to my way of thinking and would yield to her presently, but he returned to the attack--very directly and abruptly.
"What is it you know against the German government ?" he demanded, and sat with his jaw in the palm of his hand waiting for her answer.
"Why should I tell you?
Why should I put myself completely in your power ?" "Why not ?" asked Fred.
"What would prevent you from stealing my thunder, and telling my story as your own--leaving me at the Germans' mercy ?" "Something very potent that I think you would not understand if I talked of it," Fred answered.

"Listen to me now a minute.

I haven't conferred with my friends here, as you know.

Whatever I tell you is subject to their agreeing with me.

The only condition on which I, for one, would consent to taking part with you in anything--after all our experience of you!--would be that you should put yourself so completely in our power that we could feel we had your safekeeping.