“You’ve known about him a long time already, then?” I hardly recognized the sound of my own voice.
Bayer smiled brilliantly.
“Quite a long time. Yes.” His tone was soothing. “Norris
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has even been very helpful to us, though he did not wish it. We were able, occasionally, to convey much false impressions to our opponents through this channel.”
With bewildering speed, the jig-saw puzzle was fitting itself together in my brain. In a flash, another piece was added. I remembered the morning after the elections; Bayer in this very room, handing Arthur the sealed packet from his writing-table drawer.
“Yes … I see now… .”
“My dear Mr. Bradshaw.” Bayer’s tone was kind, almost paternal, “Please do not distress yourself too much. Norris is your friend, I know. Mind, I have not said this against him as a man; the private life is not our concern. We are all convinced that you cannot have known of this. You have acted throughout with good faith towards us. I wish it had been possible to keep you in ignorance over this matter.”
“What I still don’t understand is, how Pregnitz …”
“Ah, I am coming to that… . Norris, you see, found himself unable any longer to satisfy his Paris friends with these reports. They were so often insufficient or false. And so he proposed to van Hoorn the idea of a meeting with Pregnitz.”
“And the glass factory?”
“It exists only in the imagination of Norris. Here he made use of your inexperience. It was not for this that van Hoorn paid your expenses to Switzerland. Baron Pregnitz is a politician, not a financier.”
“You don’t mean … ?”
“Yes, this is what I wished to tell you. Pregnitz has access to many secrets of the German Government. It is possible for him to obtain copies of maps, plans and private documents which van Hoorn’s employers will pay very much to see. Perhaps Pregnitz will be tempted. This does not concern us. We wish only to warn you personally, that you may not discover yourself innocently in a prison for the high treason.”
“My God… how on earth did you get to know all this?”
Bayer smiled.
“You think that we have also our spies? No, that is not
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necessary. All information of this sort one can obtain so easily from the police.”
“Then the police know?”
“I do not think that they know all for certain, yet. But they are very suspicious. Two of them came here to ask us questions concerning Norris, Pregnitz and yourself. From these questions one could guess a good deal. I believe we have satisfied them that you are not a dangerous conspirator,” Bayer smiled, “nevertheless, it seemed best to telegraph to you at once, that you might not be further involved.”
“It was very good of you to bother what became of me at all.”
“We try always to help those who help us; although, unfortunately, this is sometimes not possible. You have not seen Norris yet?”
“No. He was out when I arrived.”
“So? That is excellent. It is better that you should tell him these things yourself. Since a week he has not been here. Tell him, please, that we wish him no harm; but it will be better for himself if he goes away from Germany at once. And warn him, also, that the police have him under observance. They are opening all letters which he receives or writes; of this I am sure.”
“All right,” I said, “I’ll tell him that.”
“You will? That is good.” Bayer rose to his feet. “And now, Mr. Bradshaw, please do not make yourself reproaches. You have been foolish, perhaps. Never mind; we are all sometimes very, very foolish. You have done nothing to be ashamed. I think that now you will be more careful with whom you make a friend, eh?”
“Yes, I shall.”
Bayer smiled. He clapped me encouragingly on the shoulder.
“Then now we will forget this unpleasant matter. You would like to do some more work for us soon? Excellent… . You tell Norris what I said, eh? Goodbye.”
“Goodbye.”
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I shook hands with him, I suppose, and got myself off the premises in the usual manner. I must have behaved quite normally, because nobody in the outer office stared. It was only when I was out in the street that I began to run. I was suddenly in a tremendous hurry; I wanted to get this over, quick.
A taxi passed; I was inside it before the driver had had time to slow down. “Drive as fast as you can,” I told him. We skidded in and out of the traffic; it had been raining and the roadway was slimy with mud. The lamps were lighted already; it was getting dark. I lit a cigarette and threw it away after a couple of puffs. My hands were trembling, otherwise I was perfectly calm, not angry, not even disgusted; nothing. The puzzle fitted together perfectly. I could see it all, if I wished to look at it, a compact, vivid picture, at a single glance. All I want, I thought, is to get this over. Now.
Arthur was back already. He looked out of his bedroom as I opened the front door of the flat.
“Come in, dear boy! Come in! This is indeed a pleasant surprise! When Frl. Schroeder told me you’d returned, I could hardly believe it. What was it made you come back so soon? Were you homesick for Berlin; or did you pine for my society? Please say you did! We’ve all missed you very much here. Our Christmas dinner was tasteless indeed without you. Yes … I must say, you’re not looking as well as I’d expected; perhaps you’re tired after the journey? Sit down here. Have you had tea? Let me give you a glass of something to refresh you?”
“No,- thank you, Arthur.”
“You won’t? Well, well … perhaps you’ll change your mind later. How did you leave our friend Pregnitz? Flourishing, I hope?”
“Yes. He’s all right.”
“I’m glad to hear that. Very glad. And now, William, I really must congratulate you on the admirable skill and tact with which you fulfilled your little mission. Margot was more
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than satisfied. And he’s very particular, you know; very difficult to please… .”
“You’ve heard from him, then?”
“Oh, yes. I got a long telegram this morning. The money will arrive tomorrow. I’m bound to say this for Margot: he’s most punctual and correct in these matters. One can always rely on him.”
“Do you mean to say that Kuno’s agreed?”
“No, not that, alas. Not yet. These things aren’t settled in a day. But Margot’s distinctly hopeful. It seems that Pregnitz was a little difficult to persuade at first. He didn’t quite see how this transaction would be of advantage to his firm. But now he’s become definitely interested. He wants time to think it over, of course. Meanwhile, I get half my share as we arranged. I’m thankful to say that it’s more than sufficient to cover my travelling expenses; so that’s one weight lifted from my mind. As for the rest, I’m convinced, personally, that Pregnitz will agree in the end.”
“Yes … I suppose they all do.”
“Nearly all, yes …” Arthur agreed absently; became aware, the next moment, of something strange in my tone. “I don’t think, William, I quite understand what you mean.”
“Don’t you? I’ll put it more plainly then: I suppose van Hoorn usually succeeds in getting people to sell him whatever he wants to buy?”
“WellerI don’t know that, in this case, one could describe it as a sale. As I think I told you …”
“Arthur,” I interrupted wearily, “you can stop lying now. I know all about it.”
“Oh,” he began, and was silent. The shock seemed to have taken away his breath. Sinking heavily into a chair, he regarded his finger-nails with unconcealed dismay.
“This is all my own fault, really, I suppose. I was a fool ever to have trusted you. To do you justice, you more or less warned me against it, often enough.”
Arthur looked up at me quickly, like a spaniel which is going to be whipped. His lips moved, but he didn’t speak.
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The deep-cleft dimple appeared for a moment in his collapsed chin. Furtively, he scratched his jowl, withdrawing his hand again immediately, as though he were afraid this gesture might annoy me.