Wallace Intervenes (7 page)

‘Beastly sorry, don’t you know,’ he remarked, as he shook hands, ‘that you don’t feel up to treading the light fantastic, and all that. We shall miss your cheery smile.’

Wilhelm eyed him doubtfully.

‘I have little time for nonsense of that kind,’ he observed stiffly.

‘Oh, I say,’ protested Foster, screwing his monocle back into the eye from which it had fallen, and succeeding in looking thoroughly fatuous. ‘I wouldn’t call dancing nonsense, you know. Why, dash it all, Wilhelm, old boy, give the – er – devil his due, and what not. The jolly old world wouldn’t go round if people didn’t dance. You try it, old son, and you’ll get my meaning, what!’

The German ignored the trivialities.

‘Am I to understand,’ he asked, ‘that you are determined to accompany the baroness to Berlin?’

‘Yes, rather, wouldn’t miss it for anything. Couldn’t possibly let her go without me, though I must say she doesn’t seem very keen on the idea now, I don’t know why.’

‘Has it not occurred to you that she may resent your attentions?’

‘By Jove, no! Dash it all! Don’t suggest such awful thoughts. Why, man, I’m potty about her, and one of these days, if I can get up enough courage, I’m going to ask her to marry me.’

Wilhelm laughed harshly.

‘Don’t be a fool!’ he advised. ‘Has she ever given you any cause to anticipate that she would be willing to become your wife?’

Foster rubbed his chin ruefully.

‘Can’t say that she has,’ he admitted. ‘She’s been jolly decent to me, and all that, but she’s not the amorous sort, is she?’

‘She could be with the man she loved. But you are not, and never can be, Mr Foster. You have a saying, “Keep off the grass”. I think you will be well advised to follow it. It will be much better if you do not go to Berlin with her.’

‘I say, are you giving me orders?’

‘By no means. I am merely giving you very good advice.’

‘Thanks, old top. I’ve no doubt you mean well. But if it’s all the same to you, I intend to follow my own inclinations in this matter. I’m coming to Berlin, if only to learn German. Cheer ho!’

Wilhelm turned abruptly away, entered his taxi, and was driven off. Foster walked back to the others chuckling softly to himself.

They travelled together to Berlin, passing through miles upon miles of wheat fields in Czechoslovakia. On this occasion Foster did not have Sophie to himself, the courier insisting on carrying out his duties to the letter. He regarded the Englishman with an air of disapproval throughout the journey, but made no further reference to the inadvisability of his accompanying the baroness to the German capital. At the border Foster’s belongings were subjected to such a keen examination by the Customs, and his passport scrutinised with such elaborate care, that he was forced to the conclusion that an excuse was being sought to detain him. That was significant. Everything was in perfect order, however – he had previously made certain of that – and the officials were left with no alternative but to permit him to proceed. Sophie made no comment concerning their officiousness, but inwardly she was intensely indignant.

It was very late when the train ran into the Anhalt Station. Having received her permission to call on the following morning, Foster watched her drive away to her house in the Grunewald quarters still escorted by the German officer. He then took a taxi to the Esplanade Hotel, where he had reserved a room by telegram at the suggestion of Sophie. She had declared that though by no means the most up-to-date, the Esplanade was the most charming in Berlin. His apartment had nothing of the magnificence of the one he had vacated at the Hungaria Hotel in Budapest, but it was well-furnished, large and comfortable. He found the bed admirable, and was quickly asleep. On waking the following morning to find the sun streaming into the room, he sprang out of bed, and walked on to the balcony. Then he knew why the baroness had described the hotel as charming. Enclosed by old grey walls, the Esplanade was apparently placed in the centre of a beautiful garden. Trim lawns, intersected by graceful shady paths, looked most enticing. There were ornamental pavilions nestling amid petunias, a circular fountain, from which the soothing music of the water reached his ears, backed by a riot of geraniums. Everything looked deliciously pleasant. The solicitude with which the spotless maids presently waited on him, the polite and quick-witted manservant, who prepared his bath and later brought his breakfast, helped to add to the effect of peaceful serenity which the place had produced on his mind. He discovered that the hotel had once been a palace. It was modern, yet in line with the old glory of Berlin. Situated in the Hohenzollern quarter it spoke of a spirit that had passed, but which still retained its influence. Descending to the reception hall, immaculately dressed as usual, his fair hair gleaming under the effect of the careful brushing it had undergone, his monocle stuck in his eye, his was a figure that attracted attention. Indolent in manner, guileless in expression, there was yet something about him that promptly claimed the notice of people, particularly of members of
the opposite sex. A little stout man, magnificent in his morning attire, hurried up to him, and bowed low. Introducing himself as the assistant manager, he enquired solicitously after Foster’s comfort, begged to be informed whether he had slept well and if the servants had attended to his requirements adequately. The Englishman was amused at this concern for his welfare; reflected that there were many hotels, with which he was acquainted, that would be the better for following the example set by the Esplanade. He assured the assistant manager that he had had an excellent night’s rest, and was entirely satisfied with everything. The little man, who was gratified, expressed himself as delighted. Foster expected him to withdraw then, instead of which an expression of apologetic concern appeared on his face.

‘I regret mooch to inconvenience you, sare,’ he remarked regretfully in his laboured English, ‘but I must ask you into mine office to step. A gentleman is there who mit you would speak. It is only the formality, you understand.’

‘Who is he?’ asked Foster curiously.

‘That he himself will tell you. Will you mit me come, please.’

Foster followed him into a luxuriously furnished office. There he found awaiting him a young man of about his own height and colouring, attired in the uniform of a Nazi officer of high rank. The latter greeted him with a pleasant smile, and held out his hand, which Foster grasped readily enough, though he felt somewhat puzzled.

‘My name is Schönewald,’ announced the officer in perfect English. ‘Yours, I believe, is Foster.’ The Englishman nodded. ‘Sit down, won’t you?’

He turned to the assistant manager and dismissed him as Foster sank into a chair. When the door had closed behind the little man, Schönewald held out his cigarette case to his companion. ‘I haven’t any particular liking for my job,’ he remarked apologetically, ‘but
I have been told to do it, and there it is. I would have come up to your room, but didn’t want to bother you until you were dressed. I have been here for nearly an hour as a matter of fact.’

‘Sorry,’ murmured Foster, ‘but I had no idea—’

‘Of course you hadn’t. It was my own choice to wait rather than hurry you.’

There was an awkward pause, during which the two smoked, Foster placidly, the other puffing furiously, occasionally regarding each other with speculative eyes.

‘You speak topping English,’ observed Bernard at length, ‘I would have thought you were English if I had met you elsewhere.’

‘And not in this garb, I suppose,’ laughed the German. ‘I was at Haileybury and Oriel, so I’d be a queer bloke if I didn’t speak the language as well as my own. It’s because of my knowledge of English that I have been selected to interview you.’

‘I see.’ There was another pause. ‘I don’t want to hurry you, you know,’ went on Foster presently, ‘but don’t you think it would be rather a good idea if you told me what the trouble is.’

‘Yes, I suppose I’d better get on with it,’ agreed Schönewald reluctantly. ‘Don’t run away with the idea that there is any trouble, though. I have been commissioned to extend to you a little friendly advice.’

He blew a perfect smoke ring towards the ceiling.

‘How nice,’ murmured Foster.

The other suddenly became businesslike.

‘Look here,’ he said, ‘you met the Baroness von Reudath in England, became very friendly with her, and accompanied her to Budapest. You came to Berlin simply and solely because she was summoned there. That is correct, isn’t it?’

‘Quite,’ nodded Foster. ‘If it hadn’t been for her, I don’t suppose
I should have left England – not just yet, anyway. I did intend wandering round the continent a bit later on.’

‘Why did you accompany her?’

‘Oh, I say, that’s rather an intimate question, isn’t it?’

Schönewald smiled.

‘I’ll answer it myself, shall I? You followed her – I mean to say accompanied her, because you are infatuated with her. Is that correct?’

‘Not infatuated,’ objected Foster. ‘I admit that I am very much in love with her. But dash it all, man! I don’t see that that is anybody’s business but my own.’

‘Personally, I agree with you – officially I can’t. Although I sympathise with you, it is my duty to inform you that any idea you may have in your mind of marrying the baroness must, at least for some time, be removed. I have been instructed to inform you that your association with her is not regarded with favour.’

‘And who gave you those instructions?’ asked Foster quietly.

‘Does that matter?’

‘It matters very much. I cannot see that anyone has the right to interfere with a friendship which is very precious to me and is perfectly innocent. The baroness, as far as I am aware, don’t you know, is her own mistress. If she indicated to me that my companionship was distasteful to her, I would clear out at once, of course. As she has done nothing of the kind, I—well, dash it! I resent interference by anyone else.’

He screwed his monocle more firmly into his eye, and glared at the Nazi officer. The latter smiled grimly, and leant forward.

‘My instructions,’ he declared with deliberate emphasis, ‘come from the Supreme Marshal himself.’

Foster looked amiably surprised.

‘Is that so,’ he commented. ‘Well, I have a great admiration for His Excellency; he’s a great man without a doubt. All the same, I don’t see where he comes in in this affair.’

‘Perhaps you don’t; nevertheless, he has chosen to make it his affair, and it would be as well to remind you that he is all powerful in Germany. You may not know that the baroness is concerned with him in very important matters, and, until he decides to dispense with her services, she is pledged to him.’

‘But I am not interfering in those matters.’

‘We know that. Care has been taken to ascertain that you have not.’

‘Oh! Indeed!’ muttered Foster, looking interested. ‘How?’

‘That I am not at liberty to tell you. There was no objection to your becoming friendly with the baroness in London – she was on holiday. The same thing applied to Budapest. But here it is different. She will have no time for friendships – His Excellency will demand all her time. You will be wise, therefore, if you realise that you can only see her on rare occasions; you will be wiser still if you do not attempt to see her at all.’

‘But hang it all!’ cried Foster in real dismay. ‘How can I agree to that when I – when I—’

‘When you love her! Exactly! It is beastly hard for you, I know. As I have told you, I personally sympathise with you. I should hate to receive the – er – advice I am giving you, if I were in your position, but there it is.’

‘I have an appointment with her this morning.’

‘Well, keep it, but I earnestly urge you to make it the last. She will probably tell you herself what I have told you. Her life is bound up in affairs of great importance; there can be no room in it for the kind of thing your presence is possibly bringing into it. It is likely to unsettle her, and cause grave complications. You must forgive me
for asking a question which concerns her. Has she ever given you to understand that she was the possessor of confidential information?’

Foster laughed.

‘Never,’ he declared, with such apparent frankness that Schönewald could hardly help but be convinced. ‘There was a vague sort of rumour in London that she was on air with Germany’s political intentions, but I was not interested. I know jolly well she would never speak of German affairs to anyone. She discussed His Excellency of course, with me and with others. She has such a warm admiration for him that it would be strange if she didn’t, don’t you know.’

Schönewald nodded.

‘That goes without saying,’ he agreed. ‘Her husband was one of his staunchest supporters when he was climbing, and the baroness entered wholeheartedly into assisting. She did a lot for him. But she is a woman, and when a woman has an affection for a man she is liable to become injudicious.’

‘Affection!’ echoed Foster ruefully. ‘I wish she did feel an affection for me. She’s friendly enough, but I don’t think there is anything else. She has always treated me as though I amuse her.’

‘I do not wonder at that,’ murmured the Nazi in German.

‘What did you say?’ asked Foster.

‘Nothing,’ was the hasty reply. ‘I might tell you this, my friend: our information regarding you and her was that you were both in love.’

‘Well, you can take it from me, old boy,’ retorted Foster, ‘that as far as she is concerned, that’s all bosh. I only wish it were correct.’

‘You forget that love is generally presumed to be blind,’ smiled the German. ‘Others may have noticed what you were blind to. But that is not exactly my business.’ He rose. ‘I am to assure you that there is no objection to you being in Berlin, and hopes are expressed that you
enjoy your stay immensely. I earnestly advise you not to endeavour to continue on the same footing with the baroness, however, and urge that, after your visit to her this morning, you discontinue seeing her.’

‘And what will happen if I insist on continuing my association with her?’ asked Foster.

Schönewald shrugged his shoulders.

‘No restraint will be imposed upon you,’ he declared, ‘but the consequences might be unpleasant to you – and to her.’

‘To her!’ echoed the startled Englishman.

‘Exactly. If you do not consider yourself, at least I think you will consider her.’

‘But why should anything unpleasant happen to her?’

‘I am not at liberty to go further into the matter. I must apologise for detaining you so long, Mr Foster.’

He held out his hand, which the Englishman took readily enough. Whatever instructions Schönewald may have received, there was no doubt that he was a good fellow himself. Absurd to bear resentment against him.

‘Aren’t you going to question me about myself?’ asked Foster sarcastically. ‘I may be a villain in disguise with a dark and murky past, don’t you know.’

The Nazi officer laughed.

‘We all know about you,’ he declared, ‘including the fact that you became so bored with that English army that you resigned your Commission. We even know of your athletic records. I must admit that your history has been well read. There is nothing about you we don’t know.’

He nodded and went out. Foster smiled at the closed door.

‘Oh, yes there is, my well-informed Nazi,’ he murmured. ‘Quite a lot in fact.’

He resumed his chair, then mindful of the fact that he was in the assistant manager’s office and not his own room he rose again and walked out. His mind was in a state of trouble. The warning conveyed to him by Schönewald was definitely disturbing. It was all very well to protest that his friendship with the baroness was nobody’s business but his own. The Marshal of State had chosen to make it his business, to object to its continuation. He could not defy one of the most powerful men in a foreign country of which he was a guest. Yet, if he discontinued his friendship with Sophie, apart from all personal considerations, how could he possibly obtain the information he was expected to acquire? If he were unable to speak to her, he could not expect to learn anything from her, if he could not enter her house, gone was all the hope of being able to search any documents that might be hidden there. In addition there was the fact to be faced that insistence on his part might mean that the consequences, as the Nazi officer had put it, would be unpleasant to her. He did not bother about the fact that the implied threat referred equally to himself. It was part of his job to face risks and, if he alone were concerned, would not have hesitated a minute. It was a different matter, though, to endanger her. He was perfectly convinced that Sir Leonard Wallace would forbid him to take any steps that would react injuriously on the baroness. It began to look as though the brunt of the investigations would have to fall on the shoulders of Rosemary Meredith. Such a thought was extremely distasteful to him, not because of any dislike of the girl – on the contrary he liked her immensely – but because it would mean that he had failed in his part. He decided that the sooner he got in touch with Gottfried the better. The Berlin representative of
Lalére et Cie
perhaps already had orders for him.