reputation, I surely have a right to be consulted. I promise you that I will look into the matter
the first thing in the morning and will report to you what I find."
"Thank you very much," said Lanny. "That is all I could ask."
The little great man appeared to notice the look of worry on his wife's gentle features; he
added: "You understand, I do not know what crime your Jewish friend may be accused of, nor
do I know that the overzealous Dr. Ley really has anything to do with it. Let us hold our minds
open until we know exactly what has happened."
"What you have said will go no further, I assure you," declared Lanny, promptly. "I am not
here to make gossip but to stop it."
XI
The Reichsminister of Popular Enlightenment and Propaganda relaxed in his chair and sipped
the wine which his wife poured out for him and for the guests.
what you think of our Führer's speech."
Lanny started to repeat what he had said to the forester's son, and the
sung over again. Juppchen proved an even more romantic tenor than Heinrich; there was no
language too ardent for him to employ in praise of Hitler. Lanny realized the situation; a
deputy was free to criticize his fellow deputies, the Leys and the Strassers, the Hesses and the
Rohms, but the Great One was perfection, and on him the butter of flattery was laid thickly.
Heinrich had informed Lanny that the Goebbels home had become Adi's favorite haunt when
he was in Berlin; here Magda caused to be prepared for him the vegetable plates which he
enjoyed, and afterward he relaxed, listened to music, and played with her two children. Lanny
didn't have to be told that the wily intriguer would use the occasion to fill his Chief's mind
with his own views of the various personalities with whom their lives were involved. So it is
that sovereigns are guided and the destinies of states controlled.
The Reichsminister of Popular Enlightenment and Propaganda enjoyed every aspect of his job
and worked at it day and night. Here he had two rich and well-dressed Americans, and at least
one of them appeared to be intelligent. He thought just what Heinrich had been thinking for
the past twelve years—to send Lanny Budd out as a missionary to spread the faith in the lands
where he was at home. Said Goebbels: "All that we National Socialists want is to be left alone,
so that we can reorganize our country's industry, solve the problem of unemployment by public
works, and show the world what a model state can be. We have absolutely nothing to gain by
forcing our ideas upon other peoples."
Said Lanny: "Ten years ago Mussolini told me that
then I have seen him export it to Germany."
The Reichsminister Doktor perceived that this was indeed an intelligent young man, in spite of
his well-tailored clothes and rich wife. "We have learned where we could," he admitted.
"Even from Lenin," smiled the other.
"If I answered that, Mr. Budd, it would have to be, as you Americans say, off the record."
"Naturally, Herr Reichsminister. I ought to explain to you that I had the good fortune to be
secretary and translator to one of the experts on the American staff at the Peace Conference. I
learned there how international business is carried on, and to keep my own counsel."
"Are you older than your years, Mr. Budd—or is it that you are older than your looks?"
"I was only nineteen at the time, but I had lived all over Europe, and knew the languages
better than a geographer from what we call a 'fresh-water college' in the Middle West."
Lanny explained,
forms of speech."
"Other people laugh at us," responded Lanny; "they fail to realize that we are laughing at
ourselves."
"I perceive that you are a philosopher, Mr. Budd. I, too, had aspirations in that direction, but
the has claimed me.
Tell me honestly, without any evasion, what will Europe and America make of the Führer's
speech?"
"They will be pleased, of course, but surprised by its tone of politeness. The skeptical ones
will say that he wishes to have no trouble until Germany has had time to rearm."
"Let them learn one of his sentences: "that Germany wishes nothing but to preserve her
independence and guard her borders".
"Yes, Herr Reichsminister; but there are sometimes uncertainties as to where borders are or
should be."
The other could not fail to smile. But he insisted: "You will see that all our arming is
defensive. We are completely absorbed in the problems of our own economy. We mean to
make good the Socialism in our name, and show the outside world as well as our own people
that the problems of unemployment can be solved. In five years—no, I dare say in three—there
will not be a single man desiring work in Germany and not finding it."
