A detour in order to spend a couple of days at Stubendorf; for Kurt Meissner was like a
fortress which had to be reduced before an army could march beyond it. No doubt Heinrich
had already written something about Lanny's becoming sympathetic to National Socialism, and it
wouldn't do to have Kurt writing back: "Watch out for him, he doesn't really mean it." If
Lanny was to succeed as a spy, here was where he had to begin, and the first step would be the
hardest.
A strange thing to be renewing old friendships and at the same time turning them into
something else! To be listening to Kurt's new piano concerto with one half your mind, and
with the other half thinking: "What shall I say that will be just right, and how shall I lead up
to what I want to tell him about the Robins?"
Was it because of this that Kurt's music seemed to have lost its vitality? In the old days
Lanny's enthusiasm had been unrestrained; all his being had flowed along with those sweeping
melodies, his feet had marched with those thundering chords, he had been absolutely certain
that this was the finest music of the present day. But now he thought: "Kurt has committed
himself to these political fanatics, and all his thinking is adjusted to their formulas. He is
trying to pump himself up and sound impressive, but really it's old stuff. He has got to the
stage where he is repeating himself."
But Lanny mustn't give the least hint of that. He was an intriguer, a double-dealer, using art
and art criticism as camouflage for
that's extraordinary; that
weeps with all the woe of the world." How silly these phrases of musical rapture sounded; saying
them made a mockery of friendship, took all the charm out of hospitality, even spoiled the taste
of the food which the
But it worked. Kurt's heart was warmed to his old friend, and he decided that political
differences must not be allowed to blind one to what was fine in an opponent. Later on, Lanny
went for a walk in the forest, leaving Irma to have a heart-to-heart talk with Kurt, and tackle a
job which would have been difficult for Lanny. For, strangely enough, Irma was play-acting only
in part. She said things to this German musician which she hadn't said to anybody else, and
hadn't thought she would ever say; so she assured him, and of course it touched him. She
explained that Lanny was honest, and had dealt with her fairly, telling her his political
convictions before he had let her become interested in him. But she had been ignorant of the
world, and hadn't realized what it would mean to be a Socialist, or one sympathetic to their
ideas. It meant meeting the most dreadful people, and having them interfere in your affairs, and
your being drawn into theirs. Not merely the sincere ones, but the tricksters and adventurers
who had learned to parrot the phrases! Lanny could never tell the difference—indeed, how could
anybody tell? It was like going out into the world with your skin off, and any insect that came
along could take a bite out of you.
"And not only Socialists," said the young wife, "but Communists, all sorts of trouble-makers.
You know Uncle Jesse, how bitter he is, and what terrible speeches he makes."
"We had millions like him in Germany," replied Kurt. "Thank God that danger is no more."
"I've been pleading and arguing with Lanny for more than four years. At one time I was ready
to give up in despair; but now I really begin to believe I am making some headway. You know how
Lanny is, he believes what people tell him; but of late he seems to be realizing the true nature
of some of the people he's been helping. That's why I wanted to ask you to talk to him. He has
such a deep affection for you, and you may be able to explain what is going on in Germany,
and help him to see things in their true light."
"I've tried many times," said Kurt; "but I never seemed to get anywhere."
"Try once more. Lanny is impressionable, and seeing your movement going to work has given a
jolt to his ideas. What he wants more than anything is to see the problem of unemployment
solved. Do you think the Führer will really be able to do it?"
"I have talked with him, and I know that he has practical plans and is actually getting them
under way."
"Explain that to Lanny, so that while he's here with Marcel's pictures he'll watch and
understand. It may seem strange to you that I'm letting him sell pictures when I have so much
money of my own; but I've made up my mind that he ought to have something to do, and not
have the humiliation of living on his wife's money."
"You're absolutely right," declared the musician, much impressed by the sound judgment of
this young woman, whom he had imagined to be a social butterfly. "Lanny is lucky to have a
wife who understands his weaknesses so well. Make him stick at some one thing, Irma, and
