Having obtained recreation and exercise by pulling the trigger of a rifle, Seine Exzellenz
returned to the hunting lodge and took up the reins of government. Apparently he had had a
private wire run into the estate, and for a couple of hours he listened to reports and gave
orders. He sounded angry most of the time—or was that just his way of governing? It was
almost as if he were trying to communicate with Berlin by the medium of the air instead of by a
copper wire. His bellowing echoed through the house, and Lanny, anxious not to overhear, went
into the billiard room and watched the two junior officers winning small sums from each other.
Now and then, when the tones rose especially loud, they would grin at Lanny and he would grin
back—this being a privilege of subordinates.
The guest would have liked to walk in that lovely deep forest, but had the idea that he should
hold himself at the disposal of his host; and sure enough, after the State of Prussia had received
its marching orders for the morrow, Lanny was summoned to the Presence, and found out why
he had been taken on a shooting trip. Reclining at ease in a sky-blue silk dressing gown with
ermine trimmings, the portly Kommandant of the German Air Force led the conversation into
international channels, and began explaining the difficulties of getting real information as to the
attitude of ruling circles in other European capitals. He had agents aplenty, paid them generous
salaries, and allowed them to pad their expense accounts; but those who were the most loyal
had the fewest connections, while those who really had the connections were just as apt to be
working for the other side.
"Understand me, Budd"—he had got to that stage of intimacy— "I am not so foolish as to
imagine that I could employ you. I know you have a well-paying profession, not to mention a rich
wife. I also had one, and discovered that such a spouse expects attentions and does not leave
one altogether free. But it happens that you go about and gather facts; and no doubt you realize
when they are important."
"I suppose that has happened now and then," said Lanny, showing a coming on disposition,
but not too much.
"What I should like to have is, not an agent, but a friend; a gentleman, whose sense of honor
I could trust, and who would not be indifferent to the importance of our task in putting down
the Red menace in Germany, and perhaps later wiping out the nest where those vipers are
being incubated. Surely one does not have to be a German in order to approve such an aim."
"I agree with you, Exzellenz." "Call me Göring," commanded the great one. "Perhaps you can
understand how tired one gets of dealing with lackeys and flatterers. You are a man who says
what he thinks, and when I box with you I get some competition."
"Thank you, Ex—Göring."
"I am sure you understand that we Nazis are playing for no small stakes. You are one of the
few who possess imagination enough to know that if you become my friend you will be able to
have anything you care to ask for. I am going to become one of the richest men in the world—
not because I am greedy for money, but because I have a job to do, and that is one of the tools.
We are going to build a colossal industry, which will become the heritage of the future, and
most certainly we are not going to leave it in the hands of Jews or other Bolshevist agencies.
Sooner or later we shall take over the industry of Russia and bring it into line with modern
practices. For all that we need brains and ability. I personally need men who see eye to eye
with me, and I am prepared to pay on a royal scale. There is no limit to what I would do for
a man who would be a real associate and partner."
"I appreciate the compliment, my dear Göring, but I doubt my own qualifications for any
such role. Surely you must have among your own Germans men with special training—"
"No German can do what I am suggesting to you—an American, who is assumed to be above
the battle. You can go into France or England and meet anybody you wish, and execute
commissions of the most delicate sort without waste of time or sacrifice of your own or your
wife's enjoyment. Be assured that I would never ask you to do anything dishonorable, or to
betray any trust. If, for example, you were to meet certain persons in those countries and talk
politics with them, and report on their true attitudes, so that I could know which of them
really want to have the Reds put down and which would rather see those devils entrench
themselves than to see Germany get upon her feet—that would be information almost priceless
to me, and believe me, you would have to do no more than hint your desires. If you would
come now and then on an art-buying expedition to Berlin and visit me in some quiet retreat
like this, the information would be used without any label upon it, and I would pledge you my
word never to name you to anyone."
III
Lanny perceived that he was receiving a really distinguished offer, and for a moment he was
