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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