“Quite clear.”
“There is a small matter. Monsieur Moeller will ask you if I have made myself known to you. You will, of course, say yes. He will ask you what I said. You will tell him that I offered to escort you to Paris myself and that when you insisted on going to the British Consul, I threatened you.”
“Threatened me!”
“Yes.” Mr. Kuvetli was still smiling, but his eyes had narrowed a little. “If your attitude towards me had been different it might have been necessary for me to threaten you.”
“What with?” Graham demanded spitefully. “Death? That would have been absurd, wouldn’t it?”
Mr. Kuvetli smiled steadily. “No, Monsieur Graham, not death but with the accusation that you had accepted bribes from an enemy agent to sabotage Turkish naval preparations. You see, Monsieur Graham, it is just as important for me that you return to England without delay as it is for Monsieur Moeller that you should not return.”
Graham stared at him. “I see. And this is a gentle reminder that the threat still stands if I should allow myself to be persuaded that Moeller’s proposal is, after all, acceptable. Is that it?”
His tone was deliberately offensive. Mr. Kuvetli drew himself up. “I am a Turk, Monsieur Graham,” he said with dignity, “and I love my country. I fought with the Gazi for Turkey’s freedom. Can you imagine that I would let one man endanger the great work we have done? I am ready to give my life for Turkey. Is it strange that I should not hesitate to do less unpleasant things?”
He had struck an attitude. He was ridiculous and yet, for the very reason that his words were at so odd a variance with his appearance, impressive. Graham was disarmed. He grinned. “Not at all strange. You need have no fears. I shall do exactly what you have told me to do. But supposing he wants to know when our meeting took place?”
“You will tell the truth. It is just possible that you were seen to come to my cabin. You can say that I asked you to do so, that I left a note in your cabin. Remember, too, that we must not be seen in private conversation after this. It will be better if we do not have any sort of conversation. In any case there is nothing more to be said. Everything is arranged. There is only one other matter to be considered-Señora Gallindo.”