“Tell me, why did you plunge into this hazardous matter?”
“I don’t think that matters. Put it that I liked the prospect of an adventure. That is quite true.”
“Is it all the truth?”
“There is no falsehood in it, Father. We’ll leave it there, please.”
He looked at me very earnestly indeed and then held out his hand. “Will you let me beg your pardon?” he asked.
I grasped the hand cordially and shook my head. “No, I will not. If I had been in your place I should have been much more suspicious. You hurt me when you thought I might lie to you. But you see now that I shall not. And that’s all.”
“The child is very dear to me for her mother’s sake, and I see that you had absolutely nothing to expect in helping her except the risk and danger that you ran.”
“I ran no risk. I have powerful and very influential friends who will see me through all right.”
“That I did not understand,” he said quickly. “It makes a difference. It will be easier.” He spoke rather to himself than to me it seemed. “You are sure you can rely upon your friends?” he asked presently.
“My father carried through some large financial matters for the German Government from time to time, and I myself have had evidence of the good will of several men high in office in Berlin.”