"You'll find old Gratz, as we call him, a decent sort; but I'm afraid he may have to tell you what you won't like much."
"Meaning?"
"Well, a man without a memory isn't much use to the Secret Service, although he may be in other ways."
I didn't like his tone. "But I can remember all that's passed since the Burgen."
It did not draw him, however. He just laughed. "I mustn't anticipate him, of course; but I'll give you a tip. Be at his office on the stroke; he hates nothing so much as unpunctuality."
With that we rejoined the rest, and again the conversation was about matters in which I had no interest. I studied Feldmann carefully. He was a handsome fellow; fair, blue-eyed, rather round-faced and weak; but he had a very pleasant smile which I saw often, for he smiled every time he looked at Rosa. But not once did he address me; and his dislike and hostility were plain each time he glanced in my direction.
He certainly wasn't the man I would have chosen to trust; but beggars can't be choosers, and I had to be satisfied with the fact that both Rosa and Nessa herself were ready to vouch for him.
Hoffnung did not stay long, and when he had gone Rosa reminded me about going to the tailor's, and as I was leaving the room, she said to Nessa: "You might show it to Johann now, dear."
"Rosa has asked me to show you the portrait of your mother, Herr Lassen, as she hopes it may perhaps help you to remember things."
"Please do," I answered eagerly, her look telling me this was merely an excuse; and we went to the library together.