A faint gleam twinkled up in Muller’s eyes, and he did not look at his chief. Doctor von Riedau’s own face glowed in a slowly mounting flush, and his eyes drooped in a moment of conscious embarrassment at some recollection, the sting of which was evidently made worse by Muller’s presence. But Commissioner von Riedau had brains enough to acknowledge his mistakes and to learn from them. He looked across the desk at Miss Graumann. “You are right, Madam, the police have made that mistake more than once. And a man with a clear record deserves the benefit of the doubt. We will take up this case. Detective Muller will be put in charge of it. And that means, Madam, that we are giving you the very best assistance the Imperial Police Force affords.”
Miss Babette Graumann did not attempt to speak. In a wave of emotion she stretched out both little hands to the detective and clasped his warmly. “Oh, thank you,” she said at last. “I thank you. He’s just like my own boy to me; he’s all the child I ever had, you know.”
“But there are difficulties in the way,” continued the commissioner in a business-like tone. “The local authorities in G———— have not asked for our assistance, and we are taking up the case over their heads, as it were. I shall have to leave that to Muller’s diplomacy. He will come to G———— and have an interview with your nephew. Then he will have to use his own judgment as to the next steps, and as to how far he may go in opposition to what has been done by the police there.”
“And then I may go back home?” asked Miss Graumann. “Go home with the assurance that you will help my poor boy?”
“Yes, you may depend on us, Madam. Is there anything we can do for you here? Are you alone in the city?”
“No, thank you. There is a friend here who will take care of me. She will put me on the afternoon express back to G———.”
“It is very likely that I will take that train myself,” said Muller. “If there is anything that you need on the journey, call on me.”
“Oh, thank you, I will indeed! Thank you both, gentlemen. And now good-bye, and God bless you!”
The commissioner bowed and Muller held the door open for Miss Graumann to pass out. There was silence in the room, as the two men looked after the quaint little figure slowly descending the stairs.
“A brave little woman,” murmured the commissioner.