"You refer to La Liberté?"
"Yes."
"I alone am responsible for La Liberté. It was I who chose that test—not the Emperor."
"You!" said Vard hoarsely, and a slow flush mounted to his cheeks. "You!"
"Yes, I!" and Pachmann cast at the other a mocking and triumphant look. "It was I who compelled your consent; it was I who arranged the details; it was I who assumed the whole burden. For I was determined that even the first test should be of benefit to Germany—and it was! However you may wish it, you cannot restore La Liberté!"
Vard was staring at the speaker with hollow eyes, his face convulsed.
"Did not the Kaiser know?" he questioned.
"No one knew but Von Tirpitz, and he was panic-stricken. He is old and timid—but I convinced him—I won him over—he could not resist me. Even then, his heart failed him at the last, and he tried to stop me. Luckily, his telegram was delayed—or I should have been compelled to disobey my superior officer. Oh, I admit that it was rash of me," Pachmann added, his face glowing; "I admit that I was risking everything—life, honour, everything; but success excuses rashness—and I succeeded!"
"Yes," agreed the inventor, slowly, "you succeeded!"
"After that," went on Pachmann, "it was too late to turn back, even had any one wished to do so. Now it is for me to finish this affair."