“Yes.”
“And he believes it will do what the inventor claims? He believes it will destroy our fleet? Did he tell you that?”
“He certainly did. He said he wouldn’t give five cents for the German fleet after Widding’s plan is put into operation.”
“Ah!” reflected the Crown Prince.
“Would Your Imperial Highness allow me to ask a question?” I ventured.
His eyes met mine frankly. “Why, yes—certainly.”
“I have no authority to ask this, but I suppose there might be an exchange of prisoners. Edison and Widding are important to America and—“.
“You mean they might be exchanged for me?” his face grew stern. “I would not hear of it. Those two Americans alone have the secret of this Widding invention, I am sure of that, and it is better for the Fatherland to get along without a Crown Prince than without a fleet. No. We shall keep Mr. Edison and Mr. Widding prisoners.”
He said this with all the dignity of his Hohenzollern ancestry; then he rose to end the interview.