Von Papen nodded and reaching across the table for a match lighted his cigar.
"Lieutenant Fay, does anyone know of your arrival in America?"
"No one," answered Fay, "except his excellency, Count Von Bernstorff."
"That is well. You perhaps are not well acquainted with conditions here. Our position demands that we must not be known as the directors of any movement of espionage against the United States. Germany, of course, is not at war with the United States. To the United States we are a friendly nation." He flicked the ashes from his cigar with a contemptuous movement.
A cynical smile crossed the face of Boy-Ed. It was reflected on the face of Fay.
For a few moments a deep silence settled on the room. From far below on Wall Street sounds of traffic drifted up, shouts of drivers, newsboys, fruit venders, each sound echoed and magnified as it rose between the dark walls of the building that bordered the street.
Fay stirred uneasily. The even tones of Von Papen once more broke the silence.
"In this crusade it is inevitable that many ships will be blown up. If we who are here in public official capacity should become identified in any way with this movement it would lead to our dismissal from the country—and dismissal at this time would mean the relinquishment of many plans now under way. Therefore, if your plan should fail and you should be arrested we would, of course, be compelled to repudiate you. Like-wise it would be your duty to say that you had tried to see us but that we had denied you an interview. This is clear to you?"
Fay smiled imperturbably.
"I understand."