He nodded.
"I cannot accept you myself," he said. "We know too little about you. You must attend before the committee to-night."
"Where?" I asked.
"At the Café Suisse," he answered. "We shall send for you! Till then!"
"Till then," I echoed, backing out of the room.
CHAPTER XXXI
IN THE ENEMY'S CAMP
That night I gravely perambulated the little café in my waiter's clothes, and endeavored to learn from Karl my new duties. There were a good many people dining there, but towards ten o'clock the place was almost empty. Just as the hour was striking, Mr. Kauffman, who had been dining with Mr. Hirsch, rose from his place, and with a key in his hand made his way towards the closed door.
He was followed by Mr. Hirsch and seven other men, all of whom had been dining at the long central table, which easily accommodated a dozen or more visitors. There was nothing at all remarkable about the nine men who shambled their way through the room. They did not in the least resemble conspirators. Hirsch, who was already smoking a huge pipe, touched me on the shoulder as he passed.
"We shall send for you presently," he declared. "Your case is coming before the committee."