Fischer rolled up easy chairs and produced a box of cigars.
"Yes," he assented, with a little glitter in his eyes, "I have news. Things have moved with me. I think that, with the help of an idiotic Englishman, we shall solve the riddle of what our professors have called the consuming explosive. I sent the formula home to Germany, by a trusty hand, only a few hours ago."
"Capital!" Von Schwerin declared. "It was arranged in London, that?"
"Partly in London and partly here," Fischer replied.
Von Schwerin made a grimace.
"If you can find those who are willing to help you here, you are fortunate indeed," he sighed. "My life's work has lain amongst these people. In the days of peace, all seemed favourable to us. Since the war, even those people whom I thought my friends seem to have lost their heads, to have lost their reasoning powers."
"After all," Fischer muttered, "it is race calling to race. But come, we have more direct business on hand. Nikasti is here."
Von Schwerin nodded a little gloomily.
"Washington knows nothing of his coming," he observed. "I attended the
Baron Yung's reception last week, informally. I threw out very broad
hints, but Yung would not be drawn. Nikasti represents the Secret
Service of Japan, unofficially and without responsibility."
"Nevertheless," Fischer pointed out, "what he says will reach the ear of his country, and reach it quickly. You've gone through the papers I sent you?"