“I was saying that we’re dying to know more about Memmert, aren’t we, Davies?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” said Davies, evidently aghast at my temerity; but I did not mind that. If he roughed my suit, so much the better; I intended to rough his.
“You gave us plenty of history, Commander, but you did not bring it up to date.” The triple alliance laughed, Dollmann boisterously.
“Well,” said von Brüning; “I gave you very good reasons, and you acquiesced.”
“And now he is trying to pump me,” said Böhme, with his rasping chuckle.
“Wait a bit, sir; I have an excuse. The Commander was not only mysterious but inaccurate. I appeal to you, Herr Dollmann, for it was à propos of you. When we fell in with him at Bensersiel, Davies asked him if you were at home, and he said ‘No.’ When would you be back? Probably soon; but he did not know when.”
“Oh, he said that?” said Dollmann.
“Well, only three days later we arrive at Norderney, and find you have returned that very day, but have gone to Memmert. Again (by the way) the mysterious Memmert! But more than ever mysterious now, for in the evening, not only you and Herr Böhme——”
“What penetration!” laughed von Brüning.
“But also Commander von Brüning, pay us a visit in his launch, all coming from Memmert!”