“Ah! you remember that? (He remembers everything!) With a few shares, then; but with no expert knowledge. Now, Böhme is the consulting engineer. Rescue me, Böhme.”
“I cannot disclaim expert knowledge,” said Böhme, with humorous gravity; “but I disclaim responsibility. Now, Herr Dollmann is chairman of the company.”
“And I,” said Dollmann, with a noisy laugh, “must fall back on the shareholders, whose interests I have to guard. One can’t be too careful in these confidential matters.”
“Here’s one who gives his consent,” I said. “Can’t he represent the rest?”
“Extorted by torture,” said von Brüning. “I retract.”
“Don’t mind them, Herr Carruthers,” cried Frau Dollmann, “they are making fun of you; but I will give you a hint; no woman can keep a secret——”
“Ah!” I cried, triumphantly, “you have been there?”
“I? Not I; I detest the sea! But Clara has.” Everyone looked at Clara, who in her turn looked in naïve bewilderment from me to her father.
“Indeed?” I said, more soberly, “but perhaps she is not a free agent.”
“Perfectly free!” said Dollmann.