"Yes, they said so. We had that question up for discussion. I raised it myself."
"How did you raise it?"
"I wanted them to get word to Berlin by another route to look out for me, but they said that would involve a danger that they were trying to avoid by the tattoo method. If they tried to get a wireless code message to Berlin, it might be intercepted and deciphered, and then a thorough search would be made for me."
Irving was much relieved by this statement. There was no reason to suspect Hessenburg of trying to deceive him in this regard. The spy could have no grounds to suspect that his inquisitor was planning to take his place and carry an altered copy of the cubist message to the war lords of the enemy.
"I guess I'm safe enough in that regard," he told himself. Then he added aloud:
"You think they have no information regarding you in Berlin?"
"Yes--I don't see why they should. I was informed that the contents of the message would be all the credential I'd need, that it would make me so popular among the high-ups that I could have anything I asked for."
"But they wouldn't tell you what was in the message?"
"I didn't ask. I knew better. The plan we were working on was directly opposed to my knowing the information I was to carry."
The quizzing of Hessenburg continued half an hour longer, and Irving and the lieutenant started back for the colonel's headquarters.