"You've found her----?" broke in Rowland eagerly.
"Only to lose her again." As Rowland sprang up Senf raised his hand. "One moment. It was through no fault of our own--or of Herr Berghof's here, who could not of course have known that Fräulein Korasov's interests and mine were identical."
Herr Berghof, a thin, ferret-like person, smiled and squinted as Rowland glared at him.
"You saw her, Herr Berghof----?"
But Georg Senf broke in again with maddening, methodical Teuton insistence.
"All things in order, Herr Rowland," he said calmly. "A little patience and you shall know all. Herr Berghof is a Social Democrat, but not a member of the Order of Nemi. He has been brought here by Herr Weiss a while ago, somewhat against his will, but he has replied to our questions, upon the condition that the matter is kept secret! Will you relate what happened last night, Herr Berghof?"
The little man cleared his throat, squinted and nodded politely.
"I am a stranger in Munich, a Swiss, from Basle, but I have much interest in the Socialist cause. Democracy is very near my heart and if I can help----"
He glanced at Rowland, who had risen, his patience nearly exhausted.
"You will please proceed directly to the matter in hand," said Senf placidly. "Fräulein Korasov came to the Bayrischer Hof last night----?"