“You will be given a hearing tomorrow.”
“But, Excellenz——”
“Take him away!”
As the door closed behind the two men, General von Stromberg came forward and took Hammersley by the hand.
“I am glad, mein Herr, that there is no longer any suspicion upon you. I have always liked you, Herr Hammersley, and you have done the Vaterland excellent service. I am sorry that this investigation was necessary, but in times like these I am not in a position to take chances.”
“I understand, Excellenz. But it hasn’t discommoded me in the least.”
Von Stromberg laughed.
“I can readily believe it. You are always as cool as a morning in May. As for Fräulein Mather,” and he turned ceremoniously to Doris and bowed deeply, “it has all been a mistake. If the efforts of a councilor of the Empire in undoing the wrong done you, by sending you with every comfort and dispatch to England, are any sign of regret, you shall be safely on the way tomorrow. But I am sure that in your heart you are glad to have had the opportunity to clear Herr Hammersley of an unjust suspicion.”
“Yes,” she murmured, turning away toward the window.
“But you still wish that the part of Herr Hammersley which is English had been the greater part of him instead of the lesser, nicht wahr?”