Lovaas nodded. His eyes were fixed on Dahler. There was a cold, avaricious gleam in them.
'Mr Dahler,' I said. 'Will you please leave this to me?'
He cocked his head on one side as he peered into my face. 'You need not be afraid,' he said softly. 'I am finding an ally for you — an ally — for — us — both.' He switched to Lovaas. 'Find the man who escapes from your ship this morning, Kaptein Lovaas. That is all you have to do. But you will have to be quick. Jorgensen will not stop at anything once he knows about those metals.'
Lovaas smiled. 'You do not like direktor Jorgensen, eh, herr Dahler?'
His emphasis on the direktor was like a goad to Dahler. 'Like him!' he almost screamed. 'If I had-' He stopped abruptly, smiling secretly to himself.
Lovaas laughed. Then he turned quickly to me. 'Now, Mr Gansert — do we work together, or not? What is your offer?'
'At the moment, there is no offer, Captain Lovaas,' I answered. 'But if you can produce Schreuder — then we might perhaps talk again.'
Lovaas smiled. 'I understand. That is what you English call C.O.D.' He rose to his feet, 'Very well, Mr Gansert. When I have the man, we will talk again.' He paused in the doorway. 'Don't forget the diver, Mr Gansert.'
'He has gone to Bovaagen,' I said.
'Ja, he was in Bovaagen. I had some speak with him.' He smiled. 'That was very good Scotch. It has make me warm in here.' He slapped his huge belly. 'Warm and friendly, Mr Gansert.'