Peter grunted a deep approval.
“That is good talk,” said our entertainer, and his close-set eyes flashed. “There is room in Germany for such men as you. Where are you going now, I beg to know.”
“To Holland,” I said. “Then maybe we will go to Germany. We are tired with travel and may rest a bit. This war will last long and our chance will come.”
“But you may miss your market,” he said significantly. “A ship sails tomorrow for Rotterdam. If you take my advice, you will go with her.”
This was what I wanted, for if we stayed in Lisbon some real soldier of Maritz might drop in any day and blow the gaff.
“I recommend you to sail in the Machado,” he repeated. “There is work for you in Germany—oh yes, much work; but if you delay the chance may pass. I will arrange your journey. It is my business to help the allies of my fatherland.”
He wrote down our names and an epitome of our doings contributed by Peter, who required two mugs of beer to help him through. He was a Bavarian, it seemed, and we drank to the health of Prince Rupprecht, the same blighter I was trying to do in at Loos. That was an irony which Peter unfortunately could not appreciate. If he could he would have enjoyed it.
The little chap saw us back to our hotel, and was with us the next morning after breakfast, bringing the steamer tickets. We got on board about two in the afternoon, but on my advice he did not see us off. I told him that, being British subjects and rebels at that, we did not want to run any risks on board, assuming a British cruiser caught us up and searched us. But Peter took twenty pounds off him for travelling expenses, it being his rule never to miss an opportunity of spoiling the Egyptians.
As we were dropping down the Tagus we passed the old Henry the Navigator.
“I met Sloggett in the street this morning,” said Peter, “and he told me a little German man had been off in a boat at daybreak looking up the passenger list. Yon was a right notion of yours, Cornelis. I am glad we are going among Germans. They are careful people whom it is a pleasure to meet.”