"Moreover, Herr Lanyard, you will do yourself a very good turn by confessing—entirely aside from saving your life."
"How is that?"
"Providing you persuade me of your good faith, I am empowered to offer you employment in our service."
Lanyard's breath passed hardly through a throat swollen with rage, chagrin, and hatred, all hopelessly impotent. But he succeeded in preserving an unruffled countenance, as his captor's next words demonstrated.
"You are surprised, yes? You are thinking it over? Take your time—you have three minutes more. Or perhaps you are sulky, resenting that our cleverness has found you out? Be reasonable, my good man. Think: you cannot be insensible to the honour my offer does you."
"What do you want of me?"
"First, that paper—thereafter to use your surpassing talents to the glory of God and Fatherland. In addition, you will be greatly rewarded."
"Now you do begin to interest me," Lanyard said coolly…. Surely he could contrive some way to slay this beast with his naked hands! He must play for time…. "How rewarded?"
"As I say, with a place in the Prussian Secret Service, its protection, freedom to ply your trade unhindered in America, even countenanced, till that country becomes a German province under German laws."
"But do I hear you offer this to a Frenchman?"