Von Salzinger nodded.
"And this information?" Von Berger's enquiry came with even colder incisiveness.
"We have men working in the shops. We have one man in the drawing office. All hands, even the clerical staff of these departments, work under oath of secrecy, and naval discipline." Von Salzinger smiled contemptuously. "This, however, does not impede our flow of information. The man in the drawing office has discovered that the plans are shortly to be photographed by the naval authorities. Further, they are testing a new light which seems to correspond with our new U-rays, which was found to be defective by us, and the vital parts of which Hertzwohl removed on his last visit to Borga. If this light should prove to be identical with the U-rays it suggests a further conspiracy. Hertzwohl contrived its faultiness himself, and seized the opportunity of removing the vital parts of the—only—lamp we possessed. It suggests that the whole thing was carefully planned and carried out by—Hertzwohl."
The only sign from Von Berger was a curious flicker of the eyelids. The unyielding expression of his keen face never varied for one moment.
"This man Farlow—Ruxton Farlow?"
Von Salzinger shook his head.
"For the moment he is beyond our reach. He is a Minister in the British Cabinet."
"Yes."
For some moments neither spoke. Von Salzinger watched this man whom he feared more than any man in Berlin. He was wondering at the activity behind those cold eyes. He was speculating as to the direction in which that force would drive. He labored under no delusion. The conduct of this affair was to be removed from his hands. It was an added bitterness, but a certain relief left it not without compensation. If this matter were successfully dealt with, no matter by whom, it must redound to his advantage.
Von Berger did not leave him long in doubt.