Anonyma hoped that he still had no suspicions. His voice was distinctly nervous. To reassure him, she said, "Why did you take up espionage yourself?"
"Why, indeed?" said the stranger in an ardent voice. "Of course the pay was enormous. Twenty thousand francs if I could get an exact chart of the South Coast."
"Why francs?" asked Anonyma.
"Not francs. I find these various currencies so confusing, don't you? Of course I mean pfennigs."
"Twenty thousand pfennigs?" said Anonyma. "Look here, are you trying to be funny?"
"Far from it," said the man. "To tell you the truth, I am awfully nervous."
"Of me?"
"Yes. No. I mean of discovery."
"You don't seem to be absolutely cut out for your job," said Anonyma.
They walked in silence for a while. Anonyma sought through her mind to find something she could say in keeping with her part. She decided finally on a rather ambiguous though imposing attitude.