The sight of the old Jew, his police companion, and von Welten knocked me all to pieces for the moment. We were done. That was a certainty. I could have bluffed the Jew, probably, with the official authority which von Gratzen had given me; but von Welten was what Jimmy Lamb would have called a very different proposition.
"I think I'll have a cigarette," I said; and pulled up to light it and try to think what to do.
"Whatever's the matter, Jack?" whispered Nessa. "Your hand shakes like anything and you're looking awful."
"Nothing to what I'm feeling. I'm afraid it's all up. I can't tell you all about it now. Just shake hands with me and trot back to the waiting-room. If you see me stopped—wait till the train has actually started, of course—make a bee line back to the von Reblings. If it's all right, I'll beckon to you."
"But if there's any trouble why should I leave you in it alone?" she protested, like the brick she was.
"Let me be boss now. If you're with me, you may never get away at all; and if you're not, it may only mean a postponement. Be a good sort. Good-bye, Miss Caldicott;" and I held out my hand.
She took it reluctantly. "I'd rather be with you," she replied with a glance for which I could have kissed her. Then she did as I wished.
I put as bold a face on things as I could, walked quickly up to the barrier, putting my hand in my pocket as if for my ticket.
"Good-evening, sir," said the Jew as I approached.
"Hullo, you here, Graun?" very much astonished.
"Herr Johann Lassen?" asked his companion.
"That's my name, certainly. Who are you, and what do you want? I'm in a hurry to catch the train."
"I'm a detective and have to ask you a few questions."
"Fire 'em out, quick as you can, please."
"There's no such hurry as all that. You can't go by this train. You paid a visit to this man to-day."
"We shall be here half the night at this rate. I went to purchase an identification card and he sold me one in the name of Liebe."
"Your object?"
"That's my affair. I haven't it with me and am not going to use it."
"That's your story. I don't believe it. Give it to me."
"I've told you I haven't it."
"Give it to me."
"I would if I had it. As it is, I can't."
"Give it up at once," he repeated very sharply.
This looked like a deadlock and moments were flying fast. There was nothing for it but to try the effect of my official authority, and I was fingering it, when von Welten caught sight of me and hurried in our direction. I threw up the sponge. To produce the authority in his presence would be only to make bad worse, so I put it in my waistcoat pocket.
The detective knew von Welten and saluted him.
"Well, Grossbaum, what is it? How do, Herr Lassen?"
"This man had a deal with Graun to-day and is travelling——"
Von Welten interposed angrily. "Hold your tongue, you fool. I've always thought yours was the woodenest head in the force. I suppose you brought this disreputable old scoundrel here. Get away, both of you. Think yourself lucky if I don't report this last cleverness of yours. Be off, I say;" and the precious pair slunk away like a couple of whipped curs. "I'm awfully sorry about this, Herr Lassen; but why on earth didn't you show the fool that paper the chief gave you?"
"I was going to," I stammered, utterly bewildered by the turn of affairs and gaping in wonder what would happen next. I was prepared for almost anything except what did happen.
"I knew you would travel by this train and thought I'd like to be certain that everything was all right about the ring;" and he dropped his voice to a whisper.
"Yes. He came to my rooms and I gave it him."
"The artful devil! Of course he's planted some of the woman's things there. I told the chief I thought he would; and I'll see to that in the morning. But where's Miss Caldicott?"
"Eh?" I asked stupidly.
"Do you mean to say she isn't going after all?"
"N-no. I mean—yes. She's over there," I stammered.
"Well, she'd better be here if you wish to catch the train. There's only another minute and they'll start on the tick."
Oh, I was surely dreaming. In a dream I beckoned to Nessa, who came hurrying up; in a dream von Welten was introduced and rushed us through the barrier to a compartment he'd already secured for us; in a dream he stood by the carriage door till we started, saying he thought it better for us to travel alone; and in a dream we shook hands out of the carriage window, and he waved to us as the train steamed out of the station.
Even when we quickened up speed through the outskirts of the city, I had hard work to wake up from that tremendously splendid dream. But Nessa was very much awake and boiling over with excitement, curiosity and delight. "What's the matter with you, Jack? Aren't you just mad with joy? I am."
"That's all right," I nodded.
"But you look so odd."
"Only intoxicated a bit."
"Surely you haven't been taking some drug or other! You came along the platform as if you were walking in a dream."
"Are you sure it isn't one? Are we really in a railway carriage?"
"Of course it is, and a very comfortable one too. But whatever do you mean? Are you trying to frighten me or just fooling as usual?"
"I don't know, but I simply can't believe it all yet."
"Why? Do you understand that I'm bubbling over with curiosity? Do wake up and make haste and satisfy it, if you don't want to drive me out of my senses. Good heavens, you're on fire!" she exclaimed in alarm, as she wrapped her hand in her cloak and pressed it against my side excitedly.
That roused me effectually. My waistcoat was smouldering and I plunged my hand into the pocket and discovered the reason. In my stupid absent-mindedness I had shoved the lighted end of my cigarette into the pocket and it had set fire to a couple of papers and singed the cloth.
"Nothing to worry about," I said. But there was. When I unfolded one of the papers, I found that it was the authority von Gratzen had given me. A fair-sized hole had been charred right through the folds and the tinder dropped as I opened out the sheet. It was hopelessly unreadable and thus useless. "I didn't think I could be such a gorgeous idiot," I exclaimed staring fatuously at the ruin.
"It's serious then?" asked Nessa, who had watched me anxiously.
"Try if you can make anything out of it."
She studied it and shook her head. "A word or two here and there are readable. That's all. What is it?"
"The proof that I ought to be shut up in a lunatic asylum. But itwassomething that would have taken me anywhere and everywhere through this beastly country and forced every one to help me."
"That's delightfully intelligible," she cried, laughing. "Are you going to keep this up much longer, or tell me things?"
"I'm going to tell you everything; but that silly ass trick of mine has knocked me. I'll smoke a cigarette. You don't mind?"
"Providing you don't put the end in another pocket," she quizzed. "I thought it was agreed we were not to take things too seriously," she added as I lit up.
"I've learnt my lesson." I had indeed. It had cost me the best safe conduct a man could have wished for, and if any unexpected trouble arose, there was now no possibility of undoing the mischief. As the guard passed along the corridor a little later, I decided to report the loss at once, and beckoned to him. "I've had an unfortunate accident," I said. "I'm travelling on special State business and have burnt this very important paper;" and I handed it to him.
He looked at it, turned it over, and shrugged his shoulders. "I'm afraid I can't be of much help, sir."
"It is my authority signed by Count von Gratzen; you can just make out a part of the official seal; and you will have seen that Herr von Welten was on the platform when we left Berlin."
"Yes, sir. He gave me orders to reserve this compartment for you, but——"
"You can't do anything, I know; but I wish you to make a note that I told you of the loss. That's all."
"Would you telegraph to his Excellency, sir?"
"Where's the first stop?"
"Not till Hanover, sir; but as it is State business and so important, I could stop at the next station for you to send a message, and you would have a reply wired to Hanover, or Osnabrück, if you are going so far."
"A good idea, guard. I'm much obliged to you. I'll think about it; just give me a form." He took one from his pocket and went off, saying he would come back for the message.
Nessa had listened in the greatest amazement. "Who on earth am I travelling with?" she cried. "Do you mean that you are able to have trains stopped at your mere nod?"
"I'll tell you who you're travelling with in a moment, but let me think whether I dare send that wire." It wasn't long before I decided to risk it. Von Gratzen himself had suggested I should get out of the way for a time: even go to a distance: and would understand the importance of the ruined authority, since I could not return when he needed me without it. He would therefore wire me all I should require, pending the receipt of a new authority. That was all clear enough.
But there was a fly in the ointment. He might have discovered the theft of the papers. But even in that case there wasn't very much risk, as the von Erstein affair was so vastly more important that he would hesitate before sending any instructions to get me into trouble. So I wrote the message and gave it to the guard, with a ten-mark tip, and the train was accordingly stopped for it to be despatched.
Then I was ready to satisfy Nessa's acute curiosity. "Now you want to know who your fellow traveller is, eh? I'll tell you. He's a composite individual: an Englishman, a German, a State official, a spy, a thief, and an alleged murderer. I hope you're proud of him."
"I don't care what he is if he's going to get me out of Germany. I needn't know him afterwards, I suppose."
"If you're disrespectful and don't behave yourself I'll—I'll——"
"Dock my wages, mate?" she popped in in her slangy voice.
"That reminds me. There's a little thing to be done in case of accidents;" and I took her bag from the seat.
"You don't mean to tell me you're going to keep me waiting any longer!"
"I'm not going to have young Hans' clothes found in your possession; much too risky;" and I packed them into my suit case.
"But your risk?"
"There's none for me. I'm travelling on business of State and may need disguises of any sort. And now I'll read you the riddles; but we shall have to be quick about it."
"If you dare to hurry over it and not tell me every little detail, I'll never speak to you again, Jack," she declared with great energy.
"We must drop that Jack business, and speak in my language. And I have to be quick because it's nearly bedtime."
"You don't imagine for an instant I'm getting into any sleeping berth to-night surely! I couldn't sleep a wink. I want to do nothing but talk."
"All right, let it go at that;" and I began the long story. It is needless to say that her interest was acute. She was literally hungry for every detail and interrupted with innumerable questions, so that it took hours to tell, and I hadn't quite finished when we reached Hanover, where I broke off to get something for us to eat.
A number of officers and soldiers were on the platform there, many of whom stared pretty hard at me; surprised probably to see a man of military age in civilian clothes. I did not take any notice of them; but there was a rather unpleasant incident on my return to the carriage. A couple of officers were in hot altercation with the guard because he would not allow them to enter our compartment.
They grumbled, declaring there was no room anywhere else; but he stood his ground, and in the end they went off in just such a rage as one might expect Prussian officers to show.
Nessa was greatly relieved to see them go, and as soon as the train started we commenced our meal.
"I'm only a nervy idiot," she said; "for I declare I was awfully scared and couldn't help thinking they knew about the tickets. Do you really believe von Gratzen didn't know you took them?"
"I'm absolutely fluster-bustered about it. Sometimes I thought he knew I was a fraud; sometimes that he didn't; he acted both ways, and——"
"But that von Welten was at the station," she broke in.
"Evidently he knew I had them, but must have thought old Gratz gave them to me. He said he had come to make sure I had planted the ring on von Erstein, all right. Otherwise, he'd have stopped us; but he actually asked where you were. It knocked me bang over."
"I'd bet he knew all about it, and so did von Gratzen. I expect the truth is that after you'd saved his wife and Nita that day, he guessed everything and determined to give you a chance to get out of the country. Why, he almost told you to take them when you were with him in the morning. And then that authority he gave you! It's as plain as a pikestaff he meant that to get out of any bother on the way; and, as if that wasn't enough, there was von Welten at the station to see that we got away without any trouble."
"Let's hope you're right."
"Of course I am. Naturally in view of all that happened he couldn't give you the things openly or he might have got into a mess over it which couldn't be explained away. But everything else could. His plan about von Erstein, the brute, gave him an excellent excuse for allowing you to leave Berlin; in fact you can see he was clever enough to cover his tracks at every step. Surely that's clear enough."
"It may be to you, but I gave up long ago trying to understand him, and if you'd seen as much of him as——"
"I don't want to see him, not till after the war anyhow, although he's just the dearest old thing in Germany. If I ever do see him again, I shall want to hug him."
"Hug him as much as you like, by all means; all I wish is that he won't hug me in the way he probably would if he got the chance. And now hadn't you better try forty winks?" I suggested.
"What time is it?"
"Nearly one o'clock."
"What time shall we cross the frontier?"
"About an hour after we leave Osnabrück, and we get there at half-past three."
"Then I'll go to sleep at four o'clock. Not a moment before. I simply couldn't. Oh, to think that in four hours all the suspense and horrors of the last months will be at an end! When shall we reach home? Think of it, Jack! Home!"
"Depends on our getting a boat. We'll go right through to Rotterdam and shall reach there by nine or ten to-morrow morning, say before midday anyhow; but we may have to wait for a boat."
"I shan't mind that. We must wire to mother as soon as we're over the frontier. Not likely to have any bother there, are we?"
"Can't think of any. We've got all the necessary papers."
"How perfectly glorious! And to think that I owe it all to you."
"That rather takes the cream off, doesn't it?"
"Don't fish. I might say something to make you blush. I'm quite capable of it and not a bit responsible for what I say. I want to revel in the thought of it all."
"State business, is it? What do I care about State business? I want a seat and I'm going to have one," broke in a harsh ill-tempered voice from the corridor.
"Going to have travelling companions to Osnabrück," I said. "Some of those officers who got in at Hanover. Better let them come in."
There was no question of letting them. The man whose voice we had heard came in. "We've got to sit here; there's not another seat in the train," he said bluntly.
"By all means," I agreed. There was nothing else to do.
"Come on, you fellows," he called, looking out into the corridor. "Plenty of room here."
I stiffened as I caught a glimpse of one of his companions. He was a man named Freibach who had been at Göttingen with me, and both Nessa and I had known him in London before the war. I tried to warn Nessa, but it was useless; and her start as she saw him was enough to give everything away.
Would he recognize us? If he did—what?
A minute settled it and judgment went dead against us. He knew us both.
"Hullo! This is a surprise if you like. How do you do, Miss Caldicott, and you too, Lancaster?" he exclaimed in English, and after shaking hands with Nessa held out his hand to me.
I'm not a particularly blood-thirsty person, but considering the hosts of Freibach's countrymen who had fallen in the war, I certainly did bitterly regret that he had been spared.
Poor Nessa! Just when she had been at the height of ecstatic delight at the near prospect of escape, this infernal thing had come to plunge her back into the abyss. It seemed to break her up.
And well it might! If it had been almost any other man than Freibach it might have been possible to face it out. Indeed, if he had been alone, or had even thought what he was doing, I believe he would have been decent enough to hold his tongue. But his surprise had betrayed us.
And that we were betrayed his companions' looks proved plainly. The man who had come in first looked up with a scowl as I shook Freibach's hand.
"What's that, lieutenant? Do you mean to say these people are English and dare to try and keep us out of here with a pretence of State business? What's the meaning of it, and what the devil are you doing here?"
My friend realized then the bad turn he had done us and looked the regret he dared not express.
I put the best face on it I could. "There is no need to adopt that tone with me, sir——"
"Isn't there? Oh! I'm accustomed to use what tone I please with you English. I'm Major Borsch of the 23rd Potsdam regiment; and it's my business to know all about you both." That he was a bully of the best Prussian type was evident. "What was that humbug about State business?"
How I regretted that burnt authority at that moment! "This lady, Miss Caldicott, is on her way to England. She has been in Berlin since before the outbreak of the war and is returning by the order of Baron von Gratzen; and acting under his instructions I am escorting her to the frontier."
He burst into loud coarse laughter which made Freibach wince. "A pretty tale, but not good enough for me. And who are you, pray, that you are detailed off as escort?" The sneer on the last word was worthy of even von Erstein.
"I am travelling as Johann Lassen. I have all my papers here. I am on a special mission for Baron von Gratzen, who gave me a written authority for that purpose."
"Did he indeed? Very nice of him. I should like to see that special authority. A swine of an Englishman on a special State business! What next, I'd like to know."
It wasn't easy to keep one's temper with this sort of brute; but there was Nessa to be thought of. "Unfortunately I have partially burnt it."
"Dear me! What a misfortune, eh?" he sneered. "Let me look at the precious fragments and your other papers."
I handed over the burnt paper. "I have already reported the accident to Baron von Gratzen by telegraph." I dragged in the Baron's name as much as possible, for I had noticed that the mention of it had had some impression even on him.
He scrutinized the authority and shook his head over it. "A forgery, of course;" and he was going to tear it up when I interposed.
"I shall have to report the destruction of it to the Baron, of course," I said quietly.
The officer who sat next him whispered something and the paper was not destroyed. "And your other papers? I must see them."
I did not reply, and he repeated his demand angrily. But I had taken his measure by this time. He had not ventured to destroy the remnant of the authority; and although its destruction didn't matter two straws either way, it mattered very much to see that he was sufficiently in awe of von Gratzen to abstain.
"Do you want me to take them from you?" he thundered.
"Do so, if you think it safe," I said in a very different tone.
"Don't you dare to threaten me, you swinehound," he roared.
"Go to blazes!" I answered in much the same tone. "Who the devil are you to come blustering in here in this way? I'm on Baron von Gratzen's business, not yours; I've no instructions to show his papers to any and every boorish clown who dares to ask for them. If you want to see them, telegraph to him, and when he instructs me to tell you his business I'll do it, and not before."
I fired this at him with all my lung power and tried to look even more angry than I felt, and shouted him down when he tried to interrupt me once or twice.
He cursed volubly.
"If you don't behave yourself I'll have you put out of the carriage," I cried. "Do you imagine that Baron von Gratzen sent his confidential secretary to secure this compartment for me and this lady that we might be insulted by such a foul-mouthed brute as you? Ask your questions civilly, and I'll answer them; but don't imagine you can bully me."
That his three companions relished all this was apparent in their looks; but the effect on the bully himself was a sheer delight to witness. He tried to bluster, but he was frightened. The sting of my attack was the reference to von Welten's reservation of the compartment, and I promptly drove it home by asking Freibach to have the guard called.
He hesitated; the other man was his superior officer, of course, and looked to him. "He'll be able to confirm what I say," I added.
The major nodded and nothing more passed until the guard arrived.
"Who saw these people off at Berlin?"
"Herr von Welten, sir, and he told me that the compartment was to be strictly reserved for them by Baron von Gratzen's orders. I explained that the train was sure to be full; but he said that under no conditions was I to allow any one to enter it."
The major's face dropped at this. "You can go," he ordered.
"Wait a minute, guard. Tell Major Borsch about the telegram."
The man told his story succinctly; and it had an excellent effect upon the bully, and a whispered conversation followed between him and the man next him. I began to hope. The worst was over for the moment, apparently; and the next scene was likely to take place when we reached Osnabrück. What would happen there was on the lap of the gods.
The only thing that really mattered was to contrive somehow that Nessa should be allowed to continue the journey, and it wasn't impossible that Freibach might be able to see to that. He would be willing enough, because he had been very kindly treated by the Caldicotts in London. Moreover, he had got us into this mess and was obviously distressed about it.
The whispered conference at the other side of the carriage ended by the major jumping up and leaving the carriage, muttering something about not being able to breathe the same air with us, and then his companion turned to me.
"You will appreciate the seriousness of the position to us, Herr Lassen, and that we are compelled to investigate it," he said. His tone was somewhat curt, but more official than offensive.
"Certainly."
"We are to understand that Baron von Gratzen has employed you on a special mission, knowing that you are an Englishman?"
"I have already given you the facts, but of course I am not at liberty to explain to you all his Excellency's reasons. He would not have given me that authority otherwise."
"It is unfortunately too mutilated to be intelligible."
"It was couched in the widest terms. It was to notify to all concerned that I was to be allowed to go where I pleased and that every assistance was to be afforded me. You can still see a part of the official stamp."
"It is most extraordinary. Incomprehensible."
"Not if I were free to explain why it was given to me."
"Who gave it you?"
"Baron von Gratzen wrote it himself in my presence. If you know his handwriting, there is enough of it left unburnt for you to identify it."
"I do not."
"Again in my presence he handed it to his secretary, Herr von Welten, to be stamped, and von Welten gave it to me as I left the office. You have heard that he was at the station and himself reserved this compartment for Miss Caldicott and me."
"That's the most remarkable thing of all."
"On the contrary, it was a perfectly natural step. There was a matter I had to arrange before leaving, and his chief was anxious to know that it had been done exactly in accordance with my instructions."
"What was that?"
"That is a question to be put to the Baron. My lips are sealed."
"And you an Englishman! It sounds incredible."
"Do you suppose I should have telegraphed to Baron von Gratzen if it were incredible?"
This worried him not a little, and he sat thinking with his hand pressed to his head. Not having the key to the riddle, he might well be baffled. "And your companion, Miss Caldicott, is going to England?"
"Certainly. You have been quite courteous and I have no objection whatever to show you her papers;" and I took them out and handed them over. "You will see that they also bear the official hallmark of Baron von Gratzen's office."
He was obviously impressed. "Both tickets are through to Rotterdam, I notice. Are you going to England also?"
"My instructions are to see Miss Caldicott across the frontier, and to return to Berlin as soon as my task is finished, unless his Excellency sends for me sooner."
It was such a lovely mixture of the truth and the other thing that it appeared quite flawless, and he couldn't make head or tail of it. "Of course you understand that you will have to remain at Osnabrück while this is being investigated?" he said at length, returning the tickets.
"That is for you to decide, and so far as I myself am concerned it is not of the least consequence. But it's different with Miss Caldicott. It is essential that her journey should not be interrupted."
Nessa started at this and spoke for the first time. "I shall not go on without you," she protested.
"I must ask you to recall that, Miss Caldicott, if you please. I shall, of course, be placed under some sort of restraint until this gentleman——"
"I am Captain Brulen," he interposed.
"Until Captain Brulen has satisfied himself. His Excellency's instructions are that you proceed at once; and for you to remain there would be extremely invidious and possibly unpleasant."
"I shall not go on if you're stopped," she insisted. It was like her to wish to stick by me in the coming trouble, but impossible, so I adopted an official tone.
"If you persist in your refusal, Miss Caldicott, it will compel me to take a line I should deeply regret. My instructionsmustbe carried out; they were very peremptory."
"I don't care what you do. I won't go on without you," she declared.
"Any delay at Osnabrück will render it impossible for me to see you across the frontier personally, and I shall have to ask Captain Brulen to detail some one for the purpose, Miss Caldicott. I can, of course, rely upon your doing that?" I asked him.
The poor man didn't know what to make of this little interlude and replied with a perplexed gesture.
"I won't go," cried Nessa obstinately. "And if you send me as a prisoner, I'll come straight back. I've made up my mind absolutely."
This dogged attitude was growing dangerous and it became necessary to explain it, so I asked the Captain to come into the corridor, and he complied after a slight hesitation.
"I had better explain one point to you in reference to that young lady. Until quite recently I have been living in London—on Baron von Gratzen's instructions, of course. I met Miss Caldicott's friends there frequently; they are influential people and were extremely useful to know, you will understand. They have always regarded me as an Englishman, and at one time there was a sort of engagement between us. That was when your fellow officer, Lieutenant Freibach, met me. He also takes me for English. You will now understand her attitude just now."
He swallowed it like mother's milk. "Why on earth didn't you tell us all this before?"
"Partly because of Major Borsch's disgusting manner; but mainly for the reason which is on the surface, surely. It is not impossible I may receive a wire to go on to England. You see my meaning. Under no circumstances must either of them know what I have told you. You will now see why Miss Caldicott must go on to-night and must not be allowed to return. The whole of my work in London would be utterly ruined if she and her friends knew I was a German."
"Of course. I am at liberty to tell Major Borsch this?"
"Emphatically not. It is for your own ears solely. I never trust that type of man. Personally, all I care about is to get Miss Caldicott off my hands; and the sooner the better. This business about me will be cleared up in half an hour when we reach Osnabrück; but not in time for me to continue in the train, probably. There will be a wire from the Baron; but that may not be considered sufficient. I don't blame you in the least; but I shall certainly report the Major's conduct."
"I can probably get Freibach to see to Miss Caldicott."
"Nothing could be better. Please von Gratzen immensely," I replied, smiling. "And if you leave us two alone again, no doubt I could persuade Miss Caldicott to agree."
He did this; and as soon as Nessa and I were alone I told her the arrangement and began the persuasion campaign.
Her reception of the news was just what might have been expected. She was furiously indignant. Was that my opinion of her, she demanded. Did I think she was a German and likely to desert any one who had run all this risk to help her? Did I take her for a despicable coward? Was she so abominably mean a thing in my eyes? And a great deal more to the same effect.
It's always best to let that sort of thing empty the petrol tank; so I just listened with becoming meekness which appeared to keep the engine running long after the tank was exhausted. Then: "And how do you think you can help me?" I asked smoothly.
Another vigorous outburst. She didn't care about that. No one should be able to say she had run away in such a case; and so on.
"Now do listen to me a moment. I don't think anything of the sort. It's splendid of you, Nessa. But——"
"I can't leave you in the lurch, Jack, and I won't," she broke in.
"If there was the faintest use in your stopping, I wouldn't ask you to go. There isn't. On the contrary, it would make matters infinitely more awkward. It was getting awkward just now, and that's why I took that man out. I've told him that you take me for an Englishman, and that Freibach knew us in London when we were engaged, and——"
"That's true."
"Yes; but he understands it differently—that I was in London as a German spy."
"He doesn't!"
"Indeed he does, and it altered his tune entirely. I said I wanted to get you off my hands as soon as possible——"
"Is that also true?" she interposed, with such a smile.
"At the present moment, yes."
"Thank you. Almost enough to make me say I'll go," she cried with a toss of the head.
"Naturally. But it is true, for this reason. When we get to Osnabrück there will probably be a telegram from old Gratz; these people are likely to want something more than that, however; and I am sure to be detained while they communicate with him. But he can't let me down, even if he guesses I've helped myself to those tickets, because I'm necessary to him for the von Erstein affair: a much more vital matter to him than the tickets. The whole thing will be cleared up and I shall be able to follow you home. Very likely catch you up before you leave Rotterdam."
"Then if it's going to be so easy, why shouldn't I stop?"
"For the simple reason that the papers for you are only to be used on this particular date, and there would be no end of a fuss in getting any others."
"You really and truly wish me to go on?"
"If you care a rap for my safety you won't hesitate another moment."
She looked very troubled. "If I do, I won't go a step farther than the first town across the frontier, and if you don't join me soon I shall come back," she declared. "I shall. I'll tell every one that you've got into all this solely on my account and that I'm quite ready to go even to an internment camp."
Knowing her detestation of such a thing, I could appreciate all that lay behind this statement. It touched me too closely for me to reply immediately. Thank Heaven, she wouldn't be allowed to come back; but there was no need to tell her so. "Let it go at that, Nessa. The first town you'll stop at will be Oldenzaal, and I'll come to you there. You're due there about five in the morning; but you won't get there by that time if we keep stopping in this fashion. It can't be Osnabrück yet; there's half an hour before we're due there. I wish they'd hurry up."
We had stopped at some station the name of which I couldn't see and stuck there some minutes.
"Can't be anything wrong, can there?" asked Nessa nervily.
"Probably a troop train. It's all right, we're off again."
But it was not a troop train that had stopped us. It was a very different cause, as we soon knew, for the brute of a major burst into our compartment flourishing a telegram and cursing me volubly.
"So we've got the truth about you, Mr. Englishman, at last. You infernal scoundrel," he cried viciously. "You wanted a telegram from your friend and patron, von Gratzen, did you? Well, read that!" with another string of oaths.
He held the message up and I did read it, with feelings which may perhaps be imagined although I can't describe them. It was to the guard.
"Detain passengers Johann Lassen and companion. Suspected of murder. Acquaint police at next station and have them arrested.—Von Gratzen."
Major Borsch stood gloating over me as I read the telegram. "Well, what do you think of your friend the Baron, now?" he sneered.
He expected me to be completely crushed, so I shook off my first feeling of dismay and looked up with a bland smile. "I'm much obliged to you for showing it to me," I replied, as if it were the merest trifle. I must have done it pretty well, for even Nessa, who had been overwhelmed by the news, was surprised and pulled herself together.
"Perhaps you'll also be obliged for what will follow," he roared, aggravated by my coolness.
"What an exceedingly unpleasant person this is," I said to Nessa. "I'm sorry he can't behave himself; but you must try not to let it worry you. I suppose he can't help it."
"He doesn't worry me in the least, thank you," she replied contemptuously.
"You hold your tongue, you baggage," he shouted, turning on her.
"Major Borsch!" I cried, rising.
"Sit down, you infernal swinehound! And as for you, you——"
The sentence was not finished. My temper flew out of the window. If I was to be charged with murder, a little extra such as a smack on the mouth of even a major wouldn't make much difference, so I gave him one, and put enough behind it to knock him down.
An involuntary scream from Nessa was drowned in his yells for his men; and two of them rushed in and seized me. He didn't get up until I was thus rendered helpless and then kept far enough away, pouring out a torrent of cursing abuse while he staunched the blood on his cut lips.
Captain Brulen arrived in the middle of it, with Freibach close on his heels; and the bully declared I had tried to murder him in order to escape. It was such a palpable absurdity that Freibach turned his face away to smile.
"This man was insulting the lady in my charge and I struck him, Captain Brulen," I explained. "You probably know him well enough to understand it is just what he would do."
"It is a very grave position," he replied. "Very grave indeed."
"You mean because of that telegram? Nonsense. It's a palpable forgery."
The major burst out into raucous laughter. "Forgery! Forgery, is it? Well, forgery or no forgery, you'll answer for that attack on me. Search him, and if he resists knock him on the head," he ordered the two soldiers.
"Is this man the senior officer on the train, Captain Brulen?"
"Hold your insolent tongue; and, Captain Brulen, stay where you are. Do as I told you," he ordered the men.
It would have been madness to resist. There was nothing on me of any consequence; and as Nessa was sitting on the suit case with her dress entirely covering it, nothing of importance was found, except the passports and our tickets. These the bully promptly pocketed.
"Can I speak to you a moment, Major?" said Brulen then.
"No. Mind your own business. This is my affair, not yours."
"Very good, sir," and with that he and Freibach went away. Both looked very disturbed, although for quite different reasons, as I knew.
"Take the man to the other end of the carriage; see that the two prisoners have no chance of speaking to each other; remain between them in the middle until we reach Osnabrück, and if any attempt is made to escape, use your bayonets. You're answerable for them."
"I'm going to sleep," said Nessa as the brute was leaving the carriage; and she put her legs up on the seat with excellently acted unconcern.
"Good idea, so will I," and I threw myself full length on the seat.
"Silence," roared the brute. "If they speak, club them both," and with this amiable command to our guards he left us.
The men would in all probability have obeyed him to the letter, so we prudently gave them no occasion.
Except for the desire to try and reassure Nessa, there was nothing to be said. The disastrous telegram had ruined everything. What did it mean? It didn't seem possible that von Gratzen could have sent such a message. It was too blunt, too crude, and altogether too brutal a thing to fit with all I had seen of him. He was wily enough in all truth, but such a method was so lacking in finesse, so devoid of cunning, that I could not believe it had really come from him.
It was possible that he had been infuriated at discovering I had stolen the passports; but even then he would have resorted to some far more adroit means of arresting me. There was another consideration, too. It was not in accord with his plans to denounce me as the murderer in this fashion. His object was not to have me accused, but to catch von Erstein in the web so subtly woven.
At the same time it must have been sent by some one having high authority, because the train had been stopped in order that it might be delivered to the guard. The police could have done it. The detective at the station had probably reported my flight, and, if von Erstein had already accused me to them, they might resort to such a means to have me arrested. But in that case the message would not have been sent in von Gratzen's name. That killed that theory therefore.
There was only one alternative suggestion—that the telegram was a forgery and that von Erstein had ventured to use von Gratzen's name, relying upon his influence to get him out of trouble for it. He had guessed I was going to bolt, and he would have little difficulty in finding out where I had gone; I might even have been followed to the station without knowing it; and it was just such a step as would appeal to his cunning vindictive nature.
The truth would soon be out, as a few minutes would see us at Osnabrück at the pace we were rushing through the night; and until we reached there, nothing could be done. Despite the mysterious telegram I still had faith in von Gratzen's concluding assurance—"Whatever happens I'll stand by you, my boy."
All the same it was a deplorable business, especially for Nessa; and that worried me desperately. We were both sure to be locked up; and Germany is one of those insalubrious countries where it's very difficult to get out of gaol when once the doors have closed on you. Even if the thing were explained at Osnabrück, it would be impossible for her to continue her journey that night; and when she would be able to do so, Heaven alone knew.
It was such a devil of a mess that no amount of wit-racking suggested a way out which did not involve a heap of delay and trouble. But the knot was cut nevertheless, in the most unexpected fashion.
We were nearing Osnabrück, running at some thirty or forty miles an hour, when the engine whistled furiously, and we were far enough in the front of the train to feel the grinding of the brakes quickly applied. Before they could do much to reduce the speed, however, there was a tremendous crash, the heavy carriage collapsed like a card house, the lights were extinguished, and the coach rocked a moment, seemed to rear right up, and then toppled over on its side.
I was flung half a dozen ways at once; against the opposite side of the compartment, then back again and next down, so that I lay sprawling across the door. Something hit me a smack on the head and something else came floundering down on top of me, amid a shower of splintered glass and other fragments.
The "something else" turned out to be Nessa as I discovered when I called out to her in deadly fear that she had been killed. Thank Heaven we were both unhurt, save for the few bruises and slight cuts caused by the shuttlecock shaking we had experienced.
We owed our escape to the fact that we had been lying with our legs up. The result to our two guards showed that. They had been pinned down and lay groaning and moaning piteously in desperate agony.
Nessa was too overwhelmed by the shock to be able to move for a time. But she was awfully brave; not a cry had escaped her lips; and although she was trembling so that she could scarcely speak, she assured me she was not hurt in the least. "I shall be all right in a moment, Jack. I'm not hurt. I was afraid you were killed," she stammered.
It was then I found that the first something which had hit me was my suit case; and never was anything more welcome. There was a flask of brandy in it and a flash lamp, and I managed to get them both. The spirit soon revived us, and I flashed the light round the compartment and took my bearings.
It was a gruesome sight. The two unfortunate soldiers were unconscious; fearfully injured, bleeding terribly, and in such a mess as made one think of the trenches. The carriage lay on its side and the corridor over our heads. That offered the only way of escape, and to reach it I had to stand on the men's bodies. By this means I succeeded in getting a grip on the side of the doorway opening into the corridor. I pulled myself up and scrambled through the opening. Everything was smashed to splinters; there was an ominous smell of gas; part of the train was already on fire, the flames lighting up the weirdly awful scene; and the wind was blowing them right down on our carriage. There wasn't a second to lose if we were not to be roasted alive.
Lying at full length to get a purchase for my feet among some of the wreckage, I leant down to help Nessa out.
She kept her head splendidly. She had presence of mind to remember the suit case, handed it up to me, caught my hand, and I swung her up beside me. It was touch and go even then, for the flames leapt the intervening space at that moment and a flare of gas soon set everything in a blaze.
We had still to get off the carriage, and, although people were hurrying up with assistance, there was no time to wait for them. Crawling over the wreckage to a spot where the side of the carriage had been shattered, I threw the suit case out, sprang after it, and held out my arms, calling to Nessa to jump. She did it without a second's hesitation, falling right on top of me with sufficient suddenness and force to send us both sprawling to the ground.
We were up again in a moment. Nessa laughed strangely and hysterically. "I'm all right, Jack," she cried breathlessly. "Mind the suit case;" and then clutched me convulsively and fainted.
It wasn't surprising, considering that we had had so narrow a squeak for it, and I could estimate the effect upon her by my own general shakiness. What amazed me was that in such a crisis, when death had been a matter of seconds almost, she had seemed to think more about that blessed suit case than her own safety. But she told me the reason afterwards; and of course it was on my account.
I wasn't sorry she fainted. The whole scene was so painful and horrible, that it was a mercy she was spared the sight and smell and sounds of it. Then again it helped to rally me, as I had to see to her. I picked her up and carried her right away to a distance where neither sight nor sound of the disaster was likely to be too obtrusively harrowing, found a shed, and gave her some brandy, and had a swig of it myself.
She soon came round, but was much too overcome by the shock to be moved for a long time, or even to talk. So I let her lie where she was, wrapped her up in some of the clothes in the suit case, lit a cigarette, and set to work to think what our next move had better be.
It wasn't the easiest of problems. There was no chance of getting across the frontier that night, for we had neither tickets nor passports. That bully of a major had kept them. What had happened to him in the smash couldn't be even guessed, of course; but whatever it might be, there was no recovering our papers. That was a certainty.
Could any others be got? Not at Osnabrück. That telegram had been sent to the guard of the doomed train and, if he was alive, he would undoubtedly inform the police; and the instant I turned up as Lassen, we should both be clapped into gaol.
It looked as if it would be extremely unhealthy to attempt to ask for any message from von Gratzen. A very aggravating poser. It was galling to think that a message might be waiting which would clear the road for us effectually, and yet be unable to go for it.
There was the unpleasant contingency that it might not be there, moreover; in which case I should have to put my head in the lion's mouth, with a great probability of the jaws closing on it. A very awkward risk. It didn't affect me so much as Nessa. Even if the police held me in custody as a suspected murderer, it would only be a temporary trouble. But Nessa? What would happen to her it was impossible to foresee; so I ruled out that course.
If we were to get out of the country it must be done under strictly unofficial patronage. Our own. The less we bothered von Gratzen or any one else, the better. That meant going on in our disguises; and then I realized how invaluable Nessa's thought of the suit case had been.
It wasn't a particularly cheerful outlook; but there was one big thing in our favour. Our carriage had been burnt; scarcely any one had been on the spot at the time; certainly no one who could possibly recognize us; and the conclusion every one would draw was that we had perished in the flames. That was another virtual certainty; but in our favour.
There was more than enough on the other side of the ledger, however. I had no identification card; Nessa was in rather a bad shape, and it looked as if she would have to go to bed and stop there for a time, whereas if we were to get away, we ought to be some miles from Osnabrück before daylight; and to go to any hotel or other place for the purpose was very much like asking for more trouble when we had quite sufficient already.
At the same time her safety was the pivot on which everything else turned; it would be idiotic to try and get away, if it meant knocking her up permanently; and that must be the first and prime consideration. She lay so still and seemed so weak and done up, that it was clearly necessary to do something instead of merely thinking about it.
"Can you make an effort, Nessa?" I whispered, bending over her.
"Make an effort? Of course I can. I thought you were bowled over. That's why I kept quiet. I'm all right," and to my surprised relief she sat up at once. "What shall we do?"
"I thought you were almost down and out," I exclaimed.
"Because I fainted? That was the reaction, I expect. I've never done such a thing before that I can remember. But I'm all right again now. I've been thinking."
"I've been doing a bit of that myself. Are you sure you're fit?" It was difficult to believe it after what she had gone through.
"Of course I am, except for being a little shaken. It was an awful business while it lasted; but it's over and got us out of all that trouble. Of course every one will believe we were burnt alive;" and she shuddered. "I suppose it's an awful disaster."
"Better not think of it. The last glimpse I had showed that our carriage and the one behind it were in flames. You can see the glare through the door there."
"Oh, Jack! And they were crowded with people!"
"We can't do anything to help, and we'd better think of ourselves," and to distract her thoughts from the horrors of the train wreck I told her the reasons against venturing into Osnabrück.
"I've been thinking the same. Surely there's only one thing to do?"
"Well?"
"The 'third wheel', of course. It's been in my mind from the very moment of the collision. I don't know how it was, but that rushed into my head instantly; and when you weren't hurt, I could think of nothing but that;" and she pointed to the suit case.
"It was the last word you spoke before fainting."
"And the first when I came round. I was so thankful when I saw you'd brought it away all right. I didn't care after that. You didn't seem really hurt; only shaken; I knew I should be all right soon; and I felt a sort of certainty that the third wheel would carry us into safety. Hadn't we better go?"
"Yes, if you feel fit to do a few miles before daylight?"
"You'll soon see that, if you'll go to your own room and change and leave me to do the same."
My "room" was the back of the shed outside, and I lost no time in getting off my own clothes and putting on the workman's dress over what my flying friend had called the "tummy pad." Then I lit up and waited, thinking what a plucky soul Nessa was, until she called to me.
"How's this, matey?" she asked in her new character and laughed.
It was a wonderful transformation indeed! I should never have recognized her; and the few little scratches on her face from the broken glass in the collision, combined with some artistic smudges she had added, made her into a lifelike young workboy.
"What have you done with your hair?" I exclaimed.
"Just messed it up under the cap. Of course it'll have to come off; but we'd better not waste any time about it now, had we? We can see to it later in the morning."
"Righto," I agreed; and we set to work to finish the other preparations. We had to dispose of our own clothes, of course; so we rolled them up tightly, put the overalls in the suit case, and were ready.
"Now for the frontier," I said. "Let's hope the luck's with us."
"Cheero, matey; if it isn't, you'll get us through somehow," she replied with the most plucky confidence.
I loved her for that, for I knew that she understood the difficulties and risks that lay ahead quite as well as I did. I lost my head for a minute then; and just as we stood on the threshold of the dingy little shed, I put my arm round her, drew her quickly to me and kissed her on the lips.
She held to me for an instant, kissed me in return, and then drew away quickly.
"Not so much of it, matey. Do you take me for a girl? You've knocked my cap off, clumsy," she cried, laughing and blushing, as her glorious hair fell over her shoulders and down to her waist.
"A fine sort of a girl you'd make, and no mistake," I replied, picking up the cap and giving it to her.
In a few moments she had it in place again, pulled the cap down over it and was once more ready.
"Come on, clumsy," she called, stepping out into the night.
And in that way we started on the journey to the frontier.