"Nothing," he said again, looking at me very meaningly.
"You have something to say on your own account then?"
"No more than a personal opinion as a friend of yours. I have a sort of idea that if the whole matter were dropped, the other things you wish might be more easily arranged."
I understood and smiled. "Is that a bargain?"
He nodded. "Speaking as your friend I should think you may regard it as settled."
"The brutes meant to take my life. They ought to be punished."
"I’m glad you see it as I do," he said as he rose. "Oh, by the way, are you leaving Berlin?"
"Oh, there was a row and some fighting in a riverside warehouse the other evening, and a man was found with a bullet in his head in an open boat."
"I suppose so. No proof of anything else. The affair was political, we think. We caught one or two of those concerned, but some escaped. I don’t suppose we shall catch them. They are either out of the country by this time or will be before we can lay hands on them."
"I expect you’re right, Feldermann. I had an idea that there was something to be done against the _Wundervoll_, you know. She was to have been moored just off that warehouse, and I got Bassett--the man who followed me on my old paper, you know--to print a word of warning from Paris."
He gave a little start of surprise. "They wouldn’t thank you if they knew; but I don’t suppose you’ll delay your going to wait for their thanks." And with that he left me.
I got up, then, borrowed a pair of boots, telephoned to Althea that I had been detained, had my breakfast and drove to my house and dressed myself in decent clothes, and packed a trunk and returned with it to the hotel, where I found Borsen awaiting me.
He had heard the result of my interview with Feldermann and had come to arrange for the papers to be handed over.
"They are in Brussels," I said; "but I am going through there myself, and the little interval will just allow time for your part of the matter to be concluded. By the way, that State concert is to-night, isn’t it?"
"Yes, and if the new Prima pleases the Court, it’s very likely the announcement of the Baron’s pardon will be made by His Majesty. And the more likely, because the Prince von Graven will be present with his future bride, the Princess von Altenwelt. I suppose you know that the Imperial marriage is now definitely settled. Everything is going your way."