human
I wish I dared,
gpt
Let me tell you just what is in my mind. I will not remain in the house, and the first thing to-morrow will go to rooms or an hotel.
human
But mother?
gpt
I shall tell her of my discovery about Gretchen, and that in view of my connection with the Secret Service, it is essential for me to be absolutely secure against anything of the sort.
human
I shall then be too busy officially to come here much, and this will relieve you from all the unpleasantness of open deception with her and others.
gpt
The next thing will be to obtain the necessary papers for Nessa and me to leave. Have you any friends in Holland?
human
Yes, several old school friends; but----
gpt
My idea is that you should invent a sudden desire to go to them; say that one of them is dying or very ill, or something. You could not very well travel alone at such a time, and thus Hans would naturally go with you. It would be simple enough for you two to obtain permits to travel and passports and so on, and----
human
But I should be instantly questioned and---- Oh, that would never do,
gpt
I have thought of that, believe me. On the morning you were to start, after you had obtained your tickets, something would occur to make it impossible for you to go. Nessa or I would then get the tickets and things, and she and I would use them. You would not discover the loss until we had had time to cross the frontier, and could then give information of their loss; and as soon as we were safely in Holland, I would write to you a letter explaining everything.
human
It is possible,
gpt
Such a letter from me, confessing my imposture and everything, would free you from the slightest taint of suspicion that you had been in any way a party to the scheme, and, of course, as Nessa and I should be in safety, I could make the confession with absolute impunity.
human
How long do you think it would take?
gpt
Only so long as is needed to get the passports, etc.
human
There is a difficulty--Hans. He could not possibly get away, even if he were willing to go; which I doubt.
gpt
Can you think of any one else?
human
Do you remember the two Apeldoorn sisters, Nessa?
gpt
Yes, quite well, dear.
human
They are Herr Feldmann's cousins, said Rosa: and then I knew what was coming.
gpt
One of them is going to be married and wants me to go to the wedding. I should have gone if it hadn't been that we heard just then about my Cousin Johann. Herr Feldmann and his sister are going, and I should have gone with them; but his sister is ill,
human
It would certainly open the way to the necessary credentials, but how could I get hold of his permit?
gpt
I can't think of anything else, said Rosa as I did not answer.
human
But I think Herr Feldmann would help if I asked him,
gpt
Do you mean you would tell him everything?
human
It would be necessary, wouldn't it?
gpt
I'd rather try to think of some other plan,
human
I'm--I'm sorry, Jack,
gpt
All right; don't worry;
human
But to talk to you as I did--all the brutal things I said. I'm so--so ashamed.
gpt
No need. Not the faintest. You couldn't know; and you caught me in the very act of prying into that place there. If you hadn't fired up a bit, it wouldn't have been natural.
human
But after you'd run all this risk simply for me, you must have thought me a regular beast, Jack.
gpt
The fact is your mother's worry got on my nerves, and as I knew I could come into this beastly country without any risk to speak of, of course I came. That's all about it.
human
Poor mother! she murmured, and was silent for a while.
gpt
You've joined the army then?
human
I'm in the Flying Corps, and your mater didn't tell me anything about you for fear it would get on my nerves.
gpt
Then I had something to do with your coming?
human
I couldn't very well ease your mother's mind in London, could I? She was against the thing, but I explained there was really no risk. Of course there would not have been any if the steamer hadn't blown up and this Lassen business turned out as it has.
gpt
But it was I who made you tell Rosa?
human
And probably the best thing we could have done if----