human
Who's there?
gpt
Me--Philip.
human
Come in, he snarled.
gpt
Come in....
human
What is it? von Essen demanded in German.
gpt
What's the matter?
human
Never mind her. She's been spying. She knows. We'll have to shut her mouth.... What's wrong?
gpt
We set the bomb--I lighted the fuse.... They were watching the place. Somebody jumped on me. Young Waite. Weimer jumped in and we broke away. The place was full of men.... We ran. Somebody grabbed the bomb and threw it.... Weimer was fifty feet away from me--and it struck right behind him. Philip shut his eyes and shivered.
human
They'll never find a trace of him,
gpt
Was anybody else hurt?... Any of Potter's men?... Potter?
human
No, he said.
gpt
They chased us--but I got away.
human
Were you followed? von Essen shouted.
gpt
What made you come here?
human
It was safe enough. Nobody saw me.... I couldn't go far. When I saw that thing land I threw myself flat--but it shook me up bad.... I'll have to lay up.
gpt
Potter's safe!... Potter's safe!
human
We'll get you to bed in a minute, von Essen said,
gpt
What about her?
human
She's found out things.... We've got to shut her mouth.
gpt
You've meddled in something--
human
Hold on, Philip said.
gpt
You're going at it wrong. He turned to Hildegarde.
human
Miss von Essen, he said,
gpt
Traitor's daughter! she said, between her teeth. Then,
human
Are you sure Potter Waite is safe--are you sure?
gpt
I heard his voice shouting behind me.... Nothing touched him. He watched her face intently, trying to read its expression, to catch some clue.
human
Now be reasonable.... You don't want the world to know, eh?... Or Potter Waite to know? How'd you like for him to know your father tried to blow up his place? Wouldn't like it, would you?
gpt
Father, she said,
human
Sure he will, said Philip, winking at von Essen.
gpt
We all will, Miss. Tickled to death to promise. We're about filled up with the business, anyhow.
human
If you had killed Potter--
gpt
But we didn't,
human
No--you didn't.... And _he's_ my father. I've thought of that ... night after night and day after day.... I can't expose him.... I despise him, but even my country couldn't ask me to expose him.
gpt
Huh!...
human
Your mother used to believe in a God, said von Essen, and there was the hint of a sneer in his voice.
gpt
Do you take it from her?
human
I believe,
gpt
Put your hand on it, he ordered.
human
Put your hand on it and swear that you will never repeat to a human being what you know about this business.... Swear!