书虫5级《沙洲之谜》8. 与敌人共进晚餐

8. An evening with the enemy

When we arrived at the house, a servant showed us into the living-room, where a hot wave of perfume and cigarette smoke hit us. The room was richly furnished and overheated, very different from our living conditions on the Dulcibella. Von Brüning, looking relaxed as usual, was talking to Clara on a sofa, while Dollmann rose from an armchair to greet us, and Böhme appeared from a doorway. Dollmann welcomed us politely enough, but his intelligent eyes did not leave us for a moment, and there was a certain falseness in his manner. He introduced me to his wife, Clara's stepmother. She was a large, handsome woman, with unnaturally dark hair and red lips, wearing a low-cut evening dress. I may add that she was unmistakeably German. It was clear that her main concern was to encourage von Brüning and Clara to take an interest in each other.

Clara was trying to avoid looking at us. I hoped she hadn't told her father about her visit to us on the yacht. She was doing her best to appear normal, but at times I caught an expression of deep misery on her lovely face.

Well, are we never going to have dinner?' cried Frau Dollmann impatiently, and we all moved into the dining-room, where we sat down around a large table. I was beginning to feel the effects of my long day's rowing, and the heat and my anxiety made me feel quite faint. But a glass of wine and some excellent food soon concentrated my mind on the dangers of our situation.

I'm leaving Davies, you know,' I said lightly, to the whole table. 'Life on the Dulcibella is too hard for a lazy weekend sailor like me.'

There was silence, until von Brüning said, 'Why are you going so suddenly, Herr Carruthers?'

Oh, didn't I tell you I had to call at the post office for letters? I received two from my boss, and he wants me back in London at once, unfortunately.'

Another uncomfortable silence was broken by Dollmann, who turned to Davies and began, 'By the way, I ought to apologize to you for—'

This was something I did not want to appear involved in, so I said to Frau Dollmann, 'How awful the fog was today!'

Have you been in the harbour all day?' she asked.

Oh yes. We couldn't leave the yacht alone in the fog,' I replied, with professional seriousness.

Von Brüning joined in with a laugh. 'I don't think that's your opinion! You are much too fond of dry land!'

Meanwhile, I could hear Davies and Dollmann discussing the Hohenhörn – 'my fault' and 'quite safe', I heard my friend say. Suddenly Böhme, who had been looking closely at them both, turned and said to me, 'So, when are you setting out for England? Tomorrow?'

Yes. There's a ferry at 8.15 in the morning, I think.'

Good. We shall be companions. I'm going to Bremen, so we'll travel as far as Leer together. How pleasant!'

Very,' I agreed. 'Is this only a short stay for you?'

The same as usual. I visit the work at Memmert once a month, and spend a night or two here.'

I decided to play a dangerous game. 'Memmert,' I said, 'now do tell me more about Memmert. Von Brüning told us a little, but it all seems so secret! For example, all three of you had one of your mysterious meetings on Memmert today. You'd just come from there when you came to visit the Dulcibella. Why today? Was something important happening there? Were you inspecting the gold? No, I know! You were taking it to the mainland!'

I can't help you,' smiled Böhme. 'I'm only the company engineer. Ask von Brüning for help.'

I turned to the commander. 'My dear young detective,' he laughed, 'I'm not very closely involved in all this. Try the company director. Rescue me, Herr Dollmann!'

I,' said Dollmann, with a noisy laugh, 'cannot tell company secrets. Business interests must be protected!'

Well,' I said, 'I wonder – Do you remember, Davies, how interested the commander was in all our doings, when we met at Bensersiel? I wonder if he feared that our explorations might possibly lead us to Memmert?'

Really,' said von Brüning, with a smile, 'I thought I was being most helpful to you, giving advice about duck shooting and so on. But go on, young man.'

What is he talking about, and why go on with this stupid mystery?' asked Dollmann's wife, yawning.

Why indeed? My head was turning as I thought desperately fast. If I went too far in this direction, they might guess the truth, but if I didn't go far enough, they might also suspect us. 'I was thinking about this delightful dinner party,' I continued, 'and the reason for it. Now I think I can guess why you invited us. Didn't you discuss us at Memmert? And didn't one of you, perhaps Herr Böhme, who hadn't met either of us, suggest an invitation?'

You could almost have been there,' said Dollmann.

You may thank your terrible climate that we weren't,' I replied, laughing. 'I also think – but, no – this is going too far. I shall probably offend you.'

Come, let's hear it. Your wild ideas are amusing.'

Well, you know, we were a little surprised to find you all on board the Dulcibella, taking such a deep interest in a small boat! I think you wanted to inspect us!'

Everybody burst out laughing, and Dollmann said, 'I warned you, Böhme. We really must apologize.'

The point is, what did you suspect me of?' I went on. 'I know you can't suspect Davies – just look at him!'

Perhaps we still suspect you,' said von Brüning.

Oho! You'll force me to take action. Perhaps when I get back to London, I'll do some investigating! There must be some questions to ask about the ownership of the Corinne's gold.'

There was another silence, finally broken by Dollmann, who turned to Böhme and von Brüning and said, half-jokingly, 'Gentlemen, we must come to an agreement with this dangerous young man. What can we offer Herr Carruthers?'

Take me to Memmert!' I said. 'Then I'll forgive you.'

But you are starting for England tomorrow!'

I ought to, but I'll stay for that.'

Under promise of absolute secrecy, then?' said Böhme.

And you'll show me everything? Wreck and all? '

Everything, if you can put on a diving suit and dive.'

We've won!' I cried delightedly. 'And now, I don't mind saying that the joke's at an end, as far as I'm concerned. In spite of your kind offer, I must start for England tomorrow. You see, I really did receive letters from my boss. Do you want to see them?' I pulled the letters from my pocket, and gave them to Dollmann. 'Ah, you don't read English easily, perhaps. I expect Herr Böhme does.'

The dinner continued, with more food and even more wine. I drank as little as possible, to keep my head clear. I knew that our enemies had allowed me to win the first part of the game, but I felt sure they knew more about us than they appeared to. However, I guessed we would probably be safe, as long as they believed we thought Memmert, and Memmert only, was the centre of their secret activities. I also knew that they could not suspect us of having been to Memmert that day, because nobody would believe it was possible to do what Davies and I had done.

I have no way of knowing how near we came to being arrested that night, but once or twice we must have been very close. There could not have been a more interesting party of seven people anywhere in Europe that evening, with such differing feelings of fear, love, anger, ambition, and unhappiness, all hidden behind smiling faces.

We stayed for two hours or more, but soon the cigarette smoke and heat brought back my faintness, and my tired arms and legs began to stiffen. We rose to go, and although I do not remember much about the goodbyes, I heard Böhme say he would see me on the ferry the next day. Von Brüning was staying at the house a little longer.

You want to be able to talk about us!' I remember saying, with a last effort at cheerfulness.

Outside in the fresh air, it was a silver, breathless night. And back on the yacht, I fell on to one of the benches, fully dressed. There I slept such a deep sleep that von Brüning's men could have tied me up and taken me to prison, without my noticing a thing.