“Yes,” I answered; “there is a steamer at 8.15, I believe.”
“Are you going to England, too, sir?” I asked, with hot misgivings.
“No, no! I am going to Bremen; but we shall travel together as far as—you go by Amsterdam, I suppose?—as far as Leer, then. That will be very pleasant.” I fancied there was a ghoulish gusto in his tone.
“Very,” I assented. “You are making a short stay here, then?”
“As long as usual. I visit the work at Memmert once a month or so, spend a night with my friend Dollmann and his charming family” (he leered round him), “and return.”
Whether I was right or wrong in my next step I shall never know, but obeying a strong instinct, “Memmert,” I said; “do tell me more about Memmert. We heard a good deal about it from Commander von Brüning; but——”
“He left off at the most interesting part.”
“What’s that about me?” joined in von Brüning.
“I was saying that we’re dying to know more about Memmert, aren’t we, Davies?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” said Davies, evidently aghast at my temerity; but I did not mind that. If he roughed my suit, so much the better; I intended to rough his.
“You gave us plenty of history, Commander, but you did not bring it up to date.” The triple alliance laughed, Dollmann boisterously.
“Well,” said von Brüning; “I gave you very good reasons, and you acquiesced.”
“And now he is trying to pump _me_,” said Böhme, with his rasping chuckle.
“Wait a bit, sir; I have an excuse. The Commander was not only mysterious but inaccurate. I appeal to you, Herr Dollmann, for it was _à propos_ of you. When we fell in with him at Bensersiel, Davies asked him if you were at home, and he said ‘No.’ When would you be back? Probably soon; _but he did not know when_.”
“Well, only three days later we arrive at Norderney, and find you have returned that very day, but have gone to Memmert. Again (by the way) the mysterious Memmert! But more than ever mysterious now, for in the evening, not only you and Herr Böhme——”
“But also Commander von Brüning, pay us a visit in _his_ launch, all coming from Memmert!”
“Why, that you must have known at Bensersiel—only three days ago—exactly when Herr Dollmann was coming back, having an appointment at Memmert with him for to-day.”
“Yes, and that’s why I’m so inquisitive; it’s entirely your own fault.”