THE YELLOW DOVE
more of that. She told me that you were an English spy.”
Hammersley started forward, the only expression on his face one of complete incredulity. “Fräulein Mather told you that? Impossible!”
“Do you mean to say that you don’t believe me?”
Hammersley managed a smile.
“It would hardly be good ethics for me to say that. I simply repeat that it is impossible.”
“Why?” Von Stromberg sneered.
“Because it is morally impossible for her to tell an untruth.”
“Ach, so. But it is physically impossible for her to keep from not doing so.” He leaned forward, grinning craftily. “In the small games of life, in the things which amount to nothing, women lie with a careless skill that is amazing, but in a game of life and death, their little tricks are negligible. Pouf! Herr Hammersley, did you expect to match mere falsehood and such a tissue of flimsy evidence against a man of my experience? It was a desperate game from the beginning—one which could have had only one end. You have been clever—very, very clever. In time, perhaps, under proper guidance and with the necessary political opinions, you could have succeeded in becoming a very useful helper of the Universe, through the medium of the Secret Service Department of the German Empire. But such cleverness is superficial and quickly burns out in the hotter fire of genius. I would like you to know—”
“One moment, Excellenz,” put in Hammersley coolly. “Am I to understand from your attitude that you believe I am false to the Vaterland?”
Von Stromberg laughed.
222
