The Double Traitor | Page 9

declared, "all is not well with you that
you turn away from good food. Come. Afterwards, over a cigar, you
shall tell me what troubles you have, and I will give you sound advice.
I have a very wide knowledge of life. I have a way of seeing the truth,
and I like to help people."
Norgate shook his head. "I am afraid," he said, "that my case is
hopeless."
"Presently we will see," Herr Selingman continued, rubbing the
window with his cuff. "We are arrived, I think, at Lesel. Here will
board the train one of my agents. He will travel with us to the next
station. It is my way of doing business, this. It is better than alighting
and wasting a day in a small town. You will not mind, perhaps," he
added, "if I bring him into the carriage and talk? You do not understand
German, so it will not weary you."
"Certainly not," Norgate replied. "I shall probably drop off to sleep."
"He will be in the train for less than an hour," Herr Selingman
explained, "but I have many competitors, and I like to talk in private. In
here some one might overhear."
"How do you know that I am not an English crockery manufacturer?"
Norgate remarked.
Herr Selingman laughed heartily. His stomach shook, and tears rolled
down his eyes.

"That is good!" he exclaimed. "An English crockery manufacturer! No,
I do not think so! I cannot see you with your sleeves turned up, walking
amongst the kilns. I cannot see you, even, studying the designs for pots
and basins."
"Well, bring your man in whenever you want to," Norgate invited, as
he turned away. "I can promise, at least, that I shall not understand
what you are saying, and that I won't sneak your designs."
There was a queer little smile on Herr Selingman's broad face. It almost
seemed as though he had discovered some hidden though unsuspected
meaning in the other's words.
CHAPTER IV
Norgate dozed fitfully as the train sped on through the darkness. He
woke once to find Herr Selingman in close confabulation with his agent
on the opposite side of the compartment. They had a notebook before
them and several papers spread out upon the seat. Norgate, who was
really weary, closed his eyes again, and it seemed to him that he
dreamed for a few moments. Then suddenly he found himself
wide-awake. Although he remained motionless, the words which
Selingman had spoken to his companion were throbbing in his ears.
"I do not doubt your industry, Meyer, but it is your discretion which is
sometimes at fault. These plans of the forts of Liège--they might as
well be published in a magazine. We had them when they were made.
We have received copies of every alteration. We know to a metre how
far the guns will carry, how many men are required to man them, what
stocks of ammunition are close at hand. Understand, therefore, my
friend, that the sight of these carefully traced plans, which you hint to
have obtained at the risk of your life, excites me not at all."
The other man's reply was inaudible. In a moment or two Selingman
spoke again.
"The information which I am lacking just at present in your sphere of
operations, is civilian in character. Take Ghent, for instance. What I

should like here, what our records need at present, is a list of the
principal inhabitants with their approximate income, and, summarising
it all, the rateable value of the city. With these bases it would be easy to
fix a reasonable indemnity."
Norgate was wide-awake now. He was curled up on his seat,
underneath his rug, and though his eyelids had quivered with a
momentary excitement, he was careful to remain as near as possible
motionless. Again Selingman's agent spoke, this time more distinctly.
"The young man opposite," he whispered. "He is English, surely?"
"He is English indeed," Selingman admitted, "but he speaks no German.
That I have ascertained. Give me your best attention, Meyer. Here is
again an important commission for you. Within the next few days, hire
an automobile and visit the rising country eastwards from Antwerp. At
some spot between six and eight miles from the city, on a slight incline
and commanding the River Scheldt, we desire to purchase an acre of
land for the erection of a factory. You can say that we have purchased
the concession for making an American safety razor. The land is
wanted, and urgently. See to this yourself and send plans and price to
me in London. On my return I shall call and inspect the sites and close
the bargain."
"And the Antwerp forts?"
The other pursed his lips.
"Pooh! Was it not the glorious firm of Krupp who