The mantle fits you pretty well, anyway."
I reddened.
"You don't need to blush.
You're quite right.
I wish I could."
I was silent awhile.
"How's that, Gottfried?" said I at last.
He looked at me.
"Because anything else is dirt, Bob.
Because nothing pays these days.
Remember what Ferdinand told you yesterday.
He's not far wrong, the old corpse painter. . . .
Well, anyway, sit up to the old tin can there and play us a few of the old army songs."
I played the
"Three Lilies" and the
"Argonnermald!"
They sounded ghostly in the empty room, when one remembered where we used to sing them.
Chapter VII
Two days later Koster came swiftly out of the office.
"Bob, your Blumenthal has just rung up.
You're to go with the Cadillac at eleven.
He wants to make a trial run."
I flung down the screwdriver and spanner.
"Otto, if only we could do it!" "What did I tell you," came up from Lenz in the pit under the Ford. "I told you he'd come back.
Always listen to Gottfried."
"You hold your tongue, this situation is serious," I shouted down to him. "Otto, what's the outside I can drop the price?"
"Two thousand at the outside.
At the absolute outside two thousand, two hundred.
Then, if there's nothing for it, two five.
If you see you're dealing with a complete maniac, two six.
But tell him in that case we will curse him to all eternity."
"Good."
We polished the car till it shone.
I got in.
Koster laid a hand on my shoulder.
"Bob, remember your duty as a soldier.
Defend the honour of the workshop with your blood if need be.
Die standing, your hand on Blumenthal's wallet."
"Right," I grinned.
Lenz hauled a medallion from his pocket and held it before my face.
"Hold the amulet, Bob!"
"All right."
I took it.
"Abracadabra, great Siva," prayed Gottfried, "endue this poor mutt with strength and courage!
Wait—here, better still, take it with you.
There, now spit three times."
"Done," said I; spat at his feet and drove off, past Jupp who saluted excitedly with the petrol pipe.
En route I bought some pinks arranged them artistically in the cut-glass vases of the car—a speculation on Frau Blumenthal.
Unfortunately Blumenthal received me in his office, not at his house.
I had to wait a quarter of an hour.