What really worried Robbie was the possibility of some Wall Street outfit "barging in." Budd’s had been forced to borrow from one of the big insurance companies; it was either that or the Reconstruction Finance Corporation, which meant putting yourself at the mercy of the politicians. Robbie was in a dither over what the new administration was doing; Roosevelt had had three months in which to show his hand, and apparently the only thing he knew was to borrow money and scatter it like a drunken sailor. Of course that was just putting off the trouble, throwing the country into debt which the future would have to pay; incidentally it meant teaching everybody to come to Washington—"like hogs to the trough," said the munitions salesman, who chose the most undignified metaphors whenever he referred to his country’s governmental affairs. Everything which gave power to the politicians meant debts, taxes, and troubles.
But Robbie didn’t go into that subject now; he had his own immediate problems. "If only I could raise the cash to buy some Budd stock that I know of, I could settle the matter of control. Tell our friend that I want to hear from him the moment he has time to spare. I can make him a proposition which he will find advantageous." This had been written before the receipt of an unsigned note in which Lanny conveyed the news that "our friend" was being separated from every dollar he owned in the world. Poor Johannes—and poor Robbie!
The ever-discreet father didn’t need any warning to be careful what he wrote about matters in Germany. His letter was a model of vagueness. He said: "There is a great deal of new business being done in Europe this year, and I ought to be there getting contracts. Once our problems at home are settled, I’ll get busy." Lanny knew what this meant—the rearmament of Germany was beginning, and what the Nazis couldn’t yet manufacture for themselves they would buy through intermediaries in Holland, Switzerland, Sweden. The factory chimneys of Newcastle would begin to smoke again—and it wouldn’t mean a thing to Robbie Budd that he was putting power into the hands of Hitler, Göring, and Goebbels. It was the salesman’s first axiom that all European nations were equally bad, and that whether the jaguar, the leopard, or the tiger came out on top was of no concern to anybody outside the jungle.
Lanny read this letter to his wife, who said: "Don’t you think it might be a good idea for me to help your father?"
"You know, dear," he answered, "I have never been willing to exploit my marriage."
"Yes, but be sensible. I own a lot of stocks and bonds, and why shouldn’t I exchange some of them for Budd’s?"
"Your father chose those investments very shrewdly, Irma. Some of them are still paying large dividends, and Budd’s isn’t paying any."
"Yes, but the prices seem to find their level, according to the earnings." Irma had been putting her mind on her financial affairs ever since she had got that terrific jolt in the panic. "If we could get Budd stock at its present price, wouldn’t it be safe to hold?"
"It wouldn’t worry you to be financing munitions?"
"Why should it? Somebody’s going to do it."
So there it was: everybody was "sensible" but Lanny. If the Nazis wanted automatics and machine guns, there were many makes on the market, and why shouldn’t Budd’s get the business as well as Vickers or Bofors or Skoda or Schneider-Creusot? Irma settled the matter. "When we get this business out of the way, we’ll run over to New York and get Robbie and Uncle Joseph together and see what can be worked out."
Lanny said: "It’s very kind of you." He knew it would have been unkind of him to say anything else.
II
A letter from Kurt, begging them to drive to Stubendorf in this very lovely season of the year. Kurt had no car, and couldn’t afford the luxury of hopping about; but Seine Hochgeboren had told him that any time Irma and Lanny would come, the Schloss was at their disposal. Lanny hadn’t told Kurt about Freddi. Now he was discussing whether to do it, and what to say, when the telephone rang, and he heard the voice of Oberleutnant Furtwaengler: "Herr Budd, I am happy to inform you that the government is prepared to release Johannes Robin."
Lanny’s heart gave a thump. "That is certainly good news to me, Herr Oberleutnant."
"It is still your plan to drive him and his family to Belgium?"
"Whenever I am free to do so."
"You have the other members of the family with you?"
"I know where they are—at least, all but one of them. I am sorry to report that I have not heard from the son, Freddi, for a long time."
"You have no idea where he has gone?"
"Not the slightest."
"Why didn’t you let me know this?"
"I have been thinking that I would surely hear from him, and I didn’t want to bother you or the Minister-Präsident. I was sure that if he was a prisoner of the government, he would be released along with his father."
"I cannot say anything about it, because I do not know the circumstances. An investigation will have to be made. What do you wish to do about the others in the meantime?"
"I wish to take them out as soon as I am permitted to do so. I can come back for Freddi if you find him."
"There would be no need for you to come unless you wished. We will surely send him out if we find him."
"Very well. Shall I call at the Polizeiprasidium for Johannes?"
"That will be satisfactory."
"You understand that we wish very much to avoid newspaper reporters, especially the foreign correspondents. For that reason it would be wise to leave as quickly as possible."
"We shall be pleased to co-operate with you to that end. We have the passports and exit permits ready."
"Does that include the visas for Belgium?"
"Everything has been foreseen. We do things that way in Germany."
"I know," said Lanny. "It is one of your great virtues."
"I bid you farewell, Herr Budd, and hope to have the pleasure of seeing you when you again visit Berlin."
"The same to you, Herr Oberleutnant. I am grateful for your many courtesies through this somewhat trying affair."
"Not at all, Herr Budd. Allow me to say that your handling of the matter has been most exemplary, and Seine Exzellenz wishes me to assure you of his sincere appreciation."
So they buttered each other, and clicked heels and bowed and scraped over the telephone; when Lanny hung up, he turned to his wife and said: "Chuck your things into the bags and we’ll get going!"
He hastened to call the home of Rahel’s parents, and she herself answered. "Good news," he said. "Papa is to be released at once and I am going to get him at the prison. Is Mama far from you?"
"A ten-minute drive."
"Call a taxi, take the baby and your bags, pick up Mama, and come to the Hotel Adlon as quickly as you can. Irma will be waiting for you. We are leaving at once. Is that all clear?"
"Yes; but what—" He hung up quickly, for he knew she was going to ask about Freddi, and he didn’t care to impart this news. Let Mama have the painful duty!
III
Lanny drove to the great red brick building on the Alexanderplatz. Many who entered there had not come out as quickly as they had hoped; but he with his magical American passport would take a chance. He discovered that the well-known German Ordnung was in operation; the officer at the desk had received full instructions. "Einen Moment, Herr Budd," he said, politely. "Bitte, setzen Sie sich."