One of the uniformed clerks behind the long 'Inquiry' counter in the big hall informed them that the Field Marshal had not yet appeared so the Major promptly asked at what time he was expected. An inquiry was put through to one of Goering's secretaries and ten minutes later an answer came down that he would not be at the Ministry at all that day as he was staying at Karinhall. his house outside Berlin, but that anyone who had special business could go there and apply for an interview.
To Gregory's fury Putzleiger immediately said: "Come along, then, I will drive you out to Karinhall; it is no great distance."
"But really, Herr Major," Gregory protested, "I don't feel that we can trespass on your time like this."
"Not a bit of it, my dear fellow," came the prompt answer. "Now I'm in Berlin I shall spend the whole day here, but I have nothing at all to do this morning. In being of assistance to you I am serving our great Air Chief, and when you see him you might perhaps er casually mention my name in that connection. In any case it would be a pleasure to' see on safely to your destination."
In vain Gregory tried to persuade the Major that he had done more than enough for them butt he declared that he had never seen Goering's famous mansion, Karinhall, and that this was an excellent opportunity for him to do so. Quite clearly he had no intention of being deprived of it or of this chance of getting his name mentioned to Goering as a zealous Nazi, so yet again Gregory had to give in and they set off in the car once more, this time heading for the northern suburbs of the Capital.
Many of the smaller private traders in Berlin had already been forced to close their shops, which made the outer suburbs more than usually dreary and depressing, but they were soon out in the open country and the bright cold air helped to refresh Gregory and Freddie after the exhausting hours of their sleepless night. By half past nine they arrived at the gates of the seat park which surrounded the country residence that Goering had turned into a palace, rivalling those of the old kings of Prussia, by the almost limitless outpouring of some of the millions which were his share of the loot that the Nazis had taken from the German nation.
At the gates they were halted by grey clad members of Goering's special bodyguard and had to undergo a most rigorous questioning, but at last Putzleiger was given a pass for himself, his chauffeur and his car to enter the grounds and Gregory one for Charlton and himself to go up to the house. As an added precaution, apparently to see that none of them left the car while driving through the estate, one of the bodyguard jumped on the running board to accompany them.
They ran up the mile long drive and the bodyguard directed the chauffeur to a big car park at one side of the great mansion. As Putzleiger had not come on business he was told that he would not be allowed inside the house and their escort expressed his intention of accompanying him on a walk round the building; while Gregory and Charlton, having been questioned by yet another official, were directed to cross the great open space in front of the mansion and present their pass to the man on the front door. At last they were able to shake the Major off, and 'having parted from him with many expressions of goodwill they left the car park to walk across the open expanse of gravel.
It was the first time for many hours that Gregory and Freddie rod been alone and that the airman was able to give expression to the worry he was feeling. As Putzleiger had been present when Gregory had been questioned by the guards on the gate he had had to stick to his story that he was bringing a British Air officer prisoner whom the Field Marshal wished to question personally. They could not possibly, therefore, turn round and go out again without entering the building and between the car park and the front door of the mansion there was no place where they could conceal themselves.
A hundred yards away on the steps of the portico a small group of the grey clad guards had already noticed them and were eyeing them casually; and Freddie's first swift glance round the grounds had shown him that other guards were posted here and there in positions where they could keep a look out over the gardens, so it was out of the question to try to run for it; they would be shot before they had covered twenty yards. They could not go back and must go on, but he was grimly anticipating the moment when they got into the house and were questioned by somebody in authority. Gregory's story about Goering's wishing to see his prisoner would soon be found to be quite untrue and wherever he said that he came from a long distance telephone call would be quite sufficient to disclose the fact that he was not whom he said he was at all. The fat would then be in the fire with a vengeance.
He glanced anxiously at Gregory, who had lit a cigarette and was walking forward apparently quite unperturbed.
"Well," he asked in an undertone, "what the hell do we do now.
Gregory suddenly turned and grinned at him. "Why, since the Nazis have already provided us with two breakfasts this morning I think it would be a good day to take lunch off Goering."
"Oh, stop fooling" Freddie muttered angrily. "With all these damned guards about we daren't run for it, and once we're inside this place even your plausible tongue will never get us out."
"It is rather tricky, isn't it," Gregory admitted. "Just the toss of a coin as to whether we come out on our own feet or are carried out feet first. Of course, I could easily have held up old Putzleiger with my gun while you tackled the chauffeur on the way here. On a lonely stretch of road we could have tied them up, rolled them in the ditch and got away with their car."
"Then why in the name of thunder didn't you?"
"Because that wouldn't have enabled me to find out about
Erika or to get out of Germany. We'd only have been on the run again and risking our necks every moment of the day to no particularly good purpose; and it occurred to me that old Putzleiger might be Fate playing into our hands. I think this is he biggest gamble that I've ever taken, but now I'm here, by hook or by crook I mean to see Goering; after that our lives will probably depend upon the quality of the butter that he ate with his breakfast."
Chapter VIII
The Waiting Room of the Borgia
As Gregory and Charlton had been talking they had crossed the open space and were now at the foot of the steps leading up to the great pillared portico. The grey clad guards did not move forward to question them but the nearest gave the two visitors a long, searching look. It was the quiet, intent gaze that Gregory had noticed at times on the faces of good detectives when for the first time they saw a criminal who had just been arrested. He felt quite certain that the man was specially trained in remembering faces and that if he ever happened to run into Freddie or himself again he would know them instantly.
A uniformed porter was standing just inside the door and an officer of the guard was slowly walking up and down the great marble tiled hall. Gregory produced his pass and showed it to the porter. The officer turned in his stride, came over, glanced at it and motioned with his hand to a doorway on the right. They walked through it and entered a small office.
A shaven headed clerk with thick lensed spectacles was seated there behind a desk and taking Gregory's pass he gave him in exchange a yellow form. Gregory glanced down it and read: "Interview desired with… By appointment or not… Name of applicant, rank, etc… Business upon which interview is requested."
He took up a pen from the desk and instead of filling up the form simply wrote across it in German:
"If Your Excellency would examine the inscription on the back of the enclosed you will realize that the sender is in possess ion of information which is of importance to you."
Opening his greatcoat he then unpinned the Iron Cross which General Count von Pleisen had given him and, asking the clerk for an envelope, placed both the decoration and the form inside it. Having sealed the envelope he handed it back and said