The doctor having gone Gregory insisted that Erika should get some sleep and Freddie said that Gregory ought to do so too, volunteering to look after the other two while they slept; but they did not get very long, as at half past ten Fredeline von Kobenthal was shown in, having obtained permission to see her husband.
When she had fussed over Oscar and assured herself that they were being well looked after she told them that in spite of the fact that the Finns still remained outwardly calm the underlying feeling that in a few hours the crisis would reach a head was stronger than ever. From an early hour that Wednesday morning long before the late winter dawn-everybody in Helsinki had been out and about making feverish preparations against the Russian onslaught, as rumour now had it that the Finnish Government had definitely determined to resist; which looked as though Goering's report was having due effect.
Fredeline was allowed to stay for an hour and, being satisfied that her husband was not dangerously wounded and that they would all be released quite shortly, she amused them with her chatter. Soon after she had gone a midday meal was served, but no official came up to see them so they remained in ignorance as to how their case was being regarded, until Wuolijoki was shown in at half past four. He looked extremely worried and when they questioned him he said at once:
"After seeing the report Marshal Mannerheim determined to make the strongest possible stand and early this morning he submitted his views, together with the report, to the Cabinet, who are still considering their decision. But I did not come about that." He turned his glance on Gregory. "I wish to know who you are?"
Gregory stimulated blank surprise. "But I told you yesterday, I am Colonel-Baron von Lutz."
"I'm not quite satisfied about that."
"Really " Gregory shrugged. "My credentials are all in order. You saw both my passport and the letter from Field Marshal Goering, so what possible reason can you have for suddenly questioning my identity?"
"But you had two passports," Wuolijoki persisted; "the German one which you showed me, and a British passport-in the name of Mr. Gregory Sallust-which you presented on your arrival at the air-port here. Then, last night in front of me you claimed that you were acting on behalf of the British Government."
"True. But I couldn't possibly admit, in front of members of the Gestapo, that I was acting on behalf of Field-Marshal Goering. I had to lay some claim to the papers-and that seemed to me as good as any."
"It is curious, to say the least of it, that you should have, arrived here piloted by a British Air Force officer."
"Flight- Lieutenant Charlton agreed to fly me to Helsinki as the price of his liberty. I told you that yesterday."
"Perhaps. But having carried out his part of the bargain why should he involve himself further in your affairs? He is an Englishman; while you say that you are a German. England and Germany are at war. It is not natural that two enemies should agree to risk their lives together in the way that you two did last night."
"It was my idea entirely," Freddie volunteered. "I simply couldn't resist the chance of having a cut at some of those swine in the Gestapo."
"Well- we shall see," Wuolijoki said non-committally; and Gregory did not like his tone at all.
Although he did not show it he had an unpleasant premonition that he might soon find himself in very serious trouble. This impostor business was a great game so long as nobody could check up on one, but in order to keep Goering out of it he had had to play a dual role in Finland-landing there as an Englishman so that the Gestapo should not suspect that he had come from Germany, then posing as a German so that Wuolijoki should readily accept him as Goering's envoy. He remembered Goering's telling him that Wuolijoki was half German, through his mother, which accounted for the fact that the diplomat was distinctly anti-British in his outlook. He had
accepted Freddie without open hostility the night before, evidently considering him as no more than a pawn in the game, but if he once secured definite proof that Gregory was also an Englishman the fat would be in the fire. He would regard himself as having been tricked, start looking for hidden motives which did not exist and probably withdraw any protection he was at present prepared to give them, and on which their fate now hung, on account of his inbred enmity for the British.
"I take it we can rely on you to get us out of this?" Gregory said with an assurance he no longer felt; and he waited with acute anxiety for the Finnish diplomat's answer.
Chapter XVII
The Trials of An Impostor
VUOLIJOKI regarded Gregory with a distrustful stare as he replied: "The present situation is none of my seeking. The last thing I wished was that a shooting affray should result from your suggestion of burgling the Gestapo Headquarters. Now, unfortunately, the matter has become a diplomatic incident. The German Minister here made the strongest possible protest to my Government this morning about the arrest of the Gestapo men, and since it cannot be concealed that your party were the aggressors we have been compelled to release them; whereas you people must remain under arrest."
"D'you mean that the Finnish police are going to charges against us?" Erika asked indignantly.
Wuolijoki looked uncomfortable."Frau Gräfin, it is true hat I sponsored this venture unofficially and even assisted it by supplying bombs and the best arms to utilize in a hold-up; but I did warn all concerned that in the event of any shooting ,our friends would be held responsible by the Finnish law. In the fight last night four Gestapo men were wounded-one of them very seriously. God knows, I did not wish to bring the police into this affair but after the shooting had been going on for a few minutes I realized that the only way to get your friends out of the place alive was to have them arrested; so I went off in my' car and collected a squad of police from the nearest station."
"Yes; you certainly saved our lives," Gregory agreed. "But what is to happen now? You know as well as I do the reason why we raided the place. Through the raid you were enabled to secure those documents which are so vital to Finland and which will be of inestimable value to her if she decides to defend herself. Surely you don't propose to abandon us after we have -rendered your country such a signal service?"
"First I must know if you are, in fact, Colonel-Baron von
Lutz or Mr. Gregory Sallust, and an inquiry is in process which I trust will reveal your true identity. When I have that information I shall know how to act."
`Here are these damnably awkward suspicions cropping up again,' thought Gregory uneasily. `Perhaps if I test out the fellow's reactions to the possibility that I might be one of the British he appears to hate so much, we'll learn a little more where we stand,' So he shrugged and said: "Just supposing that on some trumped-up evidence you did decide that I was an Englishman, what difference would that make? It was I who got Marshal Goering's report to Finland for you, and that's the only thing that really matters."
"Not at all 1 " Wuolijoki gestured violently "Whether you're a German or an Englishman makes a great deal of difference. If you are a German you have acted with me in good faith and there can be no reason to doubt that those documents are genuine. In that case I shall feel a definite obligation to get you out of this trouble. I cannot alter the Finnish law but I could arrange for the Finnish police to connive at your escape."
"Thank you; that is no less than what I expected," Gregory said quietly, but the half-German Finn ignored his interruption and hurried on