"That I do not believe," said the doctor; "and if Russia refuses the just settlement which President Roosevelt will propose, the Americans will be so indignant that they will make our cause their cause and send us arms and supplies."
"I trust you're right," replied Gregory slowly. He felt that now the United States had made this offer of mediation it indirectly involved them to the extent that the Finns would be even more ready to fight, believing that they had America behind them, should the Russians refuse a settlement of arbitration; and anything which even partially relieved him of the awful responsibility of inducing this little nation to resist its giant neighbour by force of arms came as a great comfort at the moment.
When the doctor had hurried away to assist in the preparations against air-attack which were still going forward, it was decided that in order that all of them could get some sleep that night Erika, Gregory and Freddie should take watches of three hours each, in case their two wounded companions needed any-, thing, while the others slept. Erika took the first watch, from ten o'clock until one, Gregory took the second, from one till four, and Freddie the third, from four till seven.
Soon after seven o'clock the orderlies arrived and escorted the unwounded members of the party, together with Suki on his crutches, to the steam-baths; and on her return Erika set about washing von Kobenthal. Breakfast was brought up for them at eight, and a few moments later, while one' orderly was still setting it out on the table, the other, who had temporarily left the room, suddenly came dashing back into it.
He spoke rapidly to his companion in Finnish, who thereupon turned to the prisoners and said in German: "It has come. We are at war. At eight o'clock the Russians launched a full scale attack on the Mannerheim Line."
"But I thought America was going to mediate," Gregory exclaimed.
The man shook his head. "That was last night. Before our Government even had time to accept the offer the Russians broke off diplomatic relations as a result of the strong Note which we sent earlier in the day." Picking up his tray the man hurried from the room.
"It looks as though Goering's report did the trick after all, then," Freddie remarked cheerfully.
Gregory nodded. "Yes. It must have been that which caused the Finns to send the strong Note that the orderly spoke of. The Government was definitely for giving in after the Russian air-demonstration here on Tuesday. The report must have changed their views and-and been the means of making them dig their toes in."
For once in his life Gregory seemed stupefied and sat gloomily silent, thinking of the weight of woe which he had been responsible for bringing on that small and gallant people; but Erika guessed what was in his thoughts and, taking his hand, said gently:
"Lieebchen, which would you rather do if you were a Finn? Go out and die for what you believe is right-as they are going to do-or, if we had been able to get married, see our property confiscated and us separated, with you working as a slave in the Russian mines of the Urals or the Don Basin, and me being sweated in some factory where in my off-time I was the plaything of the Russian overseers?"
He shrugged. "You needn't ask, darling; you know the answer."
"Well, cheer up, then! However much misery may come to Finland as a result of this war, you have done right; not only just acted in what you considered to be the best interests of your own country but right as a man in giving the Finns the opportunity to do what you would do yourself."
Breakfast was a depressing meal, as although with their knowledge of the contents of Goering's report they had all felt confident the night before that Finland could hold the Mannerheim Line until help reached her, they now began to have uncomfortable doubts about it. Was the Finnish Army really as good-small though it was-as people had been led to believe? And were the Russian masses really so ill-trained and ill equipped apart from their great fleets of unwieldy tanks? Were the forts of the Mannerheim Line really of the strength that had been claimed for them? Or had that just been bluff on the Finns' part and were they in fact, like the Czech "Maginot Line", just concrete emplacements, many of which had no guns in them? What effect would the terrific Russian air-armada have on the campaign? Would it play the same part as the German Air Force had played in Poland-harrying communications, blasting bridges, railways and crossroads-so that the Finnish rear became utterly disorganized and neither supplies nor reserves could be got up? Then, even if the Soviet Army was of poor quality it would come pouring through the Mannerheim Line because the Finns no longer had the ammunition to drive it back?
Suki was the only cheerful member of the party. Although he was an habitual criminal and safe breaker by profession he had never in his life killed a man or harmed a fly; yet he had boasted to his friends that if there were a war he would kill a dozen Russians and he was anxious to get on with the business. He was already hopping round on crutches and his wound was so slight that it would be completely healed in the course of the next few days, but he feared that on account of his participation in the episode with the Gestapo the authorities might detain him instead of letting him rush off at once to join up.
At a few minutes past nine Wuolijoki came in. He seemed in a great hurry and, having bowed coldly to them, said abruptly: "You will have heard that the die is cast. Finland is now at war with Russia. My country needs every able man. Suki, are you willing to serve.
"Why, yes, sir, yes," little Suki exclaimed. "I have promised my wife that I will kill a dozen Russians."
"Very good. You were unarmed the other night so we know that you played no part in the shooting. Under an emergency decree we have power to release all prisoners who are held only on minor charges. You arc free."
Suki began to express his gratitude, but Wuolijoki cut him short and turned to Erika. "There is no proof, Frau Gräfin that you actually participated in Tuesday night's affair. Therefore we do not intend to hold you any longer."
Transferring his glance to yon Kobenthal, he went on "That you were concerned in the shooting I have little doubt but I am convinced that you acted from the highest motives and with an entirely unselfish desire to serve Finland, the country of your adoption. I am having you transferred to a private nursing home. Charges will be officially preferred against you but I shall arrange that when your wounds are healed you will disappear, so that you will never have to answer them."
Von Kobenthal nodded. "That's very kind of you, Wuolijoki. I hope, though, that you'll also exert your influence to assist these other gentlemen. I'd take my oath on it that they acted from the same motive as myself."
Wuolijoki ignored the remark and, opening the door, said Abruptly to Erika: "You are free, Frau Gräfin, you will please to go. '.
She glanced at Gregory and Freddie, and shook her head. `I'm not going until I know what you propose to do with these two friends of mine."
"As you will," he replied stiffly. "In that case all three of you will come downstairs with me."
Giving them only the barest opportunity to say good bye to von Kobenthal and Suki, the diplomat hustled them out into the passage. Two orderlies who were waiting there escorted them down to the ground floor and Wuolijoki led them into a room where the heavily moustached Chief of Police was standing.