"Call her room and ask her if she will come down, please," said the Captain, feeling uneasy. "Tell her it's Kapitan von Mueller, of the Emden."
"Yes, Captain," the young man answered. But it was clear that he was suspicious.
When Caroline Grey came down, looking quite summery and unperturbed, von Mueller could not help admiring her himself. But he insisted on standing by the desk while he talked to her, and signaled the young clerk to stand near.
It was not that he mistrusted her, but he was duty-bound to make sure that his own position was not misinterpreted.
"Captain von Mueller!" she exclaimed as she came up. "When did you get in?"
"I'm afraid that's a secret, Miss Grey," he replied.
"Will you be here long?" she demanded.
"That's a secret, too."
"Everything's a secret!"
"Just about," he assured her, "especially since you are— well, officially—an enemy. One thing I can tell you, though."
"What is that?" she asked.
"All of your friends are well," he replied. "Now you tell me something. What arrangements have you made to leave Tsingtao?"
The clerk gaped.
"Why—none," she replied.
"None? My dear girl! Don't you read the news?"
"But—"
"But of course we don't make war on women, Miss Grey," said von Mueller. "At the same time, we cannot allow alien women, especially enemy alien women, to remain indefinitely among us. Now, something must be done. Suppose I send word of your plight to the Governor—through this gentleman here? I'm sure he will arrange to put you on a train for Shanghai or Peking and give you a pass through the lines. No doubt when this is over—if we're all still alive—we'll get together again."
"Thank you, Captain," she said. "I'll go to see the Governor this afternoon."
"I think you should," he replied. "Good day, Fraulein."
When she was gone, he turned and scribbled a quick note on the hotel stationery the clerk provided:
This will present Miss Caroline Grey. She has been stranded here as a tourist, and I am convinced has no espionage functions. If her rail passage to Shanghai or Peking can be facilitated, any such risk will be obviated. The sights she has seen are only such as have been available to any tourist. Future risk will be eliminated if she is permitted to pass on to neutral territory. Any courtesy shown to her will be a courtesy to me.
Karl von Mueller, Kapitan, HIMS Emden
He showed the message to the clerk, then sealed it and addressed it to the Governor.
He went back to the dockyard, to find the place a sort of ant-infested hive of dog-trotting coolies; a shambles of swiftly diminishing heaps of ship's gear, coal, food, drink, even bundles of signal flags, and a dozen books of signal codes for all nations, each one, of course, including the International Code.
"All's well, and the work is going quickly," the O.D. reported.
"Thank you, von Levetzow," said von Mueller automatically, returning the young man's salute. "I will be in my cabin. Please report to me any irregularities in the routine. And, Hans," he added, "I have a feeling that Herman Schultz will be coming aboard soon. When he docs, I wish to be notified. But don't say anything to anyone until—and unless —he does turn up."
"You think he might not, Herr Kapitan?" Von Levetzow's face fell.
"I think he will," von Mueller replied, "but I could be wrong."
In his cabin von Mueller punched his bell viciously, and when Vogel appeared said, "Fetch me a double brandy, with ice and soda."
At the steward's startled expression he tapped his desk sharply. "You heard me, Vogel! After such a morning as this has been, even a bachelor needs something!"
The rest of the day seemed full of rumbling winches and pattering coolies' feet; the rhythmic rattle of coal baskets emptied into the hold; the chatter of the ammunition hoists taking down shells and bagged powder to the magazines. As he listened he wondered if all this was really happening to him—to them—to his ship, in this modern day and age, midsummer 1914!
He wondered, too, if his impromptu swing around town had had any effect. The answer came at visiting time, when the first to appear, astoundingly, was Frau Voss with a brace of handsome Austrians on each arm. There was no question that they were dashing, and there was no question of their intent. Von Mueller was surprised by their taste, and made no secret of it. Curiously enough, it was Rudi Voss himself who presented them, as much as to say, "See how popular my Trudi is everywhere? Yet she is mine!"
Yours! von Mueller could not help thinking as beaming Rudi presented them. Ah, Rudi, perhaps this damned war will be a good thing for you, at least. It may let you prove your manhood!
"Leutnant Doppler, of the Kaiserin, Herr Kapitan," Voss said, beaming.
Karl von Mueller recognized the insolent young man he had encountered in the Voss apartment ashore. "I have met Leutnant Doppler," he said without offering his hand.
"Oh—oh, yes, Herr Kapitan," Rudi stumbled. "And here is Leutnant Rennet, and Subleutnant Kraus, of the same ship."
All three had been at the Voss apartment, and all three looked more than a little guilty. It was clear to von Mueller that Rudi knew nothing of this. The Captain clasped his hands behind him. "I believe we have met," he said coldly.
Rudi Voss looked a little crestfallen. "But—but, sir," he protested, "my wife brought them on board!"
Von Mueller nodded to his lieutenant, burning to tell him what was happening, yet knowing what was coming and unable to take sides in a purely personal matter. Perhaps it would be better for Rudi to be away at sea and be unaware of what might be happening ashore.
"I'm sure she did, Voss," he said, since he must say something. And to the Austrians: "Gentlemen! We are allies. I hope you can fight as well as you can—well! Your courage will be needed."
The Austrians looked startled, and Karl von Mueller had at least a small feeling of satisfaction. "Now if you will excuse me, gentlemen," he said, "there's a good deal of ship's business to attend."
He started to turn away, but at that moment Alexandra von Braun came up the gangway. He saw her with a sinking heart and wished that he could avoid her. But he had to greet her.
"Oh, Karl!" she whimpered. "I must see Ludwig! He can't just leave me here all alone, in my condition. I—I—"
Von Mueller patted her hand with grim patience. "Now, now, Alex!" he tried to say soothingly. "Everything is going to be all right. Ludwig will arrange everything. Just be sure to take his advice. Wait, now. I'll send for him."
He turned toward the officer of the deck. "I know I assigned him to something," he half whispered to himself, "but I can't keep it all in my head. Where the devil is he?"
Von Levetzow had difficulty keeping a straight face. "Forrard, I think, Kapitan!"
"Well, for God's sake call him back and let someone else take his post till he solves this problem! Be sure and let him know that I will give him half an hour to take care of it. After that I'll put a bosun's mate on for him, and he will do the duty of his replacement! The same holds true for anyone else who delays the sailing today. Is that clear, von Levetzow?"
"Zum Befehl, Herr Kapitan!" replied von Levetzow, startled.
"And ask Kapitanleutnant von Muecke and Leutnant Lange to come to my quarters at once." Von Mueller left the deck.
When they came into his office quarters, Karl von Mueller was a little embarrassed.
"Sit down, please, gentlemen," he said. "We have little time."
They sat, not exactly sure what was coming.
For a moment the Captain looked grim. Then he glanced at Bunte with a hint of a smile.
"Leutnant Lange," he said, "I gave you some pretty hard news before I went ashore. I'm afraid I have returned with little better, though it may be some comfort to you to know that the young lady left as unwillingly as you could wish."