Hans von Goltz had been shaven by his valet, and was now putting on a leather hunting jacket as he paced the vast floor of his bedroom. The shutters had been thrown open. The May air was sharp but pleasant. The first rays of the sun came into the room, lighting the tapestries on the walls and the splendid Persian carpet on the floor.
His breakfast, on a wheel trolley, stood in a ribbon of sun. Silver covers kept the two dishes warm. Von Goltz considered breakfast the most important meal of the day. As soon as he had shrugged himself into his coat, he went to the trolley and lifted first one and then the other silver cover: scrambled eggs, done lightly with plenty of butter, surrounded a fillet of smoked haddock. Lambs' kidneys with creamed potatoes in the second dish also pleased his eyes.
He helped himself liberally and began his breakfast. While he was enjoying his kidneys,the fish demolished - there came a tap on the door. Frowning, he called to come in.
Sandeuer bowed his way through the doorway.
'Your Excellency... excuse me, please, but you should know there is a rope hanging from the fifth floor balcony.'
Von Goltz shovelled another kidney, covered with potato into his mouth as he glared at Sandeuer. When he could finally speak, he said, 'A rope? What do you mean?'
'A curtain rope... if your Excellency would look... you will see for yourself Von Goltz got to his feet, snatching up a square of buttered toast and moved on to the balcony. He bit into the toast as he regarded the knotted curtain cord. Then he returned to the room.
'Have you told Mr Silk?'
'No, your Excellency.'
'Then tell him. Ask him to come here immediately.'
Sandeuer bowed and withdrew.
Realising his breakfast was about to be interrupted, von Goltz proceeded to bolt down the remaining kidneys. Then buttering more toast, he spread the toast heavily with cherry jam and began to eat so rapidly he nearly choked himself.
He was still munching when his door swung open and Lu Silk came in.
Silk was wearing a black shirt, black cotton trousers and black shoes. Von Goltz thought he looked like the impersonation of death. Silk paused in the doorway and stared at von Goltz with his cold, single eye.
'You have seen the rope?' von Goltz asked, gulping down the last of his toast.
'Oh, sure.' Silk moved into the room. 'I saw it half an hour ago.'
'So you were right! They were here last night, and now they have escaped into the forest.'
'Could be.' Silk sat down and lit a cigarette. 'It's light enough now. You had better get the search organised.'
Von Goltz moved around the room. His hurried breakfast had given him indigestion. He wished he hadn't eaten so quickly.
'As they are in the forest, there is no point wasting time searching here.'
'Go ahead,' Silk said, letting smoke drift down his nostrils.
Von Goltz stalked to the door, opened it and found Sandeuer waiting in the corridor.
'Begin the search,' he snapped. 'They are somewhere in the forest. Bring them back here. I don't have to tell you what to do. Find them!'
'Yes, Excellency,' Sandeuer said, but as he was about to leave Silk appeared behind von Goltz.
'Wait.' Silk put his hand on von Goltz's arm and drew him back into the room. He shut the door. 'I have an idea. I want you to go with your men. I want everyone out of here and into the forest.'
Von Goltz stared at him.
'What do you mean?'
Silk stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray on the breakfast trolley.
'I think they are still here,' he said. 'The quickest way to find them is for them to think everyone here is searching the forest.'
'Still here?'
'Why not?' There was an impatient note in Silk's voice. 'Have you looked at the rope? A man could get down it, but no woman could. As we have already sealed off each landing, they will be up on the fifth floor. I take it there is no other way down from the fifth floor except by the main staircase.' 'That's right.' 'So they are still up there.'
Von Goltz rubbed the back of his neck while he thought. 'Then I will send my men to the fifth floor and we will get them,' he said finally. 'Why waste time searching the forest?' Silk smiled: it was an evil smile that made von Goltz flinch. 'We won't be wasting time... we will be taking precautions.' Tin afraid I don't understand. If you are so sure they are on the fifth floor, then with enough men, we will have them.' 'And then what?'
The two men looked at each other.
'I still don't understand,' von Goltz said after a long pause. 'You have a staff of forty men.., perhaps more?' 'The staff is thirty-eight men and five women. What does that have to do with it?'
T want all your men out in the forest,' Silk said, lighting another cigarette. 'The women must also leave. I want this place completely evacuated.' His thin, cruel face was expressionless. 'What the eye doesn't see, a Judge doesn't know about.' 'What do you intend to do?'
'Get rid of Girland. We will keep the girl until the films arrive. It is possible Rosnold was lying. When we have the films, then I will get rid of her.'
'You mean you intend to stay here completely on your own?' von Goltz asked uneasily. 'Is that wise? We have been warned about Girland.'
Silk sneered.
'He is unarmed, I can handle him. All I have to do, once the place is evacuated, is to wait, out of sight. He needs two things: food and the possible use of a telephone. For both these, he has to come down the stairs. I'll be waiting for him.'
'Are you sure you shouldn't have two or three of my men with you?'
Silk studied von Goltz.
'Can you guarantee none of them would talk later?'
Von Goltz saw the point.
'I see . . . there is always that risk. When you have got rid of Girland... what do you do with him?'
'With the body?' Silk smiled. 'I have been studying the interesting plan of the Schloss you lent me. Is there water in the well in the rear courtyard?'
'Yes .. .it is never used, but there is quite a lot of water.'
'Well then, what better place? The girl, once we have the films, can go the same way.'
Von Goltz felt a little sick. He wiped his sweating hands on his handkerchief. The casual, cold-blooded way this man talked shocked him.
'Well... I -1 will leave it to you.'
'How will you get rid of your women staff?'
Von Goltz hesitated while he thought.
'There is a fair on at Garmisch. I'll send them there.'
Silk nodded.
'Then let's get started. First, get rid of the women.' Von Goltz looked at his watch.
'It's not eight-thirty yet. This will take time. You know what women are.'
'Then get your men into the forest. Let's start something!' Silk said impatiently.
Von Goltz went into the corridor to give his orders to Sandeuer.
When Sandeuer heard that the women staff were to be taken to the fair at Garmisch, he gaped at von Goltz. 'But your lunch, Excellency ... the rooms are yet to be done.'
Von Goltz waved him away.
'Never mind! I want everyone out of here. Arrange it and arrange it quickly!'
Because he knew better than to argue with his master, Sandeuer hurried away to obey his orders.
