Chapter 11

           FortheReichsConsulinSanFrancisco,FreiherrHugoReiss,thefirstbusinessofthisparticulardaywasunexpectedanddistressing.Whenhearrivedathisofficehefoundavisitorwaitingalready,alarge,heavy-jawed,middle-agedmanwithpockedskinanddisapprovingscowlthatdrewhisblack,tangledeyebrowstogether.ThemanroseandmadeaParteisalute,atthesametimemurmuring,"Heil."

           Reisssaid,"Heil."Hegroanedinwardly,butmaintainedabusinesslikeformalsmile."HerrKreuzvomMeere.Iamsurprised.Won’tyoucomein?"Heunlockedhisinneroffice,wonderingwherehisvice-consulwas,andwhohadlettheSDchiefin.Anyhow,herethemanwas.Therewasnothingtobedone.

           Followingalongafterhim,hishandsinthepocketsofhisdarkwoolovercoat,KreuzvomMeeresaid,"Listen,Freiherr.WelocatedthisAbwehrfellow.ThisRudolfWegener.HeshowedupatanoldAbwehrdropwehaveundersurveillance."KreuzvomMeerechuckled,showingenormousgoldteeth."Andwetrailedhimbacktohishotel."

           "Fine,"Reisssaid,noticingthathismailwasonhisdesk.SoPferdehufwasaroundsomewhere.NodoubthehadlefttheofficelockedtokeeptheSDchieffromalittleinformalsnooping.

           "Thisisimportant,"KruezvomMeeresaid."InotifiedKaltenbrunneraboutit.Toppriority.You’llprobablybegettingwordfromBerlinanytimenow.UnlessthoseUnratfressersbackhomegetitallmixedup."