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given to Detaze and his work. Everybody desired to make it clear that the great art-loving

public of Berlin was not provincial in its tastes, but open to all the winds that blew across the

world.

Lanny talked about his former stepfather who had had his face burned off in the war and had

done his greatest painting in a white silk mask. His work was in the Luxembourg, in the

National Gallery of London, and the Metropolitan Museum of New York; now Lanny was

contemplating a one-man show in Berlin, and had invited the famous authority Zoltan Kertezsi

to take charge of it. Before giving out photographs or further publicity concerning the matter, he

wished to consult Reichsminister Doktor Joseph Goebbels, and be sure that his plans were

agreeable to the government. That was the proper way to handle matters with a controlled press;

the visitor's tact was appreciated, and the interviews received more space than would have been

given if he had appeared anxious to obtain it.

Lanny had already sent a telegram to Magda Goebbels, and her secretary had telephoned an

appointment for the next day. While Irma stayed in her rooms and practiced her German on

maids and manicurists and hair-dressers, Lanny drove to the apartment in the Reichstagplatz,

and bowed and kissed the hand of the first lady of the Fatherland—such was, presumably, her

position, Hitler being a bachelor and Göring a widower. Lanny had brought along two footmen

from the hotel, bearing paintings, just as had been done in the days of Marie Antoinette, and

those of her mother, the Empress Maria Theresa of Austria. The Sister of Mercy was set up in

a proper light and duly admired; when the Frau Reichsminister asked who it was, Lanny did

not conceal the fact that it was his mother, or that she was well known in Berlin society.

He explained his own position. He had enjoyed the advantage of having these great works

explained to him by his stepfather, and so had been a lover of art since his boyhood. He had

helped to select several great collections in the United States, which would some day become

public property. It was pleasant to earn money, but it was even more so to be able to gratify

one's taste for beautiful things; Lanny was sure the Frau Reichsminister would understand

this, and she said that she did. He added that while a few of the Detazes would be sold, that was

not the purpose of the exhibition, and he would not ask to take money out of the country,

for he had commissions to purchase German art works for Americans, in amounts greatly

exceeding what he was willing to sell. He told how he had just purchased a Hobbema in

Vienna; contrary to his usual custom he named both parties to the transaction, and it was

impressive.

The upshot was that Magda Goebbels declared the proposed show a worthy cultural

enterprise. She said that the Führer had very decided tastes in art, he despised the eccentric

modern stuff which was a symptom of pluto-democratic Jewish decadence. Lanny said he had

understood that this was the case and it was one of his reasons for coming to Berlin. The

work of Detaze was simple, like most great art; it was clean and noble in spirit. He would be

happy to take specimens of it to show to the Führer in advance, and the Frau Reichsminister

said that possibly this might be arranged. He offered to leave the paintings and photographs

for the Herr Reichsminister to inspect, and the offer was accepted. He took his departure feeling

hopeful that Marcel Detaze might become a popular painter among the Germans. He

wondered, had Marcel heard about the Nazis in the spirit land, and what would he make of

them? Lanny would have liked to go at once to consult Madame Diseuse—but who could guess

what his irreverent ex-stepfather might blurt out in the seance room!

XI

Lanny's second duty was to get in touch with Oberleutnant Furtwaengler and invite him and

his wife to dinner. He explained that it was his wish to show the paintings to Seine Exzellenz,

the Herr Minister-Präsident General Göring. Such was now the title— for the newspapers had

just made known that the ReichsPräsident Feldmarschall von Hindenburg had been pleased to

make the Minister-Präsident into a General of the Reichswehr. The Oberleutnant confirmed

the news and showed pride in the vicarious honor; it had been somewhat awkward having his

chief a mere Hauptmann while in command of several generals of the Prussian Polizei.

Lanny said he was sure that Seine Exzellenz must be a lover of art; he assumed that the new

furnishings in the official residence— that great black table and the gold velvet curtains—must

represent Seine Exzellenz's taste. The staff officer admitted that this was so, and promised to

mention Detaze to the great man. Lanny said that during the past three months he had been in

London, Paris, New York, Cannes, and Vienna; the young Nazi, who had never been outside of

Germany, was impressed in spite of himself, and wanted to know what the outside world was

saying about the Führer and his achievements. Lanny said he was afraid they were not getting

a very fair picture; apparently the National Socialist representatives abroad were not serving

their cause too efficiently. He told of things he had heard, from various persons having important

titles and positions; also of efforts he had made to explain and justify— the latter being in

reality things that he had heard Lord Wickthorpe say. Lanny added that he had some

suggestions which he would be glad to make to Seine Exzellenz if this busy man could spare the

time to hear them. The young staff officer replied that he was sure this would be the case.

Not once did Lanny mention the name of Robin. He wanted to see if the Oberleutnant would

bring it up; for that would give him an idea whether Göring had taken the staff officer into his

confidence. Near the end of the evening, while Irma was off practicing her German on the tall

and rather gawky country lady who was the Frau Oberleutnant, the officer said: "By the way,

Herr Budd, did you ever hear any more from your young Jewish friend?"

"Not a word, Herr Oberleutnant."

"That is certainly a strange thing."

"I had been hoping for some results from the inquiries which you were kind enough to say

you would carry on."

"I have done all that I could think of, Herr Budd, but with no results."

"It was my idea that in the confusion of last spring, various groups had been acting more or

less independently, and the records might be imperfect."

"I assure you we don't do things that way in Germany, Herr Budd. In the office of the

Geheime Staats-Polizei is a complete card-file covering every case of any person who is under

arrest for any offense or under any charge of even the remotest political nature. I don't

suppose that your friend could have been arrested, say for drunk driving."

"He does not drink and he does not drive, Herr Oberleutnant. He plays delicately and

graciously upon the clarinet, and is a devoted student of your classics. If you should give him the

beginning of any quotation from Goethe he would complete it and tell you in what work it was

to be found."

"It is really too bad, Herr Budd. If there is anything you can suggest to me"

"It has occurred to me that the young man might be in some place of confinement outside

of Prussia, and so might not appear in your police card-file. Suppose, for example, that he

was in Dachau?"

Lanny was watching his dinner companion closely; but if the officer smelled the rat, he was a