“Heil Hitler, Excellency! Good morning.”
“It was such a pleasant day, I decided to walk,” Schulker said, raising his arm to return the salute.
He stepped inside the house, and Forster closed the door.
“You have a message,” Schulker said. “Fräulein Lerner just brought it to the residence.”
He handed it to him, showing absolutely no interest in it.
He knew Forster well enough by now to know this was the best way to learn its contents. It was elementary psychology. Forster believed he was an important man. Indeed, he had almost certainly been told this by his Gestapo superiors.
But if you are an insecure little man—which was how Schulker thought of Forster…which did not challenge his belief that Forster was also a very dangerous man; the two characteristics were not mutually exclusive—who continually needs the approval of peers and superiors. As Forster works alone and secretly in his Gestapo role, he has neither.
The only person he can talk to about his important duties is me, and so long as I show no interest in his affairs, the only thing Forster can do to earn my admiration is to tell me more than he should.
“It may be important,” Forster said self-importantly. “May I ask you to wait, Herr Ambassador?”
“Of course, if you think it is important.”
“I’ll have the girl bring you a coffee,” Forster said, leading Schulker into the sitting room.
“Thank you.”
Twenty minutes later, having decrypted the message, Forster was back, even fuller of self-importance.
“There has been a development, Excellency, vis-à-vis the incident in Argentina,” he announced.
Schulker looked at him without expression.
“You will have certain responsibilities in this regard,” Forster went on. “But for the moment, all I can tell you is that Sturmbannführer von Tresmarck will shortly be ordered to Berlin.”
Schulker nodded.
“Your instructions in this regard will come via Buenos Aires,” Forster said.
Schulker nodded again.
“In the meantime, in other words, until you receive this information through your own channels, nothing must be said to the Sturmbannführer.”
“I understand.”
“At this moment, I can tell you only that these actions are being ordered at the highest level.”
“I understand your position, Forster.”
“I will be providing further details as it becomes necessary for you to learn of them.”
“I’m at your disposal, Forster, if I have to say that.”
“The Gestapo appreciates your cooperation as always, Excellency,” Forster said.
“We are both serving the Reich and the Führer,” Schulker said. “And now I must get back. We’re having the Paraguayans for lunch.”
“Let me know if you hear anything interesting,” Forster said.
“Of course,” Schulker said, and, raising his arm at the elbow, added, “Heil Hitler!”
[TWO]