“Where have you been?” Hess motioned Scarlett to enter and close the door. The room was small; there was a table with chairs around it, a sideboard, and two floor lamps, which gave the room its light. Another man who had been looking out the window, obviously to identify the one outside, nodded to Scarlett. He was a tiny, ugly man with birdlike features, even to the hawknose. He walked with a limp.
“Joseph?” said Scarlett to him. “I didn’t expect you here.”
Joseph Goebbels looked over at Hess. His knowledge of English was poor. Hess translated Scarlett’s words rapidly and Goebbels shrugged his shoulders.
“I asked you where you have been!”
“I had trouble in Lisieux. I couldn’t get another plane so I had to drive. It’s been a long day so don’t aggravate me, please.”
“Ach! From Lisieux? A long trip. I’ll order you some food, but you’ll have to be quick. Rheinhart’s been waiting since noon.”
Scarlett took off his flying jacket and threw it on the sideboard shelf. “How is he?”
Goebbels understood just enough to interrupt. “Rheinhart?… Im-pa-tient!” He mispronounced the word, and Scarlett grinned. Goebbels thought to himself that this giant was a horrible-looking creature. The opinion was mutual.
“Never mind the food. Rheinhart’s been waiting too long.… Where is he?”
“In his room. Number two, down the corridor. He went for a walk this afternoon but he keeps thinking someone will recognize him so he came back in ten minutes. I think he’s upset.”
“Go get him.… And bring back some whiskey.” He looked at Goebbels wishing that this unattractive little man would leave. It wasn’t good that Goebbels be there while Hess and he talked with the Prussian aristocrat. Goebbels looked like an insignificant Jewish accountant.
But Scarlett knew he could do nothing. Hitler was taken with Goebbels.
Joseph Goebbels seemed to be reading the tall man’s thoughts.
“Ich werde dabei sitzen während Sie sprechen.” He pulled a chair back to the wall and sat down.
Hess had gone out the corridor door and the two men were in the room alone. Neither spoke.
Four minutes later Hess returned. Following him was an aging, overweight German several inches shorter than Hess, dressed in a black double-breasted suit and a high collar. His face was puffed with excess fat, his white hair cropped short. He stood perfectly erect and in spite of his imposing appearance, Scarlett thought there was something soft about him, not associated with his bulk. He strutted into the room. Hess closed the door and locked it.
“Gentlemen. General Rheinhart.” Hess stood at attention.
Goebbels rose from the chair and bowed, clicking his heels.
Rheinhart looked at him unimpressed.
Scarlett noticed Rheinhart’s expression. He approached the elderly general and held out his hand.
“Herr General.”
Rheinhart faced Scarlett, and although he concealed it well, his reaction to Scarlett’s appearance was obvious. The two men shook hands perfunctorily.
“Please sit down, Herr General.” Hess was enormously impressed with their company and did not hide the fact. Rheinhart sat in a chair at the end of the table. Scarlett was momentarily upset. He had wanted to sit in that particular chair for it was the commanding position.
Hess asked Rheinhart if he preferred whiskey, gin, or wine. The general waved his hand, refusing.
“Nothing for me, either,” added Ulster Scarlett as he sat in the chair to the left of Rheinhart. Hess ignored the tray and also took his seat. Goebbels retreated with his limp to the chair by the wall.
Scarlett spoke. “I apologize for the delay. Unforgivable but, I’m afraid, unavoidable. There was pressing business with our associates in London.”
“Your name, please?” Rheinhart interrupted, speaking English with a thick Teutonic accent.
Scarlett looked briefly at Hess before replying. “Kroeger, Herr General. Heinrich Kroeger.”
Rheinhart did not take his eyes off Scarlett. “I do not think that is your name, sir. You are not German.” His voice was flat.
“My sympathies are German. So much so that Heinrich Kroeger is the name I have chosen to be known by.”
Hess interrupted. “Herr Kroeger has been invaluable to us all. Without him we would never have made the progress we have, sir.”
“Amerikaner. … He is the reason we do not speak German?”
“That will be corrected in time,” Scarlett said. In fact, he spoke nearly flawless German, but still felt at a disadvantage in the language.
“I am not an American, General.…” Scarlett returned Rheinhart’s stare and gave no quarter. “I am a citizen of the new order!… I have given as much, if not more than anyone else alive or dead to see it come to pass.… Please remember that in our conversation.”