I am grateful for what you have done for me, even
though I am beginning to understand your motives. But as regards
the other things we are both soldiers. I am going to talk to
Helen for a time. I want to understand a little more than I do
at present."
Lessingham nodded.
"Let me help you," he begged. "Here is the issue in plain words.
All that I did for you at Wittenberg, I should have done in any
case for the sake of our friendship. Your freedom would probably
never have been granted to me but for my mission, although even
that I might have tried to arrange. I brought your letters here,
and I traded them with your sister and Miss Fairclough for the
shelter of their hospitality and their guarantees. Now you know
just where friendship ended and the other things began. Do what
you believe to be your duty."
Richard followed Helen out, closing the door after him. Lessingham
looked down into Philippa's face.
"You are more wonderful even than I thought," he continued softly.
"You say so little and you live so near the truth. It is those of
us who feel as you do--who understand--to whom this war is so
terrible."
"I want to ask you one question before I send you away," she told
him. "This journey to America?"
"It is a mission on behalf of Germany," he explained, "but it is,
after all, an open one.
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