At last the baron was growing aware that the man’s line of questioning was purposeful and not altogether of innocent intent. He feared he had already said too much, and as much as it went against every fiber of his being, he realized he had to exercise greater caution. He was not worried for himself, but there were many others whose safety he needed to think about.

“Have you seen your friend Bonhoeffer recently?” asked Korsch casually, at last reaching the apex of his intent.

“Actually, no,” replied the baron, relieved that the question was one he could so easily answer with complete honesty.

“When was the last time you saw him?”

“Let me think… it was at the time of the closing of Finkenwalde, and that would be, what?—a little over a year and a half ago.”

“And you’ve not seen him since?”

“No.”

“Nor heard from him?”

“No—wait, you’re right. I’d forgotten. I saw him in February of last year, only briefly. He was on his way south.”

“Where?”

“To Göttingen, I believe.”

“Yes, I was aware of that trip,” said Korsch, hiding his vexation. That trail had been stone cold for a year and a half! “And you’ve heard nothing since?”

“Not a word.”

“The two of you are friends, and you know nothing of his whereabouts?” snapped Korsch, too abruptly. The veneer of his casual interest nearly snapped, but he hastily retreated to conceal his error. “Excuse me,” he said with oily aplomb, “that is, it only sounded odd to me when you said it, though I am certain there is a logical explanation.”

“I have been an admirer of Pastor Bonhoeffer’s,” said Heinrich. “I have listened to and read his treatises on the Scriptures. But we have not corresponded personally.”

“And his political inclinations?”

“Neither have I followed whatever political activities he may be involved in. I do not know where he is at present and have neither seen nor heard from him in all that time. To tell you the truth, Herr Korsch,” he added with a laugh intended to poke fun at himself, “I do not follow politics all that closely.”

Korsch took in the words with mingled suspicion and irritation, his training and nature telling him not to believe them for a second, and yet realizing they were probably true.

Somehow this man in front of him seemed incapable of lying to protect himself, and, illogical though it was, the fact made Korsch hate him all the more.

45 Renewed Friendship

45

Renewed Friendship

After enduring two tediously long waltzes with Gustav, Sabina excused herself and sought refuge temporarily with her mother. The boy with whom she had grown up had become so pompous and preoccupied with himself that she scarcely knew him. How could they ever have been such friends, she wondered. And how much less believable did it now seem that there had been talk of their marrying!