Especially now that he knew what he was sure was their secret code! Once in a while his mother served a useful purpose for him.

All those years playing with Sabina in the garden were going to pay off at last!

81 A Stranger

81

A Stranger

In the middle of their Abend Brot, Heidi came into the dining room.

“There is a man at the door, Herr Baron,” she said.

“The back door or the front door, Heidi?”

“The front door.”

“How did he arrive?”

“There is no auto. He appears tired and I assume he came by foot.”

“Did he ask about our roses?”

“Ja, Herr Baron, but when I told him we had none, he asked to see you personally.”

“What exactly did he say?”

“He said, ‘Do you have any new roses for sale?’”

“Those were his exact words?”

“Yes, Herr Baron.”

“He said nothing of the petals?” asked Baron von Dortmann, a puzzled expression crossing his brow.

“When I said this was not the season for the best blooms, he merely returned me a blank look. I asked if he had anything to answer me in reply. He appeared surprised, then insisted I bring you to him.”

“Insisted?”

“He said he needed help, that he was a Christian and a friend of Pastor Bonhoeffer’s.”

The servant’s voice betrayed her uneasiness.

“I do not like his looks, Herr Baron,” she added.

“I understand, Heidi,” said the baron, rising slowly, thinking to himself as he set his knife down on the table. He found a vague mixture of feelings filling him, reluctance to turn away a brother, yet puzzlement and a certain discomfort with the circumstances of the situation. “I will go to him… but leisurely. Did you tell him we were at supper?”

“Yes, but he became quite insistent. He said that brothers must help one another at such times.”

“He said nothing about what his trouble was?”

“No, sir.”

“Very good, Heidi. Go quickly and tell the others. Stay away from the windows, and get all the people into the hidden chambers. I will take my time walking to the front door. Marion, alert the rest of the staff to be calm and about their business. As you go pray that God will give me wisdom and the right words to speak—Sabina, if you hear me ring the bell, take your mother quickly to her hidden closet. Otherwise, go to the Gute Stube. If I need you, I will come there.”

The women did as the baron had instructed them.

When he was alone in the room, he moved from the table and slipped to the floor on his knees.

“O Father,” he said quietly, “let me be your man, and only your man, in all circumstances… whatever befalls us. Show me what you would have me do. Put the discerning eyes of your Spirit into my heart, that I may know quickly whether this stranger is indeed one of yours.”