The necessity (for his destruction) lies in the unfortunate and terrifying fact that he is cognisant of the Great Secret! He should have been executed at Holzminden within an hour (of his incarceration).
This was the urgent advice of Von Tirpitz. But unfortunately High Command intervened with the expectation (of securing from the prisoner) further information (concerning others who, like himself, might possibly have become possessed in some measure of a clue to the Great Secret)? E. E.
The result is bad. (That the prisoner has escaped without betraying a single word of information useful to us.) E. E.
Therefore, find him and have him silenced without delay. The security of the Fatherland depends on this (man's immediate death).
M 17. (Evidently the writer of the letter) E. E.
For a long time Vaux sat studying cipher and translation. And at last he murmured: "Surely, surely. Fine--very fine.... Excellent work. But--WHAT is the Great Secret?"
There was only one man in America who knew.
And he had landed that morning from the Scandinavian steamer, Peer Gynt, and, at that very moment, was standing by the bar of the Hotel Astor, just sober enough to keep from telling everything he knew to the bartenders, and just drunk enough to talk too much in a place where the enemy always listens.
He said to the indifferent bartender who had just served him: "'F you knew what I know 'bout Germany, you'd be won'ful man! I'M won'ful man. I know something! Going tell, too. Going see 'thorities this afternoon. Going tell 'em great secret!... Grea' milt'ry secret! Tell 'em all 'bout it! Grea' secresh! Nobody knows grea'-sekresh 'cep m'self! Whaddya thinka that? Gimme l'il Hollanschnapps n'water onna side!"
Hours later he was, apparently, no drunker--as though he could not manage to get beyond a certain stage of intoxication, no matter how recklessly he drank.
"'Nother Hollenschnapps," he said hazily. "Goin' see 'thorities 'bout grea' sekresh! Tell 'em all 'bout it. Anybody try stop me, knockem down. Thassa way.... N-n-nockem out!--stan' no nonsense! Ge' me?"
Later he sauntered off on slightly unsteady legs to promenade himself in the lobby and Peacock Alley.
Three men left the barroom when he left. They continued to keep him in view.
Although he became no drunker, he grew politer after every drink--also whiter in the face--and the bluish, bruised look deepened under his eyes.
But he was a Chesterfield in manners; he did not stare at any of the lively young persons in Peacock Alley, who seemed inclined to look pleasantly at him; he made room for them to pass, hat in hand.
Several times he went to the telephone desk and courteously requested various numbers; and always one of the three men who had been keeping him in view stepped into the adjoining booth, but did not use the instrument.