Monday, 8 May 1916

A telephone call with Georg on Monday morning confirmed two more had arrived Sunday, leaving four yet to come. After the call, David sat at his desk, musing. Still enjoying some dicky dipping. It's not yet six days, and I did tell them to take their time. His thoughts were interrupted by a knock on his open door. "Yes, come in."

"Sir, Mr Wilsdorf wishes to speak with you."

"Please, usher him in." David stood in anticipation.

"He's in the Munitions Office, and he needs approval to enter here."

"Yes, of course. I'll go and escort him. Save the complications."

David guided Hans in silence until they were in his office and he had closed the door. Then he asked, "Problems with the supply of fuses?"

"No, that is all ticking like clockwork." Hans chuckled. "No, this is concerning a letter from Prince Wilhelm."

"Complications?" David asked as he showed Hans to a chair.

"I'm not certain. I had inadvertently opened it, missing having seen the for David Meier written in the second line of the address." He pulled the envelope from his binder and handed it across the desk.

"Easy to mistake." David shrugged. "He has it backwards. Should be my name in care of yours. Maybe the Germans do it the other way."

"Or maybe princes do. Anyway, I was well into reading it before I saw it wasn't for me." Hans chuckled. "He's still impressed by your wine knowledge and tasting skills, and that's where I realised."

David nodded as he read and then looked up from the letter. "And still impressed by your watches. This is ordering me to Karlsruhe on Friday to meet with General von Heeringen, head of the Seventh Army. He wants watches for his officers."

Hans chuckled. "What audacity. How can he order you anywhere?"

"Likely from his upbringing. Royalty seem to live in a world in which all scramble to comply with their every wish and whim."

"True. And now having his own Army to practice with reinforces this attitude." Hans pointed toward the letter. "Does he mention quantities?"

David read to the end of the letter, then shook his head. "Nothing but having recommended the same distribution – gold ones for his generals, silver for senior officers and chromium steel for the junior officers."

"Is the Seventh Army the same size as the Fifth?"

"I would think so." David pointed to the file cabinets. "I can look it up to confirm. Are you able to supply another seventeen thousand in short order?"

Hans nodded, a broad smile filling his face. "We can scramble as we did the last time. We can begin this afternoon in anticipation of the order."

"That would be wise." David chuckled. "By the way Wilhelm ordered me, I'm sure he has also ordered the General to make the purchase. If my memory serves, the Seventh Army is part of the Prince's Army Group."

"I can have a leather presentation case made with one of each the gold, silver and steel. Include data sheets and observatory certificates."

"Also, some data on artillery fuses." David pointed to the letter. "The Prince has reminded me of our discussions in February and March."

"I'll prepare a packet with drawings of various designs." Hans laughed. "The ones we've rejected. And a price list based on their supplying us with the metals."

They continued their discussion, concluding with plans to meet for lunch in Bienne on Thursday to pick up the sample case and information sheets. After David had escorted Hans out, he checked some facts in his files, and then he knocked on the Ambassador's open door.

"Come in, David. I was about to send for you."

"Send for me? What is it?"

"Wanting an update. You had said you would get back to me as soon as you had completed your call to Sonnenhang."

"Sorry, Sir. I was delayed by an unexpected visitor. Two more have now arrived, leaving four. I'm not overly concerned, though; it's not yet six days. Difficult to get any detailed information; the phone line is not private."

"You could devise a verbal code."

"Dangerous to have illogical conversations. This morning we discussed the vineyard planting and how many were working at it. Georg also mentioned they are still mixing limestone into the soil."

Evelyn nodded. "Meaning the tunnelling is still in chalk."

"Exactly!" David waved the letter. "I was delayed by Hans Wilsdorf bringing me this just as I finished the call. It's from Prince Wilhelm."

Evelyn frowned. "I had hoped he had forgotten about the fuses."

"He hasn't, Sir. He wishes to continue the dialogue about them, but he also wants to purchase more watches."

"Maintain the stance of needing them to provide us with the metals. We know they cannot supply sufficient for their own manufacture of them." He tilted his head. "So, he wants watches for the troops, now?"

"No, for the officers of the Seventh Army. He has set up a meeting for me on Friday afternoon in Karlshrue with ..." David paused and scanned the letter. "With General von Heeringen, the Army's Commander, and he's requested – no, he's ordered me to be there."

"Ordered?"

"Royal attitude, I think, Sir."

The Ambassador remained silent as he stroked his chin. Then he looked up and asked, "Could this be a clever trap? Might they have uncovered your identity from interrogating one of the men who aren't yet back?"

"I had thought about that." David pointed to the envelope. "From the postal cancellations, this had been mailed in Berlin last Tuesday, the day of the explosions. And he dated the letter Monday, the first of May."

"But still, is it worth the risk? What will we gain from it other than more sales for Rolex?"

"We'll learn about their troop deployments and anticipated movements from the delivery locations and times, as we had with the Fifth Army."

"True. So, you'll take the train up Friday morning?"

"Awkward logistics. I need to go to Bienne to pick up the samples and data sheets. Hans is assembling a presentation case for me. I had thought to leave by auto on Thursday morning and visit Sonnenhang. I would like to get a detailed briefing on the gasworks and a feel for the mood in Germany." He chuckled. "Difficult to gain much from cryptic phone dialogue."

"Nor from the newspaper articles. I wonder how long it will take the public to see through the manipulation."

"The brighter ones already have." David shrugged. "I also need to check the progress with the tunnel – another thing I cannot gather much about by telephone."