THE REMINISCENCES OF CARL SCHURZ
dren to the chance of accident? Was he not obliged in order to secure the future of his family to demand the money in advance? Would I not do the same in his situation? Furthermore, did Brune seem like a traitor? Could a traitor look into my eyes and speak to me as Brune had done? Was his straightforward, frank, candid, even proud bearing that of a man who would entice another into an ambush to rob him? Impossible.
And finally, how could I hope to win if I did not dare? Should I abandon the liberation of my friend because I would deny to Brune the request which everybody else would make to me under similar circumstances? Yes, it was clear, if I would save Kinkel from his dreadful fate, I had to risk if necessary even my honor.
The thought to deposit the money for Brune in a third person's hand had occurred to me, but I rejected it, partly because that might have led to further complications; partly, also, because if I must dare, I preferred to dare in a manner which Brune would take as proof of my absolute confidence in his integrity.
I reminded myself that the war in Schleswig-Holstein was still going on. In the Schleswig-Holstein army, I thought, I might enlist as a volunteer under an assumed name and seek my fate on the field of battle, should the enterprise in Spandau miscarry, and the money be lost, and I at the same time escape. My friends would then at least believe in my honesty. This was the reasoning that led me to the decision to hand over the money to Brune before the fulfillment of his promise. I had just formed this conclusion when Krüger knocked at my door and said that Poritz and Leddihn were below; was there still anything more they could do for me?
“Yes,” I answered. “I would ask them to bring Brune
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