Page 29 - Murder on the Dirigible

Murder on the Dirigible

the continental boundaries. I am just asking you as one man to
another, to join me for a little chat. Otherwise you would have no
chance to inspect—I mean, get a look at—the very interesting
devices installed in this model of dirigible. And I’m sure the captain
would be pleased to answer any questions you might want to ask.

GROSS: (considers) Yah, well, it could do no harm. (gets up)

METCALF: Fine. Miss MacAllister: as you were, please. (follows
Gross into cockpit) Captain, this is Mr. Gross.

MATTHEWS: How do you do.

GROSS: Pleased to make your acquaintance, Herr Kapitan. (sits)

METCALF: Mr. Gross has some background in aviation. I believe.

MATTHEWS: Oh, are you familiar with lighter-than-air vessels, or
just aeroplanes?

GROSS: (scrutinizes equipment) Oh, it is just a hobby of mine, I
assure you. In my younger days, an employee of Deutsches
Luftschiffahrts Aktien Gesellschaft was I. Perhaps as Delag you
know it abbreviated.

MATTHEWS: What a coincidence! You know, Metcalf, this ship is
very closely modeled after a dirigible we claimed from Germany as
reparations after the Great War.

METCALF: So?

MATTHEWS: Delag built that ship.

METCALF: Oh, I get it. That’s how you know so much about the
way this thing works, eh, Herr Gross?

GROSS: (absently, as fiddles with radio ) Jah, jah. But you Americans
have so many things modified. You must be careful of the
overcompensating ballast.

METCALF: (rummages in Fisk’s briefcase) By the way, Herr Gross,
you weren’t acquainted with Mr. Fisk, were you?
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