Berger offers to sell his ring to Laszlo who politely puts him off.
Berger insists that Lazlo look at the ring, raising its cover to reveal the Croix de Lorraine, symbol of the French Resistance.
Berger sits and begins talking about the resistance but stops when Ilsa warms of nearby listeners.
Laszlo goes to meet Berger at the bar and asks to see the ring again to give the appearance of being interested in buying it.
Berger shows Lazlo the ring again, revealing the Cross.
Having made contact, Berger identifies himself and his nationality and announces his willingness to help Lazlo.
Stills from the film Casablanca (Warner Brothers, 1943). Victor Lazlo (played by Paul Henreid) is a well-known resister seeking to escape to America from Europe via Casablanca.
He and his wife, Ilsa (played by Ingrid Bergman), are approached by an unimportant appearing man who asks if they would buy his ring. The man shows that he is a member of the resistance by lifting the stone of his ring to reveal a Croix de Lorraine, the symbol of the French resistance.
This is the contact that Laszlo had been expecting, for his travels across Europe towards freedom have been made possible by the bravery and devotion of many such men and women. To avoid being overheard, he and the man meet at the bar where Laszlo pretends interest in buying the ring as a pretense to allow conversation.
The man gives his name, Berger, and his nationality, Norwegian, and says, "At your service, sir." Berger tells Laszlo about a meeting of the resistance that will happen later that night. They part. This is Berger's only appearance in the film. Berger's role was played by John Qualen (1899-1987).