Please help with homework The Last Leaf : What does apparently mean

I meet Todd very frequently. Only two nights ago I met him out at dinner and he was talking, apparently without self-consciousness, about Poland.

• What does apparently mean here? What was saying about Poland? What might the author have expected of this talk?
• What has happened before between the two? What tactic did the author at first to get his money back?
• What were his second and third attempts?
• How does the author behave with Todd? Give one example to show that his friendship is genuine?
• What do you think of the author and Todd?