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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:34:39 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:34:39 -0700 |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/10534-0.txt b/10534-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ada5de7 --- /dev/null +++ b/10534-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8838 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10534 *** + +THE DOUBLE TRAITOR + +BY E. PHILLIPS OPPENHEIM + +1915 + + + + + + +CHAPTER I + + +The woman leaned across the table towards her companion. + +"My friend," she said, "when we first met--I am ashamed, considering that +I dine alone with you to-night, to reflect how short a time ago--you +spoke of your removal here from Paris very much as though it were a +veritable exile. I told you then that there might be surprises in store +for you. This restaurant, for instance! We both know our Paris, yet do we +lack anything here which you find at the Ritz or Giro's?" + +The young man looked around him appraisingly. The two were dining at one +of the newest and most fashionable restaurants in Berlin. The room +itself, although a little sombre by reason of its oak panelling, was +relieved from absolute gloom by the lightness and elegance of its +furniture and appointments, the profusion of flowers, and the soft grey +carpet, so thickly piled that every sound was deadened. The delicate +strains of music came from an invisible orchestra concealed behind a +canopy of palms. The head-waiters had the correct clerical air, half +complacent, half dignified. Among the other diners were many beautiful +women in marvellous toilettes. A variety of uniforms, worn by the +officers at different tables, gave colour and distinction to a _tout +ensemble_ with which even Norgate could find no fault. + +"Germany has changed very much since I was here as a boy," he confessed. +"One has heard of the growing wealth of Berlin, but I must say that I +scarcely expected--" + +He hesitated. His companion laughed softly at his embarrassment. + +"Do not forget," she interrupted, "that I am Austrian--Austrian, that is +to say, with much English in my blood. What you say about Germans does +not greatly concern me." + +"Of course," Norgate resumed, as he watched the champagne poured into his +glass, "one is too much inclined to form one's conclusions about a nation +from the types one meets travelling, and you know what the Germans have +done for Monte Carlo and the Riviera--even, to a lesser extent, for Paris +and Rome. Wherever they have been, for the last few years, they seem to +have left the trail of the _nouveaux riches_. It is not only their +clothes but their manners and bearing which affront." + +The woman leaned her head for a moment against the tips of her slim and +beautifully cared for fingers. She looked steadfastly across the table at +her vis-à -vis. + +"Now that you are here," she said softly, "you must forget those things. +You are a diplomatist, and it is for you, is it not, outwardly, at any +rate, to see only the good of the country in which your work lies." + +Norgate flushed very slightly. His companion's words had savoured almost +of a reproof. + +"You are quite right," he admitted. "I have been here for a month, +though, and you are the first person to whom I have spoken like this. And +you yourself," he pointed out, "encouraged me, did you not, when you +insisted upon your Austro-English nationality?" + +"You must not take me too seriously," she begged, smiling. "I spoke +foolishly, perhaps, but only for your good. You see, Mr. Francis Norgate, +I am just a little interested in you and your career." + +"And I, dear Baroness," he replied, smiling across at her, "am more than +a little interested in--you." + +She unfurled her fan. + +"I believe," she sighed, "that you are going to flirt with me." + +"I should enter into an unequal contest," Norgate asserted. "My methods +would seem too clumsy, because I should be too much in earnest." + +"Whatever the truth may be about your methods," she declared, "I rather +like them, or else I should not be risking my reputation in this still +prudish city by dining with you alone and without a chaperon. Tell me a +little about yourself. We have met three times, is it not--once at the +Embassy, once at the Palace, and once when you paid me that call. How old +are you? Tell me about your people in England, and where else you have +served besides Paris?" + +"I am thirty years old," he replied. "I started at Bukarest. From there +I went to Rome. Then I was second attaché at Paris, and finally, as you +see, here." + +"And your people--they are English, of course?" + +"Naturally," he answered. "My mother died when I was quite young, and my +father when I was at Eton. I have an estate in Hampshire which seems to +get on very well without me." + +"And you really care about your profession? You have the real feeling for +diplomacy?" + +"I think there is nothing else like it in the world," he assured her. + +"You may well say that," she agreed enthusiastically. "I think you might +almost add that there has been no time in the history of Europe so +fraught with possibilities, so fascinating to study, as the present." + +He looked at her keenly. It is the first instinct of a young diplomatist +to draw in his horns when a beautiful young woman confesses herself +interested in his profession. + +"You, too, think of these things, then?" he remarked. + +She shrugged her shoulders. + +"But naturally! What is there to do for a woman but think? We cannot act, +or rather, if we do, it is in a very insignificant way. We are lookers-on +at most of the things in life worth doing." + +"I will spare you all the obvious retorts," he said, "if you will tell me +why you are gazing into that mirror so earnestly?" + +"I was thinking," she confessed, "what a remarkably good-looking +couple we were." + +He followed the direction of her eyes. He himself was of a recognised +type. His complexion was fair, his face clean-shaven and strong almost to +ruggedness. His mouth was firm, his nose thin and straight, his grey eyes +well-set. He was over six feet and rather slim for his height. But if his +type, though attractive enough, was in its way ordinary, hers was +entirely unusual. She, too, was slim, but so far from being tall, her +figure was almost petite. Her dark brown hair was arranged in perfectly +plain braids behind and with a slight fringe in front. Her complexion was +pale. Her features were almost cameo-like in their delicacy and +perfection, but any suggestion of coldness was dissipated at once by the +extraordinary expressiveness of her mouth and the softness of her deep +blue eyes. Norgate looked from the mirror into her face. There was a +little smile upon his lips, but he said nothing. + +"Some day," she said, "not in the restaurant here but when we are +alone and have time, I should so much like to talk with you on really +serious matters." + +"There is one serious matter," he assured her, "which I should like to +discuss with you now or at any time." + +She made a little grimace at him. + +"Let it be now, then," she suggested, leaning across the table. "We will +leave my sort of serious things for another time. I am quite certain +that I know where your sort is going to lead us. You are going to make +love to me." + +"Do you mind?" he asked earnestly. + +She became suddenly grave. + +"Not yet," she begged. "Let us talk and live nonsense for a few more +weeks. You see, I really have not known you very long, have I, and this +is a very dangerous city for flirtations. At Court one has to be so +careful, and you know I am already considered far too much of a Bohemian +here. I was even given to understand, a little time ago, by a very great +lady, that my position was quite precarious." + +"Does that--does anything matter if--" + +"It is not of myself alone that I am thinking. Everything matters to one +in your profession," she reminded him pointedly. + +"I believe," he exclaimed, "that you think more of my profession than you +do of me!" + +"Quite impossible," she retorted mockingly. "And yet, as I dare say you +have already realised, it is not only the things you say to our statesmen +here, and the reports you make, which count. It is your daily life among +the people of the nation to which you are attached, the friends you make +among them, the hospitality you accept and offer, which has all the time +its subtle significance. Now I am not sure, even, that I am, a very good +companion for you, Mr. Francis Norgate." + +"You are a very bad one for my peace of mind," he assured her. + +She shook her head. "You say those things much too glibly," she declared. +"I am afraid that you have served a very long apprenticeship." + +"If I have," he replied, leaning a little across the table, "it has been +an apprenticeship only, a probationary period during which one struggles +towards the real thing." + +"You think you will know when you have found it?" she murmured. + +He drew a little breath. His voice even trembled as he answered her. "I +know now," he said softly. + +Their heads were almost touching. Suddenly she drew apart. He glanced at +her in some surprise, conscious of an extraordinary change in her face, +of the half-uttered exclamation strangled upon her lips. He turned his +head and followed the direction of her eyes. Three young men in the +uniform of officers had entered the room, and stood there as though +looking about for a table. Before them the little company of head-waiters +had almost prostrated themselves. The manager, summoned in breathless +haste, had made a reverential approach. + +"Who are these young men?" Norgate enquired. + +His companion made no reply. Her fine, silky eyebrows were drawn a +little closer together. At that moment the tallest of the three +newcomers seemed to recognise her. He strode at once towards their +table. Norgate, glancing up at his approach, was simply conscious of the +coming of a fair young man of ordinary German type, who seemed to be in +a remarkably bad temper. + +"So I find you here, Anna!" + +The Baroness rose as though unwillingly to her feet. She dropped the +slightest of curtseys and resumed her place. + +"Your visit is a little unexpected, is it not, Karl?" she remarked. + +"Apparently!" the young man answered, with an unpleasant laugh. + +He turned and stared at Norgate, who returned his regard with +half-amused, half-impatient indifference. The Baroness leaned +forward eagerly. + +"Will you permit me to present Mr. Francis Norgate to you, Karl?" + +Norgate, who had suddenly recognised the newcomer, rose to his feet, +bowed and remained standing. The Prince's only reply to the introduction +was a frown. + +"Kindly give me your seat," he said imperatively. "I will conclude your +entertainment of the Baroness." + +For a moment there was a dead silence. In the background several of +the _maîtres d'hôtel_ had gathered obsequiously around. For some +reason or other, every one seemed to be looking at Norgate as though +he were a criminal. + +"Isn't your request a little unusual, Prince?" he remarked drily. + +The colour in the young man's face became almost purple. + +"Did you hear what I said, sir?" he demanded. "Do you know who I am?" + +"Perfectly," Norgate replied. "A prince who apparently has not learnt how +to behave himself in a public place." + +The young man took a quick step forward. Norgate's fists were clenched +and his eyes glittering. The Baroness stepped between them. + +"Mr. Norgate," she said, "you will please give me your escort home." + +The Prince's companions had seized him, one by either arm. An older man +who had been dining in a distant corner of the room, and who wore the +uniform of an officer of high rank, suddenly approached. He addressed the +Prince, and they all talked together in excited whispers. Norgate with +calm fingers arranged the cloak around his companion and placed a hundred +mark note upon his plate. + +"I will return for my change another evening," he said to the dumbfounded +waiter. "If you are ready, Baroness." + +They left the restaurant amid an intense hush. Norgate waited +deliberately whilst the door was somewhat unwillingly held open for him +by a _maître d'hôtel,_ but outside the Baroness's automobile was summoned +at once. She placed her fingers upon Norgate's arm, and he felt that she +was shivering. + +"Please do not take me home," she faltered. "I am so sorry--so +very sorry." + +He laughed. "But why?" he protested. "The young fellow behaved like a +cub, but no one offered him any provocation. I should think by this time +he is probably heartily ashamed of himself. May I come and see you +to-morrow?" + +"Telephone me," she begged, as she gave him her hand through the window. +"You don't quite understand. Please telephone to me." + +She suddenly clutched his hand with both of hers and then fell back out +of sight among the cushions. Norgate remained upon the pavement until the +car had disappeared. Then he looked back once more into the restaurant +and strolled across the brilliantly-lit street towards the Embassy. + + + + +CHAPTER II + + +Norgate, during his month's stay in Berlin, had already adopted regular +habits. On the following morning he was called at eight o'clock and rode +for two hours in the fashionable precincts of the city. The latter +portion of the time he spent looking in vain for a familiar figure in a +green riding-habit. The Baroness, however, did not appear. At ten o'clock +Norgate returned to the Embassy, bathed and breakfasted, and a little +after eleven made his way round to the business quarters. One of his +fellow-workers there glanced up and nodded at his arrival. + +"Where's the Chief?" Norgate enquired. + +"Gone down to the Palace," the other young man, whose name was Ansell, +replied; "telephoned for the first thing this morning. Ghastly habit +William has of getting up at seven o'clock and suddenly remembering that +he wants to talk diplomacy. The Chief will be furious all day now." + +Norgate lit a cigarette and began to open his letters. Ansell, however, +was in a discoursive mood. He swung around from his desk and leaned back +in his chair. + +"How can a man," he demanded, "see a question from the same point of view +at seven o'clock in the morning and seven o'clock in the evening? +Absolutely impossible, you know. That's what's the matter with our +versatile friend up yonder. He gets all aroused over some scheme or other +which comes to him in the dead of night, hops out of bed before any one +civilised is awake, and rings up for ambassadors. Then at night-time he +becomes normal again and takes everything back. The consequence is that +this place is a regular diplomatic see-saw. Settling down in Berlin +pretty well, aren't you, Norgate?" + +"Very nicely, thanks," the latter replied. + +"Dining alone with the Baroness von Haase!" his junior continued. "A +Court favourite, too! Never been seen alone before except with her young +princeling. What honeyed words did you use, Lothario--" + +"Oh, chuck it!" Norgate interrupted. "Tell me about the Baroness von +Haase! She is Austrian, isn't she?" + +Ansell nodded. + +"Related to the Hapsburgs themselves, I believe," he said. "Very old +family, anyhow. They say she came to spend a season here because she was +a little too go-ahead for the ladies of Vienna. I must say that I've +never seen her out without a chaperon before, except with Prince Karl. +They say he'd marry her--morganatically, of course--if they'd let him, +and if the lady were willing. If you want to know anything more about +her, go into Gray's room." + +Norgate looked up from his letters. + +"Why Gray's room? How does she come into his department?" + +Ansell shook his head. + +"No idea. I fancy she is there, though." + +Norgate left the room a few minutes later, and, strolling across the +hall of the Embassy, made his way to an apartment at the back of the +house. It was plainly furnished, there were bars across the window, and +three immense safes let into the wall. An elderly gentleman, with +gold-rimmed spectacles and a very benevolent expression, was busy with +several books of reference before him, seated at a desk. He raised his +head at Norgate's entrance. + +"Good morning, Norgate," he said. + +"Good morning, sir," Norgate replied. + +"Anything in my way?" + +Norgate shook his head. + +"Chief's gone to the Palace--no one knows why. I just looked in because I +met a woman the other day whom Ansell says you know something +about--Baroness von Haase." + +"Well?" + +"Is there anything to be told about her?" Norgate asked bluntly. "I dined +with her last night." + +"Then I don't think I would again, if I were you," the other advised. +"There is nothing against her, but she is a great friend of certain +members of the Royal Family who are not very well disposed towards us, +and she is rather a brainy little person. They use her a good deal, I +believe, as a means of confidential communication between here and +Vienna. She has been back and forth three or four times lately, without +any apparent reason." + +Norgate stood with his hands in his pockets, frowning slightly. + +"Why, she's half an Englishwoman," he remarked. + +"She may be," Mr. Gray admitted drily. "The other half's Austrian all +right, though. I can't tell you anything more about her, my dear fellow. +All I can say is that she is in my book, and so long as she is there, you +know it's better for you youngsters to keep away. Be off now. I am +decoding a dispatch." + +Norgate retraced his steps to his own room. Ansell glanced up from a mass +of passports as he entered. + +"How's the Secret Service Department this morning?" he enquired. + +"Old Gray seems much as usual," Norgate grumbled. "One doesn't get much +out of him." + +"Chief wants you in his room," Ansell announced. "He's just come in from +the Palace, looking like nothing on earth." + +"Wants me?" Norgate muttered. "Righto!" + +He went to the looking-glass, straightened his tie, and made his way +towards the Ambassador's private apartments. The latter was alone when he +entered, seated before his table. He was leaning back in his chair, +however, and apparently deep in thought. He watched Norgate sternly as he +crossed the room. + +"Good morning, sir," the latter said. + +The Ambassador nodded. + +"What have you been up to, Norgate?" he asked abruptly. + +"Nothing at all that I know of, sir," was the prompt reply. + +"This afternoon," the Ambassador continued slowly, "I was to have taken +you, as you know, to the Palace to be received by the Kaiser. At seven +o'clock this morning I had a message. I have just come from the Palace. +The Kaiser has given me to understand that your presence in Berlin is +unwelcome." + +"Good God!" Norgate exclaimed. + +"Can you offer me any explanation?" + +For a moment Norgate was speechless. Then he recovered himself. He forgot +altogether his habits of restraint. There was an angry note in his tone. + +"It's that miserable young cub of a Prince Karl!" he exclaimed. +"Last night I was dining, sir, with the Baroness von Haase at the +Café de Berlin." + +"Alone?" + +"Alone," Norgate admitted. "It was not for me to invite a chaperon if the +lady did not choose to bring one, was it, sir? As we were finishing +dinner, the Prince came in. He made a scene at our table and ordered me +to leave." + +"And you?" the Ambassador asked. + +"I simply treated him as I would any other young ass who forgot +himself," Norgate replied indignantly. "I naturally refused to go, and +the Baroness left the place with me." + +"And you did not expect to hear of this again?" + +"I honestly didn't. I should have thought, for his own sake, that the +young man would have kept his mouth shut. He was hopelessly in the wrong, +and he behaved like a common young bounder." + +The Ambassador shook his head slowly. + +"Mr. Norgate," he said, "I am very sorry for you, but you are under a +misapprehension shared by many young men. You believe that there is a +universal standard of manners and deportment, and a universal series of +customs for all nations. You have our English standard of manners in your +mind, manners which range from a ploughboy to a king, and you seem to +take it for granted that these are also subscribed to in other countries. +In my position I do not wish to say too much, but let me tell you that in +Germany they are not. If a prince here chooses to behave like a +ploughboy, he is right where the ploughboy would be wrong." + +There was a moment's silence. Norgate was looking a little dazed. + +"Then you mean to defend--" he began. + +"Certainly not," the Ambassador interrupted. "I am not speaking to you as +one of ourselves. I am speaking as the representative of England in +Berlin. You are supposed to be studying diplomacy. You have been guilty +of a colossal blunder. You have shown yourself absolutely ignorant of the +ideals and customs of the country in which you are. It is perfectly +correct for young Prince Karl to behave, as you put it, like a bounder. +The people expect it of him. He conforms entirely to the standard +accepted by the military aristocracy of Berlin. It is you who have been +in the wrong--diplomatically." + +"Then you mean, sir," Norgate protested, "that I should have taken it +sitting down?" + +"Most assuredly you should," the Ambassador replied, "unless you were +willing to pay the price. Your only fault--your personal fault, I +mean--that I can see is that it was a little indiscreet of you to dine +alone with a young woman for whom the Prince is known to have a +foolish passion. Diplomatically, however, you have committed every +fault possible, I am very sorry, but I think that you had better +report in Downing Street as soon as possible. The train leaves, I +think, at three o'clock." + +Norgate for a moment was unable to speak or move. He was struggling with +a sort of blind fury. + +"This is the end of me, then," he muttered at last. "I am to be disgraced +because I have come to a city of boors." + +"You are reprimanded and in a sense, no doubt, punished," the Ambassador +explained calmly, "because you have come to--shall I accept your term?--a +city of boors and fail to adapt yourself. The true diplomatist adapts +himself wherever he may be. My personal sympathies remain with you. I +will do what I can in my report." + +Norgate had recovered himself. + +"I thank you very much, sir," he said. "I shall catch the three +o'clock train." + +The Ambassador held out his hand. The interview had finished. He +permitted himself to speak differently. + +"I am very sorry indeed, Norgate, that this has happened," he declared. +"We all have our trials to bear in this city, and you have run up +against one of them rather before your time. I wish you good luck, +whatever may happen." + +Norgate clasped his Chief's hand and left the apartment. Then he made his +way to his rooms, gave his orders and sent a messenger to secure his seat +in the train. Last of all he went to the telephone. He rang up the number +which had become already familiar to him, almost with reluctance. He +waited for the reply without any pleasurable anticipations. He was filled +with a burning sense of resentment, a feeling which extended even to the +innocent cause of it. Soon he heard her voice. + +"That is Mr. Norgate, is it not?" + +"Yes," he replied. "I rang up to wish you good-by." + +"Good-by! But you are going away, then?" + +"I am sent away--dismissed!" + +He heard her little exclamation of grief. Its complete genuineness broke +down a little the wall of his anger. + +"And it is my fault!" she exclaimed. "If only I could do anything! Will +you wait--please wait? I will go to the Palace myself." + +His expostulation was almost a shock to her. + +"Baroness," he replied, "if I permitted your intervention, I could never +hold my head up in Berlin again! In any case, I could not stay here. The +first thing I should do would be to quarrel with that insufferable young +cad who insulted us last night. I am afraid, at the first opportunity, I +should tell--" + +"Hush!" she interrupted. "Oh, please hush! You must not talk like +this, even over the telephone. Cannot you understand that you are not +in England?" + +"I am beginning to realise," he answered gruffly, "what it means not to +be in a free country. I am leaving by the three o'clock train, Baroness. +Farewell!" + +"But you must not go like this," she pleaded. "Come first and see me." + +"No! It will only mean more disgrace for you. Besides--in any case, I +have decided to go away without seeing you again." + +Her voice was very soft. He found himself gripping the pages of the +telephone book which hung by his side. + +"But is that kind? Have I sinned, Mr. Francis Norgate?" + +"Of course not," he answered, keeping his tone level, almost indifferent. +"I hope that we shall meet again some day, but not in Berlin." + +There was a moment's silence. He thought, even, that she had gone away. +Then her reply came back. + +"So be it," she murmured. "Not in Berlin. Au revoir!" + + + + +CHAPTER III + + +Faithful to his insular prejudices, Norgate, on finding that the other +seat in his coupé was engaged, started out to find the train attendant +with a view to changing his place. His errand, however, was in vain. The +train, it seemed, was crowded. He returned to his compartment to find +already installed there one of the most complete and absolute types of +Germanism he had ever seen. A man in a light grey suit, the waistcoat of +which had apparently abandoned its efforts to compass his girth, with a +broad, pink, good-humoured face, beardless and bland, flaxen hair +streaked here and there with grey, was seated in the vacant place. He had +with him a portmanteau covered with a linen case, his boots were a bright +shade of yellow, his tie was of white satin with a design of lavender +flowers. A pair of black kid gloves lay by his side. He welcomed Norgate +with the bland, broad smile of a fellow-passenger whose one desire it is +to make a lifelong friend of his temporary companion. + +"We have the compartment to ourselves, is it not so? You are English?" + +Some queer chance founded upon his ill-humour, his disgust of Germany and +all things in it, induced Norgate to tell a deliberate falsehood. + +"Sorry," he replied in English. "I don't speak German." + +The man's satisfaction was complete. + +"But I--I speak the most wonderful English. It pleases me always to speak +English. I like to do so. It is practice for me. We will talk English +together, you and I. These comic papers, they do not amuse. And books in +the train, they make one giddy. What I like best is a companion and a +bottle of Rhine wine." + +"Personally," Norgate confessed gruffly, "I like to sleep." + +The other seemed a little taken aback but remained, apparently, full of +the conviction that his overtures could be nothing but acceptable. + +"It is well to sleep," he agreed, "if one has worked hard. Now I myself +am a hard worker. My name is Selingman. I manufacture crockery which I +sell in England. That is why I speak the English language so wonderful. +For the last three nights I have been up reading reports of my English +customers, going through their purchases. Now it is finished. I am well +posted. I am off to sell crockery in London, in Manchester, in Leeds, in +Birmingham. I have what the people want. They will receive me with open +arms, some of them even welcome me at their houses. Thus it is that I +look forward to my business trip as a holiday." + +"Very pleasant, I'm sure," Norgate remarked, curling himself up in his +corner. "Personally, I can't see why we can't make our own crockery. I +get tired of seeing German goods in England." + +Herr Selingman was apparently a trifle hurt, but his efforts to make +himself agreeable were indomitable. + +"If you will," he said, "I can explain why my crockery sells in England +where your own fails. For one thing, then, I am cheaper. There is a +system at my works, the like of which is not known in England. From the +raw material to the finished article I can produce forty per cent. +cheaper than your makers, and, mind you, that is not because I save in +wages. It is because of the system in the various departments. I do not +like to save in wages," he went on. "I like to see my people healthy and +strong and happy. I like to see them drink beer after work is over, and +on feast days and Sundays I like to see them sit in the gardens and +listen to the band, and maybe change their beer for a bottle of wine. +Industrially, Mr. Englishman, ours is a happy country." + +"Well, I hope you won't think I am rude," Norgate observed, "but from the +little I have seen of it I call it a beastly country, and if you don't +mind I am going to sleep." + +Herr Selingman sat for several moments with his mouth still open. Then he +gave a little grunt. There was not the slightest ill-humour in the +ejaculation or in his expression. He was simply pained. + +"I am sorry if I have talked too much," he said. "I forgot that you, +perhaps, are tired. You have met with disappointments, maybe. I am sorry. +I will read now and not disturb you." + +For an hour or so Norgate tried in vain to sleep. All this time the man +opposite turned the pages of his book with the utmost cautiousness, +moved on tiptoe once to reach down more papers, and held out his finger +to warn the train attendant who came with some harmless question. + +"The English gentleman," Norgate heard him whisper, "is tired. Let +him sleep." + +Soon after five o'clock, Norgate gave it up. He rose to his feet, +stretched himself, and was welcomed with a pleasant smile from his +companion. + +"You have had a refreshing nap," the latter remarked, "and now, is it not +so, you go to take a cup of English tea?" + +"You are quite right," Norgate admitted. "Better come with me." + +Herr Selingman smiled a smile of triumph. It was the reward of geniality, +this! He was forming a new friendship! + +"I come with great pleasure," he decided, "only while you drink the tea, +I drink the coffee or some beer. I will see. I like best the beer," he +explained, turning sidewise to get out of the door, "but it is not the +best for my figure. I have a good conscience and a good digestion, and I +eat and drink much. But it is good to be happy." + +They made their way down to the restaurant car and seated themselves at a +table together. + +"You let me do the ordering," Herr Selingman insisted. "The man here, +perhaps, does not speak English. So! You will drink your tea with me, +sir. It is a great pleasure to me to entertain an Englishman. I make many +friends travelling. I like to make friends. I remember them all, and +sometimes we meet again. _Kellner_, some tea for the gentleman--English +tea with what you call bread and butter. So! And for me--" Selingman +paused for a moment and drew a deep sigh of resignation--"some coffee." + +"Very kind of you, I'm sure," Norgate murmured. + +Herr Selingman beamed. + +"It is a great pleasure," he said, "but many times I wonder why you +Englishmen, so clever, so world-conquering, do not take the trouble to +make yourselves with the languages of other nations familiar. It means +but a little study. Now you, perhaps, are in business?" + +"Not exactly," Norgate replied grimly. "To tell you the truth, at the +present moment I have no occupation." + +"No occupation!" + +Herr Selingman paused in the act of conveying a huge portion of rusk to +his mouth, and regarded his companion with wonder. + +"So!" he repeated. "No occupation! Well, that is what in Germany we know +nothing of. Every one must work, or must take up the army as a permanent +profession. You are, perhaps, one of those Englishmen of whom one reads, +who give up all their time to sport?" + +Norgate shook his head. + +"As a matter of fact," he said, "I have worked rather hard during the +last five or six years. It is only just recently that I have lost my +occupation." + +Herr Selingman's curiosity was almost childlike in its transparency, but +Norgate found himself unable to gratify it. In any case, after his +denial of any knowledge of the German language, he could scarcely lay +claim to even the most indirect connection with the diplomatic service. + +"Ah, well," Herr Selingman declared, "opportunities will come. You have +perhaps lost some post. Well, there are others. I should not, I think, be +far away from the truth, sir, if I were to surmise that you had held some +sort of an official position?" + +"Perhaps," Norgate assented. + +"That is interesting," Herr Selingman continued. "Now with the English of +commerce I talk often, and I know their views of me and my country. But +sometimes I have fancied that among your official classes those who are +ever so slightly employed in Government service, there is--I do not love +the word, but I must use it--a distrust of Germany and her peace-loving +propensities." + +"I have met many people," Norgate admitted, "who do not look upon Germany +as a lover of peace." + +"They should come and travel here," Herr Selingman insisted eagerly. +"Look out of the windows. What do you see? Factory chimneys, furnaces +everywhere. And further on--what? Well-tilled lands, clean, prosperous +villages, a happy, domestic people. I tell you that no man in the world +is so fond of his wife and children, his simple life, his simple +pleasures, as the German." + +"Very likely," Norgate assented, "but if you look out of the windows +continually you will also see that every station-master on the line wears +a military uniform, that every few miles you see barracks. These simple +peasants you speak of carry themselves with a different air from ours. I +don't know much about it, but I should call it the effect of their +military training. I know nothing about politics. Very likely yours is a +nation of peace-loving men. As a casual observer, I should call you more +a nation of soldiers." + +"But that," Herr Selingman explained earnestly, "is for defence only." + +"And your great standing army, your wonderful artillery, your Zeppelins +and your navy," Norgate asked, "are they for defence only?" + +"Absolutely and entirely," Herr Selingman declared, with a new and +ponderous gravity. "There is nothing the most warlike German desires more +fervently than to keep the peace. We are strong only because we desire +peace, peace under which our commerce may grow, and our wealth increase." + +"Well, it seems to me, then," Norgate observed, "that you've gone to a +great deal of expense and taken a great deal of trouble for nothing. I +don't know much about these things, as I told you before, but there is no +nation in the world who wants to attack Germany." + +Herr Selingman laid his finger upon his nose. + +"That may be," he said. "Yet there are many who look at us with envious +eyes. I am a good German. I know what it is that we want. We want peace, +and to gain peace we need strength, and to be strong we arm. That is +everything. It will never be Germany who clenches her fist, who draws +down the black clouds of war over Europe. It will never be Germany, I +tell you. Why, a war would ruin half of us. What of my crockery? I sell +it all in England. Believe me, young gentleman, war exists only in the +brains of your sensational novelists. It does not come into the world of +real purpose." + +"Well, it's very interesting to hear you say so," Norgate admitted. "I +wish I could wholly agree with you." + +Herr Selingman caught him by the sleeve. + +"You are just a little," he confided, "just a little suspicious, my young +friend, you in your little island. Perhaps it is because you live upon an +island. You do not expand. You have small thoughts. You are not great +like we in Germany, not broad, not deep. But we will talk later of these +things. I must tell you about our Kaiser." + +Norgate opened his lips and closed them again. + +"Presently," he muttered. "See you later on." + +He strolled to his coupé, tried in vain to read, walked up and down the +length of the train, smoked a cigarette, and returned to his compartment +to find Herr Selingman immersed in the study of many documents. + +"Records of my customers and my transactions," the latter announced +blandly. "I have a great fondness for detail. I know everything. I carry +with me particulars of everything. That is where we Germans are so +thorough. See, I place them now all in my bag." + +He did so and locked it with great care. + +"We go to dinner, is it not so?" he suggested. + +"I suppose we may as well," Norgate assented indifferently. + +They found places in the crowded restaurant car. The manufacturer of +crockery made a highly satisfactory and important meal. Norgate, on the +other hand, ate little. Herr Selingman shook his head. + +"My young English friend," he declared, "all is not well with you that +you turn away from good food. Come. Afterwards, over a cigar, you shall +tell me what troubles you have, and I will give you sound advice. I have +a very wide knowledge of life. I have a way of seeing the truth, and I +like to help people." + +Norgate shook his head. "I am afraid," he said, "that my case is +hopeless." + +"Presently we will see," Herr Selingman continued, rubbing the window +with his cuff. "We are arrived, I think, at Lesel. Here will board the +train one of my agents. He will travel with us to the next station. It is +my way of doing business, this. It is better than alighting and wasting a +day in a small town. You will not mind, perhaps," he added, "if I bring +him into the carriage and talk? You do not understand German, so it will +not weary you." + +"Certainly not," Norgate replied. "I shall probably drop off to sleep." + +"He will be in the train for less than an hour," Herr Selingman +explained, "but I have many competitors, and I like to talk in private. +In here some one might overhear." + +"How do you know that I am not an English crockery manufacturer?" +Norgate remarked. + +Herr Selingman laughed heartily. His stomach shook, and tears rolled +down his eyes. + +"That is good!" he exclaimed. "An English crockery manufacturer! No, I do +not think so! I cannot see you with your sleeves turned up, walking +amongst the kilns. I cannot see you, even, studying the designs for pots +and basins." + +"Well, bring your man in whenever you want to," Norgate invited, as he +turned away. "I can promise, at least, that I shall not understand what +you are saying, and that I won't sneak your designs." + +There was a queer little smile on Herr Selingman's broad face. It almost +seemed as though he had discovered some hidden though unsuspected meaning +in the other's words. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + + +Norgate dozed fitfully as the train sped on through the darkness. He woke +once to find Herr Selingman in close confabulation with his agent on the +opposite side of the compartment. They had a notebook before them and +several papers spread out upon the seat. Norgate, who was really weary, +closed his eyes again, and it seemed to him that he dreamed for a few +moments. Then suddenly he found himself wide-awake. Although he remained +motionless, the words which Selingman had spoken to his companion were +throbbing in his ears. + +"I do not doubt your industry, Meyer, but it is your discretion which is +sometimes at fault. These plans of the forts of Liège--they might as well +be published in a magazine. We had them when they were made. We have +received copies of every alteration. We know to a metre how far the guns +will carry, how many men are required to man them, what stocks of +ammunition are close at hand. Understand, therefore, my friend, that the +sight of these carefully traced plans, which you hint to have obtained at +the risk of your life, excites me not at all." + +The other man's reply was inaudible. In a moment or two Selingman +spoke again. + +"The information which I am lacking just at present in your sphere of +operations, is civilian in character. Take Ghent, for instance. What I +should like here, what our records need at present, is a list of the +principal inhabitants with their approximate income, and, summarising it +all, the rateable value of the city. With these bases it would be easy to +fix a reasonable indemnity." + +Norgate was wide-awake now. He was curled up on his seat, underneath his +rug, and though his eyelids had quivered with a momentary excitement, he +was careful to remain as near as possible motionless. Again Selingman's +agent spoke, this time more distinctly. + +"The young man opposite," he whispered. "He is English, surely?" + +"He is English indeed," Selingman admitted, "but he speaks no German. +That I have ascertained. Give me your best attention, Meyer. Here is +again an important commission for you. Within the next few days, hire an +automobile and visit the rising country eastwards from Antwerp. At some +spot between six and eight miles from the city, on a slight incline and +commanding the River Scheldt, we desire to purchase an acre of land for +the erection of a factory. You can say that we have purchased the +concession for making an American safety razor. The land is wanted, and +urgently. See to this yourself and send plans and price to me in London. +On my return I shall call and inspect the sites and close the bargain." + +"And the Antwerp forts?" + +The other pursed his lips. + +"Pooh! Was it not the glorious firm of Krupp who fitted the guns there? +Do you think the men who undertook that task were idle? I tell you that +our plans of the Antwerp fortifications are more carefully worked out in +detail than the plans held by the Belgians themselves. Here is good work +for you to do, friend Meyer. That and the particulars from Brussels which +you know of, will keep you busy until we meet again." + +Herr Selingman began to collect his papers, but was suddenly thrown back +into his seat by the rocking of the train, which came, a few moments +later, to a standstill. The sound of the opening of windows from the +other side of the corridor was heard all down the train. Selingman and +his companion followed the general example, opening the door of the +carriage and the window opposite. A draught blew through the compartment. +One of the small folded slips of paper from Selingman's pocket-book +fluttered along the seat. It came within reach of Norgate. Cautiously he +stretched out his fingers and gripped it. In a moment it was in his +pocket. He sat up in his place. Selingman had turned around. + +"Anything the matter?" Norgate asked sleepily. + +"Not that one can gather," Selingman replied. "You have slept well. I am +glad that our conversation has not disturbed you. This is my agent from +Brussels--Mr. Meyer. He sells our crockery in that city--not so much as +he should sell, perhaps, but still he does his best." + +Mr. Meyer was a dark little man who wore gold-rimmed spectacles, neat +clothes, and a timid smile. Norgate nodded to him good-humouredly. + +"You should get Herr Selingman to come oftener and help you," he +remarked, yawning. "I can imagine that he would be able to sell anything +he tried to." + +"It is what I often tell him, sir," Mr. Meyer replied, "but he is too +fond of the English trade." + +"English money is no better than Belgian," Herr Selingman declared, "but +there is more of it. Let us go round to the restaurant car and drink a +bottle of wine together while the beds are prepared." + +"Certainly," Norgate assented, stretching himself. "By-the-by, you +had better look after your papers there, Herr Selingman. Just as I +woke up I saw a small slip fluttering along the seat. You made a most +infernal draught by opening that door, and I almost fancy it went out +of the window." + +Herr Selingman's face became suddenly grave. He went through the papers +one by one, and finally locked them up in his bag. + +"Nothing missing, I hope?" Norgate asked. + +Herr Selingman's face was troubled. + +"I am not sure," he said. "It is my belief that I had with me here a +list of my agents in England. I cannot find it. In a sense it is +unimportant, yet if a rival firm should obtain possession of it, there +might be trouble." + +Norgate looked out into the night and smiled. + +"Considering that it is blowing half a hurricane and commencing to rain," +he remarked, "the slip of paper which I saw blowing about will be of no +use to any one when it is picked up." + +They called the attendant and ordered him to prepare the sleeping +berths. Then they made their way down to the buffet car, and Herr +Selingman ordered a bottle of wine. + +"We will drink," he proposed, "to our three countries. In our way we +represent, I think, the industrial forces of the world--Belgium, England, +and Germany. We are the three countries who stand for commerce and peace. +We will drink prosperity to ourselves and to each other." + +Norgate threw off, with apparent effort, his sleepiness. + +"What you have said about our three countries is very true," he remarked. +"Perhaps as you, Mr. Meyer, are a Belgian, and you, Mr. Selingman, know +Belgium well and have connections with it, you can tell me one thing +which has always puzzled me. Why is it that Belgium, which is, as you +say, a commercial and peace-loving country, whose neutrality is +absolutely guaranteed by three of the greatest Powers in Europe, should +find it necessary to have spent such large sums upon fortifications?" + +"In which direction do you mean?" Selingman asked, his eyes narrowing a +little as he looked across at Norgate. + +"The forts of Liege and Namur," Norgate replied, "and Antwerp. I know +nothing more about it than I gathered from an article which I read not +long ago in a magazine. I had always looked upon Belgium as being outside +the pale of possible warfare, yet according to this article it seems to +be bristling to the teeth with armaments." + +Herr Selingman cleared his throat. + +"I will tell you the reason," he said. "You have come to the right man +to know. I am a civilian, but there are few things in connection with my +country which I do not understand. Mr. Meyer here, who is a citizen of +Brussels, will bear me out. It is the book of a clever, intelligent, but +misguided German writer which has been responsible for Belgium's +unrest--Bernhardi's _Germany and the Next War_--that and articles of a +similar tenor which preceded it." + +"Never read any of them," Norgate remarked. + +"It was erroneously supposed," Selingman continued, "that Bernhardi +represented the dominant military opinion of Germany when he wrote that +if Germany ever again invaded France, it would be, notwithstanding her +guarantees of neutrality, through Belgium. Bernhardi was a clever writer, +but he was a soldier, and soldiers do not understand the world policy of +a great nation such as Germany. Germany will make no war upon any one, +save commercially. She will never again invade France except under the +bitterest provocation, and if ever she should be driven to defend +herself, it will assuredly not be at the expense of her broken pledges. +The forts of Belgium might just as well be converted into apple-orchards. +They stand there to-day as the proof of a certain lack of faith in +Germany on the part of Belgium, ministered to by that King of the +Jingoes, as you would say in English, Bernhardi. How often it is that a +nation suffers most from her own patriots!" + +"Herr Selingman has expressed the situation admirably," Mr. Meyer +declared approvingly. + +"Very interesting, I'm sure," Norgate murmured. "There is one thing +about you foreigners," he added, with an envious sigh. "The way you all +speak the languages of other countries is wonderful. Are you a Belgian, +Mr. Meyer?" + +"Half Belgian and half French." + +"But you speak English almost without accent," Norgate remarked. + +"In commerce," Herr Selingman insisted, "that is necessary. All my agents +speak four languages." + +"You deserve to capture our trade," Norgate sighed. + +"To a certain extent, my young friend," Selingman declared, "we mean to +do it. We are doing it. And yet there is enough for us both. There is +trade enough for your millions and for mine. So long as Germany and +England remain friends, they can divide the commerce of the world between +them. It is our greatest happiness, we who have a business relying upon +the good-will of the two nations, to think that year by year the clouds +of discord are rolling away from between us. Young sir, as a German +citizen, I will drink a toast with you, an English one. I drink to +everlasting peace between my country and yours!" + +Norgate drained his glass. Selingman threw back his head as he followed +suit, and smacked his lips appreciatively. + +"And now," the former remarked, rising to his feet, "I think I'll go and +turn in. I dare say you two still have some business to talk about, +especially if Mr. Meyer is leaving us shortly." + +Norgate made his way back to his compartment, undressed leisurely and +climbed into the upper bunk. For an hour or two he indulged in the fitful +slumber usually engendered by night travelling. At the frontier he sat up +and answered the stereotyped questions. Herr Selingman, in sky-blue +pyjamas, and with face looking more beaming and florid than ever, poked +his head cheerfully out of the lower bunk. + +"Awake?" he enquired. + +"Very much so," Norgate yawned. + +"I have a surprise," Herr Selingman announced. "Wait." + +Almost as he spoke, an attendant arrived from the buffet car with some +soda-water. Herr Selingman's head vanished for a moment or two. When he +reappeared, he held two glasses in his hand. + +"A whisky soda made in real English fashion," he proclaimed triumphantly. +"A good nightcap, is it not? Now we are off again." + +Norgate held out his hand for the tumbler. + +"Awfully good of you," he murmured. + +"I myself," Selingman continued, seated on the edge of the bunk, with his +legs far apart to steady himself, "I myself enjoy a whisky soda. It will +be indeed a nightcap, so here goes." + +He drained his glass and set it down. Norgate followed suit. Selingman's +hand came up for the tumbler and Norgate was conscious of a curious +mixture of sensations which he had once experienced before in the +dentist's chair. He could see Selingman distinctly, and he fancied that +he was watching him closely, but the rest of the carriage had become +chaos. The sound of the locomotive was beating hard upon the drums of +his ears. His head fell back. + +It was broad daylight when he awoke. Selingman, fully dressed and +looking more beaming than ever, was seated upon a ridiculously +inadequate camp-stool upon the floor, smoking a cigarette. Norgate +stared at him stupidly. + +"My young friend," Herr Selingman declared impressively, "if there is one +thing in the world I envy you, it is that capacity for sleep. You all +have it, you English. Your heads touch the pillow, and off you go. Do you +know that the man is waiting for you to take your coffee?" + +Norgate lay quite still for several moments. Beyond a slight headache, he +was feeling as usual. He leaned over the side of the bunk. + +"How many whiskies and soda did I have last night?" he asked. + +Herr Selingman smiled. + +"But one only," he announced. "There was only one to be had. I found a +little whisky in my flask. I remembered that I had an English travelling +companion, and I sent for some soda-water. You drank yours, and you did +sleep. I go now and sit in the corridor while you dress." + +Norgate swung round in his bunk and slipped to the floor. + +"Jolly good of you," he muttered sleepily, "but it was very strong +whisky." + + + + +CHAPTER V + + +There was a babel of voices as the long train came to a stand-still in +the harbour station at Ostend. Selingman, with characteristic +forcefulness, pushed his way down the narrow corridor, driving before him +passengers of less weight and pertinacity, until finally he descended on +to the platform itself. Norgate, who had followed meekly in his wake, +stood listening for a moment to the confused stream of explanations. He +understood well enough what had happened, but with Selingman at his elbow +he assumed an air of non-comprehension. + +"It is extraordinary!" the latter exclaimed. "Never do I choose this +route but I am visited with some mishap. You hear what has happened?" + +"Fellow's trying to tell me," Norgate replied, "but his Flemish is worse +to understand than German." + +"The steamer," Selingman announced, "has met with an accident entering +the harbour. There will be a delay of at least six hours--possibly more. +It is most annoying. My appointments in London have been fixed for days." + +"Bad luck!" Norgate murmured. + +"You do not seem much distressed." + +"Why should I be? I really came this way because I was not sure whether +I would not stay here for a few days." + +"That is all very well for you," Selingman declared, as they followed +their porters into the shed. "For me, I am a man of affairs. It is +different. My business goes by clockwork. All is regulated by rule, with +precision, with punctuality. Now I shall be many hours behind my +schedule. I shall be compelled to alter my appointments--I, who pride +myself always upon altering nothing. But behold! One must make the best +of things. What a sunshine! What a sea! We shall meet, without a doubt, +upon the Plage. I have friends here. I must seek them. Au revoir, my +young travelling companion. To the good fortune!" + +They drifted apart, and Norgate, having made arrangements about his +luggage, strolled through the town and on to the promenade. It was early +for the full season at Ostend, but the sands were already crowded with an +immense throng of children and holiday-makers. The hotels were all open, +and streams of people were passing back and forth along the front, +Norgate, who had no wish to meet acquaintances, passed the first period +of his enforced wait a little wearily. He took a taxicab and drove as far +as Knocke. Here he strolled across the links and threw himself down +finally amongst a little wave of sandy hillocks close to the sea. The +silence, and some remains of the sleepiness of the previous night, soon +began to have their natural effect. He closed his eyes and began to doze. +When he awoke, curiously enough, it was a familiar voice which first fell +upon his ears. He turned his head cautiously. Seated not a dozen yards +away from him was a tall, thin man with a bag of golf clubs by his side. +He was listening with an air of engrossed attention to his companion's +impressive remarks. Norgate, raising himself upon his elbow, no longer +had any doubts. The man stretched upon his back on the sand, partly +hidden from sight by a little grass-grown undulation, was his late +travelling companion. + +"You do well, my dear Marquis, believe me!" the latter exclaimed. +"Property in Belgium is valuable to-day. Take my advice. Sell. There are +so many places where one may live, where the climate is better for a man +of your constitution." + +"That is all very well," his companion replied querulously, "but remember +that Belgium, after all, is my country. My château and estates came to me +by inheritance. Notwithstanding the frequent intermarriages of my family +with the aristocracy of your country, I am still a Belgian." + +"Ah! but, my dear friend," Selingman protested, "you are more than a +Belgian, more than a man of local nationality. You are a citizen of the +world of intelligence. You are able to see the truth. The days are coming +when small states may exist no longer without the all-protecting arm of a +more powerful country. I say no more than this. The position of Belgium +is artificial. Of her own will, or of necessity, she must soon become +merged in the onward flow of mightier nations." + +"What about Holland, then?" + +"Holland, too," Selingman continued, "knows the truth. She knows very +well that the limit of her days as an independent kingdom is almost +reached. The Power which has absorbed the states of Prussia into one +mighty empire, pauses only to take breath. There are many signs--" + +"But, my worthy friend," the other man interrupted irritably, "you must +take into consideration the fact that Belgium is in a different position. +Our existence as a separate kingdom might certainly be threatened by +Germany, but all that has been foreseen. Our neutrality is guaranteed. +Your country has pledged its honour to maintain it, side by side with +France and England. What have we to fear, then?" + +"You have to fear, Marquis," Selingman replied ponderously, "the +inevitable laws which direct the progress of nations. Treaties solemnly +subscribed to in one generation become worthless as time passes and +conditions change." + +"But I do not understand you there!" the other man exclaimed. "What you +say sounds to me like a reflection upon the honour of your country. Do +you mean to insinuate that she would possibly--that she would ever for a +moment contemplate breaking her pledged and sealed word?" + +"My friend," Selingman pronounced drily, "the path of honour and glory, +the onward progress of a mighty, struggling nation, carrying in its hand +culture and civilisation, might demand even such a sacrifice. Germany +recognises, is profoundly imbued with the splendour of her own ideals, +the matchlessness of her own culture. She feels justified in spreading +herself out wherever she can find an outlet--at any cost, mind, because +the end must be good." + +There was a moment's silence. Then the tall man stood upright. + +"If you came out to find me, my friend Selingman, to bring me this +warning, I suppose I should consider myself your debtor. As a matter of +fact, I do not. You have inspired me with nameless misgivings. Your voice +sounds in my ears like the voice of an ugly fate. I am, as you have often +reminded me, half German, and I have shown my friendship for Germany many +times. Unlike most of the aristocracy of my country, I look more often +northwards than towards the south. But I tell you frankly that there are +limits to my Germanism. I will play no more golf. I will walk with you to +the club-house." + +"All that I have to say," Selingman went on, "is not yet said. This +opportunity of meeting you is too precious to be wasted. Come. As we walk +there are certain questions I wish to put to you." + +They passed within a few feet of where Norgate was lying. He closed his +eyes and held his breath. It was not until their figures were almost +specks in the distance that he rose cautiously to his feet. He made his +way back to the club-house by another angle, gained his taxicab +unobserved, and drove back to Ostend. + + * * * * * + +Towards evening Norgate strolled into one of the cosmopolitan bars at the +back of the Casino. The first person he saw as he handed over his hat to +a waiter, was Selingman, spread out upon a cushioned seat with a young +lady upon either side of him. He at once summoned Norgate to his table. + +"An _apéritif_," he insisted. "Come, you must not refuse me. In two hours +we start. We tear ourselves away from this wonderful atmosphere. In +atmosphere, mademoiselle," he added, bowing to the right and the left, +"all is included." + +"It is not," Norgate admitted, "an invitation to be disregarded. On the +other hand, I have already an appetite." + +Selingman thundered out an order. + +"Here," he remarked, "we dwell for a few brief moments in Bohemia. I do +not introduce you. You sit down and join us. You are one of us. That you +speak only English counts for nothing. Mademoiselle Alice here is +American. Now tell us at once, how have you spent this afternoon? You +have bathed, perhaps, or walked upon the sands?" + +Norgate was on the point of speaking of his excursion to Knocke but was +conscious of Selingman's curiously intent gaze. The spirit of duplicity +seemed to grow upon him. + +"I walked for a little way," he said. "Afterwards I lay upon the sands +and slept. When I found that the steamer was still further delayed, I +had a bath. That was half an hour ago. I asked a man whom I met on the +promenade where one might dine in travelling clothes, lightly but +well, and he sent me here--the Bar de Londres--and here, for my good +fortune, I am." + +"It is a pity that monsieur does not speak French," one of Selingman's +companions murmured. + +"But, mademoiselle," Norgate protested, "I have spoken French all my +life. Herr Selingman here has misunderstood me. It is German of which I +am ignorant." + +The young lady, who immediately introduced herself as Mademoiselle +Henriette, passed her arm through Selingman's. + +"We dine here all together, my friend, is it not so?" she begged. "He +will not be in the way, and for myself, I am _triste_. You talk all the +time to Mademoiselle l'Américaine, perhaps because she is the friend of +some one in whom you are interested. But for me, it is dull. Monsieur +l'Anglais shall talk with me, and you may hear all the secrets that Alice +has to tell. We," she murmured, looking up at Norgate, "will speak of +other things, is it not so?" + +For a moment Selingman hesitated. Norgate would have moved on with a +little farewell nod, but Selingman's companions were insistent. + +"It shall be a _partie carrée_," they both declared, almost in unison. + +"You need have no fear," Mademoiselle Henriette continued. "I will talk +all the time to monsieur. He shall tell me his name, and we shall be +very great friends. I am not interested in the things of which they +talk, those others. You shall tell me of London, monsieur, and how you +live there." + +"Join us, by all means," Selingman invited. + +"On condition that you dine with me," Norgate insisted, as he took +up the menu. + +"Impossible!" Selingman declared firmly. + +"Oh! it matters nothing," Mademoiselle Henriette exclaimed, "so long +as we dine." + +"So long," Mademoiselle Alice intervened, "as we have this brief glimpse +of Mr. Selingman, let us make the best of it. We see him only because of +a _contretemps_. I think we must be very nice to him and persuade him to +take us to London to-night." + +Selingman's shake of the head was final. + +"Dear young ladies," he said, "it was delightful to find you here. I came +upon the chance, I admit, but who in Ostend would not be here between six +and eight? We dine, we walk down to the quay, and if you will, you shall +wave your hands and wish us _bon voyage,_ but London just now is +_triste_. It is here you may live the life the _bon Dieu_ sends, where +the sun shines all the time and the sea laps the sands like a great blue +lake, and you, mademoiselle, can wear those wonderful costumes and charm +all hearts. There is nothing like that for you in London." + +They ordered dinner and walked afterwards down to the quay. Mademoiselle +Henriette lingered behind with Norgate. + +"Let them go on," she whispered. "They have much to talk about. It is but +a short distance, and your steamer will not start before ten. We can walk +slowly and listen to the music. You are not in a hurry, monsieur, to +depart? Your stay here is too short already." + +Norgate's reply, although gallant enough, was a little vague. He was +watching Selingman with his companion. They were talking together with +undoubted seriousness. + +"Who is Mr. Selingman?" he enquired. "I know him only as a travelling +companion." + +Mademoiselle Henriette extended her hands. She shrugged her little +shoulders and looked with wide-open eyes up into her companion's +grave face. + +"But who, indeed, can answer that question?" she exclaimed. "Twice he has +been here for flying visits. Once Alice has been to see him in Berlin. He +is, I believe, a very wealthy manufacturer there. He crosses often to +England. He has money, and he is always gay." + +"And Mademoiselle Alice?" + +"Who knows?" was the somewhat pointless reply. "She came from America. +She arrived here this season with Monsieur le General." + +"What General?" Norgate asked. "A Belgian?" + +"But no," his companion corrected. "All the world knows that Alice is the +friend of General le Foys, chief of the staff in Paris. He is a very +great soldier. He spends eleven months working and one month here." + +"And she is also," Norgate observed meditatively, "the friend of Herr +Selingman. Tell me, mademoiselle, what do you suppose those two are +talking of now? See how close their heads are together. I don't think +that Herr Selingman is a Don Juan." + +"They speak, perhaps, of serious matters," his companion surmised, "but +who can tell? Besides, is it for us to waste our few moments wondering? +You will come back to Ostend, monsieur?" + +Norgate looked back at the streaming curve of lights flashing across the +dark waters. + +"One never knows," he answered. + +"That is what Monsieur Selingman himself says," she remarked, with a +little sigh. "'Enjoy your Ostend to-day, my little ones,' he said, when +he first met us this evening. 'One never knows how long these days will +last.' So, monsieur, we must indeed part here?" + +They had all come to a standstill at the gangway of the steamer. +Selingman had apparently finished his conversation with his companion. He +hurried Norgate off, and they waved their hands from the deck as a few +minutes later the steamer glided away. + +"A most delightful interlude," Selingman declared. "I have thoroughly +enjoyed these few hours. I trust, that every time this steamer meets with +a little accident, it will be at this time of the year and when I am on +my way to England." + +"You seem to have friends everywhere," Norgate observed, as he lit a +cigar. + +"Young ladies, yes," Selingman admitted. "It chanced that they were both +well-known to me. But who else?" + +Norgate made no reply. He felt that his companion was watching him. + +"It is something," he remarked, "to find charming young ladies in a +strange place to dine with one." + +Selingman smiled broadly. + +"If we travelled together often, my young friend," he said, "you would +discover that I have friends everywhere. If I have nothing else to do, I +go out and make a friend. Then, when I revisit that place, it loses its +coldness. There is some one there to welcome me, some one who is glad to +see me again. Look steadily in that direction, a few points to the left +of the bows. In two hours' time you will see the lights of your country. +I have friends there, too, who will welcome me. Meantime, I go below to +sleep. You have a cabin?" + +Norgate shook his head. + +"I shall doze on deck for a little time," he said. "It is too wonderful a +night to go below." + +"It is well for me that it is calm," Selingman acknowledged. "I do not +love the sea. Shall we part for a little time? If we meet not at Dover, +then in London, my young friend. London is the greatest city in the +world, but it is the smallest place in Europe. One cannot move in the +places one knows of without meeting one's friends." + +"Until we meet in London, then," Norgate observed, as he settled himself +down in his chair. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + + +Norgate spent an utterly fruitless morning on the day after his arrival +in London. After a lengthy but entirely unsatisfactory visit to the +Foreign Office, he presented himself soon after midday at Scotland Yard. + +"I should like," he announced, "to see the Chief Commissioner of +the Police." + +The official to whom he addressed his enquiry eyed him tolerantly. + +"Have you, by any chance, an appointment?" he asked. + +"None," Norgate admitted. "I only arrived from the Continent this +morning." + +The policeman shook his head slowly. + +"It is quite impossible, sir," he said, "to see Sir Philip without an +appointment. Your best course would be to write and state your business, +and his secretary will then fix a time for you to call." + +"Very much obliged to you, I'm sure," Norgate replied. "However, my +business is urgent, and if I can't see Sir Philip Morse, I will see some +one else in authority." + +Norgate was regaled with a copy of _The Times_ and a seat in a +barely-furnished waiting-room. In about twenty minutes he was told that a +Mr. Tyritt would see him, and was promptly shown into the presence of +that gentleman. Mr. Tyritt was a burly and black-bearded person of +something more than middle-age. He glanced down at Norgate's card in a +somewhat puzzled manner and motioned him to a seat. + +"What can I do for you, sir?" he enquired. "Sir Philip is very much +engaged for the next few days, but perhaps you can tell me your +business?" + +"I have just arrived from Berlin," Norgate explained. "Would you care to +possess a complete list of German spies in this country?" + +Mr. Tyritt's face was not one capable of showing the most profound +emotion. Nevertheless, he seemed a little taken aback. + +"A list of German spies?" he repeated. "Dear me, that sounds very +interesting!" + +He took up Norgate's card and glanced at it. The action was, in its way, +significant. + +"You probably don't know who I am," Norgate continued. "I have been in +the Diplomatic Service for eight years. Until a few days ago, I was +attached to the Embassy in Berlin." + +Mr. Tyritt was somewhat impressed by the statement. + +"Have you any objection to telling me how you became possessed of this +information?" + +"None whatever," was the prompt reply. "You shall hear the whole story." + +Norgate told him, as briefly as possible, of his meeting with Selingman, +their conversation, and the subsequent happenings, including the +interview which he had overheard on the golf links at Knocke. When he had +finished, there was a brief silence. + +"Sounds rather like a page out of a novel, doesn't it, Mr. Norgate?" the +police official remarked at last. + +"It may," Norgate assented drily. "I can't help what it sounds like. It +happens to be the exact truth." + +"I do not for a moment doubt it," the other declared politely. "I +believe, indeed, that there are a large number of Germans working in this +country who are continually collecting and forwarding to Berlin +commercial and political reports. Speaking on behalf of my department, +however, Mr. Norgate," he went on, "this is briefly our position. In the +neighbourhood of our naval bases, our dockyards, our military aeroplane +sheds, and in other directions which I need not specify, we keep the most +scrupulous and exacting watch. We even, as of course you are aware, +employ decoy spies ourselves, who work in conjunction with our friends at +Whitehall. Our system is a rigorous one and our supervision of it +unceasing. But--and this is a big 'but', Mr. Norgate--in other +directions--so far as regards the country generally, that is to say--we +do not take the subject of German spies seriously. I may almost say that +we have no anxiety concerning their capacity for mischief." + +"Those are the views of your department?" Norgate asked. + +"So far as I may be said to represent it, they are," Mr. Tyritt assented. +"I will venture to say that there are many thousands of letters a year +which leave this country, addressed to Germany, purporting to contain +information of the most important nature, which might just as well be +published in the newspapers. We ought to know, because at different times +we have opened a good many of them." + +"Forgive me if I press this point," Norgate begged. "Do you consider that +because a vast amount of useless information is naturally sent, that fact +lessens the danger as a whole? If only one letter in a thousand contains +vital information, isn't that sufficient to raise the subject to a more +serious level?" + +Mr. Tyritt crossed his legs. His tone still indicated the slight +tolerance of the man convinced beforehand of the soundness of his +position. + +"For the last twelve years," he announced,--"ever since I came into +office, in fact,--this bogey of German spies has been costing the nation +something like fifty thousand a year. It is only lately that we have come +to take that broader view of the situation which I am endeavouring +to--to--may I say enunciate? Germans over in this country, especially +those in comparatively menial positions, such as barbers and waiters, are +necessary to us industrially. So long as they earn their living +reputably, conform to our laws, and pay our taxes, they are welcome here. +We do not wish to unnecessarily disturb them. We wish instead to offer +them the full protection of the country in which they have chosen to do +productive work." + +"Very interesting," Norgate remarked. "I have heard this point of view +before. Once I thought it common sense. To-day I think it academic +piffle. If we leave the Germans engaged in the inland towns alone for a +moment, do you realise, I wonder, that there isn't any seaport in England +that hasn't its sprinkling of Germans engaged in the occupations of which +you speak?" + +"And in a general way," Mr. Tyritt assented, smiling, "they are +perfectly welcome to write home to their friends and relations each week +and tell them everything they see happening about them, everything they +know about us." + +Norgate rose reluctantly to his feet. + +"I won't trouble you any longer," he decided. "I presume that if I make a +few investigations on my own account, and bring you absolute proof that +any one of these people whose names are upon my list are in traitorous +communication with Germany, you will view the matter differently?" + +"Without a doubt," Mr. Tyritt promised. "Is that your list? Will you +allow me to glance through it?" + +"I brought it here to leave in your hands," Norgate replied, passing it +over. "Your attitude, however, seems to render that course useless." + +Mr. Tyritt adjusted his eyeglasses and glanced benevolently at the +document. A sharp ejaculation broke from his lips. As his eyes wandered +downwards, his first expression of incredulity gave way to one of +suppressed amusement. + +"Why, Mr. Norgate," he exclaimed, as he laid it down, "do you mean to +seriously accuse these people of being engaged in any sort of league +against us?" + +"Most certainly I do," Norgate insisted. + +"But the thing is ridiculous!" Mr. Tyritt declared. "There are names +here of princes, of bankers, of society women, many of them wholly and +entirely English, some of them household names. You expect me to believe +that these people are all linked together in what amounts to a conspiracy +to further the cause of Germany at the expense of the country in which +they live, to which they belong?" + +Norgate picked up his hat. + +"I expect you to believe nothing, Mr. Tyritt," he said drily. "Sorry I +troubled you." + +"Not at all," Mr. Tyritt protested, the slight irritation passing from +his manner. "Such a visit as yours is an agreeable break in my routine +work. I feel as though I might be a character in a great modern romance. +The names of your amateur criminals are still tingling in my memory." + +Norgate turned back from the door. + +"Remember them, if you can, Mr. Tyritt," he advised, "You may have cause +to, some day." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + + +Norgate sat, the following afternoon, upon the leather-stuffed fender of +a fashionable mixed bridge club in the neighbourhood of Berkeley Square, +exchanging greetings with such of the members as were disposed to find +time for social amenities. A smartly-dressed woman of dark complexion and +slightly foreign appearance, who had just cut out of a rubber, came over +and seated herself by his side. She took a cigarette from her case and +accepted a match from Norgate. + +"So you are really back again!" she murmured. "It scarcely seems +possible." + +"I am just beginning to realise it myself," he replied. "You haven't +altered, Bertha." + +"My dear man," she protested, "you did not expect me to age in a month, +did you? It can scarcely be more than that since you left for Berlin. Are +you not back again sooner than you expected?" + +Norgate nodded. + +"Very much sooner," he admitted. "I came in for some unexpected +leave, which I haven't the slightest intention of spending abroad, so +here I am." + +"Not, apparently, in love with Berlin," the lady, whose name was Mrs. +Paston Benedek, remarked. + +Norgate's air of complete candour was very well assumed. + +"I shall never be a success as a diplomatist," he confessed. "When I +dislike a place or a person, every one knows it. I hated Berlin. I hate +the thought of going back again." + +The woman by his side smiled enigmatically. + +"Perhaps," she murmured, "you may get an exchange." + +"Perhaps," Norgate assented. "Meanwhile, even a month away from London +seems to have brought a fresh set of people here. Who is the tall, thin +young man with the sunburnt face? He seems familiar, somehow, but I can't +place him." + +"He is a sailor," she told him. "Captain Baring his name is." + +"Friend of yours?" + +She looked at him sidewise. + +"Why do you ask?" + +"Jealousy," Norgate sighed, "makes one observant. You were lunching with +him in the Carlton Grill. You came in with him to the club this +afternoon." + +"Sherlock Holmes!" she murmured. "There are other men in the club with +whom I lunch--even dine." + +Norgate glanced across the room. Baring was playing bridge at a table +close at hand, but his attention seemed to be abstracted. He looked often +towards where Mrs. Benedek sat. There was a restlessness about his manner +scarcely in keeping with the rest of his appearance. + +"One misses a great deal," Norgate regretted, "through being only an +occasional visitor here." + +"As, for instance?" + +"The privilege of being one of those fortunate few." + +She laughed at him. Her eyes were full of challenge. She leaned a little +closer and whispered in his ear: "There is still a vacant place." + +"For to-night or to-morrow?" he asked eagerly. + +"For to-morrow," she replied. "You may telephone--3702 Mayfair--at +ten o'clock." + +He scribbled down the number. Then he put his pocket-book away +with a sigh. + +"I'm afraid you are treating that poor sailor-man badly," he declared. + +"Sometimes," she confided, "he bores me. He is so very much in earnest. +Tell me about Berlin and your work there?" + +"I didn't take to Germany," Norgate confessed, "and Germany didn't take +to me. Between ourselves--I shouldn't like another soul in the club to +know it--I think it is very doubtful if I go back there." + +"That little _contretemps_ with the Prince," she murmured under +her breath. + +He stiffened at once. + +"But how do you know of it?" + +She bit her lip. For a moment a frown of annoyance clouded her face. She +had said more than she intended. + +"I have correspondents in Berlin," she explained. "They tell me of +everything. I have a friend, in fact, who was in the restaurant +that night." + +"What a coincidence!" he exclaimed. + +She nodded and selected a fresh cigarette. + +"Isn't it! But that table is up. I promised to cut in there. Captain +Baring likes me to play at the same table, and he is here for such a +short time that one tries to be kind. It is indeed kindness," she added, +taking up her gold purse and belongings, "for he plays so badly." + +She moved towards the table. It happened to be Baring who cut out, and he +and Norgate drifted together. They exchanged a few remarks. + +"I met you at Marseilles once," Norgate reminded him. "You were with the +Mediterranean Squadron, commanding the _Leicester_, I believe." + +"Thought I'd seen you somewhere before," was the prompt acknowledgment. +"You're in the Diplomatic Service, aren't you?" + +Norgate admitted the fact and suggested a drink. The two men settled down +to exchange confidences over a whisky and soda. Baring looked around him +with some disapprobation. + +"I can't really stick this place," he asserted. "If it weren't for--for +some of the people here, I'd never come inside the doors. It's a rotten +way of spending one's time. You play, I suppose?" + +"Oh, yes, I play," Norgate admitted, "but I rather agree with you. How +wonderfully well Mrs. Benedek is looking, isn't she!" + +Baring withdrew his admiring eyes from her vicinity. + +"Prettiest and smartest woman in London," he declared. + +"By-the-by, is she English?" Norgate asked. + +"A mixture of French, Italian, and German, I believe," Baring replied. +"Her husband is Benedek the painter, you know." + +"I've heard of him," Norgate assented. "What are you doing now?" + +"I've had a job up in town for a week or so, at the Admiralty," Baring +explained. "We are examining the plans of a new--but you wouldn't be +interested in that." + +"I'm interested in anything naval," Norgate assured him. + +"In any case, it isn't my job to talk about it," Baring continued +apologetically. "We've just got a lot of fresh regulations out. Any one +would think we were going to war to-morrow." + +"I suppose war isn't such an impossible event," Norgate remarked. "They +all say that the Germans are dying to have a go at you fellows." + +Baring grinned. + +"They wouldn't have a dog's chance," he declared. "That's the only +drawback of having so strong a navy. We don't stand any chance of +getting a fight." + +"You'll have all you can do to keep up, judging by the way they talk in +Germany," Norgate observed. + +"Are you just home from there?" + +Norgate nodded. "I am at the Embassy in Berlin, or rather I have been," +he replied. "I am just home on six months' leave." + +"And that's your real impression?" Baring enquired eagerly. "You really +think that they mean to have a go at us?" + +"I think there'll be a war soon," Norgate confessed. "It probably won't +commence at sea, but you'll have to do your little lot, without a doubt." + +Baring gazed across the room. There was a hard light in his eyes. + +"Sounds beastly, I suppose," he muttered, "but I wish to God it would +come! A war would give us all a shaking up--put us in our right places. +We all seem to go on drifting any way now. The Services are all right +when there's a bit of a scrap going sometimes, but there's a nasty sort +of feeling of dry rot about them, when year after year all your +preparations end in the smoke of a sham fight. Now I am on this beastly +land job--but there, I mustn't bother you with my grumblings." + +"I am interested," Norgate assured him. "Did you say you were considering +something new?" + +Baring nodded. + +"Plans of a new submarine," he confided. "There's no harm in telling you +as much as that." + +Mrs. Benedek, who was dummy for the moment, strolled over to them. + +"I am not sure," she murmured, "whether I like the expression you have +brought back from Germany with you, Mr. Norgate." + +Norgate smiled. "Have I really acquired the correct diplomatic air?" he +asked. "I can assure you that it is an accident--or perhaps I am +imitative." + +"You have acquired," she complained, "an air of unnatural reserve. You +seem as though you had found some problem in life so weighty that you +could not lose sight of it even for a moment. Ah!" + +The glass-topped door had been flung wide open with an unusual flourish. +A barely perceptible start escaped Norgate. It was indeed an unexpected +appearance, this! Dressed with a perfect regard to the latest London +fashion, with his hair smoothly brushed and a pearl pin in his black +satin tie, Herr Selingman stood upon the threshold, beaming upon them. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + + +Selingman had the air of a man who returns after a long absence to some +familiar spot where he expects to find friends and where his welcome is +assured. Mrs. Paston Benedek slipped from her place upon the cushioned +fender and held out both her hands. + +"Ah, it is really you!" she exclaimed. "Welcome, dear friend! For days I +have wondered what it was in this place which one missed all the time. +Now I know." + +Selingman took the little outstretched hands and raised them to his lips. + +"Dear lady," he assured her, "you repay me in one moment for all the +weariness of my exile." + +She turned towards her companion. + +"Captain Baring," she begged, "please ring the bell. Mr. Selingman and I +always drink a toast together the moment he first arrives to pay us one +of his too rare visits. Thank you! You know Captain Baring, don't you, +Mr. Selingman? This is another friend of mine whom I think that you have +not met--Mr. Francis Norgate, Mr. Selingman. Mr. Norgate has just arrived +from Berlin, too." + +For a single moment the newcomer seemed to lose his Cheeryble-like +expression. The glance which he flashed upon Norgate contained other +elements besides those of polite pleasure. He was himself again, +however, almost instantly. He grasped his new acquaintance by the hand. + +"Mr. Norgate and I are already old friends," he insisted. "We occupied +the same coupe coming from Berlin and drank a bottle of wine together in +the buffet." + +Mrs. Benedek threw back her head and laughed, a familiar gesture which +her enemies declared was in some way associated with the dazzling +whiteness of her teeth. + +"And now," she exclaimed, "you find that you belong to the same bridge +club. What a coincidence!" + +"It is rather surprising, I must admit," Norgate assented. "Mr. Selingman +and I discussed many things last night, but we did not speak of bridge. +In fact, from the tone of our conversation, I should have imagined that +cards were an amusement which scarcely entered into Mr. Selingman's +scheme of life." + +"One must have one's distractions," Selingman protested. "I confess that +auction bridge, as it is played over here, is the one game in the world +which attracts me." + +"But how about the crockery?" Norgate asked. "Doesn't that come first?" + +"First, beyond a doubt," Selingman agreed heartily. "Always, though, my +plan of campaign is the same. On the day of my arrival here, I take +things easily. I spend an hour or so at the office in the morning, and +the afternoon I take holiday. After that I settle down for one week's +hard work. London--your great London--takes always first place with me. +In the mornings I see my agents and my customers. Perhaps I lunch with +one of them. At four o'clock I close my desk, and crockery does not exist +for me any longer. I get into a taxi, and I come here. My first game of +bridge is a treat to which I look forward eagerly. See, there are three +of us and several sitting out. Let us make another table. So!" + +They found a fourth without difficulty and took possession of a table at +the far end of the room. Selingman, with a huge cigar in his mouth, +played well and had every appearance of thoroughly enjoying the game. +Towards the end of their third rubber, Mrs. Benedek, who was dummy, +leaned across towards Norgate. + +"After all, perhaps you are better off here," she murmured in German. +"There is nothing like this in Berlin." + +"One is at least nearer the things one cherishes," Norgate quoted in the +same language. + +Selingman was playing the hand and held between his fingers a card +already drawn to play. For a moment, it was suspended in the air. He +looked towards Norgate, and there was a new quality in his piercing gaze, +an instant return in his expression of the shadow which had swept the +broad good-humour from his face on his first appearance. The change came +and went like a flash. He finished playing the hand and scored his points +before he spoke. Then he turned to Norgate. + +"Your gift of acquiring languages in a short space of time is most +extraordinary, my young friend! Since yesterday you have become able to +speak German, eh? Prodigious!" + +Norgate smiled without embarrassment. The moment was a critical one, +portentous to an extent which no one at that table could possibly +have realised. + +"I am afraid," he confessed, "that when I found that I had a fellow +traveller in my coupe I felt most ungracious and unsociable. I was in +a thoroughly bad temper and indisposed for conversation. The simplest +way to escape from it seemed to be to plead ignorance of any language +save my own." + +Selingman chuckled audibly. The cloud had passed from his face. To all +appearance that momentary suspicion had been strangled. + +"So you found me a bore!" he observed. "Then I must admit that your +manners were good, for when you found that I spoke English and that you +could not escape conversation, you allowed me to talk on about my +business, and you showed few signs of weariness. You should be a +diplomatist, Mr. Norgate." + +"Mr. Norgate is, or rather he was," Mrs. Paston Benedek remarked. "He has +just left the Embassy at Berlin." + +Selingman leaned back in his chair and thrust both hands into his +trousers pockets. He indulged in a few German expletives, bombastic and +thunderous, which relieved him so much that he was able to conclude his +speech in English. + +"I am the densest blockhead in all Europe!" he announced emphatically. +"If I had realised your identity, I would willingly have left you alone. +No wonder you were feeling indisposed for idle conversation! Mr. Francis +Norgate, eh? A little affair at the Café de Berlin with a lady and a +hot-headed young princeling. Well, well! Young sir, you have become more +to me than an ordinary acquaintance. If I had known the cause of your +ill-humour, I would certainly have left you alone, but I would have +shaken you first by the hand." + +The fourth at the table, who was an elderly lady of somewhat austere +appearance, produced a small black cigar from what seemed to be a +harmless-looking reticule which she was carrying, and lit it. Selingman +stared at her with his mouth open. + +"Is this a bridge-table or is it not?" she enquired severely. "These +little personal reminiscences are very interesting among yourselves, I +dare say, but I cut in here with the idea of playing bridge." + +Selingman was the first to recover his manners, although his eyes seemed +still fascinated by the cigar. + +"We owe you apologies, madam," he acknowledged. "Permit me to cut." + +The rubber progressed and finished in comparative silence. At its +conclusion, Selingman glanced at the clock. It was half-past seven. + +"I am hungry," he announced. + +Mrs. Benedek laughed at him. "Hungry at half-past seven! Barbarian!" + +"I lunched at half-past twelve," he protested. "I ate less than usual, +too. I did not even leave my office, I was so anxious to finish what was +necessary and to find myself here." + +Mrs. Benedek played with the cards a moment and then rose to her feet +with a little grimace. + +"Well, I suppose I shall have to give in," she sighed. "I am taking it +for granted, you see, that you are expecting me to dine with you." + +"My dear lady," Selingman declared emphatically, "if you were to break +through our time-honoured custom and deny me the joy of your company on +my first evening in London, I think that I should send another to look +after my business in this country, and retire myself to the seclusion of +my little country home near Potsdam. The inducements of managing one's +own affairs in this country, Mr. Norgate," he added, "are, as you may +imagine, manifold and magnetic." + +"We will not grudge them to you so long as you don't come too often," +Norgate remarked, as he bade them good night. "The man who monopolised +Mrs. Benedek would soon make himself unpopular here." + + + + +CHAPTER IX + + +Norgate had chosen, for many reasons, to return to London as a visitor. +His somewhat luxurious rooms in Albemarle Street were still locked up. He +had taken a small flat in the Milan Court, solely for the purpose of +avoiding immediate association with his friends and relatives. His whole +outlook upon life was confused and disturbed. Until he received a +definite pronouncement from the head-quarters of officialdom, he felt +himself unable to settle down to any of the ordinary functions of life. +And behind all this, another and a more powerful sentiment possessed him. +He had left Berlin without seeing or hearing anything further from Anna +von Haase. No word had come from her, nor any message. And now that it +was too late, he began to feel that he had made a mistake. It seemed to +him that he had visited upon her, in some indirect way, the misfortune +which had befallen him. It was scarcely her fault that she had been the +object of attentions which nearly every one agreed were unwelcome, from +this young princeling. Norgate told himself, as he changed his clothes +that evening, that his behaviour had been the behaviour of a jealous +school-boy. Then an inspiration seized him. Half dressed as he was, he +sat down at the writing-table and wrote to her. He wrote rapidly, and +when he had finished, he sealed and addressed the envelope without +glancing once more at its contents. The letter was stamped and posted +within a few minutes, but somehow or other it seemed to have made a +difference. His depression was no longer so complete. He looked forward +to his lonely dinner, at one of the smaller clubs to which he belonged, +with less aversion. + +"Do you know where any of my people are. Hardy?" he asked his servant. + +"In Scotland, I believe, sir," the man replied. "I called round this +afternoon, although I was careful not to mention the fact that you were +in town. The house is practically in the hands of caretakers." + +"Try to keep out of the way as much as you can. Hardy," Norgate +enjoined. "For a few days, at any rate, I should like no one to know +that I am in town." + +"Very good, sir," the man replied. "Might I venture to enquire, sir, if +you are likely to be returning to Berlin?" + +"I think it is very doubtful, Hardy," Norgate observed grimly. "We are +more likely to remain here for a time." + +Hardy brushed his master's hat for a moment or two in silence. + +"You will pardon my mentioning it, sir," he said--"I imagine it is of no +importance--but one of the German waiters on this floor has been going +out of his way to enter into conversation with me this evening. He seemed +to know your name and to know that you had just come from Germany. He +hinted at some slight trouble there, sir." + +"The dickens he did!" Norgate exclaimed. "That's rather quick +work, Hardy." + +"So I thought, sir," the man continued. "A very inquisitive individual +indeed I found him. He wanted to know whether you had had any news yet as +to any further appointment. He seemed to know quite well that you had +been at the Foreign Office this morning." + +"What did you tell him?" + +"I told him that I knew nothing, sir. I explained that you had not been +back to lunch, and that I had not seen you since the morning. He tried to +make an appointment with me to give me some dinner and take me to a +music-hall to-night." + +"What did you say to that?" Norgate enquired. + +"I left the matter open, sir," the man replied. "I thought I would +enquire what your wishes might be? The person evidently desires to gain +some information about your movements. I thought that possibly it might +be advantageous for me to tell him just what you desired." + +Norgate lit a cigarette. For the moment he was puzzled. It was true that +during their journey he had mentioned to Selingman his intention of +taking a flat at the Milan Court, but if this espionage were the direct +outcome of that information, it was indeed a wonderful organisation which +Selingman controlled. + +"You have acted very discreetly, Hardy," he said. "I think you had better +tell your friend that I am expecting to leave for somewhere at a moment's +notice. For your own information," he added, "I rather think that I shall +stay here. It seems to me quite possible that we may find London, for a +few weeks, just as interesting as any city in the world." + +"I am very glad to hear you say so, sir," the man murmured. "Shall I +fetch your overcoat?" + +The telephone bell suddenly interrupted them. Hardy took up the receiver +and listened for a moment. + +"Mr. Hebblethwaite would like to speak to you, sir," he announced. + +Norgate hurried to the telephone. A cheery voice greeted him. + +"Hullo! That you, Norgate? This is Hebblethwaite. I'm just back from a +few days in the country--found your note here. I want to hear all about +this little matter at once. When can I see you?" + +"Any time you like," Norgate replied promptly. + +"Let me see," the voice continued, "what are you doing to-night?" + +"Nothing!" + +"Come straight round to the House of Commons and dine. Or no--wait a +moment--we'll go somewhere quieter. Say the club in a quarter of an +hour--the Reform Club. How will that suit you?" + +"I'll be there, with pleasure," Norgate promised. + +"Righto! We'll hear what you've been doing to these peppery Germans. I +had a line from Leveson himself this morning. A lady in the case, I hear? +Well, well! Never mind explanations now. See you in a few minutes." + +Norgate laid down the receiver. His manner, as he accepted his +well-brushed hat, had lost all its depression. There was no one in the +Cabinet with more influence than Hebblethwaite. He would have his chance, +at any rate, and his chance at other things. + +"Look here, Hardy," he ordered, as he drew on his gloves, "spend as much +time as you like with that fellow and let me know what sort of questions +he asks you. Be careful not to mention the fact that I am dining with Mr. +Hebblethwaite. For the rest, fence with him. I am not quite sure what it +all means. If by any chance he mentions a man named Selingman, let me +know. Good night!" + +"Good night, sir!" the man replied. + +Norgate descended into the Strand and walked briskly towards Pall Mall. +The last few minutes seemed to him to be fraught with promise of a new +interest in life. Yet it was not of any of these things that he was +thinking as he made his way towards his destination. He was occupied most +of the time in wondering how long it would be before he could hope to +receive a reply from Berlin to his letter. + + + + +CHAPTER X + + +The Right Honourable John Hebblethwaite, M.P., since he had become a +Cabinet Minister and had even been mentioned as the possible candidate +for supreme office, had lost a great deal of that breezy, almost +boisterous effusion of manner which in his younger days had first +endeared him to his constituents. He received Norgate, however, with +marked and hearty cordiality, and took his arm as he led him to the +little table which he had reserved in a corner of the dining-room. The +friendship between the entirely self-made politician and Norgate, who was +the nephew of a duke, and whose aristocratic connections were +multifarious and far-reaching, was in its way a genuine one. There were +times when Hebblethwaite had made use of his younger friend to further +his own undoubted social ambitions. On the other hand, since he had +become a power in politics, he had always been ready to return in kind +such offices. The note which he had received from Norgate that day was, +however, the first appeal which had ever been made to him. + +"I have been away for a week-end's golf," Hebblethwaite explained, as +they took their places at the table. "There comes a time when figures +pall, and snapping away in debate seems to stick in one's throat. I +telephoned directly I got your note. Fortunately, I wasn't doing anything +this evening. We won't play about. I know you don't want to see me to +talk about the weather, and I know something's up, or Leveson wouldn't +have written to me, and you wouldn't be back from Berlin. Let's have the +whole story with the soup and fish, and we'll try and hit upon a way to +put things right before we reach the liqueurs." + +"I've lots to say to you," Norgate admitted simply. "I'll begin with the +personal side of it. Here's just a brief narration of exactly what +happened to me in the most fashionable restaurant of Berlin last +Thursday night." + +Norgate told his story. His friend listened with the absorbed attention +of a man who possesses complete powers of concentration. + +"Rotten business," he remarked, when it was finished. "I suppose you've +told old--I mean you've told them the story at the Foreign Office?" + +"Had it all out this morning," Norgate replied. + +"I know exactly what our friend told you," Mr. Hebblethwaite continued, +with a gleam of humour in his eyes. "He reminded you that the first duty +of a diplomat--of a young diplomat especially--is to keep on friendly +terms with the governing members of the country to which he is +accredited. How's that, eh?" + +"Pretty nearly word for word," Norgate admitted. "It's the sort of +platitude I could watch framing in his mind before I was half-way through +what I had to say. What they don't seem to take sufficient account of in +that museum of mummied brains and parchment tongues--forgive me, +Hebblethwaite, but it isn't your department--is that the Prince's +behaviour to me is such as no Englishman, subscribing to any code of +honour, could possibly tolerate. I will admit, if you like, that the +Kaiser's attitude may render it advisable for me to be transferred from +Berlin. I do not admit that I am not at once eligible for a position of +similar importance in another capital." + +"No one would doubt it," John Hebblethwaite grumbled, "except those +particular fools we have to deal with. I suppose they didn't see it in +the same light." + +"They did not," Norgate admitted. + +"We've a tough proposition to tackle," Hebblethwaite confessed +cheerfully, "but I am with you, Norgate, and to my mind one of the +pleasures of being possessed of a certain amount of power is to help +one's friends when you believe in the justice of their cause. If you +leave things with me, I'll tackle them to-morrow morning." + +"That's awfully good of you, Hebblethwaite," Norgate declared gratefully, +"and just what I expected. We'll leave that matter altogether just now, +if we may. My own little grievance is there, and I wanted to explain +exactly how it came about. Apart from that altogether, there is something +far more important which I have to say to you." + +Hebblethwaite knitted his brows. He was clearly puzzled. + +"Still personal, eh?" he enquired. + +Norgate shook his head. + +"It is something of vastly more importance," he said, "than any question +affecting my welfare. I am almost afraid to begin for fear I shall miss +any chance, for fear I may not seem convincing enough." + +"We'll have the champagne opened at once, then," Mr. Hebblethwaite +declared. "Perhaps that will loosen your tongue. I can see that this is +going to be a busy meal. Charles, if that bottle of Pommery 1904 is iced +just to the degree I like it, let it be served, if you please, in the +large sized glasses. Now, Norgate." + +"What I am going to relate to you," Norgate began, leaning across the +table and speaking very earnestly, "is a little incident which happened +to me on my way back from Berlin. I had as a fellow passenger a person +whom I am convinced is high up in the German Secret Service Intelligence +Department." + +"All that!" Mr. Hebblethwaite murmured. "Go ahead, Norgate. I like the +commencement of your story. I almost feel that I am moving through the +pages of a diplomatic romance. All that I am praying is that your fellow +passenger was a foreign lady--a princess, if possible--with wonderful +eyes, fascinating manners, and of a generous disposition." + +"Then I am afraid you will be disappointed," Norgate continued drily. +"The personage in question was a man whose name was Selingman. He told me +that he was a manufacturer of crockery and that he came often to England +to see his customers. He called himself a peace-loving German, and he +professed the utmost good-will towards our country and our national +policy. At the commencement of our conversation, I managed to impress him +with the idea that I spoke no German. At one of the stations on the line +he was joined by a Belgian, his agent, as he told me, in Brussels for the +sale of his crockery. I overheard this agent, whose name was Meyer, +recount to his principal his recent operations. He offered him an exact +plan of the forts of Liège. I heard him instructed to procure a list of +the wealthy inhabitants of Ghent and the rateable value of the city, and +I heard him commissioned to purchase land in the neighbourhood of Antwerp +for a secret purpose." + +Mr. Hebblethwaite's eyebrows became slowly upraised. The twinkle in his +eyes remained, however. + +"My!" he exclaimed softly. "We're getting on with the romance all right!" + +"During the momentary absence of this fellow and his agent from the +carriage," Norgate proceeded, "I possessed myself of a slip of paper +which had become detached from the packet of documents they had been +examining. It consisted of a list of names mostly of people resident in +the United Kingdom, purporting to be Selingman's agents. I venture to +believe that this list is a precise record of the principal German spies +in this country." + +"German spies!" Mr. Hebblethwaite murmured. "Whew!" + +He sipped his champagne. + +"That list," Norgate went on, "is in my pocket. I may add that although I +was careful to keep up the fiction of not understanding German, and +although I informed Herr Selingman that I had seen the paper in question +blow out of the window, he nevertheless gave me that night a drugged +whisky and soda, and during the time I slept he must have been through +every one of my possessions. I found my few letters and papers turned +upside down, and even my pockets had been ransacked." + +"Where was the paper, then?" Mr. Hebblethwaite enquired. + +"In an inner pocket of my pyjamas," Norgate explained. "I had them made +with a sort of belt inside, at the time I was a king's messenger." + +Mr. Hebblethwaite played with his tie for a moment and drank a little +more champagne. + +"Could I have a look at the list?" he asked, as though with a sudden +inspiration. + +Norgate passed it across the table to him. Mr. Hebblethwaite adjusted his +pince-nez, gave a little start as he read the first name, leaned back in +his chair as he came to another, stared at Norgate about half-way down +the list, as though to make sure that he was in earnest, and finally +finished it in silence. He folded it up and handed it back. + +"Well, well!" he exclaimed, a little pointlessly. "Now tell me, Norgate, +you showed this list down there?"--jerking his head towards the street. + +"I did," Norgate admitted. + +"And what did they say?" + +"Just what you might expect men whose lives are spent within the four +walls of a room in Downing Street to say," Norgate replied. "You are +half inclined to make fun of me yourself, Hebblethwaite, but at any +rate I know you have a different outlook from theirs. Old Carew was +frantically polite. He even declared the list to be most interesting! He +rambled on for about a quarter of an hour on the general subject of the +spy mania. German espionage, he told me, was one of the shadowy evils +from which England had suffered for generations. So far as regards +London and the provincial towns, he went on, whether for good or evil, +we have a large German population, and if they choose to make reports to +any one in Germany as to events happening here which come under their +observation, we cannot stop it, and it would not even be worth while to +try. As regards matters of military and naval importance, there was a +special branch, he assured me, for looking after these, and it was a +branch of the Service which was remarkably well-served and remarkably +successful. Having said this, he folded the list up and returned it to +me, rang the bell, gave me a frozen hand to shake, a mumbled promise +about another appointment as soon as there should be a vacancy, and that +was the end of it." + +"About that other appointment," Mr. Hebblethwaite began, with some +animation-- + +"Damn the other appointment!" Norgate interrupted testily. "I didn't come +here to cadge, Hebblethwaite. I am never likely to make use of my friends +in that way. I came for a bigger thing. I came to try and make you see a +danger, the reality of which I have just begun to appreciate myself for +the first time in my life." + +Mr. Hebblethwaite's manner slowly changed. He pulled down his waistcoat, +finished off a glass of wine, and leaned forward. + +"Norgate," he said, "I am sorry that this is the frame of mind in which +you have come to me. I tell you frankly that you couldn't have appealed +to a man in the Cabinet less in sympathy with your fears than I myself." + +"I am sorry to hear that," Norgate replied grimly, "but go on." + +"Before I entered the Cabinet," Mr. Hebblethwaite continued, "our +relations with Foreign Powers were just the myth to me that they are to +most people who read the _Morning Post_ one day and the _Daily Mail_ the +next. However, I made the best part of half a million in business through +knowing the top and the bottom and every corner of my job, and I started +in to do the same when I began to have a share in the government of the +country. The _entente_ with France is all right in its way, but I came to +the conclusion that the greatest and broadest stroke of diplomacy +possible to Englishmen to-day was to cultivate more benevolent and more +confidential relations with Germany. That same feeling has been spreading +through the Cabinet during the last two years. I am ready to take my +share of the blame or praise, whichever in the future shall be allotted +to the inspirer of that idea. It is our hope that when the present +Government goes out of office, one of its chief claims to public approval +and to historical praise will be the improvement of our relations with +Germany. We certainly do not wish to disturb the growing confidence which +exists between the two countries by any maladroit or unnecessary +investigations. We believe, in short, that Germany's attitude towards us +is friendly, and we intend to treat her in the same spirit." + +"Tell me," Norgate asked, "is that the reason why every scheme for the +expansion of the army has been shelved? Is that the reason for all the +troubles with the Army Council?" + +"It is," Hebblethwaite admitted. "I trust you, Norgate, and I look upon +you as a friend. I tell you what the whole world of responsible men and +women might as well know, but which we naturally don't care about +shouting from the housetops. We have come to the conclusion that there is +no possible chance of the peace of Europe being disturbed. We have come +to the conclusion that civilisation has reached that pitch when the last +resource of arms is absolutely unnecessary. I do not mind telling you +that the Balkan crisis presented opportunities to any one of the Powers +to plunge into warfare, had they been so disposed. No one bade more +boldly for peace then than Germany. No one wants war. Germany has nothing +to gain by it, no animosity against France, none towards Russia. Neither +of these countries has the slightest intention, now or at any time, of +invading Germany. Why should they? The matter of Alsace and Lorraine is +finished. If these provinces ever come back to France, it will be by +political means and not by any mad-headed attempt to wrest them away." + +"Incidentally," Norgate asked, "what about the enormous armaments of +Germany? What about her navy? What about the military spirit which +practically rules the country?" + +"I have spent three months in Germany during the last year," +Hebblethwaite replied. "It is my firm belief that those armaments and +that fleet are necessary to Germany to preserve her place of dignity +among the nations. She has Russia on one side and France on the +other, allies, watching her all the time, and of late years England +has been chipping at her whenever she got a chance, and flirting with +France. What can a nation do but make herself strong enough to defend +herself against unprovoked attack? Germany, of course, is full of the +military spirit, but it is my opinion, Norgate, that it is a great +deal fuller of the great commercial spirit. It isn't war with Germany +that we have to fear. It's the ruin of our commerce by their great +assiduity and more up-to-date methods. Now you've had a statement of +policy from me for which the halfpenny Press would give me a thousand +guineas if I'd sign it." + +"I've had it," Norgate admitted, "and I tell you frankly that I hate it. +I am an unfledged young diplomat in disgrace, and I haven't your +experience or your brains, but I have a hateful idea that I can see the +truth and you can't. You're too big and too broad in this matter, +Hebblethwaite. Your head's lifted too high. You see the horrors and the +needlessness, the logical side of war, and you brush the thought away +from you." + +Mr. Hebblethwaite sighed. + +"Perhaps so," he admitted. "One can only act according to one's +convictions. You must remember, though, Norgate, that we don't carry +our pacificism to extremes. Our navy is and always will be an +irresistible defence." + +"Even with hostile naval and aeroplane bases at--say--Calais, Boulogne, +Dieppe, Ostend?" + +Mr. Hebblethwaite pushed a box of cigars towards his guest, glanced at +the clock, and rose. + +"Young fellow," he said, "I have engaged a box at the Empire. Let +us move on." + + + + +CHAPTER XI + + +"My position as a Cabinet Minister," Mr. Hebblethwaite declared, with a +sigh, "renders my presence in the Promenade undesirable. If you want to +stroll around, Norgate, don't bother about me." + +Norgate picked up his hat. "Jolly good show," he remarked. "I'll be back +before it begins again." + +He descended to the lower Promenade and sauntered along towards the +refreshment bar. Mrs. Paston Benedek, who was seated in the stalls, +leaned over and touched his arm. + +"My friend," she exclaimed, "you are _distrait_! You walk as though you +looked for everything and saw nothing. And behold, you have found me!" + +Norgate shook hands and nodded to Baring, who was her escort. + +"What have you done with our expansive friend?" he asked. "I thought you +were dining with him." + +"I compromised," she laughed. "You see what it is to be so popular. I +should have dined and have come here with Captain Baring--that was our +plan for to-night. Captain Baring, however, was generous when he saw my +predicament. He suffered me to dine with Mr. Selingman, and he fetched me +afterwards. Even then we could not quite get rid of the dear man. He came +on here with us, and he is now, I believe, greeting acquaintances +everywhere in the Promenade. I am perfectly convinced that I shall have +to look the other way when we go out." + +"I think I'll see whether I can rescue him," Norgate remarked. "Good +show, isn't it?" he added, turning to her companion. + +"Capital," replied Baring, without enthusiasm. "Too many people +here, though." + +Norgate strolled on, and Mrs. Benedek tapped her companion on the +knuckles with her fan. + +"How dared you be so rude!" she exclaimed. "You are in a very bad humour +this evening. I can see that I shall have to punish you." + +"That's all very well," Baring grumbled, "but it gets more difficult to +see you alone every day. This evening was to have been mine. Now this fat +German turns up and lays claim to you, and then, about the first moment +we've had a chance to talk, Norgate comes gassing along. You're not +nearly as nice to me, Bertha, as you used to be." + +"My dear man," she protested, "in the first place I deny it. In the +second, I ask myself whether you are quite as devoted to me as you were +when you first came." + +"In what way?" he demanded. + +She turned her wonderful eyes upon him. + +"At first when you came," she declared, "you told me everything. You +spoke of your long mornings and afternoons at the Admiralty. You told me +of the room in which you worked, the men who worked there with you. You +told me of the building of that little model, and how you were all +allowed to try your own pet ideas with regard to it. And then, all of a +sudden, nothing--not a word about what you have been doing. I am an +intelligent woman. I love to have men friends who do things, and if they +are really friends of mine, I like to enter into their life, to know of +their work, to sympathise, to take an interest in it. It was like that +with you at first. Now it has all gone. You have drawn down a curtain. I +do not believe that you go to the Admiralty at all. I do not believe that +you have any wonderful invention there over which you spend your time." + +"Bertha, dear," he remonstrated, "do be reasonable." + +She shrugged her shoulders. + +"But am I not? See how reasonably I have spoken to you. I have told you +the exact truth. I have told you why I do not take quite that same +pleasure in your company as when you first came." + +"Do consider," he begged. "I spoke to you freely at first because we had +not reached the stage in the work when secrecy was absolutely necessary. +At present we are all upon our honour. From the moment we pass inside +that little room, we are, to all effects and purposes, dead men. Nothing +that happens there is to be spoken of or hinted at, even to our wives or +our dearest friends. It is the etiquette of my profession, Bertha. Be +reasonable." + +"Pooh!" she exclaimed. "Fancy asking a woman to be reasonable! Don't you +realise, you stupid man, that if you were at liberty to tell everybody +what it is that you do there, well, then I should have no more interest +in it? It is just because you say that you will not and you may not +tell, that, womanlike, I am curious." + +"But whatever good could it be to you to know?" he protested. "I should +simply addle your head with a mass of technical detail, not a quarter of +which you would be able to understand. Besides, I have told you, Bertha, +it is a matter of honour." + +She looked intently at her programme. + +"There are men," she murmured, "who love so much that even honour counts +for little by the side of--" + +"Of what?" he whispered hoarsely. + +"Of success." + +For a moment they sat in silence. The place was not particularly hot, yet +there were little beads of perspiration upon Baring's forehead. The +fingers which held his programme twitched. He rose suddenly to his feet. + +"May I go out and have a drink?" he asked. "I won't go if you don't want +to be alone." + +"My dear friend, I do not mind in the least," she assured him. "If you +find Mr. Norgate, send him here." + +In one of the smaller refreshment rooms sat Mr. Selingman, a bottle of +champagne before him and a wondrously attired lady on either side. The +heads of all three were close together. The lady on the left was talking +in a low tone but with many gesticulations. + +"Dear friend," she exclaimed, "for one single moment you must not think +that I am ungrateful! But consider. Success costs money always, and I +have been successful--you admit that. My rooms are frequented entirely +by the class of young men you have wished me to encourage. Pauline and I +here, and Rose, whom you have met, seek our friends in no other +direction. We are never alone, and, as you very well know, not a day has +passed that I have not sent you some little word of gossip or +information--the gossip of the navy and the gossip of the army--and there +is always some truth underneath what these young men say. It is what you +desire, is it not?" + +"Without a doubt," Selingman assented. "Your work, my dear Helda, has +been excellent. I commend you. I think with fervour of the day when first +we talked together, and the scheme presented itself to me. Continue to +play Aspasia in such a fashion to the young soldiers and sailors of this +country, and your villa at Monte Carlo next year is assured." + +The woman shrugged her shoulders. + +"I will not say that you are not generous," she declared, "for that would +be untrue, but sometimes you forget that these young men have very little +money, and the chief profit from their friendship, therefore, must come +to us in other ways." + +"You want a larger allowance?" Selingman asked slowly. + +"Not at present, but I want to warn you that the time may come when I +shall need more. A salon in Pimlico, dear friend, is an expensive thing +to maintain. These young men tell their friends of our hospitality, the +music, our entertainment. We become almost too much the fashion, and it +costs money." + +Selingman held up his champagne glass, gazed at the wine for a moment, +and slowly drank it. + +"I am not of those," he announced, "who expect service for nothing, +especially good service such as yours. Watch for the postman, dear lady. +Any morning this week there may come for you a pleasant little surprise." + +She leaned over and patted his arm. + +"You are a prince," she murmured. "But tell me, who is the grave-looking +young man?" + +Selingman glanced up. Norgate, who had been standing at the bar with +Baring, was passing a few feet away. + +"The rake's progress," the former quoted solemnly. + +Selingman raised his glass. + +"Come and join us," he invited. + +Norgate shook his head slightly and passed on. Selingman leaned a little +forward, watching his departing figure. The buoyant good-nature seemed to +have faded out of his face. + +"If you could get that young man to talk, now, Helda," he muttered, "it +would be an achievement." + +She glanced after him, "To me," she declared, "he looks one of the +difficult sort." + +"He is an Englishman with a grievance," Selingman continued. "If the +grievance cuts deep enough, he may--But we gossip." + +"The other was a navy man," the girl remarked. "His name is Baring." + +Selingman nodded. + +"You need not bother about him," he said. "If it is possible for him to +be of use, that is arranged for in another quarter. So! Let us finish our +wine and separate. That letter shall surely come. Have no fear." + +Selingman strolled away, a few minutes later. Baring had returned to Mrs. +Paston Benedek, and Norgate had resumed his place in the box. Selingman, +with a gold-topped cane under his arm, a fresh cigar between his lips, +and a broad smile of good-fellowship upon his face, strolled down one of +the wings of the Promenade. Suddenly he came to a standstill. In the box +opposite to him, Norgate and Hebblethwaite were seated side by side. +Selingman regarded them for a moment steadfastly. + +"A friend of Hebblethwaite's!" he muttered. "Hebblethwaite--the one man +whom Berlin doubts!" + +He withdrew a little into the shadows, his eyes fixed upon the box. A +little way off, in the stalls, Mrs. Paston Benedek was whispering to +Baring. Further back in the Promenade, Helda was entertaining a little +party of friends. Selingman's eyes remained fixed upon Norgate. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + + +Mrs. Paston Benedek, on the following afternoon, sat in one corner of the +very comfortable lounge set with its back to the light in her charming +drawing-room. Norgate sat in the other. + +"I think it is perfectly sweet of you to come," she declared. "I do not +care how many enemies I make--I will certainly dine with you to-night. +How I shall manage it I do not yet know. You shall call for me here at +eight o'clock--or say a quarter past, then we need not hurry away too +early from the club. If Captain Baring is there, perhaps it would be +better if you did not speak of our engagement." + +Norgate sighed. + +"What is the wonderful attraction about Baring?" he asked discontentedly. + +"Really, there isn't any," she replied. "I like to be kind, that is all. +I do not like to hurt anybody's feelings, and I know that Captain Baring +would like very much to dine with me to-night himself. I was obliged to +throw him over last night because of Mr. Selingman's arrival." + +"You have not always been so considerate," he persisted. "Why this +especial care for Baring's feelings?" + +She turned her head a little towards him. She was leaning back in her +corner of the lounge, her hands clasped behind her head. There was an +elaborate carelessness about her pose which she numbered among her +best effects. + +"Perhaps," she retorted, "I, too, find your sudden attraction for me a +little remarkable. On those few occasions when you did honour us at the +club before you left for Berlin, you were agreeable enough, but I do not +remember that you once asked me to dine with you. There was no Captain +Baring then." + +"The truth is," Norgate confessed, "since I returned, I have felt rather +like hiding myself. I don't care about going to my own club or visiting +my own friends. I came to the St. James's as a sort of compromise." + +"You are not very flattering," she complained. + +"Wouldn't you rather I were truthful?" asked Norgate. "One's +friends, one's real friends, are scarcely likely to be found at a +mixed bridge club." + +"After that," she sighed, "I am going to telephone to Captain Baring. He, +at any rate, is in love with me, and I need something to restore my +self-respect." + +"In love with you, perhaps, but are you in love with him?" + +She laughed, softly at first, but with an ever more insistent note of +satire underlying her mirth. + +"The woman," she said, "who expects to get anything out of life worth +having, doesn't fall in love. She may give a good deal, she may seem to +give everything, but if she is wise, she keeps her heart." + +"Poor Baring!" + +"Are you sure," she asked, fixing her brilliant eyes upon him, "that he +needs your sympathy? He is very much in love with me, and there are times +when I could almost persuade myself that I am in love with him. At any +rate, he attracts me." + +Norgate was momentarily sententious. "The psychology of love," he +murmured, looking into the fire, "is a queer study." + +Once more she laughed at him. + +"Before you went to Berlin," she said, "you used not to talk of the +psychology of love. Your methods, so far as I remember them, were a +little different. Confess now--you fell in love in Berlin." + +Norgate stifled a sudden desire to confide in his companion. + +"At my age!" he exclaimed. + +"It is true that it is not a susceptible age," Mrs. Benedek admitted. +"You are in what I call your mid-youth. Mid-youth, as a rule, is an age +of cynicism. As you grow older, you will appreciate more the luxury of +emotion. But tell me, was it the little Baroness who fascinated you? She +is a great beauty, is she not?" + +"I took her out to dinner," Norgate observed. "Therefore I suppose it was +my duty to be in love with her." + +"Fancy sharing the same sofa," she laughed, "with a rival of princes! +Do you know that the Baroness is a friend of mine? She comes sometimes +to London." + +"I am much more interested in your love affair," he protested. + +"And I find far more interest in your future," she insisted. "Let us +talk sensibly, like good friends and companions. What are you going to +do? They will not treat this affair seriously at the Foreign Office? They +cannot think that you were to blame?" + +"In a sense, no," he replied. "Diplomatically, however, I am, from their +point of view, a heinous offender. I rather think I am going to be +shelved for six months." + +"Just what one would expect from this horrible Government!" Mrs. Benedek +exclaimed indignantly. + +"What do you know about the Government?" he asked. "Are you taking up +politics as well as the study of the higher auction?" + +She sighed, and her eyes were fixed upon him very earnestly, as she +declared: "You do not understand me, my friend. You never did. I am +not altogether frivolous; I am not altogether an artist. I have my +serious moments." + +"Is this going to be one of them?" + +"Don't make fun of me, please," she begged, "You are like so many +Englishmen. Directly a woman tries to talk seriously, you will push her +back into her place. You like to treat her as something to frivol with +and make love to. Is it your _amour propre_ which is wounded, when you +feel sometimes forced to admit that she has as clear an insight into the +more important things of life as you yourself?" + +"Do you talk like that with Baring?" he asked. + +For several seconds she was silent. Her eyes had contracted a little. She +seemed to be seeking for some double meaning in his words. + +"Captain Baring is an intelligent man," she said, "and he is a man, too, +who understands his own particular subject. Of course it is a pleasure to +talk to him about it." + +"I thought navy men, as a rule," he remarked, "were not communicative." + +"Do you call it communicative," she enquired, "to discuss the subject you +love best with your greatest friend? But let us not talk any more of +Captain Baring. It is in you just now that I am interested, you and your +future. You seem to think that your friends at the Foreign Office are not +going to find you another position--for some time, at any rate. You are +not one of those men who think of nothing but sport and amusing +themselves. What are you going to do during the next few months?" + +"At present," he confessed thoughtfully, "I have only the vaguest ideas. +Perhaps you could help me." + +"Perhaps I could," she admitted. "We will talk of that another time, if +you like." + +It was obvious that she was speaking under a certain tension. The silence +which ensued was significant. + +"Why not now?" he asked. + +"It is too soon," she answered, "and you would not understand. I might +say things to you which would perhaps end our friendship, which would +give you a wrong impression. No, let us stay just as we are for a +little time." + +"This is most tantalising," grumbled Norgate. + +She leaned over and patted his hand. + +"Have patience, my friend," she whispered. "The great things come to +those who wait." + +An interruption, commonplace enough, yet in its way startling, checked +the words which were already upon his lips. The telephone bell from the +little instrument on the table within a few feet of them, rang +insistently. For a moment Mrs. Benedek herself appeared taken by +surprise. Then she raised the receiver to her ear. + +"My friend," she said to Norgate, "you must excuse me. I told them +distinctly to disconnect the instrument so that it rang only in my +bedroom. I am disobeyed, but no matter. Who is that?" + +Norgate leaned back in his place. His companion's little interjection, +however, was irresistible. He glanced towards her. There was a slight +flush of colour in her cheeks, her head was moving slowly as though +keeping pace to the words spoken at the other end. Suddenly she laughed. + +"Do not be so foolish," she said. "Yes, of course. You keep your share of +the bargain and I mine. At eight o'clock, then. I will say no more now, +as I am engaged with a visitor. _Au revoir!_" + +She set down the receiver and turned towards Norgate, who was turning the +pages of an illustrated paper. She made a little grimace. + +"Oh, but life is very queer!" she declared. "How I love it! Now I am +going to make you look glum, if indeed you do care just that little bit +which is all you know of caring. Perhaps you will be a little +disappointed. Tell me that you are, or my vanity will be hurt. Listen and +prepare. To-night I cannot dine with you." + +He turned deliberately around. "You are going to throw me over?" he +demanded, looking at her steadfastly. + +"To throw you over, dear friend," she repeated cheerfully. "You would do +just the same, if you were in my position." + +"It is an affair of duty," he persisted, "or the triumph of a rival?" + +She made a grimace at him. "It is an affair of duty," she admitted, "but +it is certainly with a rival that I must dine." + +He moved a little nearer to her on the lounge. + +"Tell me on your honour," he said, "that you are not dining with Baring, +and I will forgive!" + +For a moment she seemed as though she were summoning all her courage to +tell the lie which he half expected. Instead she changed her mind. + +"Do not be unkind," she begged. "I am dining with Captain Baring. The +poor man is distracted. You know that I cannot bear to hurt people. Be +kind this once. You may take my engagement book, you may fill it up as +you will, but to-night I must dine with him. Consider, my friend. You may +have many months before you in London. Captain Baring finishes his work +at the Admiralty to-day, and leaves for Portsmouth to-morrow morning. He +may not be in London again for some time. I promised him long ago that I +would dine with him to-night on one condition. That condition he is +keeping. I cannot break my word." + +Norgate rose gloomily to his feet. + +"Of course," he said, "I don't want to be unreasonable, and any one can +see the poor fellow is head over ears in love with you." + +She took his arm as she led him towards the door. + +"Listen," she promised, laughing into his face, "when you are as much in +love with me as he is, I will put off every other engagement I have in +the world, and I will dine with you. You understand? We shall meet later +at the club, I hope. Until then, _au revoir!_" + +Norgate hailed a taxi outside and was driven at once to the nearest +telephone call office. There, after some search in the directory, he rang +up a number and enquired for Captain Baring. There was a delay of about +five minutes. Then Baring spoke from the other end of the telephone. + +"Who is it wants me?" he enquired, rather impatiently. + +"Are you Baring?" Norgate asked, deepening his voice a little. + +"Yes! Who are you?" + +"I am a friend," Norgate answered slowly. + +"What the devil do you mean by 'a friend'?" was the irritated reply. "I +am engaged here most particularly." + +"There can be nothing so important," Norgate declared, "as the warning I +am charged to give to you. Remember that it is a friend who speaks. There +is a train about five o'clock to Portsmouth. Your work is finished. Take +that train and stay away from London." + +Norgate set down the receiver without listening to the tangle of +exclamations from the other end, and walked quickly out of the shop. He +re-entered his taxi. + +"The St. James's Club," he ordered. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + + +Norgate found Selingman in the little drawing-room of the club, reclining +in an easy-chair, a small cup of black coffee by his side. He appeared to +be exceedingly irate at the performance of his partner in a recent +rubber, and he seized upon Norgate as a possibly sympathetic confidant. + +"Listen to me for one moment," he begged, "and tell me whether I have not +the right to be aggrieved. I go in on my own hand, no trump. I am a +careful declarer. I play here every day when I am in London, and they +know me well to be a careful declarer. My partner--I do not know his +name; I hope I shall never know his name; I hope I shall never see him +again--he takes me out. 'Into what?' you ask. Into diamonds! I am +regretful, but I recognise, as I believe, a necessity. I ask you, of what +do you suppose his hand consists? Down goes my no trump on the table--a +good, a very good no trump. He has in his hand the ace, king, queen and +five diamonds, the king of clubs guarded, the ace and two little hearts, +and he takes me out into diamonds from no trumps with a score at love +all. Two pences they had persuaded me to play, too, and it was the rubber +game. Afterwards he said to me: 'You seem annoyed'; and I replied 'I am +annoyed,' and I am. I come in here to drink coffee and cool myself. +Presently I will cut into another rubber, where that young man is not. +Perhaps our friend Mrs. Benedek will be here. You and I and Mrs. Benedek, +but not, if we can help it, the lady who smokes the small black cigars. +She is very amiable, but I cannot attend to the game while she sits there +opposite to me. She fascinates me. In Germany sometimes our women smoke +cigarettes, but cigars, and in public, never!" + +"We'll get a rubber presently, I dare say," Norgate remarked, settling +himself in an easy-chair. "How's business?" + +"Business is very good," Selingman declared. "It is so good that I must +be in London for another week or so before I set off to the provinces. It +grows and grows all the time. Soon I must find a manager to take over +some of my work here. At my time of life one likes to enjoy. I love to be +in London; I do not like these journeys to Newcastle and Liverpool and +places a long way off. In London I am happy. You should go into business, +young man. It is not well for you to do nothing." + +"Do you think I should be useful in the crockery trade?" Norgate asked. + +Herr Selingman appeared to take the enquiry quite seriously. + +"Why not?" he demanded. "You are well-educated, you have address, +you have intelligence. Mrs. Benedek has spoken very highly of you. +But you--oh, no! It would not suit you at all to plunge yourself +into commerce, nor would it suit you, I think, to push the affairs +of a prosperous German concern. You are very English, Mr. Norgate, +is that not so?" + +"Not aggressively," Norgate replied. "As a matter of fact, I am rather +fed up with my own country just now." + +Mr. Selingman sat quite still in his chair. Some signs of a change which +came to him occasionally were visible in his face. He was for that moment +no longer the huge, overgrown schoolboy bubbling over with the joy and +appetite of life. His face seemed to have resolved itself into sterner +lines. It was the face of a thinker. + +"There are other Englishmen besides you," Selingman said, "who are a +little--what you call 'fed up' with your country. You have much common +sense. You do not believe that yours is the only country in the world. +You like sometimes to hear plain speech from one who knows?" + +"Without a doubt," Norgate assented. + +Mr. Selingman stroked his knee with his fat hand. + +"You in England," he continued, "you are too prosperous. Very, very +slowly the country is drifting into the hands of the people. A country +that is governed entirely by the people goes down, down, down. Your +classes are losing their hold and their influence. You have gone from +Tory to Whig, from Whig to Liberal, from Liberal to Radical, and soon it +will be the Socialists who govern. You know what will come then? +Colonies! What do your radicals care about colonies? Institutions! What +do they care about institutions? All you who have inherited money, they +will bleed. You will become worse than a nation of shop-keepers. You will +be an illustration to all the world of the dangers of democracy. So! I +go on. I tell you why that comes about. You are in the continent of +Europe, and you will not do as Europe does. You are a nation outside. You +have believed in yourselves and believed in yourselves, till you think +that you are infallible. Before long will come the revolution. It will be +a worse revolution than the French Revolution." + +Norgate smiled. "Too much common sense about us, I think, Mr. Selingman, +for such happenings," he declared. "I grant you that the classes are +getting the worst of it so far as regards the government of the country, +but I can't quite see the future that you depict." + +"Good Englishman!" Herr Selingman murmured approvingly. "That is your +proper attitude. You do not see because you will not see. I tell you that +the best thing in all the world would be a little blood-letting. You do +not like your Government. Would it not please you to see them humiliated +just a little?" + +"In what way?" + +"Oh! there are ways," Selingman declared. "A little gentle smack like +this,"--his two hands came together with a crash which echoed through the +room--"a little smack from Germany would do the business. People would +open their eyes and begin to understand. A Radical Government may fill +your factories with orders and rob the rich to increase the prosperity of +the poor, but it will not keep you a great nation amongst the others." + +Norgate nodded. + +"You seem to have studied the question pretty closely," he remarked. + +"I study the subject closely," Selingman went on, "because my interests +are yours. My profits are made in England. I am German born, but I am +English, too, in feeling. To me the two nations are one. We are of the +same race. That is why I am sorrowful when I see England slipping back. +That is why I would like to see her have just a little lesson." + +Selingman paused. Norgate rose to his feet and stood on the hearthrug, +with his elbow upon the mantelpiece. + +"Twice we have come as far as that, Mr. Selingman," he pointed out. +"England requires a little lesson. You have something in your mind behind +that, something which you are half inclined to say to me. Isn't that so? +Why not go on?" + +"Because I am not sure of you," Selingman confessed frankly. "Because +you might misunderstand what I say, and we should be friends no +longer, and you would say silly things about me and my views. +Therefore, I like to keep you for a friend, and I go no further at +present. You say that you are a little angry with your country, but +you Englishmen are so very prejudiced, so very quick to take offence, +so very insular, if I may use the word. I do not know how angry you +are with your country. I do not know if your mind is so big and broad +that you would be willing to see her suffer a little for her greater +good. Ah, but the lady comes at last!" + +Mrs. Benedek was accompanied by a tall, middle-aged man, of fair +complexion, whom Selingman greeted with marked respect. She turned +to Norgate. + +"Let me present you," she said, "to Prince Edward of Lenemaur--Mr. +Francis Norgate." + +The two men shook hands. + +"I played golf with you once at Woking," Norgate reminded his new +acquaintance. + +"I not only remember it," Prince Edward answered, "but I remember the +result. You beat me three up, and we were to have had a return, but you +had to leave for Paris on the next day." + +"You will be able to have your return match now," Mrs. Benedek observed. +"Mr. Norgate is going to be in England for some time. Let us play bridge. +I have to leave early to-night--I am dining out--and I should like to +make a little money." + +They strolled into the bridge-room. Selingman hung behind with Norgate. + +"Soon," he suggested, "we must finish our talk, is it not so? Dine with +me to-night. Mrs. Benedek has deserted me. We will eat at the Milan +Grill. The cooking there is tolerable, and they have some Rhine wine--but +you shall taste it." + +"Thank you," Norgate assented, "I shall be very pleased." + +They played three or four rubbers. Then Mrs. Benedek glanced at +the clock. + +"I must go," she announced. "I am dining at eight o'clock." + +"Stay but for one moment," Selingman begged. "We will all take a little +mixed vermouth together. I shall tell the excellent Horton how to +prepare it. Plenty of lemon-peel, and just a dash--but I will not give +my secret away." + +He called the steward and whispered some instructions in his ear. While +they were waiting for the result, a man came in with an evening paper in +his hand. He looked across the room to a table beyond that at which +Norgate and his friends were playing. + +"Heard the news, Monty?" he asked. + +"No! What is it?" was the prompt enquiry. + +"Poor old Baring--" + +The newcomer stopped short. For the first time he noticed Mrs. Benedek. +She half rose from her chair, however, and her eyes were fixed upon him. + +"What is it?" she exclaimed. "What has happened?" + +There was a moment's awkward silence. Mrs. Benedek snatched the paper +away from the man's fingers and read the little paragraph out aloud. For +a moment she was deathly white. + +"What is it?" Selingman demanded. + +"Freddy Baring," she whispered--"Captain Baring--shot himself in his room +at the Admiralty this afternoon! Some one telephoned to him. Five minutes +later he was found--dead--a bullet wound through his temple!... Give me +my chair, please. I think that I am going to faint." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + + +Selingman and Norgate dined together that evening in a corner of a large, +popular grill-room near the Strand. They were still suffering from the +shock of the recent tragedy. They both rather avoided the topic of +Baring's sudden death. Selingman made but one direct allusion to it. + +"Only yesterday," he remarked, "I said to little Bertha--I have known her +so long that I call her always Bertha--that this bureau work was bad for +Baring. When I was over last, a few months ago, he was the picture of +health. Yesterday he looked wild and worried. He was at work with others, +they say, at the Admiralty upon some new invention. Poor fellow!" + +Norgate, conscious of a curious callousness which even he himself found +inexplicable, made some conventional reply only. Selingman began to talk +of other matters. + +"Truly," he observed, "a visit to your country is good for the patriotic +German. Behold! here in London, we are welcomed by a German _maître +d'hôtel_; we are waited on by a German waiter; we drink German wine; we +eat off what I very well know is German crockery." + +"And some day, I suppose," Norgate put in, "we are to be German subjects. +Isn't that so?" + +Selingman's denial was almost unduly emphatic. + +"Never!" he exclaimed. "There is nothing so foolish as the way many of +you English seem to regard us Germans as though we were wild beasts of +prey. Now it gives me pleasure to talk with a man like yourself, Mr. +Norgate. I like to look a little into the future and speculate as to our +two countries. Above all things, this thing I do truly know. The German +nation stands for peace. Yet in order that peace shall everywhere +prevail, a small war, a humanely-conducted war, may sometime within the +future, one must believe, take place. It would last but a short time, but +it might lead to great changes. I have sometimes thought, my young friend +Norgate, that such a war might be the greatest blessing which England +could ever experience." + +"As a discipline, you mean?" Norgate murmured. + +"As a cleansing tonic," Selingman declared. "It would sweep out your +Radical Government. It would bring the classes back to power. It would +kindle in the spirits of your coming generation the spark of that +patriotism which is, alas! just now a very feeble flame. What do you +think? You agree with me, eh?" + +"It is going a long way," Norgate said cautiously, "to approve of a form +of discipline so stringent." + +"But not too far--oh, believe me, not too far!" Selingman insisted. "If +that war should come, it would come solely with the idea of sweeping away +this Government, which is most distasteful to all German politicians. It +would come solely with the idea that with a new form of government here, +more solid and lasting terms of friendship could be arranged between +Germany and England." + +"A very interesting theory," Norgate remarked. "Do you believe in it +yourself?" + +Selingman paused to give an order to a waiter. His tone suddenly became +more serious. He pointed to the menu. + +"They have dared," he exclaimed, "to bring us _Hollandaise_ sauce with +the asparagus! A gastronomic indignity! It is such things as this which +would endanger the _entente_ between our countries." + +"I don't mind _Hollandaise_" Norgate ventured. + +"Then of eating you know very little," Herr Selingman pronounced. "There +is only one sauce to be served with asparagus, and that is finely drawn +butter. I have explained to the _maître d'hôtel_. He must bring us what I +desire. Meanwhile, we spoke, I think, of our two countries. You asked me +a question. I do indeed believe in the theories which I have been +advancing." + +"But wouldn't a war smash up your crockery business?" Norgate asked. + +"For six months, yes! And after that six months, fortunes for all of us, +trade such as the world has never known, a settled peace, a real union +between two great and friendly countries. I wish England well. I love +England. I love my holidays over here, my business trips which are +holidays in themselves, and for their sake and for my own sake, I say +that just a little wrestle, a slap on the cheek from one and a punch on +the nose from the other, and we should find ourselves." + +"War is a very dangerous conflagration," Norgate remarked. "I cannot +think of any experiment more hazardous." + +"It is no experiment," Selingman declared. "It is a certainty. All that +we do in my country, we do by what we call previously ascertained +methods. We test the ground in front of us before we plant our feet upon +it. We not only look into the future, but we stretch out our hands. We +make the doubtful places sure. Our turn of mind is scientific. Our +road-making and our bridge-building, our empire-making and our diplomacy, +they are all fashioned in the same manner. If you could trust us, Mr. +Norgate, if you could trust yourself to work for the good of both +countries, we could make very good and profitable use of you during the +next six months. Would you like to hear more?" + +"But I know nothing about crockery!" + +"Would you like to hear more?" Selingman repeated. + +"I think I should." + +"Very well, then," Selingman proceeded. "Tomorrow we will talk of it. +There are some ways in which you might be very useful, useful at the same +time to your country and to ours. Your position might be somewhat +peculiar, but that you would be prepared for a short time to tolerate." + +"Peculiar in what respect?" Norgate asked. + +Selingman held his glass of yellow wine up to the light and criticised it +for a moment. He set it down empty. + +"Peculiar," he explained, "inasmuch as you might seem to be working with +Germany, whereas you were really England's best friend. But let us leave +these details until to-morrow. We have talked enough of serious matters. +I have a box at the Gaiety, and we must not be late--also a supper party +afterwards. This is indeed a country for enjoyment. To-morrow we speak of +these things again. You have seen our little German lady at the Gaiety? +You have heard her sing and watch her dance? Well, to-night you shall +meet her." + +"Rosa Morgen?" Norgate exclaimed. + +Selingman nodded complacently. + +"She sups with us," he announced, "she and others. That is why, when they +spoke to me of going back for bridge to-night, I pretended that I did not +hear. Bridge is very good, but there are other things. To-night I am in a +frivolous vein. I have many friends amongst the young ladies of the +Gaiety. You shall see how they will welcome me." + +"You seem to have found your way about over here," Norgate remarked, as +he lit a cigar and waited while his companion paid the bill. + +"I am a citizen of the world," Selingman admitted. "I enjoy myself as I +go, but I have my eyes always fixed upon the future. I make many friends, +and I do not lose them. I set my face towards the pleasant places, and I +keep it in that direction. It is the cult of some to be miserable; it is +mine to be happy. The person who does most good in the world is the +person who reflects the greatest amount of happiness. Therefore, I am a +philanthropist. You shall learn from me, my young friend, how to banish +some of that gloom from your face. You shall learn how to find +happiness." + +They made their way across to the Gaiety, where Selingman was a very +conspicuous figure in the largest and most conspicuous box. He watched +with complacency the delivery of enormous bouquets to the principal +artistes, and received their little bow of thanks with spontaneous and +unaffected graciousness. Afterwards he dragged Norgate round to the +stage-door, installed him in a taxi, and handed over to his escort two or +three of his guests. + +"I entrust you, Mr. Norgate," he declared, "with our one German export +more wonderful, even, than my crockery--Miss Rosa Morgen. Take good care +of her and bring her to the Milan. The other young ladies are my honoured +guests, but they are also Miss Morgen's. She will tell you their names. I +have others to look after." + +Norgate's last glimpse of Selingman was on the pavement outside the +theatre, surrounded by a little group of light-hearted girls and a few +young men. + +"He is perfectly wonderful, our Mr. Selingman," Miss Morgen murmured, as +they started off. "Tell me how long you have known him, Mr. Norgate?" + +"Four days," Norgate replied. + +She screamed with laughter. + +"It is so like him," she declared. "He makes friends everywhere. A day is +sufficient. He gives such wonderful parties. I do not know why we all +like to come, but we do. I suppose that we all get half-a-dozen +invitations to supper most nights, but there is not one of us who does +not put off everything to sup with Mr. Selingman. He sits in the +middle--oh, you shall watch him to-night!--and what he says I do not +know, but we laugh, and then we laugh again, and every one is happy." + +"I think he is the most irresistible person," Norgate agreed. "I met him +two or three nights ago, coming over from Berlin, and he spoke of nothing +but crockery and politics. To-night I dine with him, and I find a +different person." + +"He is a perfect dear," one of the other girls exclaimed, "but so +curiously inquisitive! I have a great friend, a gunner, whom I brought +with me to one of his parties, and he is always asking me questions about +him and his work. I had to absolutely worry Dick so as to be able to +answer all his questions, didn't I, Rosa?" + +Miss Morgen nodded a little guardedly. + +"I should not call him really inquisitive," she said. "It is because he +likes to seem interested in the subject which interests you." + +"I am not at all sure whether that is true," the other young lady +objected. "You remember when Ellison Gray was always around with us? +Why, I know that Mr. Selingman simply worried Maud's life out of her to +get a little model of his aeroplane from him. There were no end of +things he wanted to know about cubic feet and dimensions. He is a dear, +all the same." + +"A perfect dear!" the others echoed. + +They drew up outside the Milan. Rosa Morgen turned to their escort. + +"We will meet you in the hall in five minutes," she said. "Then we can +all go together and find Mr. Selingman." + + + + +CHAPTER XV + + +Selingman's supper party was in some respects both distinctive and +unusual. Norgate, looking around him, thought that he had never in his +life been among such a motley assemblage of people. There were eight or +nine musical comedy young ladies; a couple of young soldiers, one of whom +he knew slightly, who had arrived as escorts to two of the young ladies; +Prince Edward of Lenemaur; a youthful peer, who by various misdemeanours +had placed himself outside the pale of any save the most Bohemian +society, and several other men whose faces were unfamiliar. They occupied +a round table just inside the door of the restaurant, and they sat there +till long after the lights were lowered. The conversation all the time +was of the most general and frivolous description, and Selingman, as the +hour grew later, seemed to grow larger and redder and more joyous. The +only hint at any serious conversation came from the musical comedy star +who sat at Norgate's left. + +"Do you know our host very well?" she asked Norgate once. + +"I am afraid I can't say that I know him well at all," Norgate replied. +"I met him in the train coming from Berlin, a few nights ago." + +"He is the most original person," she declared. "He entertains whenever +he has a chance; he makes new friends every hour; he eats and drinks and +seems always to be enjoying himself like an overgrown baby. And yet, all +the time there is such a very serious side to him. One feels that he has +a purpose in it all." + +"Perhaps he has," Norgate ventured. + +"Perhaps he has," she agreed, lowering her voice a little. "At least, I +believe one thing. I believe that he is a good German and yet a great +friend of England." + +"You don't find the two incompatible, then?" + +"I do not," the young lady replied firmly. "I do not understand +everything, of course, but I am half German and half English, so I can +appreciate both sides, and I do believe that Mr. Selingman, if he had not +been so immersed in his business, might have been a great politician." + +The conversation drifted into other channels. Norgate was obliged to give +some attention to the more frivolous young lady on his right. The general +exodus to the bar smoking-room only took place long after midnight. Every +one was speaking of going on to a supper club to dance, and Norgate +quietly slipped away. He took a hurried leave of his host. + +"You will excuse me, won't you?" he begged. "Enjoyed my evening +tremendously. I'd like you to come and dine with me one night." + +"We will meet at the club to-morrow afternoon," Selingman declared. "But +why not come on with us now? You are not weary? They are taking me to a +supper club, these young people. I have engaged myself to dance with +Miss Morgen--I, who weigh nineteen stone! It will be a thing to see. +Come with us." + +Norgate excused himself and left the place a moment later. It was a fine +night, and he walked slowly towards Pall Mall, deep in thought. Outside +one of the big clubs on the right-hand side, a man descended from a +taxicab just as Norgate was passing. They almost ran into one another. + +"Norgate, you reprobate!" + +"Hebblethwaite!" + +The latter passed his arm through the young man's and led him towards the +club steps. + +"Come in and have a drink," he invited. "I am just up from the House. I +do wish you could get some of your military friends to stop worrying us, +Norgate. Two hours to-night have been absolutely wasted because they +would talk National Service and heckle us about the territorials." + +"I'll have the drink, although heaven knows I don't need any!" Norgate +replied. "As for the rest, I am all on the side of the hecklers. You +ought to know that." + +They drew two easy-chairs together in a corner of the great, deserted +smoking-room, and Hebblethwaite ordered the whiskies and sodas. + +"Yes," he remarked, "I forgot. You are on the other side, aren't you? I +haven't a word to say against the navy. We spend more money than is +necessary upon it, and I stick out for economy whenever I can. But as +regards the army, my theory is that it is useless. It's only a +temptation to us to meddle in things that don't concern us. The navy is +sufficient to defend these shores, if any one were foolish enough to wish +to attack us. If we need an army at all, we should need one ten times the +size, but we don't. Nature has seen to that. Yet tonight, when I was +particularly anxious to get on with some important domestic legislation, +we had to sit and listen to hours of prosy military talk, the +possibilities of this and that. They don't realise, these brain-fogged +ex-military men, that we are living in days of common sense. Before many +years have passed, war will belong to the days of romance." + +"For a practical politician, Hebblethwaite," Norgate pronounced, "you +have some of the rottenest ideas I ever knew. You know perfectly well +that if Germany attacked France, we are almost committed to chip in. We +couldn't sit still, could we, and see Calais and Boulogne, Dieppe and +Ostend, fortified against us?" + +"If Germany should attack France!" Hebblethwaite repeated. "If Prussia +should send an expeditionary force to Cornwall, or the Siamese should +declare themselves on the side of the Ulster men! We must keep in +politics to possibilities that are reasonable." + +"Take another view of the same case, then," Norgate continued. "Supposing +Germany should violate Belgium's independence?" + +"You silly idiot!" Hebblethwaite exclaimed, as he took a long draught +of his whisky and soda, lit a cigar, and leaned back in his chair, +"the neutrality of Belgium is guaranteed by a treaty, actually signed +by Germany!" + +"Supposing she should break her treaty?" Norgate persisted. "I told you +what I heard in the train the other night. It isn't for nothing that that +sort of work is going on." + +Hebblethwaite shook his head. + +"You are incorrigible, Norgate! Germany is one of the Powers of Europe +undoubtedly possessing a high sense of honour and rectitude of conduct. +If any nation possesses a national conscience, and an appreciation of +national ethics, they do. Germany would be less likely than any nation in +the world to break a treaty." + +"Hebblethwaite," Norgate declared solemnly, "if you didn't understand the +temperament and character of your constituents better than you do the +German temperament and character, you would never have set your foot +across the threshold of Westminster. The fact of it is you're a domestic +politician of the very highest order, but as regards foreign affairs and +the greater side of international politics, well, all I can say is you've +as little grasp of them as a local mayor might have." + +"Look here, young fellow," Hebblethwaite protested, "do you know that you +are talking to a Cabinet Minister?" + +"To a very possible Prime Minister," Norgate replied, "but I am going to +tell you what I think, all the same. I'm fed up with you all. I bring you +some certain and sure information, proving conclusively that Germany is +maintaining an extraordinary system of espionage over here, and you tell +me to mind my own business. I tell you, Hebblethwaite, you and your Party +are thundering good legislators, but you'll ruin the country before +you've finished. I've had enough. It seems to me we thoroughly deserve +the shaking up we're going to get. I am going to turn German spy myself +and work for the other side." + +"You do, if there's anything in it," Hebblethwaite retorted, with a grin. +"I promise we won't arrest you. You shall hop around the country at your +own sweet will, preach Teutonic doctrines, and pave the way for the +coming of the conquerors. You'll have to keep away from our arsenals and +our flying places, because our Service men are so prejudiced. Short of +that you can do what you like." + +Norgate finished his cigar in silence. Then he threw the end into the +fireplace, finished his whisky and soda, and rose. + +"Hebblethwaite," he said, "this is the second time you've treated me like +this. I shall give you another chance. There's just one way I may be of +use, and I am going to take it on. If I get into trouble about it, it +will be your fault, but next time I come and talk with you, you'll have +to listen to me if I shove the words down your throat. Good night!" + +"Good night, Norgate," Hebblethwaite replied pleasantly. "What you want +is a week or two's change somewhere, to get this anti-Teuton fever out of +your veins. I think we'll send you to Tokyo and let you have a turn with +the geishas in the cherry groves." + +"I wouldn't go out for your Government, anyway," Norgate declared. "I've +given you fair warning. I am going in on the other side. I'm fed up with +the England you fellows represent." + +"Nice breezy sort of chap you are for a pal!" Hebblethwaite grumbled. +"Well, get along with you, then. Come and look me up when you're in a +better humour." + +"I shall probably find you in a worse one," Norgate retorted. +"Good night!" + + * * * * * + +It was one o'clock when Norgate let himself into his rooms. To his +surprise, the electric lights were burning in his sitting-room. He +entered a little abruptly and stopped short upon the threshold. A slim +figure in dark travelling clothes, with veil pushed back, was lying +curled up on his sofa. She stirred a little at his coming, opened her +eyes, and looked at him. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + + +Throughout those weeks and months of tangled, lurid sensations, of +amazing happenings which were yet to come, Norgate never once forgot that +illuminative rush of fierce yet sweet feelings which suddenly thrilled +his pulses. He understood in that moment the intolerable depression of +the last few days. He realised the absolute advent of the one experience +hitherto missing from his life. The very intensity of his feelings kept +him silent, kept him unresponsive to her impetuous but unspoken welcome. +Her arms dropped to her side, her lips for a moment quivered. Her voice, +notwithstanding her efforts to control it, shook a little. She was no +longer the brilliant young Court beauty of Vienna. She was a tired and +disappointed girl. + +"You are surprised--I should not have come here! It was such a +foolish impulse." + +She caught up her gloves feverishly, but Norgate's moment of stupefaction +had passed. He clasped her hands. + +"Forgive me," he begged. "It is really you--Anna!" + +His words were almost incoherent, but his tone was convincing. Her fears +passed away. + +"You don't wonder that I was a little surprised, do you?" he exclaimed. +"You were not only the last person whom I was thinking of, but you +were certainly the last person whom I expected to see in London or to +welcome here." + +"But why?" she asked. "I told you that I came often to this country." + +"I remember," Norgate admitted. "Yet I never ventured to hope--" + +"Of course I should not have come here," she interrupted. "It was absurd +of me, and at such an hour! And yet I am staying only a few hundred yards +away. The temptation to-night was irresistible. I felt as one sometimes +does in this queer, enormous city--lonely. I telephoned, and your +servant, who answered me, said that you were expected back at any moment. +Then I came myself." + +"You cannot imagine that I am not glad to see you," he said earnestly. + +"I want to believe that you are glad," she answered. "I have been +restless ever since you left. Tell me at once, what did they say to +you here?" + +"I am practically shelved," he told her bitterly. "In twelve months' +time, perhaps, I may be offered something in America or Asia--countries +where diplomacy languishes. In a word, your mighty autocrat has spoken +the word, and I am sacrificed." + +She moved towards the window. + +"I am stifled!" she exclaimed. "Open it wide, please." + +He threw it open. They looked out eastwards. The roar of the night was +passing. Here and there were great black spaces. On the Thames a sky-sign +or two remained. The blue, opalescent glare from the Gaiety dome still +shone. The curving lights which spanned the bridges and fringed the +Embankment still glittered. The air, even here, high up as they were on +the seventh story of the building, seemed heavy and lifeless. + +"There is a storm coming," she said. "I have felt it for days." + +She stood looking out, pale, her large eyes strained as though seeking to +read something which eluded her in the clouds or the shadows which hung +over the city. She had rather the air of a frightened but eager child. +She rested her fingers upon his arm, not exactly affectionately, but as +though she felt the need of some protection. + +"Do you know," she whispered, "the feeling of this storm has been in my +heart for days. I am afraid--afraid for all of us!" + +"Afraid of what?" he asked gently. + +"Afraid," she went on, "because it seems to me that I can hear, at +times like this, when one is alone, the sound of what one of your +writers called footsteps amongst the hills, footsteps falling upon +wool, muffled yet somehow ominous. There is trouble coming. I know it. +I am sure of it." + +"In this country they do not think so," he reminded her. "Most of our +great statesmen of today have come to the conclusion that there will be +no more war." + +"You have no great statesmen," she answered simply. "You have plenty of +men who would make very fine local administrators, but you have no +statesmen, or you would have provided for what is coming." + +There was a curious conviction in her words, a sense of one speaking who +has seen the truth. + +"Tell me," he asked, "is there anything that you know of--" + +"Ah! but that I may not tell you," she interrupted, turning away from the +window. "Of myself just now I say nothing--only of you. I am here for a +day or two. It is through me that you have suffered this humiliation. I +wanted to know just how far it went. Is there anything I can do?" + +"What could any one do?" he asked. "I am the victim of circumstances." + +"But for a whole year!" she exclaimed. "You are not like so many young +Englishmen. You do not wish to spend your time playing polo and golf, +and shooting. You must do something. What are you going to do with +that year?" + +He moved across the room and took a cigarette from a box. + +"Give me something to drink, please," she begged. + +He opened a cupboard in his sideboard and gave her some soda-water. She +had still the air of waiting for his reply. + +"What am I going to do?" he repeated. "Well, here I am with an idle +twelve months. It makes no difference to anybody what time I get up, what +time I go to bed, with whom or how I spend the day. I suppose to some +people it would sound like Paradise. To me it is hateful. Shall I be your +secretary?" + +"How do you know that I need a secretary?" she asked. + +"How should I?" he replied. "Yet you are not altogether an idler in +life, are you?" + +For a moment she did not answer. The silence in the room was almost +impressive. He looked at her over the top of the soda-water syphon whose +handle he was manipulating. + +"What do you imagine might be my occupation, then?" she asked. + +"I have heard it suggested," he said slowly, "that you have been a useful +intermediary in carrying messages of the utmost importance between the +Kaiser and the Emperor of Austria." + +"Your Intelligence Department is not so bad," she remarked. "It is true. +Why not? At the German Court I count for little, perhaps. In Austria my +father was the Emperor's only personal friend. My mother was scarcely +popular there--she was too completely English--but since my father died +the Emperor will scarcely let me stay a week away. Yes, your information +is perhaps true. I will supplement it, if you like. Since our little +affair in the Café de Berlin, the Kaiser, who went out of his way to +insist upon your removal from Berlin, has notified the Emperor that he +would prefer to receive his most private dispatches either through the +regular diplomatic channels or by some other messenger." + +Norgate's emphatic expletive was only half-stifled as she continued. + +"For myself," she said with a shrug, "I am not sorry. I found it very +interesting, but of late those feelings of which I have told you have +taken hold of me. I have felt as though a terrible shadow were brooding +over the world." + +"Let me ask you once more," he begged. "Why are you in London?" + +"I received a wire from the Emperor," she explained, "instructing me to +return at once to Vienna. If I go there, I know very well that I shall +not be allowed to leave the city. I have been trusted implicitly, and +they will keep me practically a prisoner. They will think that I may feel +a resentment against the Kaiser, and they will be afraid. Therefore, I +came here. I have every excuse for coming. It is according to my original +plans. You will find that by to-morrow morning I shall have a second +message from Vienna. All the same, I am not sure that I shall go." + +There was a ring at the bell. Norgate started, and Anna looked at +the clock. + +"Who is that?" she asked. "Do you see the time?" + +Norgate moved to the door and threw it open. A waiter stood there. + +"What do you want?" demanded Norgate. + +The man pointed to the indicator. + +"The bell rang, sir," he replied. "Is there anything I can get for you?" + +"I rang no bell," Norgate asserted. "Your indicator must be out of +order." + +Norgate would have closed the door, but Anna intervened. + +"Tell the waiter I wish to speak to him," she begged. + +The man advanced at once into the room and glanced interrogatively at +Anna. She addressed him suddenly in Austrian, and he replied without +hesitation. She nodded. Then she turned to Norgate and laughed softly. + +"You see how perfect the system is," she said. "I was followed here, +passed on to your floor-waiter. You are a spy, are you not?" she added, +turning to the man. "But of course you are!" + +"Madame!" the man protested. "I do not understand." + +"You can go away," she replied. "You can tell Herr Selingman in your +morning's report that I came to Mr. Norgate's rooms at an early hour in +the morning and spent an hour talking with him. You can go now." + +The man withdrew without remark. He was a quiet, inoffensive-looking +person, with sallow complexion, suave but silent manners. Norgate closed +the door behind him. + +"A victim of the system which all Europe knows of except you people," +she remarked lightly. "Well, after this I must be careful. Walk with me +to my hotel." + +"Of course," he assented. + +They made their way along the silent corridors to the lift, out into the +streets, empty of traffic now save for the watering-carts and street +scavengers. + +"Will there be trouble for you," Norgate asked at last, "because of +this?" + +"There is more trouble in my own heart," she told him quietly. "I feel +strangely disturbed, uncertain which way to move. Let me take your +arm--so. I like to walk like that. Somehow I think, Mr. Francis Norgate, +that that little fracas in the Café de Berlin is going to make a great +difference in both our lives. I know now what I had begun to believe. +Like all the trusted agents of sovereigns, I have become an object of +suspicion. Well, we shall see. At least I am glad to know that there is +some one whom I can trust. Perhaps to-morrow I will tell you all that is +in my heart. We might even, if you wished it, if you were willing to face +a few risks, we might even work together to hold back the thunder. So! +Good night, my friend," she added, turning suddenly around. + +He held her hand for a moment as they stood together on the pavement +outside her hotel. For a single moment he fancied that there was a change +in that curious personal aloofness which seemed so distinctive of her. It +passed, however, as she turned from him with her usual half-insolent, +half gracious little nod. + +"To-morrow," she directed, "you must ring me up. Let it be at +eleven o'clock." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + + +The Ambassador glanced at the clock as he entered his library to greet +his early morning visitor. It was barely nine o'clock. + +"Dear friend," he exclaimed, as he held out his hands, "I am distressed +to keep you waiting! Such zeal in our affairs must, however, not remain +unnoticed. I will remember it in my reports." + +Anna smiled as he stooped to kiss her fingers. + +"I had special reasons," she explained, "for my haste. I was +disappointed, indeed, that I could not see you last night." + +"I was at Windsor," her host remarked. "Now come, sit there in the +easy-chair by the side of my table. My secretaries have not yet arrived. +We shall be entirely undisturbed. I have ordered coffee here, of which we +will partake together. A compromising meal to share, dear Baroness, but +in the library of my own house it may be excused. The Princess sends her +love. She will be glad if you will go to her apartments after we have +finished our talk." + +A servant entered with a tray, spread a cloth on a small round table, +upon which he set out coffee, with rolls and butter and preserves. For a +few moments they talked lightly of the weather, of her crossing, of +mutual friends in Berlin and Vienna. Then Anna, as soon as they were +alone, leaned a little forward in her chair. + +"You know that I have a sort of mission to you," she said. "I should not +call it that, perhaps, but it comes to very nearly the same thing. The +Emperor has charged me to express to you and to Count Lanyoki his most +earnest desire that if the things should come which we know of, you both +maintain your position here at any cost. The Emperor's last words to me +were: 'If war is to come, it may be the will of God. We are ready, but +there is one country which must be kept from the ranks of our enemies. +That country is England. England must be dealt with diplomatically.' He +looks across the continent to you, Prince. This is the friendly message +which I have brought from his own lips." + +The Prince stirred his coffee thoughtfully. He was a man just passing +middle-age, with grey hair, thin in places but carefully trimmed, brushed +sedulously back from his high forehead. His moustache, too, was grey, and +his face was heavily lined, but his eyes, clear and bright, were almost +the eyes of a young man. + +"You can reassure the Emperor," he declared. "As you may imagine, my +supply of information here is plentiful. If those things should come that +we know of, it is my firm belief that with some reasonable yet nominal +considerations, this Government will never lend itself to war." + +"You really believe that?" she asked earnestly. + +"I do," her companion assured her. "I try to be fair in my judgments. +London is a pleasant city to live in, and English people are agreeable +and well-bred, but they are a people absolutely without vital impulses. +Patriotism belongs to their poetry books. Indolence has stagnated their +blood. They are like a nation under a spell, with their faces turned +towards the pleasant and desirable things. Only a few months ago, they +even further reduced the size of their ridiculous army and threw cold +water upon a scheme for raising untrained help in case of emergency. Even +their navy estimates are passed with difficulty. The Government which is +conducting the destinies of a people like this, which believes that war +belongs to a past age, is never likely to become a menace to us." + +Anna drew a little sigh and lit the cigarette which the Prince passed +her. She threw herself back in her chair with an air of contentment. + +"It is so pleasant once more to be among the big things," she declared. +"In Berlin I think they are not fond of me, and they are so pompous and +secretive. Tell me, dear Prince, will you not be kinder to me? Tell me +what is really going to happen?" + +He moved his chair a little closer to hers. + +"I see no reason," he said cautiously, "why you should not be told. +Events, then, will probably move in this direction. Provocation will be +given by Servia. That is easily arranged. Tension will be caused, Austria +will make enormous demands, Russia will remonstrate, and, before any one +has time to breathe, the clouds will part to let the lightnings through. +If anything, we are over-ready, straining with over-readiness." + +"And the plan of campaign?" + +"Austria and Italy," the Prince continued slowly, "will easily keep +Russia in check. Germany will seize Belgium and rush through to Paris. +She will either impose her terms there or leave a second-class army to +conclude the campaign. There will be plenty of time for her then to turn +back and fall in with her allies against Russia." + +"And England?" Anna asked. "Supposing?" + +The Prince tapped the table with his forefinger. + +"Here," he announced, "we conquer with diplomacy. We have imbued the +present Cabinet, even the Minister who is responsible for the army, with +the idea that we stand for peace. We shall seem to be the attacked party +in this war. We shall say to England--'Remain neutral. It is not your +quarrel, and we will be capable of a great act of self-sacrifice. We will +withhold our fleet from bombarding the French towns. England could do no +more than deal with our fleet if she were at war. She shall do the same +without raising a finger.' No country could refuse so sane and +businesslike an offer, especially a country which will at once count upon +its fingers how much it will save by not going to war." + +"And afterwards?" + +The Prince shrugged his shoulders. "Afterwards is inevitable." + +"Please go on," she insisted. + +"We shall occupy the whole of the coast from Antwerp to Havre. The +indemnity which France and Russia will pay us will make us the mightiest +nation on earth. We shall play with England as a cat with a mouse, and +when the time comes.... Well, perhaps that will do," the Prince +concluded, smiling. + +Anna was silent for several moments. + +"I am a woman, you know," she said simply, "and this sounds, in a way, +terrible. Yet for months I have felt it coming." + +"There is nothing terrible about it," the Prince replied, "if you keep +the great principles of progress always before you. If a million or so +of lives are sacrificed, the great Germany of the future, gathering +under her wings the peoples of the world, will raise them to a pitch +of culture and contentment and happiness which will more than atone +for the sacrifices of to-day. It is, after all, the future to which we +must look." + +A telephone bell rang at the Prince's elbow. He listened for a moment +and nodded. + +"An urgent visitor demands a moment of my time," he said, rising. + +"I have taken already too much," Anna declared, "but I felt it was time +that I heard the truth. They fence with me so in Berlin, and, believe me, +Prince Herschfeld, in Vienna the Emperor is almost wholly ignorant of +what is planned." + +The door was opened behind them. The Prince turned around. A young man +had ushered in Herr Selingman. For a moment the latter looked steadily at +Anna. Then he glanced at the Ambassador as though questioningly. + +"You two must have met," the Prince murmured. + +"We have met," Anna declared, smiling, as she made her way towards the +door, "but we do not know one another. It is best like that. Herr +Selingman and I work in the same army--" + +"But I, madame, am the sergeant," Selingman interrupted, with a low bow, +"whilst you are upon the staff." + +She laughed as she made her adieux and departed. The door closed heavily +behind her. Selingman came a little further into the room. + +"You have read your dispatches this morning, Prince?" he asked. + +"Not yet," the latter replied. "Is there news, then?" + +Selingman pointed to the closed door. "You have spoken for long +with her?" + +"Naturally," the Prince assented. "She is a confidential friend of the +Emperor. She has been entrusted for the last two years with all the +private dispatches between Vienna and Berlin." + +"In your letters you will find news," Selingman declared. "She is +pronounced suspect. She is under my care at this moment. A report was +brought to me half an hour ago that she was here. I came on at once +myself. I trust that I am in time?" + +The Prince stood quite silent for a moment. + +"Fortunately," he answered coolly, "I have told her nothing." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + + +As Norgate entered the premises of Selingman, Horsfal and Company a +little later on the same morning he looked around him in some surprise. +He had expected to find a deserted warehouse--probably only an office. He +saw instead all the evidences of a thriving and prosperous business. +Drays were coming and going from the busy door. Crates were piled up to +the ceiling, clerks with notebooks in their hands passed continually back +and forth. A small boy in a crowded office accepted his card and +disappeared. In a few minutes he led Norgate into a waiting-room and +handed him a paper. + +"Mr. Selingman is engaged with a buyer for a few moments, sir," he +reported. "He will see you presently." + +Norgate looked through the windows out into the warehouse. There was no +doubt whatever that this was a genuine and considerable trading concern. +Presently the door of the inner office opened, and he heard Mr. +Selingman's hearty tones. + +"You have done well for yourself and well for your firm, sir," he was +saying. "There is no one in Germany or in the world who can produce +crockery at the price we do. They will give you a confirmation of the +order in the office. Ah! my young friend," he went on, turning to +Norgate, "you have kept your word, then. You are not a customer, but you +may walk in. I shall make no money out of you, but we will talk +together." + +Norgate passed on into a comfortably furnished office, a little redolent +of cigar smoke. Selingman bit off the end of a cigar and pushed the box +towards his visitor. + +"Try one of these," he invited. "German made, but Havana +tobacco--mild as milk." + +"Thank you," Norgate answered. "I don't smoke cigars in the morning. I'll +have a cigarette, if I may." + +"As you will. What do you think of us now that you have found your +way here?" + +"Your business seems to be genuine enough, at all events," Norgate +observed. + +"Genuine? Of course it is!" Selingman declared emphatically. "Do you +think I should be fool enough to be connected with a bogus affair? My +father and my grandfather before me were manufacturers of crockery. I can +assure you that I am a very energetic and a very successful business man. +If I have interests in greater things, those interests have developed +naturally, side by side with my commercial success. When I say that I am +a German, that to me means more, much more, than if I were to declare +myself a native of any other country in the world. Sit opposite to me +there. I have a quarter of an hour to spare. I can show you, if you will, +over a thousand designs of various articles. I can show you +orders--genuine orders, mind--from some of your big wholesale houses, +which would astonish you. Or, if you prefer it, we can talk of affairs +from another point of view. What do you say?" + +"My interest in your crockery," Norgate announced, "is non-existent. I +have come to hear your offer. I have decided to retire--temporarily, at +any rate--from the Diplomatic Service. I understand that I am in +disgrace, and I resent it. I resent having had to leave Berlin except at +my own choice. I am looking for a job in some other walk of life." + +Selingman nodded approvingly. + +"Forgive me," he said, "but it is true, then, that you are in some way +dependent upon your profession?" + +"I am not a pauper outside it," Norgate replied, "but that is not the +sole question. I need work, an interest in life, something to think +about. I must either find something to do, or I shall go to Abyssinia. I +should prefer an occupation here." + +"I can help you," Selingman said slowly, "if you are a young man of +common sense. I can put you in the way of earning, if you will, a +thousand pounds a year and your travelling expenses, without interfering +very much with your present mode of life." + +"Selling crockery?" + +Selingman flicked the ash from the end of his cigar. He shook his head +good-naturedly. + +"I am a judge of character, young man," he declared. "I pride myself upon +that accomplishment. I know very well that in you we have one with +brains. Nevertheless, I do not believe that you would sell my crockery." + +"It seems easy enough," Norgate observed. + +"It may seem easy," Selingman objected, "but it is not. You have not, I +am convinced, the gifts of a salesman. You would not reason and argue +with these obstinate British shopkeepers. No! Your value to me would lie +in other directions--in your social position, your opportunities of +meeting with a class above the commercial one in which I have made my few +English friends, and in your own intelligence." + +"I scarcely see of what value these things would be to a vendor of +crockery." + +"They would be of no value at all," Selingman admitted. "It is not in the +crockery business that I propose to make use of you. I believe that we +both know that. We may dismiss it from our minds. It is only fencing with +words. I will take you a little further. You have heard, by chance, of +the Anglo-German Peace Society?" + +"The name sounds familiar," Norgate confessed. "I can't say that I know +anything about it." + +"It was I who inaugurated that body," Selingman announced. "It is I who +direct its interests." + +"Congratulate you, I'm sure. You must find it uphill work sometimes." + +"It is uphill work all the time," the German agreed. "Our great object +is, as you can guess from the title, to promote good-feeling between the +two countries, to heal up all possible breaches, to soothe and dispel +that pitiful jealousy, of which, alas! too much exists. It is not easy, +Mr. Norgate. It is not easy, my young friend. I meet with many +disappointments. Yet it is a great and worthy undertaking." + +"It sounds all right," Norgate observed. "Where do I come in?" + +"I will explain. To carry out the aims of our society, there is much +information which we are continually needing. People in Germany are often +misled by the Press here. Facts and opinions are presented to them often +from an unpalatable point of view. Furthermore, there is a section of the +Press which, so far from being on our side, seems deliberately to try to +stir up ill-feeling between the two countries. We want to get behind the +Press. For that purpose we need to know the truth about many matters; and +as the truth is a somewhat rare commodity, we are willing to pay for it. +Now we come face to face. It will be your business, if you accept my +offer, to collect such facts as may be useful to us." + +"I see," Norgate remarked dubiously, "or rather I don't see at all. Give +me an example of the sort of facts you require." + +Mr. Selingman leaned a little forward in his chair. He was warming to +his subject. + +"By all means. There is the Irish question, then." + +"The Irish question," Norgate repeated. "But of what interest can that be +to you in Germany?" + +"Listen," Selingman continued. "Just as you in London have great +newspapers which seem to devote themselves to stirring up bitter feeling +between our two countries, so we, alas! in Germany, have newspapers and +journals which seem to devote all their energies to the same object. Now +in this Irish question the action of your Government has been very much +misrepresented in that section of our Press and much condemned. I should +like to get at the truth from an authoritative source. I should like to +get it in such a form that I can present it fairly and honestly to the +public of Germany." + +"That sounds reasonable enough," Norgate admitted. "There are several +pamphlets--" + +"I do not want pamphlets," Selingman interrupted. "I want an actual +report from Ulster and Dublin of the state of feeling in the country, +and, if possible, interviews with prominent people. For this the society +would pay a bonus over and above the travelling expenses and your salary. +If you accept my offer, this is probably one of the first tasks I should +commit to you." + +"Give me a few more examples," Norgate begged. + +"Another subject," Selingman continued, "upon which there is wide +divergence of opinions in Germany, and a great deal of misrepresentation, +is the attitude of certain of your Cabinet Ministers towards the French +_entente_: how far they would support it, at what they would stop short." + +"Isn't that rather a large order?" Norgate ventured. "I don't number +many Cabinet Ministers among my personal friends." + +Selingman puffed away at his cigar for a moment. Then he withdrew it +from his mouth and expelled large volumes of smoke. + +"You are, I believe, intimately acquainted with Mr. Hebblethwaite?" + +"How the mischief did you know that?" Norgate demanded. + +"Our society," Selingman announced, smiling ponderously, "has +ramifications in every direction. It is our business to know much. We are +collectors of information of every sort and nature." + +"Seems to have been part of your business to follow me about," +observed Norgate. + +"Perhaps so. If we thought it good for us to have you followed about, we +certainly should," Selingman admitted. "You see, in Germany," he added, +leaning back in his chair, "we lay great stress upon detail and +intelligence. We get to know things: not the smattering of things, like +you over here are too often content with, but to know them thoroughly and +understand them. Nothing ever takes us by surprise. We are always +forewarned. So far as any one can, we read the future." + +"You are a very great nation, without a doubt," Norgate acknowledged, +"but my quarter of an hour is coming to an end. Tell me what else you +would expect from me if I accepted this post?" + +"For the moment, I can think of nothing," Selingman replied. "There are +many ways in which we might make use of you, but to name them now would +be to look a little too far into the future." + +"By whom should I really be employed?" + +"By the Anglo-German Peace Society," Selingman answered promptly. "Let +me say a word more about that society. I am proud of it. I am one of +those prominent business men who are responsible for its initiation. I +have given years of time and thought to it. All our efforts are directed +towards promoting a better understanding with England, towards teaching +the two countries to appreciate one another. But in the background there +is always something else. It is useless to deny that the mistrust +existing between the two countries has brought them more than once +almost to the verge of war. What we want is to be able, at critical +times, to throw oil upon the troubled waters, and if the worst should +come, if a war really should break out, then we want to be able to act +as peacemakers, to heal as soon as possible any little sores that there +may be, and to enter afterwards upon a greater friendship with a +purified England." + +"It sounds very interesting," Norgate confessed. "I had an idea that you +were proposing something quite different." + +"Please explain." + +"To be perfectly frank with you," Norgate acknowledged, "I thought you +wanted me to do the ordinary spy business--traces of fortresses, and +particulars about guns and aeroplanes--" + +"Rubbish, my dear fellow!" Selingman interrupted. "Rubbish! Those things +we leave to our military department, and pray that the question of their +use may never arise. We are concerned wholly with economic and social +questions, and our great aim is not war but peace." + +"Very well, then," Norgate decided, "I accept. When shall I start?" + +Selingman laid his hand upon the other's shoulder as he rose to his feet. + +"Young man," he said, "you have come to a wise decision. Your salary will +commence from the first of this month. Continue to live as usual. Let me +have the opportunity of seeing you at the club, and let me know each day +where you can be found. I will give you your instructions from day to +day. You will be doing a great work, and, mind you, a patriotic work. If +ever your conscience should trouble you, remember that. You are working +not for Germany but for England." + +"I will always remember that," Norgate promised, as he turned away. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + + +Norgate found Anna waiting for him in the hall of the smaller hotel, +a little further westward, to which she had moved. He looked +admiringly at her cool white muslin gown and the perfection of her +somewhat airy toilette. + +"You are five minutes late," she remonstrated. + +"I had to go into the city," he apologised. "It was rather an important +engagement. Soon I must tell you all about it." + +She looked at him a little curiously. + +"I will be patient," promised Anna, "and ask no questions." + +"You are still depressed?" + +"Horribly," she confessed. "I do not know why, but London is getting on +my nerves. It is so hatefully, stubbornly, obstinately imperturbable. I +would find another word, but it eludes me. I think you would call it +smug. And it is so noisy. Can we not go somewhere for lunch where it is +tranquil, where one can rest and get away from this roar?" + +"We could go to Ranelagh, if you liked," suggested Norgate. "There +are some polo matches on this afternoon, but it will be quiet enough +for lunch." + +"I should love it!" she exclaimed. "Let us go quickly." + +They lunched in a shady corner of the restaurant and sat afterwards +under a great oak tree in a retired spot at the further end of the +gardens. Anna was still a little thoughtful. + +"Do you know," she told her companion, "that I have received a hint to +present myself in Berlin as soon as possible?" + +"Are you going?" Norgate demanded quickly. + +"I am not sure," she answered. "I feel that I must, and yet, in a sense, +I do not like to go. I have a feeling that they do not mean to let me out +of Berlin again. They think that I know too much." + +"But why should they suddenly lose faith in you?" Norgate asked. + +"Perhaps because the end is so near," she replied. "They know that I have +strong English sympathies. Perhaps they think that they would not bear +the strain of the times which are coming." + +"You are an even greater pessimist than I myself," Norgate observed. "Do +you really believe that the position is so critical?" + +"I know it," she assured him. "I will not tell you all my reasons. There +is no need for me to break a trust without some definite object. It seems +to me that if your Secret Service Department were worth anything at all, +your country would be in a state almost of panic. What is it they are +playing down there? Polo, isn't it? There are six or eight military +teams, crowds of your young officers making holiday. And all the time +Krupps are working overtime, working night and day, and surrounded by +sentries who shoot at sight any stranger. There are parts of the country, +even now, under martial law. The streets and the plains resound to the +footsteps of armed hosts." + +"But there is no excuse for war," he reminded her. + +"An excuse is very easily found," she sighed. "German diplomacy is clumsy +enough, but I think it can manage that. Do you know that this morning I +had a letter from one of the greatest nobles of our own Court at Vienna? +He knew that I had intended to take a villa in Normandy for August and +September. He has written purposely to warn me not to do so, to warn me +not to be away from Austria or Germany after the first of August." + +"So soon!" he murmured. + +They listened to the band for a moment. In the distance, an unceasing +stream of men and women were passing back and forth under the trees and +around the polo field. + +"It will come like a thunderbolt," she said, "and when I think of it, all +that is English in me rises up in revolt. In my heart I know so well that +it is Germany and Germany alone who will provoke this war. I am terrified +for your country. I admit it, you see, frankly. The might of Germany is +only half understood here. It is to be a war of conquest, almost of +extermination." + +"That isn't the view of your friend Selingman," Norgate reminded her. +"He, too, hints at coming trouble, but he speaks of it as just a salutary +little lesson." + +"Selingman, more than any one else in the world, knows differently," she +assured him. "But come, we talk too seriously on such a wonderful +afternoon. I have made up my mind on one point, at least. I will stay +here for a few days longer. London at this time of the year is wonderful. +Besides, I have promised the Princess of Thurm that I will go to Ascot +with her. Why should we talk of serious things any longer? Let us have a +little rest. Let us promenade there with those other people, and listen +to the band, and have some tea afterwards." + +Norgate rose with alacrity, and they strolled across the lawns and down +towards the polo field. Very soon they found themselves meeting friends +in every direction. Anna extricated herself from a little group of +acquaintances who had suddenly claimed her and came over to Norgate. + +"Prince Herschfeld wants to talk to me for a few minutes," she whispered. +"I think I should like to hear what he has to say. The Princess is there, +too, whom I have scarcely seen. Will you come and be presented?" + +"Might I leave you with them for a few minutes?" Norgate suggested. +"There is a man here whom I want to talk to. I will come back for you in +half an hour." + +"You must meet the Prince first," she insisted. "He was interested when +he heard who you were." + +She turned to the little group who were awaiting her return. The +Ambassador moved a little forward. + +"Prince," she said, "may I present to you Mr. Francis Norgate? Mr. +Norgate has just come from Berlin." + +"Not with the kindliest feelings towards us, I am afraid," remarked the +Prince, holding out his hand. "I hope, however, that you will not judge +us, as a nation, too severely." + +"On the contrary, I was quite prepared to like Germany," Norgate +declared. "I was simply the victim of a rather unfortunate happening." + +"There are many others besides myself who sincerely regret it," the +Prince said courteously. "You are kind enough to leave the Baroness for a +little time in our charge. We will take the greatest care of her, and I +hope that when you return you will give me the great pleasure of +presenting you to the Princess." + +"You are very kind," Norgate murmured. + +"We shall meet again, then," the Prince declared, as he turned away with +Anna by his side. + +"In half an hour," Anna whispered, smiling at him over her shoulder. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + + +The Right Honourable John William Hebblethwaite strolled along by the +rails of the polo ground, exchanging greetings with friends, feeling very +well content with himself and the world generally. A difficult session +was drawing towards an end. The problem which had defeated so many +governments seemed at last, under his skilful treatment, capable of +solution. Furthermore, the session had been one which had added to his +reputation both as an orator and a statesman. There had been an +astonishingly flattering picture of him in an illustrated paper that +week, and he was exceedingly pleased with the effect of the white hat +which he was wearing at almost a jaunty angle. He was a great man and he +knew it. Nevertheless, he greeted Norgate with ample condescension and +engaged him at once in conversation. + +"Delighted to see you in such company, my young friend," he declared. +"I think that half an hour's conversation with Prince Herschfeld would +put some of those fire-eating ideas out of your head. That's the man +whom we have to thank for the everyday improvement of our relations +with Germany." + +"The Prince has the reputation of being a great diplomatist," +Norgate remarked. + +"Added to which," Hebblethwaite continued, "he came over here charged, +as you might say, almost with a special mission. He came over here to +make friends with England. He has done it. So long as we have him in +London, there will never be any serious fear of misunderstanding between +the two countries." + +"What a howling optimist you are!" Norgate observed. + +"My young friend," Hebblethwaite protested, "I am nothing of the sort. I +am simply a man of much common sense, enjoying, I may add, a few hours' +holiday. By-the-by, Norgate, if one might venture to enquire without +indiscretion, who was the remarkably charming foreign lady whom you were +escorting?" + +"The Baroness von Haase," Norgate replied. "She is an Austrian." + +Mr. Hebblethwaite sighed. He rather posed as an admirer of the other sex. + +"You young fellows," he declared, "who travel about the world, are much +to be envied. There is an elegance about the way these foreign women +dress, a care for detail in their clothes and jewellery, and a carriage +which one seldom finds here." + +They had reached the far end of the field, having turned their backs, in +fact, upon the polo altogether. Norgate suddenly abandoned their +conversation. + +"Look here," he said, in an altered tone, "do you feel inclined to answer +a few questions?" + +"For publication?" Hebblethwaite asked drily. "You haven't turned +journalist, by any chance, have you?" + +Norgate shook his head. "Nevertheless," he admitted, "I have changed my +profession. The fact is that I have accepted a stipend of a thousand a +year and have become a German spy." + +"Good luck to you!" exclaimed Hebblethwaite, laughing softly. "Well, fire +away, then. You shall pick the brains of a Cabinet Minister at your +leisure, so long as you'll give me a cigarette--and present me, when we +have finished, to the Baroness. The country has no secrets from you, +Norgate. Where will you begin?" + +"Well, you've been warned, any way," Norgate reminded him, as he offered +his cigarette case. "Now tell me. It is part of my job to obtain from you +a statement of your opinion as to exactly how far our _entente_ with +France is binding upon us." + +Hebblethwaite cleared his throat. + +"If this is for publication," he remarked, "could you manage a photograph +of myself at the head of the interview, in these clothes and with this +hat? I rather fancy myself to-day. A pocket kodak is, of course, part of +the equipment of a German spy." + +"Sorry," Norgate regretted, "but that's a bit out of my line. I am the +disappointed diplomatist, doing the dirty work among my late friends. +What we should like to know from Mr. Hebblethwaite, confidentially +narrated to a personal friend, is whether, in the event of a war between +Germany and Russia and France, England would feel it her duty to +intervene?" + +Hebblethwaite glanced around. The throng of people had cleared off to +watch the concluding stages of the match. + +"I have a sovereign on this," he remarked, glancing at his card. + +"Which have you backed?" Norgate enquired. + +"The Lancers." + +"Well, it's any odds on the Hussars, so you've lost your money," +Norgate told him. + +Hebblethwaite sighed resignedly. "Well," he said, "the question you +submit is a problem which has presented itself to us once or twice, +although I may tell you that there isn't a soul in the Cabinet except one +who believes in the chance of war. We are not a fire-eating lot, you +know. We are all for peace, and we believe we are going to have it. +However, to answer your questions more closely, our obligations depend +entirely upon the provocation giving cause for the war. If France and +Russia provoked it in any way, we should remain neutral. If it were a war +of sheer aggression from Germany against France, we might to a certain +extent intervene. There is not one of us, however, who believes for a +single moment that Germany would enter upon such a war." + +"When you admit that we might to a certain extent intervene," Norgate +said, "exactly how should we do it, I wonder? We are not in a +particular state of readiness to declare war upon anybody or anything, +are we?" he added, as they turned around and strolled once more towards +the polo ground. + +"We have had no money to waste upon senseless armaments," Mr. +Hebblethwaite declared severely, "and if you watch the social measures +which we have passed during the last two years, you will see that every +penny we could spare has been necessary in order to get them into working +order. It is our contention that an army is absolutely unnecessary and +would simply have the effect of provoking military reprisals. If we, by +any chance in the future, were drawn into war, our navy would be at the +service of our allies. What more could any country ask than to have +assured for them the absolute control of the sea?" + +"That's all very well," Norgate assented. "It might be our fair share on +paper, and yet it might not be enough. What about our navy if Antwerp, +Ostend, Dunkirk, Calais, Boulogne, and Havre were all German ports, as +they certainly would be in an unassisted conflict between the French and +the Germans?" + +They were within hearing now of the music of the band. Hebblethwaite +quickened his pace a little impatiently. + +"Look here," he protested, "I came down here for a holiday, I tell you +frankly that I believe in the possibility of war just as much as I +believe in the possibility of an earthquake. My own personal feeling is +that it is just as necessary to make preparations against one as the +other. There you are, my German spy, that's all I have to say to you. +Here are your friends. I must pay my respects to the Prince, and I should +like to meet your charming companion." + +Anna detached herself from a little group of men at their approach, and +Norgate at once introduced his friend. + +"I have only been able to induce Mr. Hebblethwaite to talk to me for the +last ten minutes," he declared, "by promising to present him to you." + +"A ceremony which we will take for granted," she suggested, holding out +her fingers. "Each time I have come to London, Mr. Hebblethwaite, I have +hoped that I might have this good fortune. You interest us so much on the +Continent." + +Mr. Hebblethwaite bowed and looked as though he would have liked the +interest to have been a little more personal. + +"You see," Anna explained, as she stood between the two men, "both +Austria and Germany, the two countries where I spend most of my time, are +almost military ridden. Our great statesmen, or the men who stand behind +them, are all soldiers. You represent something wholly different. Your +nation is as great and as prosperous as ours, and yet you are a pacifist, +are you not, Mr. Hebblethwaite? You scorn any preparations for war. You +do not believe in it. You give back the money that we should spend in +military or naval preparations to the people, for their betterment. It is +very wonderful." + +"We act according to our convictions," Mr. Hebblethwaite pronounced. "It +is our earnest hope that we have risen sufficiently in the scale of +civilisation to be able to devote our millions to more moral objects than +the massing of armaments." + +"And you have no fears?" she persisted earnestly. "You honestly believe +that you are justified in letting the fighting spirit of your people +lie dormant?" + +"I honestly believe it, Baroness," Mr. Hebblethwaite replied. "Life is a +battle for all of them, but the fighting which we recognise is the fight +for moral and commercial supremacy, the lifting of the people by +education and strenuous effort to a higher plane of prosperity." + +"Of course," Anna murmured, "what you say sounds frightfully convincing. +History only will tell us whether you are in the right." + +"My thirst," Mr. Hebblethwaite observed, glancing towards the little +tables set out under the trees, "suggests tea and strawberries." + +"If some one hadn't offered me tea in a moment or two," Anna declared, "I +should have gone back to the Prince, with whom I must confess I was very +bored. Shall we discuss politics or talk nonsense?" + +"Talk nonsense," Mr. Hebblethwaite decided. "This is my holiday. My brain +has stopped working. I can think of nothing beyond tea and strawberries. +We will take that table under the elm trees, and you shall tell us all +about Vienna." + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + + +Norgate, after leaving Anna at her hotel, drove on to the club, where he +arrived a few minutes before seven. Selingman was there with Prince +Edward, and half a dozen others. Selingman, who happened not to be +playing, came over at once and sat by his side on the broad fender. + +"You are late, my young friend," he remarked. + +"My new career," Norgate replied, "makes demands upon me. I can no longer +spend the whole afternoon playing bridge. I have been attending to +business." + +"It is very good," Selingman declared amiably. "That is the way I like to +hear you talk. To amuse oneself is good, but to work is better still. +Have you, by chance, any report to make?" + +"I have had a long conversation with Mr. Hebblethwaite at Ranelagh this +afternoon," Norgate announced. + +There was a sudden change in Selingman's expression, a glint of eagerness +in his eyes. + +"With Hebblethwaite! You have begun well. He is the man above all others +of whose views we wish to feel absolutely certain. We know that he is a +strong man and a pacifist, but a pacifist to what extent? That is what we +wish to be clear about. Now tell me, you spoke to him seriously?" + +"Very seriously, indeed," Norgate assented. "The subject suggested +itself naturally, and I contrived to get him to discuss the possibilities +of a European war. I posed rather as a pessimist, but he simply jeered at +me. He assured me that an earthquake was more probable. I pressed him on +the subject of the _entente_. He spoke of it as a thing of romance and +sentiment, having no place in any possible development of the +international situation. I put hypothetical cases of a European war +before him, but he only scoffed at me. On one point only was he +absolutely and entirely firm--under no circumstances whatever would the +present Cabinet declare war upon anybody. If the nation found itself face +to face with a crisis, the Government would simply choose the most +dignified and advantageous solution which embraced peace. In short, there +is one thing which you may count upon as absolutely certain. If England +goes to war at any time within the next four years, it will be under some +other government." + +Selingman was vastly interested. He had drawn very close to Norgate, his +pudgy hands stretched out upon his knees. He dropped his voice so that it +was audible only a few feet away. + +"Let me put an extreme case," he suggested. "Supposing Russia and Germany +were at war, and France, as Russia's ally, were compelled to mobilise. It +would not be a war of Germany's provocation, but Germany, in +self-defence, would be bound to attack France. She might also be +compelled by strategic considerations to invade Belgium. What do you +think your friend Hebblethwaite would say to that?" + +"I am perfectly convinced," Norgate replied, "that Hebblethwaite would +work for peace at any price. The members of our present Government are +pacifists, every one of them, with the possible exception of the +Secretary of the Admiralty." + +"Ah!" Mr. Selingman murmured. "Mr. Spencer Wyatt! He is the gentleman who +clamours so hard and fights so well for his navy estimates. Last time, +though, not all his eloquence could prevail. They were cut down almost a +half, eh?" + +"I believe that was so," Norgate admitted. + +"Mr. Spencer Wyatt, eh?" Selingman continued, his eyes fixed upon the +ceiling. "Well, well, one cannot wonder at his attitude. It is not his +role to pose as an economist. He is responsible for the navy. +Naturally he wants a big navy. I wonder what his influence in the +Cabinet really is." + +"As to that," Norgate observed, "I know no more than the man in +the street." + +"Naturally," Mr. Selingman agreed. "I was thinking to myself." + +There was a brief silence. Norgate glanced around the room. + +"I don't see Mrs. Benedek here this afternoon," he remarked. + +Selingman shook his head solemnly. + +"The inquest on the death of that poor fellow Baring is being held +to-day," he explained. "That is why she is staying away. A sad thing +that, Norgate--a very sad happening." + +"It was indeed." + +"And mysterious," Selingman went on. "The man apparently, an hour before, +was in high spirits. The special work upon which he was engaged at the +Admiralty was almost finished. He had received high praise for his share +in it. Every one who had seen him that day spoke of him as in absolutely +capital form. Suddenly he whips out a revolver from his desk and shoots +himself, and all that any one knows is that he was rung up by some one on +the telephone. There's a puzzle for you, Norgate." + +Norgate made no reply. He felt Selingman's eyes upon him. + +"A wonderful plot for the sensational novelist. To the ordinary human +being who knew Baring, there remains a substratum almost of uneasiness. +Where did that voice come from that spoke along the wires, and what was +its message? Baring, by all accounts, had no secrets in his life. What +was the message--a warning or a threat?" + +"I did not read the account of the inquest," Norgate observed. "Wasn't it +possible to trace the person who rang up, through the telephone office?" + +"In an ordinary case, yes," Selingman agreed. "In this case, no! The +person who rang up made use of a call office. But come, it is a gloomy +subject, this. I wish I had known that you were likely to see Mr. +Hebblethwaite this afternoon. Bear this in mind in case you should come +across him again. It would interest me very much to know whether any +breach of friendship has taken place at all between him and Mr. Spencer +Wyatt. Do you know Spencer Wyatt, by-the-by?" + +"Only slightly," Norgate replied, "Not well enough to talk to him +intimately, as I can do to Hebblethwaite." + +"Well, remember that last little commission," Selingman concluded. "Are +you staying on or leaving now? If you are going, we will walk together. A +little exercise is good for me sometimes. My figure requires it. It is a +very short distance, but it is better than nothing at all." + +"I am quite ready," Norgate assured him. + +They left the room and descended the stairs together. At the entrance +to the building, Selingman paused for a moment. Then he seemed suddenly +to remember. + +"It is habit," he declared. "I stand here for a taxi, but we have agreed +to walk, is it not so? Come!" + +Norgate was looking across the street to the other side of the pavement. +A man was standing there, engaged in conversation with a plainly-dressed +young woman. To Norgate there was something vaguely familiar about the +latter, who turned to glance at him as they strolled by on the other side +of the road. It was not until they reached the corner of the street, +however, that he remembered. She was the young woman at the telephone +call office near Westbourne Grove! + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + + +Mr. Hebblethwaite was undoubtedly annoyed. He found himself regretting +more than ever the good nature which had prompted him to give this +visitor an audience at a most unusual hour. He had been forced into the +uncomfortable position of listening to statements the knowledge of which +was a serious embarrassment to him. + +"Whatever made you come to me, Mr. Harrison?" he exclaimed, when at last +his caller's disclosures had been made. "It isn't my department." + +"I came to you, sir," the official replied, "because I have the privilege +of knowing you personally, and because I was quite sure that in your +hands the matter would be treated wisely." + +"You are sure of your facts, I suppose?" + +"Absolutely, sir." + +"I do not know much about navy procedure," Mr. Hebblethwaite said +thoughtfully, "but it scarcely seems to me possible for what you tell me +to have been kept secret." + +"It is not only possible, sir," the man assured him, "but it has been +done before in Lord Charles Beresford's time. You will find, if you make +enquiries, that not only are the Press excluded to-day from the +shipbuilding yards in question, but the work-people are living almost in +barracks. There are double sentries at every gate, and no one is +permitted under any circumstances to pass the outer line of offices." + +Mr. Hebblethwaite sat, for a few moments, deep in thought. + +"Well, Mr. Harrison," he said at last, "there is no doubt that you have +done what you conceived to be your duty, although I must tell you +frankly that I wish you had either kept what you know to yourself or +taken the information somewhere else. Since you have brought it to me, +let me ask you this question. Are you taking any further steps in the +matter at all?" + +"Certainly not, sir," was the quiet reply. "I consider that I have done +my duty and finished with it, when I leave this room." + +"You are content, then," Mr. Hebblethwaite observed, "to leave this +matter entirely in my hands?" + +"Entirely, sir," the official assented. "I am perfectly content, from +this moment, to forget all that I know. Whatever your judgment prompts +you to do, will, I feel sure, be satisfactory." + +Mr. Hebblethwaite rose to his feet and held out his hand. + +"Well, Mr. Harrison," he concluded, "you have performed a disagreeable +duty in a tactful manner. Personally, I am not in the least grateful to +you, for, as I dare say you know, Mr. Spencer Wyatt is a great friend of +mine. As a member of the Government, however, I think I can promise you +that your services shall not be forgotten. Good evening!" + +The official departed. Mr. Hebblethwaite thrust his hands into his +pockets, glanced at the clock impatiently, and made use of an expression +which seldom passed his lips. He was in evening dress, and due to dine +with his wife on the other side of the Park. Furthermore, he was very +hungry. The whole affair was most annoying. He rang the bell. + +"Ask Mr. Bedells to come here at once," he told the servant, "and tell +your mistress I am exceedingly sorry, but I shall be detained here for +some time. She had better go on without me and send the car back. I will +come as soon as I can. Explain that it is a matter of official business. +When you have seen Mrs. Hebblethwaite, you can bring me a glass of sherry +and a biscuit." + +The man withdrew, and Mr. Hebblethwaite opened a telephone directory. In +a few moments Mr. Bedells, who was his private secretary, appeared. + +"Richard," his chief directed, "ring up Mr. Spencer Wyatt. Tell him that +whatever his engagements may be, I wish to see him here for five minutes. +If he is out, you must find out where he is. You can begin by ringing up +at his house." + +Bedells devoted himself to the telephone. Mr. Hebblethwaite munched a +biscuit and sipped his sherry. Presently the latter laid down the +telephone and reported success. + +"Mr. Spencer Wyatt was on his way to a city dinner, sir," he announced. +"They caught him in the hall and he will call here." + +Mr. Hebblethwaite nodded. "See that he is sent up directly he comes." + +In less than five minutes Mr. Spencer Wyatt was ushered in. He was +wearing the uniform of an Admiral of the Fleet--a tall, broad-shouldered +man, fair complexioned, and with the bearing of a sailor. + +"Hullo, Hebblethwaite, what's wrong?" he asked. "Your message just caught +me. I am dining with the worshipful tanners--turtle soup and all the rest +of it. Don't let me miss more than I can help." + +Mr. Hebblethwaite walked to the door to be sure that it was closed and +came back again. + +"Look here, Wyatt," he exclaimed, "what the devil have you been up to?" + +Wyatt whistled softly. A light broke across his face. + +"What do you mean?" he demanded. + +"You know perfectly well what I mean," Hebblethwaite continued. "Five +weeks ago we had it all out at a Cabinet meeting. You asked Parliament to +lay down six battleships, four cruisers, thirty-five submarines, and +twelve torpedo boats. You remember what a devil of a row there was. +Eventually we compromised for half the number of battleships, two +cruisers, and the full amount of small craft." + +"Well?" + +"I am given to understand," Hebblethwaite said slowly, "that you have +absolutely disregarded the vote--that the whole number of battleships are +practically commenced, and the whole number of cruisers, and rather more +than the number of smaller craft." + +Wyatt threw his cocked hat upon the table. + +"Well, I am up against it a bit sooner than I expected," he remarked. +"Who's been peaching?" + +"Never mind," Hebblethwaite replied. "I am not telling you that. You've +managed the whole thing very cleverly, and you know very well, Wyatt, +that I am on your side. I was on your side in pressing the whole of your +proposals upon the Cabinet, although honestly I think they were far +larger than necessary. However, we took a fair vote, and we compromised. +You had no more right to do what you have done--" + +"I admit it, Hebblethwaite," Wyatt interrupted quickly. "Of course, if +this comes out, my resignation's ready for you, but I tell you frankly, +as man to man, I can't go on with my job, and I won't, unless I get the +ships voted that I need. We are behind our standard now. I spent +twenty-four hours making up my mind whether I should resign or take this +risk. I came to the conclusion that I should serve my country better by +taking the risk. So there you are. What are you going to do about it?" + +"What the mischief can I do about it?" Hebblethwaite demanded irritably. +"You are putting me in an impossible position. Let me ask you this, +Wyatt. Is there anything at the back of your head that the man in the +street doesn't know about?" + +"Yes!" + +"What is it, then?" + +"I have reasons to believe," Wyatt announced deliberately, "reasons +which are quite sufficient for me, although it was impossible for me to +get up in Parliament and state them, that Germany is secretly making +preparations for war either before the end of this year or the +beginning of next." + +Hebblethwaite threw himself into an easy-chair. + +"Sit down, Wyatt," he said. "Your dinner can wait for a few minutes. I +have had another man--only a youngster, and he doesn't know +anything--talking to me like that. We are fully acquainted with +everything that is going on behind the scenes. All our negotiations with +Germany are at this moment upon the most friendly footing. We haven't a +single matter in dispute. Old Busby, as you know, has been over in Berlin +himself and has come back a confirmed pacifist. If he had his way, our +army would practically cease to exist. He has been on the spot. He ought +to know, and the army's his job." + +"Busby," Wyatt declared, "is the silliest old ass who ever escaped +petticoats by the mere accident of sex. I tell you he is just the sort of +idiot the Germans have been longing to get hold of and twist round their +fingers. Before twelve months or two years have passed, you'll curse the +name of that man, when you look at the mess he has made of the army. +Peace is all very well--universal peace. The only way we can secure it is +by being a good deal stronger than we are at present." + +"That is your point of view," Hebblethwaite reminded him. "I tell you +frankly that I incline towards Busby's." + +"Then you'll eat your words," Wyatt asserted, "before many months are +out. I, too, have been in Germany lately, although I was careful to go as +a tourist, and I have picked up a little information. I tell you it +isn't for nothing that Germany has a complete list of the whole of her +rolling stock, the actual numbers in each compartment registered and +reserved for the use of certain units of her troops. I tell you that from +one end of the country to the other her state of military preparedness is +amazing. She has but to press a button, and a million men have their +rifles in their hands, their knapsacks on their backs, and each regiment +knows exactly at which station and by what train to embark. She is making +Zeppelins night and day, training her men till they drop with exhaustion. +Krupp's works are guarded by double lines of sentries. There are secrets +there which no one can penetrate. And all the time she is building ships +feverishly. Look here--you know my cousin, Lady Emily Fakenham?" + +"Of course!" + +"Only yesterday," Wyatt continued impressively, "she showed me a +letter--I read it, mind--from a cousin of Prince Hohenlowe. She met him +at Monte Carlo this year, and they had a sort of flirtation. In the +postscript he says: 'If you take my advice, don't go to Dinard this +August. Don't be further away from home than you can help at all this +summer.' What do you think that meant?" + +"It sounds queer," Hebblethwaite admitted. + +"Germany is bound to have a knock at us," Spencer Wyatt went on. "We've +talked of it so long that the words pass over our heads, as it were, but +she means it. And I tell you another thing. She means to do it while +there's a Radical Government in power here, and before Russia finishes +her reorganisation scheme. I am not a soldier, Hebblethwaite, but the +fellows we've got up at the top--not the soldiers themselves but the +chaps like old Busby and Simons--are simply out and out rotters. That's +plain speaking, isn't it, but you and I are the two men concerned in the +government of this country who do talk common sense to one another. We've +fine soldiers and fine organisers, but they've been given the go-by +simply because they know their job and would insist upon doing it +thoroughly, if at all. Russia will have another four million men ready to +be called up by the end of 1915, and not only that, but what is more +important, is that she'll have the arms and the uniforms for them. +Germany isn't going to wait for that. I've thought it all out. We are +going to get it in the neck before seven or eight months have passed, and +if you want to know the truth, Hebblethwaite, that's why I have taken a +risk and ordered these ships. The navy is my care, and it's my job to see +that we keep it up to the proper standard. Whose votes rob me of my extra +battleships? Why, just a handful of Labour men and Irishmen and cocoa +Liberals, who haven't an Imperial idea in their brains, who think war +belongs to the horrors of the past, and think they're doing their duty by +what they call 'keeping down expenses.' Hang it, Hebblethwaite, it's +worse than a man who won't pay fire insurance for his house in a +dangerous neighbourhood, so as to save a bit of money! What I've done I +stick to. Split on me, if you want to." + +"I don't think I shall do that," Hebblethwaite said, "but honestly, +Wyatt, I can't follow you in your war talk. We got over the Agadir +trouble. We've got over a much worse one--the Balkan crisis. There +isn't a single contentious question before us just now. The sky is +almost clear." + +"Believe me," Wyatt insisted earnestly, "that's just the time to look for +the thunderbolt. Can't you see that when Germany goes to war, it will be +a war of conquest, the war which she has planned for all these years? +She'll choose her own time, and she'll make a _casus belli_, right +enough, when the time comes. Of course, she'd have taken advantage of the +position last year, but she simply wasn't ready. If you ask me, I believe +she thinks herself now able to lick the whole of Europe. I am not at all +sure, thanks to Busby and our last fifteen years' military +administration, that she wouldn't have a good chance of doing it. Any +way, I am not going to have my fleet cut down." + +"The country is prosperous," Hebblethwaite acknowledged. "We can afford +the ships." + +"Then look here, old chap," Wyatt begged, "I am not pleading for my own +sake, but the country's. Keep your mouth shut. See what the next month or +two brings. If there's trouble--well, I don't suppose I shall be jumped +on then. If there isn't, and you want a victim, here I am. I disobeyed +orders flagrantly. My resignation is in my desk at any moment." + +Hebblethwaite glanced at the clock. + +"I am very hungry," he said, "and I have a long way to go for dinner. +We'll let it go at that, Wyatt. I'll try and keep things quiet for you. +If it comes out, well, you know the risk you run." + +"I know the bigger risk we are all running," Wyatt declared, as he took a +cigarette from an open box on the table by his side and turned towards +the door. "I'll manage the turtle soup now, with luck. You're a good +fellow, Hebblethwaite. I know it goes against the grain with you, but, by +Jove, you may be thankful for this some time!" + +The Right Honourable John William Hebblethwaite took the hat from his +footman, stepped into his car, and was driven rapidly away. He leaned +back among the cushions, more thoughtful than usual. There was a yellow +moon in the sky, pale as yet. The streets were a tangled vortex of +motorcars and taxies, all filled with men and women in evening dress. It +was the height of a wonderful season. Everywhere was dominant the note of +prosperity, gaiety, even splendour. The houses in Park Lane, +flower-decked, displayed through their wide-flung windows a constant +panorama of brilliantly-lit rooms. Every one was entertaining. In the +Park on the other side were the usual crowd of earnest, hard-faced men +and women, gathered in little groups around the orator of the moment. +Hebblethwaite felt a queer premonition that evening. A man of sanguine +temperament, thoroughly contented with himself and his position, he +seemed almost for the first time in his life, to have doubts, to look +into the future, to feel the rumblings of an earthquake, the great +dramatic cry of a nation in the throes of suffering. Had they been wise, +all these years, to have legislated as though the old dangers by land and +sea had passed?--to have striven to make the people fat and prosperous, +to have turned a deaf ear to every note of warning? Supposing the other +thing were true! Supposing Norgate and Spencer Wyatt had found the truth! +What would history have to say then of this Government of which he was so +proud? Would it be possible that they had brought the country to a great +prosperity by destroying the very bulwarks of its security? + +The car drew up with a jerk, and Hebblethwaite came back to earth. +Nevertheless, he promised himself, as he hastened across the pavement, +that on the morrow he would pay a long-delayed visit to the War Office. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + + +Anna was seated, a few days later, with her dearest friend, the Princess +of Thurm, in a corner of the royal enclosure at Ascot. For the first time +since their arrival they found themselves alone. From underneath her +parasol the Princess looked at her friend curiously. + +"Anna," she said, "something has happened to you." + +"Perhaps, but explain yourself," Anna replied composedly. + +"It is so simple. There you sit in a Doucet gown, perfection as ever, +from the aigrette in your hat to those delicately pointed shoes. You have +been positively hunted by all the nicest men--once or twice, indeed, I +felt myself neglected--and not a smile have I seen upon your lips. You go +about, looking just a little beyond everything. What did you see, child, +over the tops of the trees in the paddock, when Lord Wilton was trying so +hard to entertain you?" + +"An affair of moods, I imagine," Anna declared. "Somehow I don't feel +quite in the humour for Ascot to-day. To be quite frank," she went on, +turning her head slowly, "I rather wonder that you do, Mildred." + +The Princess raised her eyebrows. + +"Why not? Everything, so far as I am concerned, is _couleur de rose_. +Madame Blanche declared yesterday that my complexion would last for +twenty years. I found a dozen of the most adorable hats in Paris. The +artist who designs my frocks was positively inspired the last time I sat +to him. I am going to see Maurice in a few weeks, and meanwhile I have +several new flirtations which interest me amazingly. As for you, my +child, one would imagine that you had lost your taste for all frivolity. +You are as cold as granite. Be careful, dear. The men of to-day, in this +country, at any rate, are spoilt. Sometimes they are even uncourtier-like +enough to accept a woman's refusal." + +"Well," Anna observed, smiling faintly, "even a lifetime at Court has not +taught me to dissimulate. I am heavy-hearted, Mildred. You wondered what +I was looking at when I gazed over those green trees under which all +those happy people were walking. I was looking out across the North Sea. +I was looking through Belgium to Paris. I saw a vast curtain roll up, and +everything beyond it was a blood-stained panorama." + +A shade rested for a moment on her companion's fair face. She shrugged +her shoulders. + +"We've known for a long time, dear, that it must come." + +"But all the same, in these last moments it is terrible," Anna insisted. +"Seriously, Mildred, I wonder that I should feel it more than you. You +are absolutely English. Your father is English, your mother is English. +It is only your husband that is Austrian. You have lived in Austria only +for seven years. Has that been sufficient to destroy all your patriotism, +all your love for your own country?" + +The Princess made a little grimace. + +"My dear Anna," she said, "I am not so serious a person as you are. I am +profoundly, incomprehensibly selfish. The only human being in the whole +world for whom I have had a spark of real affection is Maurice, and I +adore him. What he has told me to do, I have done. What makes him happy +makes me happy. For his sake, even, I have forgotten and shall always +forget that I was born an Englishwoman. Circumstances, too," she went on +thoughtfully, "have made it so easy. England is such a changed country. +When I was a child, I could read of the times when our kings really +ruled, of our battles for dominion, of our fight for colonies, of our +building up a great empire, and I could feel just a little thrill. I +can't now. We have gone ahead of Napoleon. From a nation of shop-keepers +we have become a nation of general dealers--a fat, over-confident, +bourgeois people. Socialism has its hand upon the throat of the classes. +Park Lane, where our aristocracy lived, is filled with the mansions of +South African Jews, whom one must meet here or keep out of society +altogether. Our country houses have gone the same way. Our Court set is +dowdy, dull to a degree, and common in a different fashion. You are +right. I have lost my love for England, partly because of my marriage, +partly because of those things which have come to England herself." + +For the first time there was a little flush of colour in Anna's +exquisitely pale cheeks. There was even animation in her tone as she +turned towards her friend. + +"Mildred," she exclaimed, "it is splendid to hear you say what is really +in your mind! I am so glad you have spoken to me like this. I feel these +things, too. Now I am not nearly so English as you. My mother was English +and my father Austrian. Therefore, only half of me should be English. +Yet, although I am so much further removed from England than you are, I +have suddenly felt a return of all my old affection for her." + +"You are going to tell me why?" her companion begged. + +"Of course! It is because I believe--it is too ridiculous--but I believe +that I am in your position with the circumstances reversed. I am +beginning to care in the most foolish way for an unmistakable +Englishman." + +"If we had missed this little chance of conversation," the Princess +declared, "I should have been miserable for the rest of my life! There is +the Duke hanging about behind. For heaven's sake, don't turn. Thank +goodness he has gone away! Now go on, dear. Tell me about him at once. I +can't imagine who it may be. I have watched you with so many men, and I +know quite well, so long as that little curl is at the corner of your +lips, that they none of them count. Do I know him?" + +"I do not think so," Anna replied. "He is not a very important person." + +"It isn't the man you were dining with in the Café de Berlin when Prince +Karl came in?" + +"Yes, it is he!" + +The Princess made a little grimace. + +"But how unsuitable, my dear," she exclaimed, "if you are really in +earnest! What is the use of your thinking of an Englishman? He is quite +nice, I know. His mother and my mother were friends, and we met once or +twice. He was very kind to me in Paris, too. But for a serious affair--" + +"Well, it may not come to that," Anna interrupted, "but there it is. I +suppose that it is partly for his sake that I feel this depression." + +"I should have thought that he himself would have been a little out of +sympathy with his country just now," the Princess remarked. "They tell me +that the Foreign Office ate humble pie with the Kaiser for that affair +shockingly. They not only removed him from the Embassy, but they are +going to give him nothing in Europe. I heard for a fact that the Kaiser +requested that he should not be attached to any Court with which Germany +had diplomatic relations." + +Anna nodded. "I believe that it is true," she admitted, "but I am not +sure that he realises it himself. Even if he does, well, you know the +type. He is English to the backbone." + +"But there are Englishmen," the Princess insisted earnestly, "who are +amenable to common sense. There are Englishmen who are sorrowing over the +decline of their own country and who would not be _so_ greatly distressed +if she were punished a little." + +"I am afraid Mr. Norgate is not like that," Anna observed drily. +"However, one cannot be sure. Bother! I thought people were very kind to +leave us so long in peace. Dear Prince, how clever of you to find out +our retreat!" + +The Ambassador stood bareheaded before them. + +"Dear ladies," he declared, "you are the lode-stones which would draw one +even through these gossamer walls of lace and chiffons, of draperies as +light as the sunshine and perfumes as sweet as Heine's poetry." + +"Very pretty," Anna laughed, "but what you really mean is that you were +looking for two of your very useful slaves and have found them." + +The Ambassador glanced around. Their isolation was complete. + +"Ah! well," he murmured, "it is a wonderful thing to be so charmingly +aided towards such a wonderful end." + +"And to have such complete trust in one's friends," Anna remarked, +looking him steadfastly in the face. + +The Prince did not flinch. His smile was perfectly courteous and +acknowledging. + +"That is my happiness," he admitted. "I will tell you the reason which +directed my footsteps this way," he added, drawing a small betting book +from his pocket. "You must back Prince Charlie for the next race. I will, +if you choose, take your commissions. I have a man waiting at the rails." + +"Twenty pounds for me, please," the Princess declared. "I have the horse +marked on my card, but I had forgotten for the moment." + +"And the same for me," Anna begged. "But did you really come only to +bring us this valuable tip, Prince?" + +The Ambassador stooped down. + +"There is a dispatch on its way to me," he said softly, "which I believe +concerns you. It might be necessary for you to take a short journey +within the next few days." + +"Not back to Berlin?" Anna exclaimed. + +Their solitude had been invaded by now, and the Princess was talking to +two or three men who were grouped about her chair. The Ambassador stooped +a little lower. + +"To Rome," he whispered. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + + +Back from the dusty roads, the heat and noise of the long day, Anna was +resting on the couch in her sitting-room. A bowl of roses and a note +which she had read three or four times stood on a little table by her +side. One of the blossoms she had fastened into the bosom of her loose +gown. The blinds were drawn, the sounds of the traffic outside were +muffled and distant. Her bath had been just the right temperature, her +maid's attention was skilful and delicate as ever. She was conscious of +the drowsy sweet perfume of the flowers, the pleasant sense of powdered +cleanliness. Everything should have conduced to rest, but she lay there +with her eyes wide-open. There was so much to think about, so much that +was new finding its way into her stormy young life. + +"Madame!" + +Anna turned her head. Her maid had entered noiselessly from the inner +room and was standing by her side. + +"Madame does not sleep? There is a person outside who waits for an +interview. I have denied him, as all others. He gave me this." + +Anna almost snatched the piece of paper from her maid's fingers. She +glanced at the name, and the disappointment which shone in her eyes was +very apparent. It was succeeded by an impulse of surprise. + +"You can show him in," she directed. + +Selingman appeared a few moments later--Selingman, cool, rosy, and +confident, on the way to his beloved bridge club. He took the hand +which Anna, without moving, held out to him, and raised it gallantly +to his lips. + +"I thought it was understood, my crockery friend," she murmured, "that in +London we did not interchange visits." + +"Most true, gracious lady," he admitted, "but there are circumstances +which can alter the most immovable decisions. At this moment we are +confronted with one. I come to discuss with you the young Englishman, +Francis Norgate." + +She turned her head a little. Her eyes were full of enquiry. + +"To discuss him with me?" + +Selingman's eyes as though by accident fell upon the roses and the note. + +"Ah, well," she murmured, "go on." + +"It is wonderful," Selingman proceeded, "to be able to tell the truth. I +speak to you as one comrade to another. This young man was your companion +at the Café de Berlin. For the indiscretion of behaving like a +bull-headed but courageous young Englishman, he is practically dismissed +from the Service. He comes back smarting with the injustice of it. Chance +brings him in my way. I proceed to do my best to make use of this +opportunity." + +"So like you, dear Herr Selingman!" Anna murmured. + +Selingman beamed. + +"Ever gracious, dear lady. Well, to continue, then. Here I find a young +Englishman of exactly the order and position likely to be useful to us. I +approach him frankly. He has been humiliated by the country he was +willing to serve. I talk to him of that country. 'You are English, of +course,' I remind him, 'but what manner of an England is it to-day which +claims you?' It is a very telling argument, this. Upon the classes of +this country, democracy has laid a throttling hand. There is a spirit of +discontent, they say, among the working-classes, the discontent which +breeds socialism. There is a worse spirit of discontent among the upper +classes here, and it is the discontent which breeds so-called traitors." + +"I can imagine all the rest," Anna interposed coolly. "How far have you +succeeded?" + +"The young man," Selingman told her, "has accepted my proposals. He has +drawn three months' salary in advance. He furnished me yesterday with +details of a private conversation with a well-known Cabinet Minister." + +Anna turned her head. "So soon!" she murmured. + +"So soon," Selingman repeated. "And now, gracious lady, here comes my +visit to you. We have a recruit, invaluable if he is indeed a recruit at +heart, dangerous if he has the brains and wit to choose to make himself +so. I, on my way through life, judge men and women, and I judge +them--well, with few exceptions, unerringly, but at the back of my brain +there lingers something of mistrust of this young man. I have seen +others in his position accept similar proposals. I have seen the +struggles of shame, the doubts, the assertion of some part of a man's +lower nature reconciling him in the end to accepting the pay of a foreign +country. I have seen none of these things in this young man--simply a +cold and deliberate acceptance of my proposals. He conforms to no type. +He sets up before me a problem which I myself have failed wholly to +solve. I come to you, dear lady, for your aid." + +"I am to spy upon the spy," she remarked. + +"It is an easy task," Selingman declared. "This young man is your slave. +Whatever your daily business may be here, some part of your time, I +imagine, will be spent in his company. Let me know what manner of man he +is. Is this innate corruptness which brings him so easily to the bait, or +is it the stinging smart of injustice from which he may well be +suffering? Or, failing these, has he dared to set his wits against mine, +to play the double traitor? If even a suspicion of this should come to +you, there must be an end of Mr. Francis Norgate." + +Anna toyed for a moment with the rose at her bosom. Her eyes were looking +out of the room. Once again she was conscious of a curious slackening of +purpose, a confusion of issues which had once seemed to her so clear. + +"Very well," she promised. "I will send you a report in the course of a +few days." + +"I should not," Selingman continued, rising, "venture to trouble you, +Baroness, as I know the sphere of your activities is far removed from +mine, but chance has put you in the position of being able to ascertain +definitely the things which I desire to know. For our common sake you +will, I am sure, seek to discover the truth." + +"So far as I can, certainly," Anna replied, "but I must admit that I, +like you, find Mr. Norgate a little incomprehensible." + +"There are men," Selingman declared, "there have been many of the +strongest men in history, impenetrable to the world, who have yielded +their secrets readily to a woman's influence. The diplomatists in life +who have failed have been those who have underrated the powers possessed +by your wonderful sex." + +"Among whom," Anna remarked, "no one will ever number Herr Selingman." + +"Dear Baroness," Selingman concluded, as the maid whom Anna had summoned +stood ready to show him out, "it is because in my life I have been +brought into contact with so many charming examples of your power." + + * * * * * + +Once more silence and solitude. Anna moved restlessly about on her couch. +Her eyes were a little hot. That future into which she looked seemed to +become more than ever a tangled web. At half-past seven her maid +reappeared. + +"Madame will dress for dinner?" + +Anna swung herself to her feet. She glanced at the clock. + +"I suppose so," she assented. + +"I have three gowns laid out," the maid continued respectfully. "Madame +would look wonderful in the light green." + +"Anything," Anna yawned. + +The telephone bell tinkled. Anna took down the receiver herself. + +"Yes?" she asked. + +Her manner suddenly changed. It was a familiar voice speaking. Her maid, +who stood in the background, watched and wondered. + +"It is you, Baroness! I rang up to see whether there was any chance of +your being able to dine with me? I have just got back to town." + +"How dared you go away without telling me!" she exclaimed. "And how can I +dine with you? Do you not realise that it is Ascot Thursday, and I have +had many invitations to dine to-night? I am going to a very big +dinner-party at Thurm House." + +"Bad luck!" Norgate replied disconsolately. "And to-morrow?" + +"I have not finished about to-night yet," Anna continued. "I suppose you +do not, by any chance, want me to dine with you very much?" + +"Of course I do," was the prompt answer. "You see plenty of the Princess +of Thurm and nothing of me, and there is always the chance that you may +have to go abroad. I think that it is your duty--" + +"As a matter of duty," Anna interrupted, "I ought to dine at Thurm House. +As a matter of pleasure, I shall dine with you. You will very likely not +enjoy yourself. I am going to be very cross indeed. You have neglected +me shamefully. It is only these wonderful roses which have saved you." + +"So long as I am saved," he murmured, "tell me, please, where you would +like to dine?" + +"Any place on earth," she replied. "You may call for me here at half-past +eight. I shall wear a hat and I would like to go somewhere where our +people do not go." + +Anna set down the telephone. The listlessness had gone from her manner. +She glanced at the clock and ran lightly into the other room. + +"Put all that splendour away," she ordered her maid cheerfully. "To-night +we shall dazzle no one. Something perfectly quiet and a hat, please. I +dine in a restaurant. And ring the bell, Marie, for two aperitifs--not +that I need one. I am hungry, Marie. I am looking forward to my dinner +already. I think something dead black. I am looking well tonight. I can +afford to wear black." + +Marie beamed. + +"Madame has recovered her spirits," she remarked demurely. + +Anna was suddenly silent. Her light-heartedness was a revelation. She +turned to her maid. + +"Marie," she directed, "you will telephone to Thurm House. You will ask +for Lucille, the Princess's maid. You will give my love to the Princess. +You will say that a sudden headache has prostrated me. It will be enough. +You need say no more. To-morrow I lunch with the Princess, and she will +understand." + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + + +"Confess," Anna exclaimed, as she leaned back in her chair, "that my idea +was excellent! Your little restaurant was in its way perfection, but the +heat--does one feel it anywhere, I wonder, as one does in London?" + +"Here, at any rate, we have air," Norgate remarked appreciatively. + +"We are far removed," she went on, "from the clamour of diners, that +babel of voices, the smell of cooking, the meretricious music. We look +over the house-tops. Soon, just behind that tall building there, you will +see the yellow moon." + +They were taking their coffee in Anna's sitting-room, seated in +easy-chairs drawn up to the wide-flung windows. The topmost boughs of +some tall elm trees rustled almost in their faces. Away before them +spread the phantasmagoria of a wilderness of London roofs, softened and +melting into the dim blue obscurity of the falling twilight. Lights were +flashing out everywhere, and above them shone the stars. Norgate drew a +long breath of content. + +"It is wonderful, this," he murmured. + +"We are at least alone," Anna said, "and I can talk to you. I want to +talk to you. Should you be very much flattered, I wonder, if I were to +say that I have been thinking of little else for the last three or four +days than how to approach you, how to say something to you without any +fear of being misunderstood, how to convince you of my own sincerity?" + +"If I am not flattered," he answered, looking at her keenly, "I am at +least content. Please go on." + +"You are one of those, I believe," she continued earnestly, "who realise +that somewhere not far removed from the splendour of these summer days, a +storm is gathering. I am one of those who know. England has but a few +more weeks of this self-confident, self-esteeming security. Very soon the +shock will come. Oh! you sit there, my friend, and you are very +monosyllabic, but that is because you do not wholly trust me." + +He swung suddenly round upon her and there was an unaccustomed fire +in his eyes. + +"May it not be for some other reason?" he asked quickly. + +There was a moment's silence. Her own face seemed paler than ever in the +strange half light, but her eyes were wonderful. He told himself with +passionate insistence that they were the eyes of a truthful woman. + +"Tell me," she begged, "what reason?" + +He leaned towards her. + +"It is so hopeless," he said. "I am just a broken diplomat whose career +is ended almost before it is begun, and you--well, you have everything at +your feet. It is foolish of me, isn't it, but I love you." + +He took her hand, and she did not withdraw it. + +"If it is foolish," she murmured, "then I am foolish, too. Perhaps you +can guess now why I came to London." + +He drew her into his arms. She made no resistance. Her lips, even, were +seeking his. It seemed to him in those breathless moments that a greater +thing than even the destiny of nations was born into the world. There +was a new vigour in his pulses as she gently pushed him back, a new +splendour in life. + +"Dear," she exclaimed, "of course we are both very foolish, and yet, I do +not know. I have been wondering why this has not come to me long ago, and +now that it has come I am happy." + +"You care--you really care?" he insisted passionately. + +"Of course I do," she told him, quietly enough and yet very +convincingly. "If I did not care I should not be here. If I did not +care, I should not be going to say the things to you which I am going to +say now. Sit back in your chair, please, hold my hand still, smoke if +you will, but listen." + +He obeyed. A deeper seriousness crept into her tone, but her face was +still soft and wonderful. The new things were lingering there. + +"I want to tell you first," she said, "what I think you already know. The +moment for which Germany has toiled so long, from which she has never +faltered, is very close at hand. With all her marvellous resources and +that amazing war equipment of which you in this country know little, she +will soon throw down the gage to England. You are an Englishman, Francis. +You are not going to forget it, are you?" + +"Forget it?" he repeated. + +"I know," she continued slowly, "that Selingman has made advances to you. +I know that he has a devilish gift for enrolling on his list men of +honour and conscience. He has the knack of subtle argument, of twisting +facts and preying upon human weaknesses. You have been shockingly treated +by your Foreign Office. You yourself are entirely out of sympathy with +your Government. You know very well that England, as she is, is a country +which has lost her ideals, a country in which many of her sons might +indeed, without much reproach, lose their pride, Selingman knows this. He +knows how to work upon these facts. He might very easily convince you +that the truest service you could render your country was to assist her +in passing through a temporary tribulation." + +He looked at her almost in surprise. + +"You seem to know the man's methods," he observed. + +"I do," she answered, "and I detest them. Now, Francis, please tell me +the truth. Is your name, too, upon that long roll of those who are +pledged to assist his country?" + +"It is," he admitted. + +She drew a little away. + +"You admit it? You have already consented?" + +"I have drawn a quarter's salary," Norgate confessed. "I have entered +Selingman's corps of the German Secret Service." + +"You mean that you are a traitor!" she exclaimed. + +"A traitor to the false England of to-day," Norgate replied, "a friend, +I hope, of the real England." + +She sat quite still for some moments. + +"Somehow or other," she said, "I scarcely fancied that you would give in +so easily." + +"You seem disappointed," he remarked, "yet, after all, am I not on +your side?" + +"I suppose so," she answered, without enthusiasm. + +There was another and a more prolonged silence. Norgate rose at last +to his feet. He walked restlessly to the end of the room and back +again. A dark mass of clouds had rolled up; the air seemed almost +sulphurous with the presage of a coming storm. They looked out into +the gathering darkness. + +"I don't understand," he said. "You are Austrian; that is the same as +German. I tell you that I have come over on your side. You seem +disappointed." + +"Perhaps I am," she admitted, standing up, too, and linking her arm +through his. "You see, my mother was English, and they say that I am +entirely like her. I was brought up here in the English country. +Sometimes my life at Vienna and Berlin seems almost like a dream to me, +something unreal, as though I were playing at being some other woman. +When I am back here, I feel as though I had come home. Do you know really +that nothing would make me happier than to hear or think nothing about +duty, to just know that I had come back to England to stay, and that you +were English, and that we were going to live just the sort of life I +pictured to myself that two people could live so happily over here, +without too much ambition, without intrigue, simply and honestly. I am a +little weary of cities and courts, Francis. To-night more than ever +England seems to appeal to me, to remind me that I am one of her +daughters." + +"Are you trying me, Anna?" he asked hoarsely. + +"Trying you? Of course not!" she answered. "I am speaking to you just +simply and naturally, because you are the one person in the world to whom +I may speak like that." + +"Then let's drop it, both of us!" he exclaimed, holding her arm +tightly to his. "Courts and cities can do without you, and Selingman +can do without me. We'll take a cottage somewhere and live through +these evil days." + +She shook her head. + +"You and I are not like that, Francis," she declared. "When the storm +breaks, we mustn't be found hiding in our holes. You know that quite +well. It is for us to decide what part we may play. You have chosen. So, +in a measure, have I. Tomorrow I am going on a secret mission to Italy." + +"Anna!" he cried in dismay. + +"Alas, yes!" she repeated, "We may not even meet again, Francis, till the +map of Europe has been rewritten with the blood of many of our friends +and millions of our country-people. But I shall think of you, and the +kiss you will give me now shall be the last upon my lips." + +"You can go away?" he demanded. "You can leave me like this?" + +"I must," she answered simply. "I have work before me. Good-by, Francis! +Somehow I knew what was coming. I believe that I am glad, dear, but I +must think about it, and so must you." + +Norgate left the hotel and walked out amid the first mutterings of the +storm. He found a taxi and drove to his rooms. For an hour he sat before +his window, watching the lightning play, fighting the thoughts which beat +upon his brain, fighting all the time a losing battle. At midnight the +storm had ceased. He walked back through the rain-streaming streets. The +air was filled with sweet and pungent perfumes. The heaviness had passed +from the atmosphere. His own heart was lighter; he walked swiftly. +Outside her hotel he paused and looked up at the window. There was a +light still burning in her room. He even fancied that he could see the +outline of her figure leaning back in the easy-chair which he had wheeled +up close to the casement. He entered the hotel, stepped into the lift, +ascended to her floor, and made his way with tingling pulses and beating +heart along the corridor. He knocked softly at her door. There was a +little hesitation, then he heard her voice on the other side. + +"Who is that?" + +"It is I--Francis," he answered softly. "Let me in." + +There was a little exclamation. She opened the door, holding up +her finger. + +"Quietly," she whispered. "What is it, Francis? Why have you come back? +What has happened to you?" + +He drew her into the room. She herself looked weary, and there were +lines under her eyes. It seemed, even, as though she might have been +weeping. But it was a new Norgate who spoke. His words rang out with a +fierce vigour, his eyes seemed on fire. + +"Anna," he cried, "I can't fence with you. I can't lie to you. I can't +deceive you. I've tried these things, and I went away choking, I had to +come back. You shall know the truth, even though you betray me. I am no +man of Selingman's. I have taken his paltry money--it went last night to +a hospital. I am for England--God knows it!--the England of any +government, England, however misguided or mistaken. I want to do the work +for her that's easiest and that comes to me. I am on Selingman's roll. +What do you think he'll get from me? Nothing that isn't false, no +information that won't mislead him, no facts save those I shall distort +until they may seem so near the truth that he will build and count upon +them. Every minute of my time will be spent to foil his schemes. They +don't believe me in Whitehall, or Selingman would be at Bow Street +to-morrow morning. That's why I am going my own way. Tell him, if you +will. There is only one thing strong enough to bring me here, to risk +everything, and that's my love for you." + +She was in his arms, sobbing and crying, and yet laughing. She clutched +at him, drew down his face and covered his lips with kisses. + +"Oh! I am so thankful," she cried, "so thankful! Francis, I ached--my +heart ached to have you sit there and talk as you did. Now I know that +you are the man I thought you were. Francis, we will work together." + +"You mean it?" + +"I do, England was my mother's country, England shall be my husband's +country. I will tell you many things that should help. From now my work +shall be for you. If they find me out, well, I will pay the price. You +shall run your risk, Francis, for your country, and I must take mine; but +at least we'll keep our honour and our conscience and our love. Oh, this +is a better parting, dear! This is a better good night!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + + +Mrs. Benedek was the first to notice the transformation which had +certainly taken place in Norgate's appearance. She came and sat by his +side upon the cushioned fender. + +"What a metamorphosis!" she exclaimed. "Why, you look as though +Providence had been showering countless benefits upon you." + +There were several people lounging around, and Mrs. Benedek's remark +certainly had point. + +"You look like Monty, when he's had a winning week," one of them +observed. + +"It is something more than gross lucre," a young man declared, who had +just strolled up. "I believe that it is a good fat appointment. Rome, +perhaps, where every one of you fellows wants to get to, nowadays." + +"Or perhaps," the Prince intervened, with a little bow, "Mrs. Benedek has +promised to dine with you? She is generally responsible for the gloom or +happiness of us poor males in this room." + +Norgate smiled. + +"None of these wonderful things have happened--and yet, something perhaps +more wonderful," he announced. "I am engaged to be married." + +There was a mingled chorus of exclamations and congratulations. +Selingman, who had been standing on the outskirts of the group, drew a +little nearer. His face wore a somewhat puzzled expression. + +"And the lady?" he enquired. "May we not know the lady's name? That is +surely important?" + +"It is the Baroness von Haase," Norgate replied. "You probably know her +by name and repute, at least, Mr. Selingman. She is an Austrian, but she +is often at Berlin." + +Selingman stretched out his great hand. For some reason or other, the +announcement seemed to have given him real pleasure. + +"Know her? My dear young friend, while I may not claim the privilege of +intimate friendship with her, the Baroness is a young lady of the +greatest distinction and repute in Berlin. I congratulate you. I +congratulate you most heartily. The anger of our young princeling is no +longer to be wondered at. I cannot tell you how thoroughly interesting +this news is to me." + +"You are very good indeed, I am sure, all of you," Norgate declared, +answering the general murmur of kindly words. "The Baroness doesn't play +bridge, but I'd like to bring her in one afternoon, if I may." + +"I have had the honour of meeting the Baroness von Haase several times," +Prince Lenemaur said. "It will give me the utmost pleasure to renew my +acquaintance with her. These alliances are most pleasing. Since I have +taken up my residence in this country, I regard them with the utmost +favour. They do much to cement the good feeling between Germany, +Austria, and England, which is so desirable." + +"English people," Mrs. Benedek remarked, "will at least have the +opportunity of judging Austrian women from the proper standpoint. Anna is +one of the most accomplished and beautiful women in either Vienna or +Berlin. I hope so much that she will not have forgotten me altogether." + +They all drifted presently back to the bridge tables. Norgate, however, +excused himself. He had some letters to write, he declared, and +presently he withdrew to the little drawing-room. In about a quarter of +an hour, as he had expected, the door opened, and Selingman entered. He +crossed the room at once to where Norgate was writing and laid his hand +upon his shoulder. + +"Young man," he said, "I wish to talk with you. Bring your chair around. +Sit there so that the light falls upon your face. So! Now let me see. +Where does that door lead to?" + +"Into the secretary's room, but it is locked," Norgate told him. + +"So! And the outer one I myself have carefully closed. We talk here, +then, in private. This is great news which you have brought this +afternoon." + +"It is naturally of some interest to me," Norgate assented, "but I +scarcely see--" + +"It is of immense interest, also, to me," Selingman interrupted. "It may +be that you do not know this at present. It may be that I anticipate, but +if so, no matter. Between you and your fiancée there will naturally be no +secrets. You are perhaps already aware that she holds a high position +amongst those who are working for the power and development and expansion +of our great empire?" + +"I have gathered something of the sort," Norgate admitted. "I know, of +course, that she is a personal favourite of the Emperor's, and _persona +grata_ at the Court of Berlin." + +"You have no scruple, then, about marrying a woman who belongs to a +certain clique, a certain school of diplomacy which you might, from a +superficial point of view, consider inimical to your country's +interests?" + +"I have no scruple at all in marrying the Baroness von Haase," Norgate +replied firmly. "As for the rest, you and I have discussed fully the +matter of the political relations between our countries. I have shown you +practically have I not, what my own views are?" + +"That is true, my young friend," Selingman confessed. "We have spoken +together, man to man, heart to heart. I have tried to show you that even +though we should stand with sword outstretched across the seas, yet in +the hearts of our people there dwells a real affection, real good-will +towards your country. I think that I have convinced you. I have come, +indeed, to have a certain amount of confidence in you. That I have +already proved. But your news to-day alters much. There are grades of +that society which you have joined, rings within rings, as you may well +imagine. I see the prospect before me now of making much greater and more +valuable use of you. It was your brain, and a certain impatience with +the political conduct of your country, which brought you over to our +side. Why should not that become an alliance--an absolute alliance? Your +interests are drawn into ours. You have now a real and great reason for +throwing in your lot with us. Let me look at you. Let me think whether I +may not venture upon a great gamble." + +Norgate did not flinch. He appeared simply a little puzzled. Selingman's +blue, steel-like eyes seemed striving to reach the back of his brain. + +"All the things that we accomplish in my country," the latter continued, +"we do by method and order. We do them scientifically. We reach out into +the future. So far as we can, we foresee everything. We leave little to +chance. Yet there are times when one cannot deal in certainties. Young +man, the news which you have told us this afternoon has brought us to +this pitch. I am inclined to gamble--to gamble upon you." + +"Is there any question of consulting me in this?" Norgate asked coolly. + +Selingman brushed the interruption on one side. + +"I now make clear to you what I mean," he continued. "You have joined my +little army of helpers, those whom I have been able to convince of the +justice and reasonableness of Germany's ultimate aim. Now I want more +from you. I want to make of you something different. More than anything +in the world, for the furtherance of my schemes here, I need a young +Englishman of your position and with your connections, to whom I can give +my whole confidence, who will act for me with implicit obedience, +without hesitation. Will you accept that post, Francis Norgate?" + +"If you think I am capable of it," Norgate replied promptly. + +"You are capable of it," Selingman asserted. "There is only one grim +possibility to be risked. Are you entirely trustworthy? Would you flinch +at the danger moment? Before this afternoon I hesitated. It is your +alliance with the Baroness which gives me that last drop of confidence +which was necessary." + +"I am ready to do your work," Norgate said. "I can say no more. My own +country has no use for me. My own country seems to have no use for any +one at all just now who thinks a little beyond the day's eating and +drinking and growing fat." + +Selingman nodded his head. The note of bitterness in the other's tone was +to his liking. + +"Of rewards, of benefits, I shall not now speak," he proceeded. "You have +something in you of the spirit of men who aim at the greater things. +There is, indeed, in your attitude towards life something of the +idealism, the ever-stretching heavenward culture of my own people. I +recognise that spirit in you, and I will not give a lower tone to our +talk this afternoon by speaking of money. Yet what you wish for you may +have. When the time comes, what further reward you may desire, whether it +be rank or high position, you may have, but for the present let it be +sufficient that you are my man." + +He held out his hand, and all the time his eyes never left Norgate's. +Gone the florid and beaming geniality of the man, his easy good-humour, +his air of good-living and rollicking gaiety. There were lines in his +forehead. The firm contraction of his lips brought lines even across his +plump cheeks. It was the face, this, of a strong man and a thinker. He +held Norgate's fingers, and Norgate never flinched. + +"So!" he said at last, as he turned away. "Now you are indeed in the +inner circle, Mr. Francis Norgate. Good! Listen to me, then. We will +speak of war, the war that is to come, the war that is closer at hand +than even you might imagine." + +"War with England?" Norgate exclaimed. + +Selingman struck his hands together. + +"No!" he declared. "You may take it as a compliment, if you like--a +national compliment. We do not at the present moment desire war with +England. Our plan of campaign, for its speedy and successful +accomplishment, demands your neutrality. The North Sea must be free to +us. Our fleet must be in a position to meet and destroy, as it is well +able to do, the Russian and the French fleets. Now you know what has kept +Germany from war for so long." + +"You are ready for it, then?" Norgate remarked. + +"We are over-ready for it," Selingman continued. "We are spoiling for +it. We have piled up enormous stores of ordnance, ammunition, and all +the appurtenances of warfare. Our schemes have been cut and dried to the +last detail. Yet time after time we have been forced to stay our hand. +Need I tell you why? It is because, in all those small diplomatic +complications which have arisen and from which war might have followed, +England has been involved. We want to choose a time and a cause which +will give England every opportunity of standing peacefully on one side. +That time is close at hand. From all that I can hear, your country is, +at the present moment, in danger of civil war. Your Ministers who are +most in favour are Radical pacifists. Your army has never been so small +or your shipbuilding programme more curtailed. Besides, there is no +warlike spirit in your nation; you sleep peacefully. I think that our +time has come. You will not need to strain your ears, my friend. Before +many weeks have passed, the tocsin will be sounding. Does that move you? +Let me look at you." + +Norgate's face showed little emotion. Selingman nodded ponderously. + +"Surely," Norgate asked, "Germany will wait for some reasonable pretext?" + +"She will find one through Austria," Selingman replied. "That is simple. +Mind, though this may seem to you a war wholly of aggression, and though +I do not hesitate to say that we have been prepared for years for a war +of aggression, there are other factors which will come to light. Only a +few months ago, an entire Russian scheme for the invasion of Germany next +spring was discovered by one of our Secret Service agents." + +Norgate nodded. + +"One question more," he said. "Supposing Germany takes the plunge, and +then England, contrary to anticipation, decides to support France?" + +Selingman's face darkened. A sudden purposeless anger shook his voice. + +"We choose a time," he declared, "when England's hands are tied. She is +in no position to go to war with any one. I have many reports reaching me +every day. I have come to the firm conclusion that we have reached the +hour. England will not fight." + +"And what will happen to her eventually?" Norgate asked. + +Selingman smiled slowly. + +"When France is crushed," he explained, "and her northern ports +garrisoned by us, England must be taught just a little lesson, the lesson +of which you and I have spoken, the lesson which will be for her good. +That is what we have planned. That is how things will happen. Hush! There +is some one coming. It is finished, this. Come to me to-morrow morning. +There is work for you." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + + +Later on that evening, Norgate walked up and down the platform at +Charing-Cross with Anna. Her arm rested upon his; her expression was +animated and she talked almost eagerly. Norgate carried himself like a +man who has found a new thing in life. He was feeling none of the +depression of the last few days. + +"Dear," Anna begged, "you won't forget, will you, all the time that I am +away, that you must never for a single moment relax your caution? +Selingman speaks of trust. Well, he gambles, it is true, yet he protects +himself whenever he can. You will not move from early morning until you +go to bed at night, without being watched. To prove what I say--you see +the man who is reading an evening paper under the gas-lamp there? Yes? He +is one of Selingman's men. He is watching us now. More than once he has +been at our side. Scraps of conversation, or anything he can gather, will +go back to Selingman, and Selingman day by day pieces everything +together. Don't let there be a single thing which he can lay hold of." + +"I'll lead him a dance," Norgate promised, nodding a little grimly. "As +for that, Anna dear, you needn't be afraid. If ever I had any wits, +they'll be awake during the next few weeks." + +"When I come back from Rome," Anna went on, "I shall have more to tell +you. I believe that I shall be able to tell you even the date of the +great happening. I wonder what other commissions he will give you. The +one to-night is simple. Be careful, dear. Think--think hard before you +make up your mind. Remember that there is some duplicity which might +become suddenly obvious. An official statement might upset everything. +These English papers are so garrulous. You might find yourself +hard-pressed for an explanation." + +"I'll be careful, dear," Norgate assured her, as they stood at last +before the door of her compartment. "And of ourselves?" + +She lifted her veil. + +"We have so little time," she murmured. + +"But have you thought over what I suggested?" he begged. + +She laughed at him softly. + +"It sounds quite attractive," she whispered. "Shall we talk of it when I +come back from Italy? Good-by, dear! Of course, I do not really want to +kiss you, but our friend under the gas-lamp is looking--and you know our +engagement! It is so satisfactory to dear Mr. Selingman. It is the one +genuine thing about us, isn't it? So good-by!" + +The long train drew out from the platform a few minutes later. Norgate +lingered until it was out of sight. Then he took a taxi and drove to +the House of Commons. He sent in a card addressed to David Bullen, +Esq., and waited for some time. At last a young man came down the +corridor towards him. + +"I am Mr. Bullen's private secretary," he announced. "Mr. Bullen cannot +leave the House for some time. Would you care to go into the Strangers' +Gallery, or will you wait in his room?" + +"I should like to listen to the debate, if it is possible," +Norgate decided. + +A place was found for him with some difficulty. The House was crowded. +The debate concerned one of the proposed amendments to the Home Rule +Bill, not in itself important, yet interesting to Norgate on account of +the bitter feeling which seemed to underlie the speeches of the extreme +partisans on either side. The debate led nowhere. There was no division, +no master mind intervening, yet it left a certain impression on Norgate's +mind. At a little before ten, the young man who had found him his place +touched his shoulder. + +"Mr. Bullen will see you now, sir," he said. + +Norgate followed his conductor through a maze of passages into a +barely-furnished but lofty apartment. The personage whom he had come to +see was standing at the further end, talking somewhat heatedly to one or +two of his supporters. At Norgate's entrance, however, he dismissed them +and motioned his visitor to a chair. He was a tall, powerful-looking man, +with the eyes and forehead of a thinker. There was a certain laconic +quality in his speech which belied his nationality. + +"You come to me, I understand, Mr. Norgate," he began, "on behalf of some +friends in America, not directly, but representing a gentleman who in his +letter did not disclose himself. It sounds rather complicated, but +please talk to me. I am at your service." + +"I am sorry for the apparent mystery," Norgate said, as he took the seat +to which he was invited. "I will make up for it by being very brief. I +have come on behalf of a certain individual--whom we will call, if you +please, Mr. X----. Mr. X---- has powerful connections in America, +associated chiefly with German-Americans. As you know from your own +correspondence with an organisation over there, the situation in Ireland +is intensely interesting to them at the present moment." + +"I have gathered that, sir," Mr. Bullen confessed. "The help which the +Irish and Americans have sent to Dublin has scarcely been of the +magnitude which one might have expected, but one is at least assured of +their sympathy." + +"It is partly my mission to assure you of something else," Norgate +declared. "A secret meeting has been held in New York, and a sum of money +has been promised, the amount of which would, I think, surprise you. The +conditions attached to this gift, however, are peculiar. They are +inspired by a profound disbelief in the _bona fides_ of England and the +honourableness of her intentions so far as regards the administration of +the bill when passed." + +Mr. Bullen, who at first had seemed a little puzzled, was now deeply +interested. He drew his chair nearer to his visitor's. + +"What grounds have you, or those whom you represent, for saying that?" +he demanded. + +"None that I can divulge," Norgate replied. "Yet they form the motive of +the offer which I am about to make to you. I am instructed to say that +the sum of a million pounds will be paid into your funds on certain +guarantees to be given by you. It is my business here to place these +guarantees before you and to report as to your attitude concerning them." + +"One million pounds!" Mr. Bullen murmured, breathlessly. + +"There are the conditions," Norgate reminded him. + +"Well?" + +"In the first place," Norgate continued, "the subscribers to this fund, +which is by no means exhausted by the sum I mention, demand that you +accept no compromise, that at all costs you insist upon the whole bill, +and that if it is attempted at the last moment to deprive the Irish +people by trickery of the full extent of their liberty, you do not +hesitate to encourage your Nationalist party to fight for their freedom." + +Mr. Bullen's lips were a little parted, but his face was immovable. + +"Go on." + +"In the event of your doing so," Norgate continued, "more money, and arms +themselves if you require them, will be available, but the motto of those +who have the cause of Ireland entirely at heart is, 'No compromise!' They +recognise the fact that you are in a difficult position. They fear that +you have allowed yourself to be influenced, to be weakened by pressure +so easily brought upon you from high quarters." + +"I understand," Mr. Bullen remarked. "Go on." + +"There is a further condition," Norgate proceeded, "though that is less +important. The position in Europe at the present moment seems to indicate +a lasting peace, yet if anything should happen that that peace should be +broken, you are asked to pledge your word that none of your Nationalist +volunteers should take up arms on behalf of England until that bill has +become law and is in operation. Further, if that unlikely event, a war, +should take place, that you have the courage to keep your men solid and +armed, and that if the Ulster volunteers, unlike your men, decide to +fight for England, as they very well might do, that you then proceed to +take by force what it is not the intention of England to grant you by any +other means." + +Mr. Bullen leaned back in his chair. He picked up a penholder and played +with it for several moments. + +"Young man," he asked at last, "who is Mr. X----?" + +"That, in the present stage of our negotiations," Norgate answered +coolly, "I am not permitted to tell you." + +"May I guess as to his nationality?" Mr. Bullen enquired. + +"I cannot prevent your doing that." + +"The speculation is an interesting one," Mr. Bullen went on, still +fingering the penholder. "Is Mr. X---- a German?" + +Norgate was silent. + +"I cannot answer questions," he said, "until you have expressed +your views." + +"You can have them, then," Mr. Bullen declared. + +"You can go back to Mr. X---- and tell him this. Ireland needs help +sorely to-day from all her sons, whether at home or in foreign +countries. More than anything she needs money. The million pounds of +which you speak would be a splendid contribution to what I may term our +war chest. But as to my views, here they are. It is my intention, and +the intention of my Party, to fight to the last gasp for the literal +carrying out of the bill which is to grant us our liberty. We will not +have it whittled away or weakened one iota. Our lives, and the lives of +greater men, have been spent to win this measure, and now we stand at +the gates of success. We should be traitors if we consented to part with +a single one of the benefits it brings us. Therefore, you can tell Mr. +X---- that should this Government attempt any such trickery as he not +unreasonably suspects, then his conditions will be met. My men shall +fight, and their cause will be just." + +"So far," Norgate admitted, "this is very satisfactory." + +"To pass on," Mr. Bullen continued, "let me at once confess that I find +something sinister, Mr. Norgate, in this mysterious visit of yours, in +the hidden identity of Mr. X----. I suspect some underlying motive +which prompts the offering of this million pounds. I may be wrong, but +it seems to me that I can see beneath it all the hand of a foreign +enemy of England." + +"Supposing you were right, Mr. Bullen," Norgate said, "what is England +but a foreign enemy of Ireland?" + +A light flashed for a moment in Mr. Bullen's eyes. His lip curled +inwards. + +"Young man," he demanded, "are you an Englishman?" + +"I am," Norgate admitted. + +"You speak poorly, then. To proceed to the matter in point, my word is +pledged to fight. I will plunge the country I love into civil war to gain +her rights, as greater patriots than I have done before. But the thing +which I will not do is to be made the cat's-paw, or to suffer Ireland to +be made the cat's-paw, of Germany. If war should come before the +settlement of my business, this is the position I should take. I would +cross to Dublin, and I would tell every Nationalist Volunteer to shoulder +his rifle and to fight for the British Empire, and I would go on to +Belfast--I, David Bullen--to Belfast, where I think that I am the most +hated man alive, and I would stand side by side with the leader of those +men of Ulster, and I would beg them to fight side by side with my +Nationalists. And when the war was over, if my rights were not granted, +if Ireland were not set free, then I would bid my men take breathing time +and use all their skill, all the experience they had gained, and turn and +fight for their own freedom against the men with whom they had struggled +in the same ranks. Is that million pounds to be mine, Mr. Norgate?" + +Norgate shook his head. + +"Nor any part of it, sir," he answered. + +"I presume," Mr. Bullen remarked, as he rose, "that I shall never have +the pleasure of meeting Mr. X----?" + +"I most sincerely hope," Norgate declared fervently, "that you never +will. Good-day, Mr. Bullen!" + +He held out his hand. Mr. Bullen hesitated. + +"Sir," he said, "I am glad to shake hands with an Irishman. I am willing +to shake hands with an honest Englishman. Just where you come in, I don't +know, so good evening. You will find my secretary outside. He will show +you how to get away." + +For a moment Norgate faltered. A hot rejoinder trembled upon his lips. +Then he remembered himself and turned on his heel. It was his first +lesson in discipline. He left the room without protest. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + + +Mr. Hebblethwaite turned into Pall Mall, his hands behind his back, his +expression a little less indicative of bland good humour than usual. He +had forgotten to light his customary cigarette after the exigencies of a +Cabinet Council. He had even forgotten to linger for a few minutes upon +the doorstep in case any photographer should be hanging around to take a +snapshot of a famous visitor leaving an historic scene, and quite +unconsciously he ignored the salutation of several friends. It was only +by the merest chance that he happened to glance up at the corner of the +street and recognised Norgate across the way. He paused at once and +beckoned to him. + +"Well, young fellow," he exclaimed, as they shook hands, "how's the +German spy business going?" + +"Pretty well, thanks," Norgate answered coolly. "I am in it twice over +now. I'm marrying an Austrian lady shortly, very high up indeed in the +Diplomatic Secret Service of her country. Between us you may take it that +we could read, if we chose, the secrets of the Cabinet Council from which +you have just come." + +"Any fresh warnings, eh?" + +Norgate turned and walked by his friend's side. + +"It is no use warning you," he declared. "You've a hide as thick as a +rhinoceros. Your complacency is bomb-proof. You won't believe anything +until it's too late." + +"Confoundedly disagreeable companion you make, Norgate," the Cabinet +Minister remarked irritably. "You know quite as well as I do that +the German scare is all bunkum, and you only hammer it in either to +amuse yourself or because you are of a sensational turn of mind. All +the same--" + +"All the same, what?" Norgate interrupted. + +Hebblethwaite took his young friend's arm and led him into his club. + +"We will take an apéritif in the smoking-room," he said. "After that I +will look in my book and see where I am lunching. It is perhaps not +the wisest thing for a Cabinet Minister to talk in the street. Since +the Suffragette scares, I have quite an eye for a detective, and there +has been a fellow within a few yards of your elbow ever since you +spoke to me." + +"That's all right," Norgate reassured him. "Let's see, it's Tuesday, +isn't it? I call him Boko. He never leaves me. My week-end shadowers are +a trifle less assiduous, but Boko is suspicious. He has deucedly long +ears, too." + +"What the devil are you talking about?" Hebblethwaite demanded, as +they sat down. + +"The fact of it is," Norgate explained, "they don't altogether trust me +in my new profession. They give me some important jobs to look after, but +they watch me night and day. What they'd do if I turned 'em up, I can't +imagine. By-the-by, if you do hear of my being found mysteriously shot +or poisoned or something of that sort, don't you take on any theory as to +suicide. It will be murder, right enough. However," he added, raising his +glass to his lips and nodding, "they haven't found me out yet." + +"I hear," Hebblethwaite muttered, "that the bookstalls are loaded with +this sort of rubbish. You do it very well, though." + +"Oh! I am the real thing all right," Norgate declared. "By-the-by, what's +the matter with you?" + +"Nothing," Hebblethwaite replied. "When you come to think of it, sitting +here and feeling the reviving influence of this remarkably well-concocted +beverage, I can confidently answer 'Nothing.' And yet, a few minutes ago, +I must admit that I was conscious of a sensation of gloom. You know, +Norgate, you're not the only idiot in the world who goes about seeing +shadows. For the first time in my life I begin to wonder whether we +haven't got a couple of them among us. Of course, I don't take any notice +of Spencer Wyatt. It's his job. He plays the part of popular +hero--National Anthem, God Save the Empire, and all that sort of thing. +He must keep in with his admirals and the people, so of course he's +always barking for ships. But White, now. I have always looked upon White +as being absolutely the most level-headed, sensible, and peace-adoring +Minister this country ever had." + +"What's wrong with him?" Norgate asked. + +"I cannot," Hebblethwaite regretted, "talk confidentially to a +German spy." + +"Getting cautious as the years roll on, aren't you?" Norgate sighed. +"I hoped I was going to get something interesting out of you to cable +to Berlin." + +"You try cabling to Berlin, young fellow," Hebblethwaite replied grimly, +"and I'll have you up at Bow Street pretty soon! There's no doubt about +it, though, old White has got the shivers for some reason or other. To +any sane person things were never calmer and more peaceful than at the +present moment, and White isn't a believer in the German peril, either. +He is half inclined to agree with old Busby. He got us out of that Balkan +trouble in great style, and all I can say is that if any nation in Europe +wanted war then, she could have had it for the asking." + +"Well, exactly what is the matter with White at the present moment?" +Norgate demanded. + +"Got the shakes," Hebblethwaite confided. "Of course, we don't employ +well-born young Germans who are undergoing a period of rustication, as +English spies, but we do get to know a bit what goes on there, and the +reports that are coming in are just a little curious. Rolling stock is +being called into the termini of all the railways. Staff officers in +mufti have been round all the frontiers. There's an enormous amount of +drilling going on, and the ordnance factories are working at full +pressure, day and night." + +"The manoeuvres are due very soon," Norgate reminded his friend. + +"So I told White," Hebblethwaite continued, "but manoeuvres, as he +remarked, don't lead to quite so much feverish activity as there is about +Germany just now. Personally, I haven't a single second's anxiety. I only +regret the effect that this sort of feeling has upon the others. Thank +heavens we are a Government of sane, peace-believing people!" + +"A Government of fat-headed asses who go about with your ears stuffed +full of wool," Norgate declared, with a sudden bitterness. "What you've +been telling me is the truth. Germany's getting ready for war, and you'll +have it in the neck pretty soon." + +Hebblethwaite set down his empty glass. He had recovered his composure. + +"Well, I am glad I met you, any way, young fellow," he remarked. "You're +always such an optimist. You cheer one up. Sorry I can't ask you to +lunch," he went on, consulting his book, "but I find I am motoring down +for a round of golf this afternoon." + +"Yes, you would play golf!" Norgate grunted, as they strolled towards the +door. "You're the modern Nero, playing golf while the earthquake yawns +under London." + +"Play you some day, if you like," Hebblethwaite suggested, as he called +for a taxi. "They took my handicap down two last week at Walton +Heath--not before it was time, either. By-the-by, when can I meet the +young lady? My people may be out of town next week, but I'll give you +both a lunch or a dinner, if you'll say the word. Thursday night, eh?" + +"At present," Norgate replied, "the Baroness is in Italy, arranging for +the mobilisation of the Italian armies, but if she's back for Thursday, +we shall be delighted. She'll be quite interested to meet you. A keen, +bright, alert politician of your type will simply fascinate her." + +"We'll make it Thursday night, then, at the Carlton," Hebblethwaite +called out from his taxi. "Take care of Boko. So long!" + +At the top of St. James's Street, Norgate received the bow of a very +elegantly-dressed young woman who was accompanied by a well-known +soldier. A few steps further on he came face to face with Selingman. + +"A small city, London," the latter declared. "I am on my way to the +Berkeley to lunch. Will you come with me? I am alone to-day, and I hate +to eat alone. Miss Morgen has deserted me shamefully." + +"I met her a moment or two ago," Norgate remarked. "She was with +Colonel Bowden." + +Selingman nodded. "Rosa has been taking a great interest in flying +lately. Colonel Bowden is head of the Flying Section. Well, well, one +must expect to be deserted sometimes, we older men." + +"Especially in so great a cause," Norgate observed drily. + +Selingman smiled enigmatically. + +"And you, my young friend," he enquired, "what have you been doing +this morning?" + +"I have just left Hebblethwaite," Norgate answered. + +"There was a Cabinet Council this morning, wasn't there?" + +Norgate nodded. + +"An unimportant one, I should imagine. Hebblethwaite seemed thoroughly +satisfied with himself and with life generally. He has gone down to +Walton Heath to play golf." + +Selingman led the way into the restaurant. + +"Very good exercise for an English Cabinet Minister," he remarked, +"capital for the muscles!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + + +"I had no objection," Norgate remarked, a few hours later, "to lunching +with you at the Berkeley--very good lunch it was, too--but to dine with +you in Soho certainly seems to require some explanation. Why do we do it? +Is it my punishment for a day's inactivity, because if so, I beg to +protest. I did my best with Hebblethwaite this morning, and it was only +because there was nothing for him to tell me that I heard nothing." + +Selingman spread himself out at the little table and talked in voluble +German to the portly head-waiter in greasy clothes. Then he turned to +his guest. + +"My young friend," he enjoined, "you should cultivate a spirit of +optimism. I grant you that the place is small and close, that the odour +of other people's dinners is repellent, that this cloth, perhaps, is not +so clean as it once was, or the linen so fine as we are accustomed to. +But what would you have? All sides of life come into the great scheme. It +is here that we shall meet a person whom I need to meet, a person whom I +do not choose to have visit me at my home, whom I do not choose to be +seen with in any public place of great repute." + +"I should say we were safe here from knocking against any of our +friends!" Norgate observed. "Anyhow, the beer's all right." + +They were served with light-coloured beer in tall, chased tumblers. +Selingman eyed his with approval. + +"A nation," he declared, "which brews beer like this, deserves well of +the world. You did wisely, Norgate, to become ever so slightly associated +with us. Now examine carefully these _hors d'oeuvres_. I have talked with +Karl, the head-waiter. Instead of eighteen pence, we shall pay three +shillings each for our dinner. The whole resources of the establishment +are at our disposal. Fresh tins of _delicatessen_, you perceive. Do not +be afraid that you will go-away hungry." + +"I am more afraid," Norgate grumbled, "that I shall go away sick. +However!" + +"You may be interested to hear," announced Selingman, glancing up, "that +our visit is not in vain. You perceive the two men entering? The nearest +one is a Bulgarian. He is a creature of mine. The other is brought here +by him to meet us. It is good." + +The newcomers made their way along the room. One, the Bulgarian, was +short and dark. He wore a well-brushed blue serge suit with a red tie, +and a small bowler hat. He was smoking a long, brown cigarette and he +carried a bundle of newspapers. Behind him came a youth with a pale, +sensitive face and dark eyes, ill-dressed, with the grip of poverty upon +him, from his patched shoes to his frayed collar and well-worn cap. +Nevertheless, he carried himself as though indifferent to these things. +His companion stopped short as he neared the table at which the two men +were sitting, and took off his hat, greeting Selingman with respect. + +"My friend Stralhaus!" Selingman exclaimed. "It goes well, I trust? +You are a stranger. Let me introduce to you my secretary, Mr. +Francis Norgate." + +Stralhaus bowed and turned to his young companion. + +"This," he said, "is the young man with whom you desired to speak. We +will sit down if we may. Sigismund, this is the great Herr Selingman, +philanthropist and millionaire, with his secretary, Mr. Norgate. We take +dinner with him to-night." + +The youth shook hands without enthusiasm. His manner towards Selingman +was cold. At Norgate he glanced once or twice with something approaching +curiosity. Stralhaus proceeded to make conversation. + +"Our young friend," he explained, addressing Norgate, "is an exile in +London. He belongs to an unfortunate country. He is a native of Bosnia." + +The boy's lip curled. + +"It is possible," he remarked, "that Mr. Norgate has never even heard of +my country. He is very little likely to know its history." + +"On the contrary," Norgate replied, "I know it very well. You have had +the misfortune, during the last few years, to come under Austrian rule." + +"Since you put it like that," the boy declared, "we are friends. I am one +of those who cry out to Heaven in horror at the injustice which has been +done. We love liberty, we Bosnians. We love our own people and our own +institutions, and we hate Austria. May you never know, sir, what it is to +be ruled by an alien race!" + +"You have at least the sympathy of many nations who are powerless to +interfere," Selingman said quietly. "I read your pamphlet, Mr. Henriote, +with very great interest. Before we leave to-night, I shall make a +proposal to you." + +The boy seemed puzzled for a moment, but Stralhaus intervened with some +commonplace remark. + +"After dinner," he suggested, "we will talk." + +Certainly during the progress of the meal Henriote said little. He ate, +although obviously half famished, with restraint, but although Norgate +did his best to engage him in conversation, he seemed taciturn, almost +sullen. Towards the end of dinner, when every one was smoking and coffee +had been served, Selingman glanced at his watch. + +"Now," he said, "I will tell you, my young Bosnian patriot, why I sent +for you. Would you like to go back to your country, in the first place?" + +"It is impossible!" Henriote declared bitterly, "I am exile. I am +forbidden to return under pain of death." + +Selingman opened his pocket-book, and, searching among his papers, +produced a thin blue one which he opened and passed across the table. + +"Read that," he ordered shortly. + +The young man obeyed. A sudden exclamation broke from his lips. A pink +flush, which neither the wine nor the food had produced, burned in his +cheeks. He sat hunched up, leaning forward, his eyes devouring the paper. +When he had finished, he still gripped it. + +"It is my pardon!" he cried. "I may go back home--back to Bosnia!" + +"It is your free pardon," Selingman replied, "but it is granted to you +upon conditions. Those conditions, I may say, are entirely for your +country's sake and are framed by those who feel exactly as you feel--that +Austrian rule for Bosnia is an injustice." + +"Go on," the young man muttered. "What am I to do?" + +"You are a member," Selingman went on, "of the extreme revolutionary +party, a party pledged to stop at nothing, to drive your country's +enemies across her borders. Very well, listen to me. The pardon which +you have there is granted to you without any promise having been asked +for or given in return. It is I alone who dictate terms to you. Your +country's position, her wrongs, and the abuses of the present form of +government, can only be brought before the notice of Europe in one way. +You are pledged to do that. All that I require of you is that you keep +your pledge." + +The young man half rose to his feet with excitement. + +"Keep it! Who is more anxious to keep it than I? If Europe wants to know +how we feel, she shall know! We will proclaim the wrongs of our country +so that England and Russia, France and Italy, shall hear and judge for +themselves. If you need deeds to rivet the attention of the world upon +our sufferings, then there shall be deeds. There shall--" + +He stopped short. A look of despair crossed his face. + +"But we have no money!" he exclaimed. "We patriots are starving. Our +lands have been confiscated. We have nothing. I live over here Heaven +knows how--I, Sigismund Henriote, have toiled for my living with Polish +Jews and the outcasts of Europe." + +Selingman dived once more into his pocket-book. He passed a packet across +the table. + +"Young man," he said, "that sum has been collected for your funds by the +friends of your country abroad. Take it and use it as you think best. All +that I ask from you is that what you do, you do quickly. Let me suggest +an occasion for you. The Archduke of Austria will be in your capital +almost as soon as you can reach home." + +The boy's face was transfigured. His great eyes were lit with a wonderful +fire. His frame seemed to have filled out. Norgate looked at him in +wonderment. He was like a prophet; then suddenly he grew calm. He placed +his pardon, to which was attached his passport, and the notes, in his +breast-coat pocket. He rose to his feet and took the cap from the floor +by his side. + +"There is a train to-night," he announced. "I wish you farewell, +gentlemen. I know nothing of you, sir," he added, turning to Selingman, +"and I ask no questions. I only know that you have pointed towards the +light, and for that I thank you. Good night, gentlemen!" + +He left them and walked out of the restaurant like a man in a dream. +Selingman helped himself to a liqueur and passed the bottle to Norgate. + +"It is in strange places that one may start sometimes the driving wheels +of Fate," he remarked. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + + +Anna almost threw herself from the railway carriage into Norgate's arms. +She kissed him on both cheeks, held him for a moment away from her, then +passed her arm affectionately through his. + +"You dear!" she exclaimed. "Oh, how weary I am of it! Nearly a week in +the train! And how well you are looking! And I am not going to stay a +single second bothering about luggage. Marie, give the porter my +dressing-case. Here are the keys. You can see to everything." + +Norgate, carried almost off his feet by the delight of her welcome, led +her away towards a taxicab. + +"I am starving," she told him. "I would have nothing at Dover except a +cup of tea. I knew that you would meet me, and I thought that we would +have our first meal in England together. You shall take me somewhere +where we can have supper and tell me all the news. I don't look too +hideous, do I, in my travelling clothes?" + +"You look adorable," he assured her, "and I believe you know it." + +"I have done my best," she confessed demurely. "Marie took so much +trouble with my hair. We had the most delightful coupe all to +ourselves. Fancy, we are back again in London! I have been to Italy, I +have spoken to kings and prime ministers, and I am back again with you. +And queerly enough, not until to-morrow shall I see the one person who +really rules Italy." + +"Who is that?" he asked. + +"I am not sure that I shall tell you everything," she decided. "You have +not opened your mouth to me yet. I shall wait until supper-time. Have you +changed your mind since I went away?" + +"I shall never change it," he assured her eagerly. "We are in a taxicab +and I know it's most unusual and improper, but--" + +"If you hadn't kissed me," she declared a moment later as she +leaned forward to look in the glass, "I should not have eaten a +mouthful of supper." + +They drove to the Milan Grill. It was a little early for the theatre +people, and they were almost alone in the place. Anna drew a great sigh +of content as she settled down in her chair. + +"I think I must have been lonely for a long time," she whispered, "for +it is so delightful to get back and be with you. Tell me what you have +been doing?" + +"I have been promoted," Norgate announced. "My prospective alliance with +you has completed Selingman's confidence in me. I have been entrusted +with several commissions." + +He told her of his adventures. She listened breathlessly to the account +of his dinner in Soho. + +"It is queer how all this is working out," she observed. "I knew before +that the trouble was to come through Austria. The Emperor was very +anxious indeed that it should not. He wanted to have his country brought +reluctantly into the struggle. Even at this moment I believe that if he +thought there was the slightest chance of England becoming embroiled, he +would travel to Berlin himself to plead with the Kaiser. I really don't +know why, but the one thing in Austria which would be thoroughly +unpopular would be a war with England." + +"Tell me about your mission?" he asked. + +"To a certain point," she confessed, with a little grimace, "it was +unsuccessful. I have brought a reply to the personal letter I took over +to the King. I have talked with Guillamo, the Secretary of State for +Foreign Affairs, with whom, of course, everything is supposed to rest. +What I have brought with me, however, and what I heard from Guillamo, are +nothing but a repetition of the assurances given to our Ambassador. The +few private words which I was to get I have failed in obtaining, simply +because the one person who could have spoken them is here in London." + +"Who is that?" he enquired curiously. + +"The Comtesse di Strozzi," she told him. "It is she who has directed the +foreign policy of Italy through Guillamo for the last ten years. He does +nothing without her. He is like a lost child, indeed, when she is away. +And where do you think she is? Why, here in London. She is staying at the +Italian Embassy. Signor Cardina is her cousin. The great ball to-morrow +night, of which you have read, is in her honour. You shall be my escort. +At one time I knew her quite well." + +"The Comtesse di Strozzi!" he exclaimed. "Why, she spent the whole of +last season in Paris. I saw quite a great deal of her." + +"How odd!" Anna murmured. "But how delightful! We shall be able to talk +to her together, you and I." + +"It is rather a coincidence," he admitted "She had a sort of craze to +visit some of the places in Paris where it is necessary for a woman to go +incognito, and I was always her escort. I heard from her only a few weeks +ago, and she told me that she was coming to London." + +Anna shook her head at him gaily. + +"Well," she said, "I won't indulge in any ante-jealousies. I only +hope that through her we shall get to know the truth. Are things here +still quiet?" + +"Absolutely." + +"Also in Paris. Francis, I feel so helpless. On my way I thought of +staying over, of going to see the Minister of War and placing certain +facts before him. And then I realised how little use it would all be. +They won't believe us, Francis. They would simply call us alarmists. They +won't believe that the storm is gathering." + +"Don't I know it!" Norgate assented earnestly. "Why, Hebblethwaite here +has always been a great friend of mine. I have done all I can to +influence him. He simply laughs in my face. To-day, for the first time, +he admitted that there was a slight uneasiness at the Cabinet Meeting, +and that White had referred to a certain mysterious activity throughout +Germany. Nevertheless, he has gone down to Walton Heath to play golf." + +She made a little grimace. + +"Your great Drake," she reminded him, "played bowls when the Armada +sailed. Your Cabinet Ministers will be playing golf or tennis. Oh, what a +careless country you are!--a careless, haphazard, blind, pig-headed +nation to watch over the destinies of such an Empire! I'm so tired of +politics, dear. I am so tired of all the big things that concern other +people. They press upon one. Now it is finished. You and I are alone. You +are my lover, aren't you? Remind me of it. If you will, I will discuss +the subject you mentioned the other day. Of course I shall say 'No!' I am +not nearly ready to be married yet. But I should like to hear your +arguments." + +Their heads grew closer and closer together. They were almost +touching when Selingman and Rosa Morgen came in. Selingman paused +before their table. + +"Well, well, young people!" he exclaimed. "Forgive me, Baroness, if I am +somewhat failing in respect, but the doings of this young man have become +some concern of mine." + +Her greeting was tinged with a certain condescension. She had suddenly +stiffened. There was something of the _grande dame_ in the way she held +up the tips of her fingers. + +"You do not disapprove, I trust?" + +"Baroness," Selingman declared earnestly, "it is an alliance for which no +words can express my approval. It comes at the one moment. It has riveted +to us and our interests one whose services will never be forgotten. May +I venture to hope that your journey to Italy has been productive?" + +"Not entirely as we had hoped," Anna replied, "yet the position there is +not unfavourable." + +Selingman glanced towards the table at which Miss Morgen had already +seated herself. + +"I must not neglect my duties," he remarked, turning away. + +"Especially," Anna murmured, glancing across the room, "when they might +so easily be construed into pleasures." + +Selingman beamed amiably. + +"The young lady," he said, "is more than ornamental--she is extremely +useful. From the fact that I may not be privileged to present her to you, +I must be careful that she cannot consider herself neglected. And so good +night, Baroness! Good night, Norgate!" + +He passed on. The Baroness watched him as he took his place opposite his +companion. + +"Is it my fancy," Norgate asked, "or does Selingman not meet entirely +with your approval?" + +She shrugged her shoulders. + +"It is not that," she replied. "He is a great man, in his way, the +Napoleon of the bourgeoisie, but then he is one of them himself. He +collects the whole scheme of information as to the social life and +opinions--the domestic particulars, I call them--of your country. Details +of your industries are at his finger-tips. He and I do not come into +contact. I am the trusted agent of both sovereigns, but it is only in +high diplomatic affairs that I ever intervene. Selingman, it is true, +may be considered the greatest spy who ever breathed, but a spy he is. If +we could only persuade your too amiable officials to believe one-tenth of +what we could tell them, I think our friend there would breakfast in an +English fortress, if you have such a thing." + +"We should only place him under police supervision," declared Norgate, +"and let him go. It's just our way, that's all." + +She waved the subject of Selingman on one side, but almost at that moment +he stood once more before them. He held an evening paper in his hand. + +"I bring you the news," he announced. "A terrible tragedy has happened. +The Archduke of Austria and his Consort have been assassinated on their +tour through Bosnia." + +For a moment neither Anna nor Norgate moved. Norgate felt a strange sense +of sickening excitement. It was as though the curtain had been rung up! + +"Is the assassin's name there?" he asked. + +"The crime," Selingman replied, "appears to have been committed by a +young Servian student. His name is Sigismund Henriote." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + + +They paused at last, breathless, and walked out of the most wonderful +ballroom in London into the gardens, aglow with fairy lanterns whose +brilliance was already fading before the rising moon. They found a seat +under a tall elm tree, and Anna leaned back. It was a queer mixture of +sounds which came to their ears; in the near distance, the music of a +wonderful orchestra rising and falling; further away, the roar of the +great city still awake and alive outside the boundary of those grey +stone walls. + +"Of course," she murmured, "this is the one thing which completes my +subjugation. Fancy an Englishman being able to waltz! Almost in that +beautiful room I fancied myself back in Vienna, except that it was more +wonderful because it was you." + +"You are turning my head," he whispered. "This is like a night out of +Paradise. And to think that we are really in the middle of London!" + +"Ah! do not mention London," she begged, "or else I shall begin to think +of Sodom and Gomorrah. After all, why need one live for anything else +except the present?" + +"There is the Comtesse," he reminded her disconsolately. + +She sighed. + +"How horrid of you!" + +"Let us forget her, then," he begged. "We will go into the marquee there +and have supper, and afterwards dance again. We'll steal to-night out of +the calendar. We'll call it ours and play with it as we please." + +She shook her head. + +"No," she decided, "you have reminded me of our duty, and you are quite +right. You were brought here to talk to the Comtesse. I do not know why, +but she is in a curiously impenetrable frame of mind. I tried hard to get +her to talk to me, but it was useless; you must see what you can do. +Fortunately, she seems to be absolutely delighted to have met you again. +You have a dance with her, have you not?" + +He drew out his programme reluctantly. + +"The next one, too," he sighed. + +Anna rose quickly to her feet. + +"How absurd of me to forget! Take me inside, please, and go and look for +her at once." + +"It's all very well," Norgate grumbled, "but the last time I saw her she +was about three deep among the notabilities. I really don't feel that I +ought to jostle dukes and ambassadors to claim a dance." + +"You must not be so foolish," Anna insisted. "The Comtesse cares nothing +for dukes and ambassadors, but she is most ridiculously fond of +good-looking young men. Mind, you will do better with her if you speak +entirely outside all of us. She is a very peculiar woman. If one could +only read the secrets she has stored up in her brain! Sometimes she is so +lavish with them, and at other times, and with other people, it seems as +though it would take an earthquake to force a sentence from her lips. +There she is, see, in that corner. Never mind the people around her. Go +and do your duty." + +Norgate found it easier than he had expected. She no sooner saw him +coming than she rose to her feet and welcomed him. She laid her fingers +upon his arm, and they moved away towards the ballroom. + +"I am afraid," he apologised, "that I am rather an intruder. You all +seemed so interested in listening to the Duke." + +"On the contrary, I welcome you as a deliverer," she declared. "I have +heard those stories so often, and worse than having heard them is the +necessity always to smile. The Duke is a dear good person, and he has +been exceedingly kind to me during the whole of my stay, but oh, how one +sometimes does weary oneself of this London of yours! Yet I love it. Do +you know that you were almost the first person I asked for when I arrived +here? They told me that you were in Berlin." + +"I was," he admitted. "I am in the act of being transferred." + +"Fortunate person!" she murmured. "You speak the language of all +capitals, but I cannot fancy you in Berlin." + +They had reached the edge of the ballroom. He hesitated. + +"Do you care to dance or shall we go outside and talk?" + +She smiled at him. "Both, may we not? You dear, discreet person, when I +think of the strange places where I have danced with you--Perhaps it is +better not to remember!" + +They moved away to the music and later on found their way into the +garden. The Comtesse was a little thoughtful. + +"You are a great friend of Anna's, are you not?" she enquired. + +"We are engaged to be married," he answered simply. + +She made a little grimace. + +"Ah!" she sighed, "you nice men, it comes to you all. You amuse +yourselves with us for a time, and then the real feeling comes, and where +are we? But it is queer, too," she went on thoughtfully, "that Anna +should marry an Englishman, especially just now." + +"Why 'especially just now'?" + +The Comtesse evaded the question. + +"Anna seemed always," she said, "to prefer the men of her own country. +Oh, what music! Shall we have one turn more, Mr. Francis Norgate? It is +the waltz they played--but who could expect a man to remember!" + +They plunged again into the crowd of dancers. The Comtesse was breathless +yet exhilarated when at last they emerged. + +"But you dance, as ever, wonderfully!" she cried. "You make me think of +those days in Paris. You make me even sad." + +"They remain," he assured her, "one of the most pleasant memories +of my life." + +She patted his hand affectionately. Then her tone changed. + +"Almost," she declared, "you have driven all other things out of my +mind. What is it that Anna is so anxious to know from me? You are in her +confidence, she tells me." + +"Entirely." + +"That again is strange," the Comtesse continued, "when one considers your +nationality, yet Anna herself has assured me of it. Do you know that she +is a person whom I very much envy? Her life is so full of variety. She is +the special protégée of the Emperor. No woman at Vienna is more trusted." + +"I am not sure," Norgate observed, "that she was altogether satisfied +with the results of her visit to Rome." + +The Comtesse's fan fluttered slowly back and forth. She looked for a +moment or two idly upon the brilliant scene. The smooth garden paths, the +sheltered seats, the lawns themselves, were crowded with little throngs +of women in exquisite toilettes, men in uniform and Court dress. There +were well-known faces everywhere. It was the crowning triumph of a +wonderful London season. + +"Anna's was a very difficult mission," the Comtesse pointed out +confidentially. "There is really no secret about these matters. The whole +world knows of Italy's position. A few months ago, at the time of what +you call the Balkan Crisis, Germany pressed us very hard for a definite +assurance of our support, under any conditions, of the Triple Alliance. I +remember that Andrea was three hours with the King that day, and our +reply was unacceptable in Berlin. It may have helped to keep the peace. +One cannot tell. The Kaiser's present letter is simply a repetition of +his feverish attempt to probe our intentions." + +"But at present," Norgate ventured, "there is no Balkan Crisis." + +The Comtesse looked at him lazily out of the corners of her sleepy eyes. + +"Is there not?" she asked simply. "I have been away from Italy for a week +or so, and Andrea trusts nothing to letters. Yesterday I had a dispatch +begging me to return. I go to-morrow morning. I do not know whether it is +because of the pressure of affairs, or because he wearies himself a +little without me." + +"One might easily imagine the latter," Norgate remarked. "But is it +indeed any secret to you that there is a great feeling of uneasiness +throughout the Continent, an extraordinary state of animation, a bustle, +although a secret bustle, of preparation in Germany?" + +"I have heard rumours of this," the Comtesse confessed. + +"When one bears these things in mind and looks a little into the future," +Norgate continued, "one might easily believe that the reply to that still +unanswered letter of the Kaiser's might well become historical." + +"You would like me, would you not," she asked, "to tell you what that +reply will most certainly be?" + +"Very much!" + +"You are an Englishman," she remarked thoughtfully, "and intriguing with +Anna. I fear that I do not understand the position." + +"Must you understand it?" + +"Perhaps not," she admitted. "It really matters very little. I will speak +to you just in the only way I can speak, as a private individual. I tell +you that I do not believe that Andrea will ever, under any circumstances, +join in any war against England, nor any war which has for its object the +crushing of France. In his mind the Triple Alliance was the most selfish +alliance which any country has ever entered into, but so long as the +other two Powers understood the situation, it was scarcely Italy's part +to point out the fact that she gained everything by it and risked +nothing. Italy has sheltered herself for years under its provisions, but +neither at the time of signing it, nor at any other time, has she had the +slightest intention of joining in an aggressive war at the request of her +allies. You see, her Government felt themselves safe--and I think that +that was where Andrea was so clever--in promising to fulfil their +obligations in case of an attack by any other Power upon Germany or +Austria, because it was perfectly certain to Andrea, and to every person +of common sense, that no such aggressive attack would ever be made. You +read Austria's demands from Servia in the paper this morning?" + +"I did," Norgate admitted. "No one in the world could find them +reasonable." + +"They are not meant to be reasonable," the Comtesse pointed out. "They +are the foundation from which the world quarrel shall spring. Russia +must intervene to protect Servia from their hideous injustice. Germany +and Austria will throw down the gage. Germany may be right or she may be +wrong, but she believes she can count on Great Britain's neutrality. She +needs our help and believes she will get it. That is because German +diplomacy always believes that it is going to get what it wants. Now, in +a few words, I will tell you what the German Emperor would give me a +province to know. I will tell you that no matter what the temptation, +what the proffered reward may be, Italy will not join in this war on the +side of Germany and Austria." + +"You are very kind, Comtesse," Norgate said simply, "and I shall respect +your confidence." + +She rose and laid her fingers upon his arm. + +"To people whom I like," she declared, "I speak frankly. I give away no +secrets. I say what I believe. And now I must leave you for a much +subtler person and a much subtler conversation. Prince Herschfeld is +waiting to talk to me. Perhaps he, too, would like to know the answer +which will go to his master, but how can I tell?" + +The Ambassador had paused before them. The Comtesse rose and +accepted his arm. + +"I shall take away with me to-night at least two charming memories," she +assured him, as she gathered up her skirts. "My two dances, Mr. Norgate, +have been delightful. Now I am equally sure of entertainment of another +sort from Prince Herschfeld." + +The Prince bowed. + +"Ah! madame," he sighed, "it is so hard to compete with youth. I fear +that the feet of Mr. Norgate will be nimbler than my brain to-night." + +She nodded sympathetically. + +"You are immersed in affairs, of course," she murmured. "Au revoir, Mr. +Norgate! Give my love to Anna. Some day I hope that I shall welcome you +both in Rome." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII + + +Norgate pushed his way through a confused medley of crates which had just +been unloaded and made his way up the warehouse to Selingman's office. +Selingman was engaged for a few minutes but presently opened the door of +his sanctum and called his visitor in. + +"Well, my young friend," he exclaimed, "you have brought news? Sit down. +This is a busy morning. We have had large shipments from Germany. I have +appointments with buyers most of the day, yet I can talk to you for a +little time. You were at the ball last night?" + +"I was permitted to escort the Baroness von Haase," Norgate replied. + +Selingman nodded ponderously. + +"I ask you no questions," he said. "The Baroness works on a higher plane. +I know more than you would believe, though. I know why the dear lady went +to Rome; I know why she was at the ball. I know in what respect you were +probably able to help her. But I ask no questions. We work towards a +common end, but we work at opposite ends of the pole. Curiosity alone +would be gratified if you were to tell me everything that transpired." + +"You keep yourself marvellously well-informed as to most things, don't +you, Mr. Selingman?" Norgate remarked. + +"Platitudes, young man, platitudes," Selingman declared, "words of air. +What purpose have they? You know who I am. I hold in my hand a thousand +strings. Any one that I pull will bring an answering message to my brain. +Come, what is it you wish to say to me?" + +"I am doing my work for you," Norgate remarked, "and doing it +extraordinarily well. I do not object to a certain amount of +surveillance, but I am getting fed up with Boko." + +"Who the hell is Boko?" Selingman demanded. + +"I must apologise," Norgate replied. "A nickname only. He is a little +red-faced man who looks like a children's toy and changes his clothes +about seven times a day. He is with me from the moment I rise to the last +thing at night. He is getting on my nerves. I am fast drifting into the +frame of mind when one looks under the bed before one can sleep." + +"Young man," Selingman said, "a month ago you were a person of no +importance. To-day, so far as I am concerned, you are a treasure-casket. +You hold secrets. You have a great value to us. Every one in your +position is watched; it is part of our system. If the man for whom you +have found so picturesque a nickname annoys you, he shall be changed. +That is the most I can promise you." + +"You don't trust me altogether, then?" Norgate observed coolly. + +Selingman tapped on the table in front of him with his pudgy forefinger. + +"Norgate," he declared solemnly, "trust is a personal matter. I have no +personal feelings. I am a machine. All the work I do is done by +machinery, the machinery of thought, the machinery of action. These are +the only means by which sentiment can be barred and the curious +fluctuations of human temperament guarded against. If you were my son, or +if you had dropped straight down from Heaven with a letter of +introduction from the proper quarters, you would still be under my +surveillance." + +"That seems to settle the matter," Norgate confessed, "so I suppose I +mustn't grumble. Yours is rather a bloodless philosophy." + +"Perhaps," Selingman assented. "You see me as I sit here, a merchant of +crockery, and I am a kind person. If I saw suffering, I should pause to +ease it. If a wounded insect lay in my path, I should step out of my way +to avoid it. But if my dearest friend, my nearest relation, seemed likely +to me to do one fraction of harm to the great cause, I should without one +second's compunction arrange for their removal as inevitably, and with as +little hesitation, as I leave this place at one o'clock for my luncheon." + +Norgate shrugged his shoulders. + +"One apparently runs risks in serving you," he remarked. + +"What risks?" Selingman asked keenly. + +"The risk of being misunderstood, of making mistakes." + +"Pooh!" Selingman exclaimed. "I do not like the man who talks of risks. +Let us dismiss this conversation. I have work for you." + +Norgate assumed a more interested attitude. + +"I am ready," he said. "Go on, please." + +"A movement is on foot," Selingman proceeded, "to establish manufactories +in this country for the purpose of producing my crockery. A very large +company will be formed, a great part of the money towards which is +already subscribed. We have examined several sites with a view to +building factories, but I have not cared at present to open up direct +negotiations. A rumour of our enterprise is about, and the price of the +land we require would advance considerably if the prospective purchaser +were known. The land is situated, half an acre at Willesden, +three-quarters of an acre at Golder's Hill, and an acre at Highgate. I +wish you to see the agents for the sale of these properties. I have +ascertained indirectly the price, which you will find against each lot, +with the agent's name," Selingman continued, passing across a folded slip +of foolscap. "You will treat in your own name and pay the deposit +yourself. Try and secure all three plots to-day, so that the lawyers can +prepare the deeds and my builder can make some preparatory plans there +during the week." + +Norgate accepted the little bundle of papers with some surprise. Enclosed +with them was a thick wad of bank-notes. + +"There are two thousand pounds there for your deposits," Selingman +continued. "If you need more, telephone to me, but understand I want to +start to work laying the foundations within the next few days." + +"I'll do the best I can," Norgate promised, "but this is rather a change +for me, isn't it? Will Boko come along?" + +Selingman smiled for a moment, but immediately afterwards his face was +almost stern. + +"Young man," he said, "from the moment you pledged your brains to my +service, every action of your day has been recorded. From one of my +pigeonholes I could draw out a paper and tell you where you lunched +yesterday, where you dined the day before, whom you met and with whom you +talked, and so it will be until our work is finished." + +"So long as I know," Norgate sighed, rising to his feet, "I'll try to get +used to him." + +Norgate found no particular difficulty in carrying out the commissions +entrusted to him. The sale of land is not an everyday affair, and he +found the agents exceedingly polite and prompt. The man with whom he +arranged the purchase of about three quarters of an acre of building land +at Golder's Green, on the conclusion of the transaction exhibited some +little curiosity. + +"Queer thing," he remarked, "but I sold half an acre, a month or two ago, +to a man who came very much as you come to-day. Might have been a +foreigner. Said he was going to put up a factory to make boots and shoes. +He is not going to start to build until next year, but he wanted a very +solid floor to stand heavy machinery. Look here." + +The agent climbed upon a pile of bricks, and Norgate followed his +example. There was a boarded space before them, with scaffolding poles +all around, but no other signs of building, and the interior consisted +merely of a perfectly smooth concrete floor. + +"That's the queerest way of setting about building a factory I ever saw," +the man pointed out. + +Norgate, who was not greatly interested, assented. The agent escorted him +back to his taxicab. + +"Of course, it's not my business," he admitted, "and you needn't say +anything about this to your principals, but I hope they don't stop with +laying down concrete floors. Of course, money for the property is the +chief thing we want, but we do want factories and the employment of +labour, and the sooner the better. This fellow--Reynolds, he said his +name was--pays up for the property all right, has that concrete floor +prepared, and clears off." + +"Raising the money to build, perhaps," Norgate remarked. "I don't think +there's any secret about my people's intentions. They are going to build +factories for the manufacture of crockery." + +The agent brightened up. + +"Well, that's a new industry, anyway. Crockery, eh?" + +"It's a big German firm in Cannon Street," Norgate explained. "They are +going to make the stuff here. That ought to be better for our people." + +The young man nodded. + +"I expect they're afraid of tariff reform," he suggested. "Those Germans +see a long way ahead sometimes." + +"I am beginning to believe that they do," Norgate assented, as he stepped +into the taxi. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII + + +Norgate walked into the club rather late that afternoon. Selingman and +Prince Lenemaur were talking together in the little drawing-room. They +called him in, and a few minutes later the Prince took his leave. + +"Well, that's all arranged," Norgate reported. "I have bought the three +sites. There was only one thing the fellow down at Golder's Hill was +anxious about." + +"And that?" + +"He hoped you weren't just going to put down a concrete floor and then +shut the place up." + +Mr. Selingman's amiable imperturbability was for once disturbed. + +"What did the fellow mean?" he enquired. + +"Haven't an idea," Norgate replied, "but he made me stand on a pile of +bricks and look at a strip of land which some one else had bought upon a +hill close by. I suppose they want the factories built as quickly as +possible, and work-people around the place." + +"I shall have two hundred men at work to-morrow morning," Selingman +remarked. "If that agent had not been a very ignorant person, he would +have known that a concrete floor is a necessity to any factory where +heavy machinery is used." + +"Is it?" Norgate asked simply. + +"Any other question?" Selingman demanded. + +"None at all." + +"Then we will go and play bridge." + +They cut into the same rubber. Selingman, however, was not at first +entirely himself. He played his cards in silence, and he once very nearly +revoked. Mrs. Benedek took him to task. + +"Dear man," she said, "we rely upon you so much, and to-day you fail to +amuse us. What is there upon your mind? Let us console you, if we can." + +"Dear lady, it is nothing," Selingman assured her. "My company is +planning big developments in connection with our business. The details +afford me much food for thought. My attention, I fear, sometimes wanders. +Forgive me, I will make amends. When the day comes that my new factories +start work, I will give such a party as was never seen. I will invite you +all. We will have a celebration that every one shall talk of. And +meanwhile, behold! I will wander no longer. I declare no trumps." + +Selingman for a time was himself again. When he cut out, however, he +fidgeted a little restlessly around the room and watched Norgate share +the same fate with an air of relief. He laid his hand upon the +latter's arm. + +"Come into the other room, Norgate," he invited. "I have something to +say to you." + +Norgate obeyed at once, but the room was already occupied. A little blond +lady was entertaining a soldier friend at tea. She withdrew her head +from somewhat suspicious proximity to her companion's at their entrance +and greeted Selingman with innocent surprise. + +"How queer that you should come in just then, Mr. Selingman!" she +exclaimed. "We were talking about Germany, Captain Fielder and I." + +Selingman beamed upon them both. He was entirely himself again. He looked +as though the one thing in life he had desired was to find Mrs. Barlow +and her military companion in possession of the little drawing-room. + +"My country is flattered," he declared, "especially," he added, with a +twinkle in his eyes, "as the subject seemed to be proving so +interesting." + +She made a little grimace at him. + +"Seriously, Mr. Selingman," she continued, "Captain Fielder and I have +been almost quarrelling. He insists upon it that some day or other +Germany means to declare war upon us. I have been trying to point out +that before many years have passed England and France will have drifted +apart. Germany is the nearest to us of the continental nations, isn't +she, by relationship and race?" + +"Mrs. Barlow," Selingman pronounced, "yours is the most sensible allusion +to international politics which I have heard for many years. You are +right. If I may be permitted to say so," he added, "Captain Fielder is +wrong. Germany has no wish to fight with any one. The last country in the +world with whom she would care to cross swords is England." + +"If Germany does not wish for war," Captain Fielder persisted, "why does +she keep such an extraordinary army? Why does she continually add to her +navy? Why does she infest our country with spies and keep all her +preparations as secret as possible?" + +"Of these things I know little," Selingman confessed, "I am a +manufacturer, and I have few friends among the military party. But this +we all believe, and that is that the German army and navy are our +insurance against trouble from the east. They are there so that in case +of political controversy we shall have strength at our back when we seek +to make favourable terms. As to using that strength, God forbid!" + +The little lady threw a triumphant glance across at her companion. + +"There, Captain Fielder," she declared, "you have heard what a typical, +well-informed, cultivated German gentleman has to say. I rely much more +upon Mr. Selingman than upon any of the German reviews or official +statements of policy." + +Captain Fielder was bluntly unconvinced. + +"Mr. Selingman, without doubt," he agreed, "may represent popular and +cultivated German opinion. The only thing is whether the policy of the +country is dictated by that class. Do you happen to have seen the +afternoon papers?" + +"Not yet," Mr. Selingman admitted. "Is there any news?" + +"There is the full text," Captain Fielder continued, "of Austria's +demands upon Servia. I may be wrong, but I say confidently that those +demands, which are impossible of acceptance, which would reduce Servia, +in fact, to the condition of a mere vassal state, are intended to provoke +a state of war." + +Mr. Selingman shook his head. + +"I have seen the proposals," he remarked. "They were in the second +edition of the morning papers. They are onerous, without a doubt, but +remember that as you go further east, all diplomacy becomes a matter of +barter. They ask for so much first because they are prepared to take a +great deal less." + +"It is my opinion," Captain Fielder pronounced, "that these demands are +couched with the sole idea of inciting Russia's intervention. There is +already a report that Servia has appealed to St. Petersburg. It is quite +certain that Russia, as the protector of the Slav nations, can never +allow Servia to be humbled to this extent." + +"Even then," Mr. Selingman protested good-humouredly, "Austria is +not Germany." + +"There are very few people," Captain Fielder continued, "who do not +realise that Austria is acting exactly as she is bidden by Germany. +To-morrow you will find that Russia has intervened. If Vienna disregards +her, there will be mobilisation along the frontiers. It is my private and +very firm impression that Germany is mobilising to-day, and secretly." + +Mr. Selingman laughed good-humouredly. + +"Well, well," he said, "let us hope it is not quite so bad as that." + +"You are frightening me, Captain Fielder," Mrs. Barlow declared. "I am +going to take you off to play bridge." + +They left the room. Selingman looked after them a little curiously. + +"Your military friend," he remarked, "is rather a pessimist." + +"Well, we haven't many of them," Norgate replied. "Nine people out of ten +believe that a war is about as likely to come as an earthquake." + +Selingman glanced towards the closed door. + +"Supposing," he said, dropping his voice a little, "supposing I were to +tell you, young man, that I entirely agreed with your friend? Supposing I +were to tell you that, possibly by accident, he has stumbled upon the +exact truth? What would you say then?" + +Norgate shrugged his shoulders. + +"Well," he observed, "we've agreed, haven't we, that a little +lesson would be good for England? It might as well come now as at +any other time." + +"It will not come yet," Mr. Selingman went on, "but I will tell you what +is going to happen." + +His voice had fallen almost to a whisper, his manner had become +portentous. + +"Within a week or two," he said, "Germany and Austria will have declared +war upon Russia and Servia and France. Italy will join the allies--that +you yourself know. As for England, her time has not come yet. We shall +keep her neutral. All the recent information which we have collected +makes it clear that she is not in a position to fight, even if she wished +to. Nevertheless, to make a certainty of it, we shall offer her great +inducements. We shall be ready to deal with her when Calais, Ostend, +Boulogne, and Havre are held by our armies. Now listen, do you flinch?" + +The two men were still standing in the middle of the room. Selingman's +brows were lowered, his eyes were keen and hard-set. He had gripped +Norgate by the left shoulder and held him with his face to the light. + +"Speak up," he insisted. "It is now or never, if you mean to go through +with this. You're not funking it, eh?" + +"Not in the least," Norgate declared. + +For the space of almost thirty seconds Selingman did not remove his gaze. +All the time his hand was like a vice upon Norgate's shoulder. + +"Very well," he said at last, "you represent rather a gamble on my +part, but I am not afraid of the throw. Come back to our bridge now. +It was just a moment's impulse--I saw something in your face. You +realise, I suppose--but there, I won't threaten you. Come back and +we'll drink a mixed vermouth together. The next few days are going to +be rather a strain." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV + + +Norgate's expression was almost one of stupefaction. He looked at the +slim young man who had entered his sitting-room a little diffidently and +for a moment he was speechless. + +"Well, I'm hanged!" he murmured at last. "Hardy, you astonish me!" + +"The clothes are a perfect fit, sir," the man observed, "and I think that +we are exactly the same height." + +Norgate took a cigarette from an open box, tapped it against the table +and lit it. He was fascinated, however, by the appearance of the man who +stood respectfully in the background. + +"Talk about clothes making the man!" he exclaimed. "Why, Hardy, do you +realise your possibilities? You could go into my club and dine, order +jewels from my jeweller. I am not at all sure that you couldn't take my +place at a dinner-party." + +The man smiled deprecatingly. + +"Not quite that, I am sure, sir. If I may be allowed to say so, though, +when you were good enough to give me the blue serge suit a short time +ago, and a few of your old straw hats, two or three gentlemen stopped me +under the impression that I was you. I should not have mentioned it, sir, +but for the present circumstances." + +"And no wonder!" Norgate declared. "If this weren't really a serious +affair, Hardy, I should be inclined to make a little humorous use of you. +That isn't what I want now, though. Listen. Put on one of my black +overcoats and a silk hat, get the man to call you a taxi up to the door, +and drive to Smith's Hotel. You will enquire for the suite of the +Baroness von Haase. The Baroness will allow you to remain in her rooms +for half an hour. At the end of that time you will return here, change +your clothes, and await any further orders." + +"Very good, sir," the man replied. + +"Help yourself to cigarettes," Norgate invited, passing the box across. +"Do the thing properly. Sit well back in the taxicab, although I'm +hanged if I think that my friend Boko stands an earthly. Plenty of money +in your pocket?" + +"Plenty, thank you, sir." + +The man left the room, and Norgate, after a brief delay, followed his +example. A glance up and down the courtyard convinced him that Boko had +disappeared. He jumped into a taxi, gave an address in Belgrave Square, +and within a quarter of an hour was ushered into the presence of Mr. +Spencer Wyatt, who was seated at a writing-table covered with papers. + +"Mr. Norgate, isn't it?" the latter remarked briskly. "I had Mr. +Hebblethwaite's note, and I am very pleased to give you five minutes. Sit +down, won't you, and fire away." + +"Did Mr. Hebblethwaite give you any idea as to what I wanted?" +Norgate asked. + +"Better read his note," the other replied, pushing it across the table +with a little smile. + +Norgate took it up and read:-- + +"My dear Spencer Wyatt, + +"A young friend of mine, Francis Norgate, who has been in the Diplomatic +Service for some years and is home just now from Berlin under +circumstances which you may remember, has asked me to give him a line of +introduction to you which will secure him an interview during to-day. +Here is that line. Norgate is a young man for whom I have a great +friendship. I consider him possessed of unusual intelligence and many +delightful gifts, but, like many others of us, he is a crank. You can +listen with interest to anything he may have to say to you, unless he +speaks of Germany. That's his weak point. On any other subject he is as +sane as the best of us. + +"Many thanks. Certainly I am coming to the Review. We are all looking +forward to it immensely. + +"Ever yours, + +"JOHN W. HEBBLETHWAITE." + +Norgate set down the letter. + +"There are two points of view, Mr. Spencer Wyatt," he said, "as to +Germany. Mr. Hebblethwaite believes that I am an alarmist. I know that I +am not. This isn't any ordinary visit of mine. I have come to see you on +the most urgent matter which any one could possibly conceive. I have come +to give you the chance to save our country from the worst disaster that +has ever befallen her." + +Mr. Spencer Wyatt looked at his visitor steadily. His eyebrows had drawn +a little closer together. He remained silent, however. + +"I talk about the things I know of," Norgate continued. "By chance I +have been associated during the last few weeks with the head of the +German spies who infest this country. I have joined his ranks; I have +become a double traitor. I do his work, but every report I hand in is a +false one." + +"Do you realise quite what you are saying, Mr. Norgate?" + +"Realise it?" Norgate repeated. "My God! Do you think I come here to say +these things to you for dramatic effect, or from a sense of humour, or as +a lunatic? Every word I shall say to you is the truth. At the present +moment there isn't a soul who seriously believes that England is going to +be drawn into what the papers describe as a little eastern trouble. I +want to tell you that that little eastern trouble has been brought about +simply with the idea of provoking a European war. Germany is ready to +strike at last, and this is her moment. Not a fortnight ago I sat +opposite the boy Henriote in a café in Soho. My German friend handed him +the money to get back to his country and to buy bombs. It's all part of +the plot. Austria's insane demands are part of the plot; they are meant +to drag Russia in. Russia must protest; she must mobilise. Germany is +secretly mobilising at this moment. She will declare war against Russia, +strike at France through Belgium. She will appeal to us for our +neutrality." + +"These are wonderful things you are saying, Mr. Norgate!" + +"I am telling you the simple truth," Norgate went on, "and the +history of our country doesn't hold anything more serious or more +wonderful. Shall I come straight to the point? I promised to reach it +within five minutes." + +"Take your own time," the other replied. "My work is unimportant enough +by the side of the things you speak of. You honestly believe that Germany +is provoking a war against Russia and France?" + +"I know it," Norgate went on. "She believes--Germany believes--that +Italy will come in. She also believes, from false information that she +has gathered in this country, that under no circumstances will England +fight. It isn't about that I came to you. We've become a slothful, slack, +pleasure-loving people, but I still believe that when the time comes we +shall fight. The only thing is that we shall be taken at a big +disadvantage. We shall be open to a raid upon our fleet. Do you know that +the entire German navy is at Kiel?" + +Mr. Wyatt nodded. "Manoeuvres," he murmured. + +"Their manoeuvre," Norgate continued earnestly, "is to strike one great +blow at our scattered forces. Mr. Spencer Wyatt, I have come here to warn +you. I don't understand the workings of your department. I don't know to +whom you are responsible for any step you might take. But I have come to +warn you that possibly within a few days, probably within a week, +certainly within a fortnight, England will be at war." + +Mr. Wyatt glanced down at Hebblethwaite's letter. + +"You are rather taking my breath away, Mr. Norgate!" + +"I can't help it, sir," Norgate said simply. "I know that what I am +telling you must sound like a fairy tale. I beg you to take it from me as +the truth." + +"But," Mr. Spencer Wyatt remarked, "if you have come into all this +information, Mr. Norgate, why didn't you go to your friend Hebblethwaite? +Why haven't you communicated with the police and given this German spy of +yours into charge?" + +"I have been to Hebblethwaite, and I have been to Scotland Yard," Norgate +told him firmly, "and all that I have got for my pains has been a snub. +They won't believe in German spies. Mr. Wyatt, you are a man of a little +different temperament and calibre from those others. I tell you that all +of them in the Cabinet have their heads thrust deep down into the sand. +They won't listen to me. They wouldn't believe a word of what I am saying +to you, but it's true." + +Mr. Spencer Wyatt leaned back in his chair. He had folded his arms. He +was looking over the top of his desk across the room. His eyebrows were +knitted, his thoughts had wandered away. For several moments there was +silence. Then at last he rose to his feet, unlocked the safe which stood +by his side, and took out a solid chart dotted in many places with little +flags, each one of which bore the name of a ship. He looked at it +attentively. + +"That's the position of every ship we own, at six o'clock this evening," +he pointed out. "It's true we are scattered. We are purposely scattered +because of the Review. On Monday morning I go down to the Admiralty, and +I give the word. Every ship you see represented by those little flags, +moves in one direction." + +"In other words," Norgate remarked, "it is a mobilisation." + +"Exactly!" + +Norgate leaned forward in his chair. + +"You're coming to what I want to suggest," he proceeded. "Listen. You can +do it, if you like. Go down to the Admiralty to-night. Give that order. +Set the wireless going. Mobilise the fleet to-night." + +Mr. Wyatt looked steadfastly at his companion. His fingers were +restlessly stroking his chin, his eyes seemed to be looking through +his visitor. + +"But it would be a week too soon," he muttered. + +"Risk it," Norgate begged. "You have always the Review to fall back upon. +The mobilisation, to be effective, should be unexpected. Mobilise +to-morrow. I am telling you the truth, sir, and you'll know it before +many days are passed. Even if I have got hold of a mare's nest, you know +there's trouble brewing. England will be in none the worse position to +intervene for peace, if her fleet is ready to strike." + +Mr. Spencer Wyatt rose to his feet. He seemed somehow an altered man. + +"Look here," he announced gravely, "I am going for the gamble. If I have +been misled, there will probably be an end of my career. I tell you +frankly, I believe in you. I believe in the truth of the things you talk +about. I risked everything, only a few weeks ago, on my belief. I'll risk +my whole career now. Keep your mouth shut; don't say a word. Until +to-morrow you will be the only man in England who knows it. I am going to +mobilise the fleet to-night. Shake hands, Mr. Norgate. You're either the +best friend or the worst foe I've ever had. My coat and hat," he ordered +the servant who answered his summons. "Tell your mistress, if she +enquires, that I have gone down to the Admiralty on special business." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV + + +Anna passed her hand through Norgate's arm and led him forcibly away from +the shop window before which they had been standing. + +"My mind is absolutely made up," she declared firmly. "I adore +shopping, I love Bond Street, and I rather like you, but I will have no +more trifles, as you call them. If you do not obey, I shall gaze into +the next tobacconist's window we pass, and go in and buy you all sorts +of unsmokable and unusable things. And, oh, dear, here is the Count! I +feel like a child who has played truant from school. What will he do to +me, Francis?" + +"Don't worry, dear," Norgate laughed. "We're coming to the end of this +tutelage, you know." + +Count Lanyoki, who had stopped his motor-car, came across the street +towards them. He was, as usual, irreproachably attired. He wore white +gaiters, patent shoes, and a grey, tall hat. His black hair, a little +thin at the forehead, was brushed smoothly back. His moustache, also +black but streaked with grey, was twisted upwards. He had, as always, the +air of having just left the hands of his valet. + +"Dear Baroness," he exclaimed, as he accosted her, "London has been +searched for you! At the Embassy my staff are reduced to despair. +Telephones, notes, telegrams, and personal calls have been in vain. +Since lunch-time yesterday it seemed to us that you must have found some +other sphere in which to dwell." + +"Perhaps I have," Anna laughed. "I am so sorry to have given you all this +trouble, but yesterday--well, let me introduce, if I may, my husband, Mr. +Francis Norgate. We were married by special license yesterday afternoon." + +The Count's amazement was obvious. Diplomatist though he was, it was +several seconds before he could collect himself and rise to the +situation. He broke off at last, however, in the midst of a string of +interjections and realised his duties. + +"My dear Baroness," he said, "my dear lady, let me wish you every +happiness. And you, sir," he added, turning to Norgate, "you must have, +without a doubt, my most hearty congratulations. There! That is said. And +now to more serious matters. Baroness, have you not always considered +yourself the ward of the Emperor?" + +She nodded. + +"His Majesty has been very kind to me," she admitted. "At the same time, +I feel that I owe more to myself than I do to him. His first essay at +interfering in my affairs was scarcely a happy one, was it?" + +"Perhaps not," the Count replied. "And yet, think what you have done! You +have married an Englishman!" + +"I thought English people were quite popular in Vienna," Anna +reminded him. + +The Count hesitated. "That," he declared, "is scarcely the question. +What troubles me most is that forty-eight hours ago I brought you a +dispatch from the Emperor." + +"You brought," Anna pointed out, "what really amounted to an order to +return at once to Vienna. Well, you see, I have disobeyed it." + +They were standing at the corner of Clifford Street, and the Count, with +a little gesture, led the way into the less crowded thoroughfare. + +"Dear Baroness," he continued, as they walked slowly along, "I am placed +now in a most extraordinary position. The Emperor's telegram was of +serious import. It cannot be that you mean to disobey his summons?" + +"Well, I really couldn't put off being married, could I," Anna protested, +"especially when my husband had just got the special license. Besides, I +do not wish to return to Vienna just now." + +The Count glanced at Norgate and appeared to deliberate for a moment. + +"The state of affairs in the East," he said, "is such that it is +certainly wiser for every one just now to be within the borders of their +own country." + +"You believe that things are serious?" Anna enquired. "You believe, then, +that real trouble is at hand?" + +"I fear so," the Count acknowledged. "It appears to us that Servia has a +secret understanding with Russia, or she would not have ventured upon +such an attitude as she is now adopting towards us. If that be so, the +possibilities of trouble are immense, almost boundless. That is why, +Baroness, the Emperor has sent for you. That is why I think you should +not hesitate to at once obey his summons." + +Anna looked up at her companion, her eyes wide open, a little smile +parting her lips. + +"But, Count," she exclaimed, "you seem to forget! A few days ago, all +that you say to me was reasonable enough, but to-day there is a great +difference, is there not? I have married an Englishman. Henceforth this +is my country." + +There was a moment's silence. The Count seemed dumbfounded. He stared at +Anna as though unable to grasp the meaning of her words. + +"Forgive me, Baroness!" he begged. "I cannot for the moment realise the +significance of this thing. Do you mean me to understand that you +consider yourself now an Englishwoman?" + +"I do indeed," she assented. "There are many ties which still bind me to +Austria--ties, Count," she proceeded, looking him in the face, "of which +I shall be mindful. Yet I am not any longer the Baroness von Haase. I am +Mrs. Francis Norgate, and I have promised to obey my husband in all +manner of ridiculous things. At the same time, may I add something which +will, perhaps, help you to accept the position with more philosophy? My +husband is a friend of Herr Selingman's." + +The Count glanced quickly towards Norgate. There was some relief in his +face--a great deal of distrust, however. + +"Baroness," he said, "my advice to you, for your own good entirely, is, +with all respect to your husband, that you shorten your honeymoon and +pay your respects to the Emperor. I think that you owe it to him. I think +that you owe it to your country." + +Anna for a moment was grave again. + +"Just at present," she pronounced, "I realise one debt only, and that is +to my husband. I will come to the Embassy to-morrow and discuss these +matters with you, Count, but whether my husband accompanies me or not, I +have now no secrets from him." + +"The position, then," the Count declared, "is intolerable. May I ask +whether you altogether realise, Baroness; what this means? The Emperor is +your guardian. All your estates are subject to his jurisdiction. It is +his command that you return to Vienna." + +Anna laughed again. She passed her fingers through Norgate's arm. + +"You see," she explained, as they stood for a moment at the corner of the +street, "I have a new emperor now, and he will not let me go." + + * * * * * + +Selingman frowned a little as he recognised his visitor. Nevertheless, +he rose respectfully to his feet and himself placed a chair by the side +of his desk. + +"My dear Count!" he exclaimed. "I am very glad to see you, but this is an +unusual visit. I would have met you somewhere, or come to the Embassy. +Have we not agreed that it was well for Herr Selingman, the crockery +manufacturer--" + +"That is all very well, Selingman," the Count interrupted, "but this +morning I have had a shock. It was necessary for me to talk with you at +once. In Bond Street I met the Baroness von Haase. For twenty-four hours +London has been ransacked in vain for her. This you may not know, but I +will now tell you. She has been our trusted agent, the trusted agent of +the Emperor, in many recent instances. She has carried secrets in her +brain, messages to different countries. There is little that she does not +know. The last twenty-four hours, as I say, I have sought for her. The +Emperor requires her presence in Vienna. I meet her in Bond Street this +morning and she introduces to me her husband, an English husband, Mr. +Francis Norgate!" + +He drew back a little, with outstretched hands. Selingman's face, +however, remained expressionless. + +"Married already!" he commented. "Well, that is rather a surprise." + +"A surprise? To be frank, it terrifies me!" the Count cried. "Heaven +knows what that woman could tell an Englishman, if she chose! And her +manner--I did not like it. The only reassuring thing about it was that +she told me that her husband was one of your men." + +"Quite true," Selingman assented. "He is. It is only recently that he +came to us, but I do not mind telling you that during the last few weeks +no one has done such good work. He is the very man we needed." + +"You have trusted him?" + +"I trust or I do not trust," Selingman replied. "That you know. I have +employed this young man in very useful work. I cannot blindfold him. +He knows." + +"Then I fear treachery," the Count declared. + +"Have you any reason for saying that?" Selingman asked. + +The Count lit a cigarette with trembling fingers. + +"Listen," he said, "always, my friend, you undervalue a little the +English race. You undervalue their intelligence, their patriotism, their +poise towards the serious matters of life. I know nothing of Mr. Francis +Norgate save what I saw this morning. He is one of that type of +Englishmen, clean-bred, well-born, full of reserve, taciturn, yet, I +would swear, honourable. I know the type, and I do not believe in such a +man being your servant." + +The shadow of anxiety crossed Selingman's face. + +"Have you any reason for saying this?" he repeated. + +"No reason save the instinct which is above reason," the Count replied +quickly. "I know that if the Baroness and he put their heads together, we +may be under the shadow of catastrophe." + +Selingman sat with folded arms for several moments. + +"Count," he said at last, "I appreciate your point of view. You have, I +confess, disturbed me. Yet of this young man I have little fear. I did +not approach him by any vulgar means. I took, as they say here, the bull +by the horns. I appealed to his patriotism." + +"To what?" the Count demanded incredulously. + +"To his patriotism," Selingman repeated. "I showed him the decadence of +his country, decadence visible through all her institutions, through her +political tendencies, through her young men of all classes. I convinced +him that what the country needed was a bitter tonic, a kind but +chastening hand. I convinced him of this. He believes that he betrays his +country for her ultimate good. As I told you before, he has brought me +information which is simply invaluable. He has a position and connections +which are unique." + +The Count drew his chair a little nearer. + +"You say that he has done you great service," he said. "Well, you must +admit for yourself that the day is too near now for much more to be +expected. Could you not somehow guard against his resolution breaking +down at the last moment? Think what it may mean to him--the sound of his +national anthem at a critical moment, the clash of arms in the distance, +the call of France across the Channel. A week--even half a week's extra +preparation might make much difference." + +Selingman sat for a short time, deep in thought. Then he drew out a box +of pale-looking German cigars and lit one. + +"Count," he announced solemnly, "I take off my hat to you. Leave the +matter in my hands." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI + + +Norgate set down the telephone receiver and turned to Anna, who was +seated in an easy-chair by his side. + +"Selingman is down-stairs," he announced. "I rather expected I should see +something of him as I didn't go to the club this afternoon. You won't +mind if he comes up?" + +"The man is a nuisance," Anna declared, with a little grimace. "I was +perfectly happy, Francis, sitting here before the open window and looking +out at the lights in that cool, violet gulf of darkness. I believe that +in another minute I should have said something to you absolutely +ravishing. Then your telephone rings and back one comes to earth again!" + +Norgate smiled as he held her hand in his. + +"We will get rid of him quickly, dearest," he promised. + +There was a knock at the door, and Selingman entered, his face wreathed +in smiles. He was wearing a long dinner coat and a flowing black tie. He +held out both his hands. + +"So this is the great news that has kept you away from us!" he exclaimed. +"My congratulations, Norgate. You can never say again that the luck has +left you. Baroness, may I take advantage of my slight acquaintance to +express my sincere wishes for your happiness?" + +They wheeled up a chair for him, and Norgate produced some cigars. The +night was close. They were on the seventh story, overlooking the river, +and a pleasant breeze stole every now and then into the room. + +"You are well placed here," Selingman declared. "Myself, I too like to +be high up." + +"These are really just my bachelor rooms," Norgate explained, "but under +the circumstances we thought it wiser to wait before we settled down +anywhere. Is there any news to-night?" + +"There is great news," Selingman announced gravely. "There is news of +wonderful import. In a few minutes you will hear the shouting of the boys +in the Strand there. You shall hear it first from me. Germany has found +herself compelled to declare war against Russia." + +They were both speechless. Norgate was carried off his feet. The reality +of the thing was stupendous. + +"Russia has been mobilising night and day on the frontiers of East +Prussia," Selingman continued. "Germany has chosen to strike the first +blow. Now listen, both of you. I am going to speak in these few minutes +to Norgate here very serious words. I take it that in the matters which +lie between him and me, you, Baroness, are as one with him?" + +"It is so," Norgate admitted. + +"To be frank, then," Selingman went on, "you, Norgate, during these +momentous days have been the most useful of all my helpers here. The +information which I have dispatched to Berlin, emanating from you, has +been more than important--it has been vital. It has been so vital that I +have a long dispatch to-night, begging me to reaffirm my absolute +conviction as to the truth of the information which I have forwarded. +Let us, for a moment, recapitulate. You remember your interview with Mr. +Hebblethwaite on the subject of war?" + +"Distinctly," Norgate assented. + +"It was your impression," Selingman continued, "gathered from that +conversation, that under no possible circumstances would Mr. +Hebblethwaite himself, or the Cabinet as a whole, go to war with Germany +in support of France. Is that correct?" + +"It is correct," Norgate admitted. + +"Nothing has happened to change your opinion?" + +"Nothing." + +"To proceed, then," Selingman went on. "Some little time ago you called +upon Mr. Bullen at the House of Commons. You promised a large +contribution to the funds of the Irish Party, a sum which is to be paid +over on the first of next month, on condition that no compromise in the +Home Rule question shall be accepted by him, even in case of war. And +further, that if England should find herself in a state of war, no +Nationalists should volunteer to fight in her ranks. Is this correct?" + +"Perfectly," Norgate admitted. + +"The information was of great interest in Berlin," Selingman pointed out. +"It is realised there that it means of necessity a civil war." + +"Without a doubt." + +"You believe," Selingman persisted, "that I did not take an exaggerated +or distorted view of the situation, as discussed between you and Mr. +Bullen, when I reported that civil war in Ireland was inevitable?" + +"It is inevitable," Norgate agreed. + +Selingman sat for several moments in portentous silence. + +"We are on the threshold of great events," he announced. "The Cabinet +opinion in Berlin has been swayed by the two factors which we have +discussed. It is the wish of Germany, and her policy, to end once and for +all the eastern disquiet, to weaken Russia so that she can no longer call +herself the champion of the Slav races and uphold their barbarism against +our culture. France is to be dealt with only as the ally of Russia. We +want little more from her than we have already. But our great desire is +that England of necessity and of her own choice, should remain, for the +present, neutral. Her time is to come later. Italy, Germany, and Austria +can deal with France and Russia to a mathematical certainty. What we +desire to avoid are any unforeseen complications. I leave you to-night, +and I cable my absolute belief in the statements deduced from your work. +You have nothing more to say?" + +"Nothing," Norgate replied. + +Selingman was apparently relieved. He rose, a little later, to his feet. + +"My young friend," he concluded, "in the near future great rewards will +find their way to this country. There is no one who has deserved more +than you. There is no one who will profit more. That reminds me. There +was one little question I had to ask. A friend of mine has seen you on +your way back and forth to Camberley three or four times lately. You +lunched the other day with the colonel of one of your Lancer regiments. +How did you spend your time at Camberley?" + +For a moment Norgate made no reply. The moonlight was shining into the +room, and Anna had turned out all the lights with the exception of one +heavily-shaded lamp. Her eyes were shining as she leaned a little forward +in her chair. + +"Boko again, I suppose," Norgate grunted. + +"Certainly Boko," Selingman acknowledged. + +"I was in the Yeomanry when I was younger," Norgate explained slowly. "I +had some thought of entering the army before I took up diplomacy. Colonel +Chalmers is a friend of mine. I have been down to Camberley to see if I +could pick up a little of the new drill." + +"For what reason?" Selingman demanded. + +"Need I tell you that?" Norgate protested. "Whatever my feeling for +England may be at the present moment, however bitterly I may regret the +way she has let her opportunities slip, the slovenly political condition +of the country, yet I cannot put away from me the fact that I am an +Englishman. If trouble should come, even though I may have helped to +bring it about, even though I may believe that it is a good thing for the +country to have to meet trouble, I should still fight on her side." + +"But there will be no war," Selingman reminded him. "You yourself have +ascertained that the present Cabinet will decline war at any cost." + +"The present Government, without a doubt," Norgate assented. "I am +thinking of later on, when your first task is over." + +Selingman nodded gravely. + +"When that day comes," he said, as he rose and took up his hat, "it will +not be a war. If your people resist, it will be a butchery. Better to +find yourself in one of the Baroness' castles in Austria when that time +comes! It is never worth while to draw a sword in a lost cause. I wish +you good night, Baroness. I wish you good night, Norgate." + +He shook hands with them both firmly, but there was still something of +reserve in his manner. Norgate rang for his servant to show him out. They +took their places once more by the window. + +"War!" Norgate murmured, his eyes fixed upon the distant lights. + +Anna crept a little nearer to him. + +"Francis," she whispered, "that man has made me a little uneasy. +Supposing they should discover that you have deceived them, before they +have been obliged to leave the country!" + +"They will be much too busy," Norgate replied, "to think about me." + +Anna's face was still troubled. "I did not like that man's look," she +persisted, "when he asked you what you were doing at Camberley. Perhaps +he still believes that you have told the truth, but he might easily have +it in his mind that you knew too many of their secrets to be trusted when +the vital moment came." + +Norgate leaned over and drew her towards him. + +"Selingman has gone," he murmured. "It is only outside that war is +throbbing. Dearest, I think that my vital moments are now!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII + + +Mr. Hebblethwaite permitted himself a single moment of abstraction. He +sat at the head of the table in his own remarkably well-appointed +dining-room. His guests--there were eighteen or twenty of them in +all--represented in a single word Success--success social as well as +political. His excellently cooked dinner was being served with faultless +precision. His epigrams had never been more pungent. The very +distinguished peeress who sat upon his right, and whose name was a +household word in the enemy's camp, had listened to him with enchained +and sympathetic interest. For a single second he permitted his thoughts +to travel back to the humble beginnings of his political career. He had a +brief, flashlight recollection of the suburban parlour of his early days, +the hard fight at first for a living, then for some small place in local +politics, and then, larger and more daring schemes as the boundary of his +ambitions became each year a little further extended. Beyond him now was +only one more step to be taken. The last goal was well within his reach. + +The woman at his right recommenced their conversation, which had been for +a moment interrupted. + +"We were speaking of success," she said. "Success often comes to one +covered by the tentacles and parasites of shame, and yet, even in its +grosser forms, it has something splendid about it. But success that +carries with it no apparent drawback whatever is, of course, the most +amazing thing of all. I was reading that wonderful article of Professor +Wilson's last month. He quotes you very extensively. His analysis of your +character was, in its way, interesting. Directly I had read it, however, +I felt that it lacked one thing--simplicity. I made up my mind that the +next time we talked intimately, I would ask you to what you yourself +attributed your success?" + +Hebblethwaite smiled graciously. + +"I will not attempt to answer you in epigrams," he replied. "I will pay a +passing tribute to a wonderful constitution, an invincible sense of +humour, which I think help one to keep one's head up under many trying +conditions. But the real and final explanation of my success is that I +embraced the popular cause. I came from the people, and when I entered +into politics, I told myself and every one else that it was for the +people I should work. I have never swerved from that purpose. It is to +the people I owe whatever success I am enjoying to-day." + +The Duchess nodded thoughtfully. + +"Yes," she admitted, "you are right there. Shall I proceed with my own +train of thought quite honestly?" + +"I shall count it a compliment," he assured her earnestly, "even if your +thoughts contain criticisms." + +"You occupy so great a position in political life to-day," she continued, +"that one is forced to consider you, especially in view of the future, as +a politician from every point of view. Now, by your own showing, you +have been a specialist. You have taken up the cause of the people against +the classes. You have stripped many of us of our possessions--the Duke, +you know, hates the sound of your name--and by your legislation you have, +without a doubt, improved the welfare of many millions of human beings. +But that is not all that a great politician must achieve, is it? There is +our Empire across the seas." + +"Imperialism," he declared, "has never been in the foreground of my +programme, but I call myself an Imperialist. I have done what I could for +the colonies. I have even abandoned on their behalf some of my pet +principles of absolute freedom in trade." + +"You certainly have not been prejudiced," she admitted. "Whether your +politics have been those of an Imperialist from the broadest point of +view--well, we won't discuss that question just now. We might, perhaps, +differ. But there is just one more point. Zealously and during the whole +of your career, you have set your face steadfastly against any increase +of our military power. They say that it is chiefly due to you and Mr. +Busby that our army to-day is weaker in numbers than it has been for +years. You have set your face steadily against all schemes for national +service. You have taken up the stand that England can afford to remain +neutral, whatever combination of Powers on the Continent may fight. Now +tell me, do you see any possibility of failure, from the standpoint of a +great politician, in your attitude?" + +"I do not," he answered. "On the contrary, I am proud of all that I have +done in that direction. For the reduction of our armaments I accept the +full responsibility. It is true that I have opposed national service. I +want to see the people develop commercially. The withdrawing of a million +of young men, even for a month every year, from their regular tasks, +would not only mean a serious loss to the manufacturing community, but it +would be apt to unsettle and unsteady them. Further, it would kindle in +this country the one thing I am anxious to avoid--the military spirit. We +do not need it, Duchess. We are a peace-loving nation, civilised out of +the crude lust for conquest founded upon bloodshed. I do believe that +geographically and from every other point of view, England, with her +navy, can afford to fold her arms, and if other nations should at any +time be foolish enough to imperil their very existence by fighting for +conquest or revenge, then we, who are strong enough to remain aloof, can +only grow richer and stronger by the disasters which happen to them." + +There was a momentary silence. The Duchess leaned back in her chair, and +Mr. Hebblethwaite, always the courteous host, talked for a while to the +woman on his left. The Duchess, however, reopened the subject a few +minutes later. + +"I come, you must remember, Mr. Hebblethwaite," she observed, "from long +generations of soldiers, and you, as you have reminded me, from a long +race of yeomen and tradespeople. Therefore, without a doubt, our point +of view must be different. That, perhaps, is what makes conversation +between us so interesting. To me, a conflict in Europe, sooner or +later, appears inevitable. With England preserving a haughty and insular +neutrality, which, from her present military condition, would be almost +compulsory, the struggle would be between Russia, France, Italy, +Germany, and Austria. Russia is an unknown force, but in my mind I see +Austria and Italy, with perhaps one German army, holding her back for +many months, perhaps indefinitely. On the other hand, I see France +overrun by the Germans very much as she was in 1870. I adore the French, +and I have little sympathy with the Germans, but as a fighting race I +very reluctantly feel that I must admit the superiority of the Germans. +Very well, then. With Ostend, Calais, Boulogne, and Havre seized by +Germany, as they certainly would be, and turned into naval bases, do you +still believe that England's security would be wholly provided for by +her fleet?" + +Mr. Hebblethwaite smiled. + +"Duchess," he said, "sooner or later I felt quite sure that our +conversation would draw near to the German bogey. The picture you draw is +menacing enough. I look upon its probability as exactly on the same par +as the overrunning of Europe by the yellow races." + +"You believe in the sincerity of Germany?" she asked. + +"I do," he admitted firmly. "There is a military element in Germany which +is to be regretted, but the Germans themselves are a splendid, cultured, +and peace-loving people, who are seeking their future not at the point +of the sword but in the counting-houses of the world. If I fear the +Germans, it is commercially, and from no other point of view." + +"I wish I could feel your confidence," the Duchess sighed. + +"I have myself recently returned from Berlin," Mr. Hebblethwaite +continued. "Busby, as you know, has been many times an honoured guest +there at their universities and in their great cities. He has had every +opportunity of probing the tendencies of the people. His mind is +absolutely and finally made up. Not in all history has there ever existed +a race freer from the lust of bloodthirsty conquest than the German +people of to-day." + +Mr. Hebblethwaite concluded his sentence with some emphasis. He felt that +his words were carrying conviction. Some of the conversation at their end +of the table had been broken off to listen to his pronouncements. At that +moment his butler touched him upon the elbow. + +"Mr. Bedells has just come up from the War Office, sir," he announced. +"He is waiting outside. In the meantime, he desired me to give you this." + +The butler, who had served an archbishop, and resented often his own +presence in the establishment of a Radical Cabinet Minister, presented a +small silver salver on which reposed a hastily twisted up piece of paper. +Mr. Hebblethwaite, with a little nod, unrolled it and glanced towards the +Duchess, who bowed complacently. With the smile still upon his lips, a +confident light in his eyes, Mr. Hebblethwaite held out the crumpled +piece of paper before him and read the hurriedly scrawled pencil lines: + +"_Germany has declared war against Russia and presented an ultimatum to +France. I have other messages_." + +Mr. Hebblethwaite was a strong man. He was a man of immense self-control. +Yet in that moment the arteries of life seemed as though they had ceased +to flow. He sat at the head of his table, and his eyes never left those +pencilled words. His mind fought with them, discarded them, only to find +them still there hammering at his brain, traced in letters of scarlet +upon the distant walls. War! The great, unbelievable tragedy, the one +thousand-to-one chance in life which he had ever taken! His hand almost +fell to his side. There was a queer little silence. No one liked to ask +him a question; no one liked to speak. It was the Duchess at last who +murmured a few words, when the silence had become intolerable. + +"It is bad news?" she whispered. + +"It is very bad news indeed," Mr. Hebblethwaite answered, raising his +voice a little, so that every one at the table might hear him. "I have +just heard from the War Office that Germany has declared war against +Russia. You will perhaps, under the circumstances, excuse me." + +He rose to his feet. There was a queer singing in his ears. The feast +seemed to have turned to a sickly debauch. All that pinnacle of success +seemed to have fallen away. The faces of his guests, even, as they +looked at him, seemed to his conscience to be expressing one thing, and +one thing only--that same horrible conviction which was deadening his own +senses. He and the others--could it be true?--had they taken up lightly +the charge and care of a mighty empire and dared to gamble upon, instead +of providing for, its security? He thrust the thought away; and the +natural strength of the man began to reassert itself. If they had done +ill, they had done it for the people's sake. The people must rally to +them now. He held his head high as he left the room. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII + + +Norgate found himself in an atmosphere of strange excitement during his +two hours' waiting at the House of Commons on the following day. He was +ushered at last into Mr. Hebblethwaite's private room. Hebblethwaite had +just come in from the House and was leaning a little back in his chair, +in an attitude of repose. He glanced at Norgate with a faint smile. + +"Well, young fellow," he remarked, "come to do the usual 'I told you so' +business, I suppose?" + +"Don't be an ass!" Norgate most irreverently replied. "There are one or +two things I must tell you and tell you at once. I may have hinted at +them before, but you weren't taking things seriously then. First of all, +is Mr. Bullen in the House?" + +"Of course!" + +"Could you send for him here just for a minute?" Norgate pleaded. "I am +sure it would make what I am going to say sound more convincing to you." + +Hebblethwaite struck a bell by his side and despatched a messenger. + +"How are things going?" Norgate asked. + +"France is mobilising as fast as she can," Hebblethwaite announced. +"We have reports coming in that Germany has been at it for at least a +week, secretly. They say that Austrian troops have crossed into +Poland. There isn't anything definite yet, but it's war, without a +doubt, war just as we'd struck the right note for peace. Russia was +firm but splendid. Austria was wavering. Just at the critical moment, +like a thunderbolt, came Germany's declaration of war. Here's Mr. +Bullen. Now go ahead, Norgate." + +Mr. Bullen came into the room, recognised Norgate, and stopped short. + +"So you're here again, young man, are you?" he exclaimed. "I don't know +why you've sent for me, Hebblethwaite, but if you take my advice, you +won't let that young fellow go until you've asked him a few questions." + +"Mr. Norgate is a friend of mine," Hebblethwaite said. "I think you +will find--" + +"Friend or no friend," the Irishman interrupted, "he is a traitor, and I +tell you so to his face." + +"That is exactly what I wished you to tell Mr. Hebblethwaite," Norgate +remarked, nodding pleasantly. "I just want you to recall the +circumstances of my first visit here." + +"You came and offered me a bribe of a million pounds," Mr. Bullen +declared, "if I would provoke a civil war in Ireland in the event of +England getting into trouble. I wasn't sure whom you were acting for +then, but I am jolly certain now. That young fellow is a German spy, +Hebblethwaite." + +"Mr. Hebblethwaite knew that quite well," admitted Norgate coolly. "I +came and told him so several times. I think that he even encouraged me to +do my worst." + +"Look here, Norgate," Hebblethwaite intervened, "I'm certain you are +driving at something serious. Let's have it." + +"Quite right, I am," Norgate assented. "I just wanted to testify to you +that Mr. Bullen's reply to my offer was the patriotic reply of a loyal +Irishman. I did offer him that million pounds on behalf of Germany, and +he did indignantly refuse it, but the point of the whole thing is--my +report to Germany." + +"And that?" Mr. Hebblethwaite asked eagerly. + +"I reported Mr. Bullen's acceptance of the sum," Norgate told them. "I +reported that civil war in Ireland was imminent and inevitable and would +come only the sooner for any continental trouble in which England might +become engaged." + +Mr. Hebblethwaite's face cleared. + +"I begin to understand now, Norgate," he muttered. "Good fellow!" + +Mr. Bullen was summoned in hot haste by one of his supporters and hurried +out. Norgate drew his chair a little closer to his friend's. + +"Look here, Hebblethwaite," he said, "you wouldn't listen to me, you +know--I don't blame you--but I knew the truth of what I was saying. I +knew what was coming. The only thing I could do to help was to play the +double traitor. I did it. My chief, who reported to Berlin that this +civil war was inevitable, will get it in the neck, but there's more to +follow. The Baroness von Haase and I were associated in an absolutely +confidential mission to ascertain the likely position of Italy in the +event of this conflict. I know for a fact that Italy will not come in +with her allies." + +"Do you mean that?" Mr. Hebblethwaite asked eagerly. + +"Absolutely certain," Norgate assured him. + +Hebblethwaite half rose from his place with excitement. + +"I ought to telephone to the War Office," he declared. "It will alter the +whole mobilisation of the French troops." + +"France knows," Norgate told him quietly. "My wife has seen to that. She +passed the information on to them just in time to contract the whole line +of mobilisation." + +"You've been doing big things, young fellow!" Mr. Hebblethwaite exclaimed +excitedly. "Go on. Tell me at once, what was your report to Germany?" + +"I reported that Italy would certainly fulfil the terms of her alliance +and fight," Norgate replied. "Furthermore, I have convinced my chief over +here that under no possible circumstances would the present Cabinet +sanction any war whatsoever. I have given him plainly to understand that +you especially are determined to leave France to her fate if war should +come, and to preserve our absolute neutrality at all costs." + +"Go on," Hebblethwaite murmured. "Finish it, anyhow." + +"There is very little more," Norgate concluded. "I have a list here of +properties in the outskirts of London, all bought by Germans, and all +having secret preparations for the mounting of big guns. You might just +pass that on to the War Office, and they can destroy the places at their +leisure. There isn't anything else, Hebblethwaite. As I told you, I've +played the double traitor. It was the only way I could help. Now, if I +were you, I would arrest the master-spy for whom I have been working. +Most of the information he has picked up lately has been pretty bad, and +I fancy he'll get a warm reception if he does get back to Berlin, but if +ever there was a foreigner who abused the hospitality of this country, +Selingman's the man." + +"We'll see about that presently," Mr. Hebblethwaite declared, leaning +back. "Let me think over what you have told me. It comes to this, +Norgate. You've practically encouraged Germany to risk affronting us." + +"I can't help that," Norgate admitted. "Germany has gone into this war, +firmly believing that Italy will be on her side, and that we shall have +our hands occupied in civil war, and in any case that we should remain +neutral. I am not asking you questions, Hebblethwaite. I don't know what +the position of the Government will be if Germany attacks France in the +ordinary way. But one thing I do believe, and that is that if Germany +breaks Belgian neutrality and invades Belgium, there isn't any English +Government which has ever been responsible for the destinies of this +country, likely to take it lying down. We are shockingly unprepared, or +else, of course, there'd have been no war at all. We shall lose hundreds +of thousands of our young men, because they'll have to fight before they +are properly trained, but we must fight or perish. And we shall fight--I +am sure of that, Hebblethwaite." + +"We are all Englishmen," Hebblethwaite answered simply. + +The door was suddenly opened. Spencer Wyatt pushed his way past a +protesting doorkeeper. Hebblethwaite rose to his feet; he seemed to +forget Norgate's presence. + +"You've been down to the Admiralty?" he asked quickly. "Do you know?" + +Spencer Wyatt pointed to Norgate. His voice shook with emotion. + +"I know, Hebblethwaite," he replied, "but there's something that you +don't know. We were told to mobilise the fleet an hour ago. My God, what +chance should we have had! Germany means scrapping, and look where our +ships are, or ought to be." + +"I know it," Hebblethwaite groaned. + +"Well, they aren't there!" Spencer Wyatt announced triumphantly. "A week +ago that young fellow came to me. He told me what was impending. I half +believed it before he began. When he told me his story, I gambled upon +it. I mistook the date for the Grand Review. I signed the order for +mobilisation at the Admiralty, seven days ago. We are safe, +Hebblethwaite! I've been getting wireless messages all day yesterday and +to-day. We are at Cromarty and Rosyth. Our torpedo squadron is in +position, our submarines are off the German coast. It was just the toss +of a coin--papers and a country life for me, or our fleet safe and a +great start in the war. This is the man who has done it." + +"It's the best news I've heard this week," Hebblethwaite declared, with +glowing face. "If our fleet is safe, the country is safe for a time. If +this thing comes, we've a chance. I'll go through the country. I'll start +the day war's declared. I'll talk to the people I've slaved for. They +shall come to our help. We'll have the greatest citizen army who ever +fought for their native land. I've disbelieved in fighting all my life. +If we are driven to it, we'll show the world what peace-loving people can +do, if the weapon is forced into their hands. Norgate, the country owes +you a great debt. Another time, Wyatt, I'll tell you more than you know +now. What can we do for you, young fellow?" + +Norgate rose to his feet. + +"My work is already chosen, thanks," he said, as he shook hands. "I have +been preparing for some time." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX + + +The card-rooms at the St. James's Club were crowded, but very few people +seemed inclined to play. They were standing or sitting about in little +groups. A great many of them were gathered around the corner where +Selingman was seated. He was looking somewhat graver than usual, but +there was still a confident smile upon his lips. + +"My little friend," he said, patting the hand of the fair lady by his +side, "reassure yourself. Your husband and your husband's friends are +quite safe. For England there will come no fighting. Believe me, that is +a true word." + +"But the impossible is happening all the time," Mrs. Barlow protested. +"Who would have believed that without a single word of warning Germany +would have declared war against Russia?" + +Mr. Selingman raised his voice a little. + +"Let me make the situation clear," he begged. "Listen to me, if you will, +because I am a patriotic German but also a lover of England, a sojourner +here, and one of her greatest friends. Germany has gone to war against +Russia. Why? You will say upon a trifling pretext. My answer to you is +this. There is between the Teuton and the Slav an enmity more mighty than +anything you can conceive of. It has been at the root of all the unrest +in the Balkans. Many a time Germany has kept the peace at the imminent +loss of her own position and prestige. But one knows now that the +struggle must come. The Russians are piling up a great army with only one +intention. They mean to wrest from her keeping certain provinces of +Austria, to reduce Germany's one ally to the condition of a vassal state, +to establish the Slav people there and throughout the Balkan States, at +the expense of the Teuton. Germany must protect her own. It is a +struggle, mind you, which concerns them alone. If only there were common +sense in the world, every one else would stand by and let Germany and +Austria fight with Russia on the one great issue--Slav or Teuton." + +"But there's France," little Mrs. Barlow reminded him. "She can't keep +out of it. She is Russia's ally." + +"Alas! my dear madam," Selingman continued, "you point out the tragedy of +the whole situation. If France could see wisdom, if France could see +truth, she would fold her arms with you others, keep her country and her +youth and her dignity. But I will be reasonable. She is, as you say, +bound--bound by her alliance to Russia, and she will fight. Very well! +Germany wants no more from France than what she has. Germany will fight a +defensive campaign. She will push France back with one hand, in as +friendly a manner as is compatible with the ethics of war. On the east +she will move swiftly. She will fight Russia, and, believe me, the issue +will not be long doubtful. She will conclude an honourable peace with +France at the first opportunity." + +"Then you don't think we shall be involved at all?" some one else asked. + +"If you are," Selingman declared, "it will be your own doing, and it will +simply be the most criminal act of this generation. Germany has nothing +but friendship for England. I ask you, what British interests are +threatened by this inevitable clash between the Slav and the Teuton? It +is miserable enough for France to be dragged in. It would be lunacy for +England. Therefore, though it is true that serious matters are pending, +though, alas! I must return at once to see what help I can afford my +country, never for a moment believe, any of you, that there exists the +slightest chance of war between Germany and England." + +"Then I don't see," Mrs. Barlow sighed, "why we shouldn't have a rubber +of bridge." + +"Let us," Selingman assented. "It is a very reasonable suggestion. It +will divert our thoughts. Here is the afternoon paper. Let us first see +whether there is any further news." + +It was Mrs. Paston Benedek who opened it. She stared at the first sheet +for a moment with eyes which were almost dilated. Then she looked around. +Her voice sounded unnatural. + +"Look!" she cried. "Francis Norgate--Mr. Francis Norgate has committed +suicide in his rooms!" + +"It is not possible!" Selingman exclaimed. + +They all crowded around the paper. The announcement was contained in a +few lines only. Mr. Francis Norgate had been discovered shot through the +heart in his sitting-room at the Milan Court, with a revolver by his +side. There was a letter addressed to his wife, who had left the day +before for Paris. No further particulars could be given of the tragedy. +The little group of men and women all looked at one another in a strange, +questioning manner. For a moment the war cloud seemed to have passed even +from their memories. It was something newer and in a sense more dramatic, +this. Norgate--one of themselves! Norgate, who had played bridge with +them day after day, had been married only a week or so ago--dead, under +the most horrible of all conditions! And Baring, only a few weeks before! +There was an uneasiness about which no one could put into words, vague +suspicions, strange imaginings. + +"It's only three weeks," some one muttered, "since poor Baring shot +himself! What the devil does it mean? Norgate--why, the fellow was full +of common sense." + +"He was fearfully cut up," some one interposed, "about that Berlin +affair." + +"But he was just married," Mrs. Paston Benedek reminded them, "married to +the most charming woman in Europe,--rich, too, and noble. I saw them only +two days ago together. They were the picture of happiness. This is too +terrible. I am going into the other room to sit down. Please forgive me. +Mr. Selingman, will you give me your arm?" + +She passed into the little drawing-room, almost dragging her companion. +She closed the door behind them. Her eyes were brilliant. The words came +hot and quivering from her lips. + +"Listen!" she ordered. "Tell me the truth. Was this suicide or not?" + +"Why should it not be?" Selingman asked gravely. "Norgate was an +Englishman, after all. He must have felt that he had betrayed his +country. He has given us, as you know, very valuable information. The +thought must have preyed upon his conscience." + +"Don't lie to me!" she interrupted. "Tell me the truth now or never come +near me again, never ask me another question, don't be surprised to find +the whole circle of your friends here broken up and against you. It's +only the truth I ask for. If a thing is necessary, do I not know that it +must be done? But I will hear the truth. There was that about Baring's +death which I never understood; but this--this shall be explained." + +Selingman stood for a moment or two with folded arms. + +"Dear lady," he said soothingly, "you are not like the others. You have +earned the knowledge of the truth. You shall have it. I did not mistrust +Francis Norgate, but I knew very well that when the blow fell, he would +waver. These Englishmen are all like that. They can lose patience with +their ill-governed country. They can go abroad, write angry letters to +_The Times_, declare that they have shaken the dust of their native land +from their feet. But when the pinch comes, they fall back. Norgate has +served me well, but he knew too much. He is safer where he is." + +"He was murdered, then!" she whispered. + +Selingman nodded very slightly. + +"It is seldom," he declared, "that we go so far. Believe me, it is only +because our great Empire is making its move, stretching out for the great +world war, that I gave the word. What is one man's life when millions are +soon to perish?" + +She sank down into an easy-chair and covered her face with her hands. + +"I am answered," she murmured, "only I know now I was not made for these +things. I love scheming, but I am a woman." + + + + +CHAPTER XL + + +Mr. Selingman's influence over his fellows had never been more marked +than on that gloomiest of all afternoons. They gathered around him as he +sat on the cushioned fender, a cup of tea in one hand and a plateful of +buttered toast by his side. + +"To-day," he proclaimed, "I bring good news. Yesterday, I must admit, +things looked black, and the tragedy to poor young Norgate made us all +miserable." + +"I should have said things looked worse," one of the men declared, +throwing down an afternoon paper. "The Cabinet Council is still sitting, +and there are all sorts of rumours in the city." + +"I was told by a man in the War Office," Mrs. Barlow announced, "that +England would stand by her treaty to Belgium, and that Germany has made +all her plans to invade France through Belgium." + +"Rumours, of course, there must be," Selingman agreed, "but I bring +something more than rumour. I received to-day, by special messenger from +Berlin, a dispatch of the utmost importance. Germany is determined to +show her entire friendliness towards England. She recognises the +difficulties of your situation. She is going to make a splendid bid for +your neutrality. Much as I would like to, I cannot tell you more. This, +however, I know to be the basis of her offer. You in England could help +in the fight solely by means of your fleet. It is Germany's suggestion +that, in return for your neutrality, she should withdraw her fleet from +action and leave the French northern towns unbombarded. You will then be +in a position to fulfil your obligations to France, whatever they may be, +without moving a stroke or spending a penny. It is a triumph of +diplomacy, that--a veritable triumph." + +"It does sound all right," Mrs. Barlow admitted. + +"It has relieved my mind of a mighty burden," Selingman continued, +setting down his empty plate and brushing the crumbs from his waistcoat. +"I feel now that we can look on at this world drama with sorrowing eyes, +indeed, but free from feelings of hatred and animosity. I have had a +trying day. I should like a little bridge. Let us--" + +Selingman did not finish his sentence. The whole room, for a moment, +seemed to become a study in still life. A woman who had been crossing the +floor stood there as though transfixed. A man who was dealing paused with +an outstretched card in his hand. Every eye was turned on the threshold. +It was Norgate who stood there, Norgate metamorphosed, in khaki +uniform--an amazing spectacle! Mrs. Barlow was the first to break the +silence with a piercing shriek. Then the whole room seemed to be in a +turmoil. Selingman alone sat quite still. There was a grey shade upon his +face, and the veins were standing out at the back of his hands. + +"So sorry to startle you all," Norgate said apologetically. "Of course, +you haven't seen the afternoon papers. It was my valet who was found +dead in my rooms--a most mysterious affair," he added, his eyes meeting +Selingman's. "The inquest is to be this afternoon." + +"Your valet!" Selingman muttered. + +"A very useful fellow," Norgate continued, strolling to the fireplace and +standing there, "but with a very bad habit of wearing my clothes when I +am away. I was down in Camberley for three days and left him in charge." + +They showered congratulations upon him, but in the midst of them the +strangeness of his appearance provoked their comment. + +"What does it mean?" Mrs. Benedek asked, patting his arm. "Have you +turned soldier?" + +"In a sense I have," Norgate admitted, "but only in the sense that every +able-bodied Englishman will have to do, in the course of the next few +months. Directly I saw this coming, I arranged for a commission." + +"But there is to be no war!" Mrs. Barlow exclaimed. "Mr. Selingman +has been explaining to us this afternoon what wonderful offers +Germany is making, so that we shall be able to remain neutral and yet +keep our pledges." + +"Mr. Selingman," Norgate said quietly, "is under a delusion. Germany, it +is true, has offered us a shameless bribe. I am glad to be able to tell +you all that our Ministry, whatever their politics may be, have shown +themselves men. An English ultimatum is now on its way to Berlin. War +will be declared before midnight." + +Selingman rose slowly to his feet. His face was black with passion. +He pushed a man away who stood between them. He was face to face +with Norgate. + +"So you," he thundered, suddenly reckless of the bystanders, "are a +double traitor! You have taken pay from Germany and deceived her! You +knew, after all, that your Government would make war when the time came. +Is that so?" + +"I was always convinced of it," Norgate replied calmly. "I also had the +honour of deceiving you in the matter of Mr. Bullen. I have been the +means, owing to your kind and thoughtful information, of having the fleet +mobilised and ready to strike at the present moment, and there are +various little pieces of property I know about, Mr. Selingman, around +London, where we have taken the liberty of blowing up your foundations. +There may be a little disappointment for you, too, in the matter of +Italy. The money you were good enough to pay me for my doubtful services, +has gone towards the establishment of a Red Cross hospital. As for you, +Selingman, I denounce you now as one of those who worked in this country +for her ill, one of those pests of the world, working always in the +background, dishonourably and selfishly, against the country whose +hospitality you have abused. If I have met you on your own ground, well, +I am proud of it. You are a German spy, Selingman." + +Selingman's hand fumbled in his pocket. Scarcely a soul was surprised +when Norgate gripped him by the wrist, and they saw the little shining +revolver fall down towards the fender. + +"You shall suffer for these words," Selingman thundered. "You young +fool, you shall bite the dust, you and hundreds of thousands of your +cowardly fellows, when the German flag flies from Buckingham Palace." + +Norgate held up his hand and turned towards the door. Two men in plain +clothes entered. + +"That may be a sight," Norgate said calmly, "which you, at any rate, will +not be permitted to see. I have had some trouble in arranging for your +arrest, as we are not yet under martial law, but I think you will find +your way to the Tower of London before long, and I hope it will be with +your back to the light and a dozen rifles pointing to your heart." + +A third man had come into the room. He tapped Selingman on the shoulder +and whispered in his ear. + +"I demand to see your warrant!" the latter exclaimed. + +The officer produced it. Selingman threw it on the floor and spat upon +it. He looked around the room, in the further corner of which two men +and a woman were standing upon chairs to look over the heads of the +little crowd. + +"Take me where you will," he snarled. "You are a rotten, treacherous, +cowardly race, you English, and I hate you all. You can kill me first, if +you will, but in two months' time you shall learn what it is like to wait +hand and foot upon your conquerors." + +He strode out of the room, a guard on either side of him and the door +closed. One woman had fainted. Mrs. Paston Benedek was swaying back +and forth upon the cushioned fender, sobbing hysterically. Norgate +stood by her side. + +"I have forgotten the names," he announced pointedly, "of many of that +fellow's dupes. I am content to forget them. I am off now," he went on, +his tone becoming a little kinder. "I am telling you the truth. It's war. +You men had better look up any of the forces that suit you and get to +work. We shall all be needed. There is work, too, for the women, any +quantity of it. My wife will be leaving again for France next week with +the first Red Cross Ambulance Corps. I dare say she will be glad to hear +from any one who wants to help." + +"I shall be a nurse," Mrs. Paston Benedek decided. "I am sick of bridge +and amusing myself." + +"The costume is quite becoming," Mrs. Barlow murmured, glancing at +herself in the looking-glass, "and I adore those poor dear soldiers." + +"Well, I'll leave you to it," Norgate declared. "Good luck to you all!" + +They crowded around him, shaking him by the hand, still besieging him +with questions about Selingman. He shook his head good-humouredly and +made his way towards the door. + +"There's nothing more to tell you," he concluded. "Selingman is just one +of the most dangerous spies who has ever worked in this country, but the +war itself was inevitable. We've known that for years, only we wouldn't +believe it. We'll all meet again, perhaps, in the work later on." + +Late that night, Norgate stood hand in hand with Anna at the window of +their little sitting-room. Down in the Strand, the newsboys were +shouting the ominous words. The whole of London was stunned. The great +war had come! + +"It's wonderful, dear," Anna whispered, "that we should have had +these few days of so great happiness. I feel brave and strong now for +our task." + +Norgate held her closely to him. + +"We've been in luck," he said simply. "We were able to do something +pretty soon. I have had the greatest happiness in life a man can have. +Now I am going to offer my life to my country and pray that it may be +spared for you. But above all, whatever happens," he added, leaning a +little further from the window towards where the curving lights gleamed +across the black waters of the Thames, "above all, whatever may happen to +us, we are face to face with one splendid thing--a great country to fight +for, and a just cause. I saw Hebblethwaite as I came in. He is a changed +man. Talks about raising an immense citizen army in six months. Both his +boys have taken up commissions. Hebblethwaite himself is going around the +country, recruiting. They are his people, after all. He has given them +their prosperity at the expense, alas! of our safety. It's up to them now +to prove whether the old spirit is there or not. We shall need two +million men. Hebblethwaite believes we shall get them long before the +camps are ready to receive them. If we do, it will be his justification." + +"And if we don't?" Anna murmured. + +Norgate threw his head a little further back. + +"Most pictures," he said, "have two sides, but we need only look at one. +I am going to believe that we shall get them. I am going to remember the +only true thing that fellow Selingman ever said: that our lesson had come +before it is too late. I am going to believe that the heart and +conscience of the nation is still a live thing. If it is, dear, the end +is certain. And I am going to believe that it is!" + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10534 *** diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b88fecc --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #10534 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/10534) diff --git a/old/10534-8.txt b/old/10534-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f992a60 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10534-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9266 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Double Traitor , by E. Phillips Oppenheim + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + + + + +Title: The Double Traitor + +Author: E. Phillips Oppenheim + +Release Date: December 25, 2003 [eBook #10534] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DOUBLE TRAITOR *** + + +E-text prepared by Juliet Sutherland, Mary Meehan, and the Project +Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + +THE DOUBLE TRAITOR + +BY E. PHILLIPS OPPENHEIM + +1915 + + + + + + +CHAPTER I + + +The woman leaned across the table towards her companion. + +"My friend," she said, "when we first met--I am ashamed, considering that +I dine alone with you to-night, to reflect how short a time ago--you +spoke of your removal here from Paris very much as though it were a +veritable exile. I told you then that there might be surprises in store +for you. This restaurant, for instance! We both know our Paris, yet do we +lack anything here which you find at the Ritz or Giro's?" + +The young man looked around him appraisingly. The two were dining at one +of the newest and most fashionable restaurants in Berlin. The room +itself, although a little sombre by reason of its oak panelling, was +relieved from absolute gloom by the lightness and elegance of its +furniture and appointments, the profusion of flowers, and the soft grey +carpet, so thickly piled that every sound was deadened. The delicate +strains of music came from an invisible orchestra concealed behind a +canopy of palms. The head-waiters had the correct clerical air, half +complacent, half dignified. Among the other diners were many beautiful +women in marvellous toilettes. A variety of uniforms, worn by the +officers at different tables, gave colour and distinction to a _tout +ensemble_ with which even Norgate could find no fault. + +"Germany has changed very much since I was here as a boy," he confessed. +"One has heard of the growing wealth of Berlin, but I must say that I +scarcely expected--" + +He hesitated. His companion laughed softly at his embarrassment. + +"Do not forget," she interrupted, "that I am Austrian--Austrian, that is +to say, with much English in my blood. What you say about Germans does +not greatly concern me." + +"Of course," Norgate resumed, as he watched the champagne poured into his +glass, "one is too much inclined to form one's conclusions about a nation +from the types one meets travelling, and you know what the Germans have +done for Monte Carlo and the Riviera--even, to a lesser extent, for Paris +and Rome. Wherever they have been, for the last few years, they seem to +have left the trail of the _nouveaux riches_. It is not only their +clothes but their manners and bearing which affront." + +The woman leaned her head for a moment against the tips of her slim and +beautifully cared for fingers. She looked steadfastly across the table at +her vis-à-vis. + +"Now that you are here," she said softly, "you must forget those things. +You are a diplomatist, and it is for you, is it not, outwardly, at any +rate, to see only the good of the country in which your work lies." + +Norgate flushed very slightly. His companion's words had savoured almost +of a reproof. + +"You are quite right," he admitted. "I have been here for a month, +though, and you are the first person to whom I have spoken like this. And +you yourself," he pointed out, "encouraged me, did you not, when you +insisted upon your Austro-English nationality?" + +"You must not take me too seriously," she begged, smiling. "I spoke +foolishly, perhaps, but only for your good. You see, Mr. Francis Norgate, +I am just a little interested in you and your career." + +"And I, dear Baroness," he replied, smiling across at her, "am more than +a little interested in--you." + +She unfurled her fan. + +"I believe," she sighed, "that you are going to flirt with me." + +"I should enter into an unequal contest," Norgate asserted. "My methods +would seem too clumsy, because I should be too much in earnest." + +"Whatever the truth may be about your methods," she declared, "I rather +like them, or else I should not be risking my reputation in this still +prudish city by dining with you alone and without a chaperon. Tell me a +little about yourself. We have met three times, is it not--once at the +Embassy, once at the Palace, and once when you paid me that call. How old +are you? Tell me about your people in England, and where else you have +served besides Paris?" + +"I am thirty years old," he replied. "I started at Bukarest. From there +I went to Rome. Then I was second attaché at Paris, and finally, as you +see, here." + +"And your people--they are English, of course?" + +"Naturally," he answered. "My mother died when I was quite young, and my +father when I was at Eton. I have an estate in Hampshire which seems to +get on very well without me." + +"And you really care about your profession? You have the real feeling for +diplomacy?" + +"I think there is nothing else like it in the world," he assured her. + +"You may well say that," she agreed enthusiastically. "I think you might +almost add that there has been no time in the history of Europe so +fraught with possibilities, so fascinating to study, as the present." + +He looked at her keenly. It is the first instinct of a young diplomatist +to draw in his horns when a beautiful young woman confesses herself +interested in his profession. + +"You, too, think of these things, then?" he remarked. + +She shrugged her shoulders. + +"But naturally! What is there to do for a woman but think? We cannot act, +or rather, if we do, it is in a very insignificant way. We are lookers-on +at most of the things in life worth doing." + +"I will spare you all the obvious retorts," he said, "if you will tell me +why you are gazing into that mirror so earnestly?" + +"I was thinking," she confessed, "what a remarkably good-looking +couple we were." + +He followed the direction of her eyes. He himself was of a recognised +type. His complexion was fair, his face clean-shaven and strong almost to +ruggedness. His mouth was firm, his nose thin and straight, his grey eyes +well-set. He was over six feet and rather slim for his height. But if his +type, though attractive enough, was in its way ordinary, hers was +entirely unusual. She, too, was slim, but so far from being tall, her +figure was almost petite. Her dark brown hair was arranged in perfectly +plain braids behind and with a slight fringe in front. Her complexion was +pale. Her features were almost cameo-like in their delicacy and +perfection, but any suggestion of coldness was dissipated at once by the +extraordinary expressiveness of her mouth and the softness of her deep +blue eyes. Norgate looked from the mirror into her face. There was a +little smile upon his lips, but he said nothing. + +"Some day," she said, "not in the restaurant here but when we are +alone and have time, I should so much like to talk with you on really +serious matters." + +"There is one serious matter," he assured her, "which I should like to +discuss with you now or at any time." + +She made a little grimace at him. + +"Let it be now, then," she suggested, leaning across the table. "We will +leave my sort of serious things for another time. I am quite certain +that I know where your sort is going to lead us. You are going to make +love to me." + +"Do you mind?" he asked earnestly. + +She became suddenly grave. + +"Not yet," she begged. "Let us talk and live nonsense for a few more +weeks. You see, I really have not known you very long, have I, and this +is a very dangerous city for flirtations. At Court one has to be so +careful, and you know I am already considered far too much of a Bohemian +here. I was even given to understand, a little time ago, by a very great +lady, that my position was quite precarious." + +"Does that--does anything matter if--" + +"It is not of myself alone that I am thinking. Everything matters to one +in your profession," she reminded him pointedly. + +"I believe," he exclaimed, "that you think more of my profession than you +do of me!" + +"Quite impossible," she retorted mockingly. "And yet, as I dare say you +have already realised, it is not only the things you say to our statesmen +here, and the reports you make, which count. It is your daily life among +the people of the nation to which you are attached, the friends you make +among them, the hospitality you accept and offer, which has all the time +its subtle significance. Now I am not sure, even, that I am, a very good +companion for you, Mr. Francis Norgate." + +"You are a very bad one for my peace of mind," he assured her. + +She shook her head. "You say those things much too glibly," she declared. +"I am afraid that you have served a very long apprenticeship." + +"If I have," he replied, leaning a little across the table, "it has been +an apprenticeship only, a probationary period during which one struggles +towards the real thing." + +"You think you will know when you have found it?" she murmured. + +He drew a little breath. His voice even trembled as he answered her. "I +know now," he said softly. + +Their heads were almost touching. Suddenly she drew apart. He glanced at +her in some surprise, conscious of an extraordinary change in her face, +of the half-uttered exclamation strangled upon her lips. He turned his +head and followed the direction of her eyes. Three young men in the +uniform of officers had entered the room, and stood there as though +looking about for a table. Before them the little company of head-waiters +had almost prostrated themselves. The manager, summoned in breathless +haste, had made a reverential approach. + +"Who are these young men?" Norgate enquired. + +His companion made no reply. Her fine, silky eyebrows were drawn a +little closer together. At that moment the tallest of the three +newcomers seemed to recognise her. He strode at once towards their +table. Norgate, glancing up at his approach, was simply conscious of the +coming of a fair young man of ordinary German type, who seemed to be in +a remarkably bad temper. + +"So I find you here, Anna!" + +The Baroness rose as though unwillingly to her feet. She dropped the +slightest of curtseys and resumed her place. + +"Your visit is a little unexpected, is it not, Karl?" she remarked. + +"Apparently!" the young man answered, with an unpleasant laugh. + +He turned and stared at Norgate, who returned his regard with +half-amused, half-impatient indifference. The Baroness leaned +forward eagerly. + +"Will you permit me to present Mr. Francis Norgate to you, Karl?" + +Norgate, who had suddenly recognised the newcomer, rose to his feet, +bowed and remained standing. The Prince's only reply to the introduction +was a frown. + +"Kindly give me your seat," he said imperatively. "I will conclude your +entertainment of the Baroness." + +For a moment there was a dead silence. In the background several of +the _maîtres d'hôtel_ had gathered obsequiously around. For some +reason or other, every one seemed to be looking at Norgate as though +he were a criminal. + +"Isn't your request a little unusual, Prince?" he remarked drily. + +The colour in the young man's face became almost purple. + +"Did you hear what I said, sir?" he demanded. "Do you know who I am?" + +"Perfectly," Norgate replied. "A prince who apparently has not learnt how +to behave himself in a public place." + +The young man took a quick step forward. Norgate's fists were clenched +and his eyes glittering. The Baroness stepped between them. + +"Mr. Norgate," she said, "you will please give me your escort home." + +The Prince's companions had seized him, one by either arm. An older man +who had been dining in a distant corner of the room, and who wore the +uniform of an officer of high rank, suddenly approached. He addressed the +Prince, and they all talked together in excited whispers. Norgate with +calm fingers arranged the cloak around his companion and placed a hundred +mark note upon his plate. + +"I will return for my change another evening," he said to the dumbfounded +waiter. "If you are ready, Baroness." + +They left the restaurant amid an intense hush. Norgate waited +deliberately whilst the door was somewhat unwillingly held open for him +by a _maître d'hôtel,_ but outside the Baroness's automobile was summoned +at once. She placed her fingers upon Norgate's arm, and he felt that she +was shivering. + +"Please do not take me home," she faltered. "I am so sorry--so +very sorry." + +He laughed. "But why?" he protested. "The young fellow behaved like a +cub, but no one offered him any provocation. I should think by this time +he is probably heartily ashamed of himself. May I come and see you +to-morrow?" + +"Telephone me," she begged, as she gave him her hand through the window. +"You don't quite understand. Please telephone to me." + +She suddenly clutched his hand with both of hers and then fell back out +of sight among the cushions. Norgate remained upon the pavement until the +car had disappeared. Then he looked back once more into the restaurant +and strolled across the brilliantly-lit street towards the Embassy. + + + + +CHAPTER II + + +Norgate, during his month's stay in Berlin, had already adopted regular +habits. On the following morning he was called at eight o'clock and rode +for two hours in the fashionable precincts of the city. The latter +portion of the time he spent looking in vain for a familiar figure in a +green riding-habit. The Baroness, however, did not appear. At ten o'clock +Norgate returned to the Embassy, bathed and breakfasted, and a little +after eleven made his way round to the business quarters. One of his +fellow-workers there glanced up and nodded at his arrival. + +"Where's the Chief?" Norgate enquired. + +"Gone down to the Palace," the other young man, whose name was Ansell, +replied; "telephoned for the first thing this morning. Ghastly habit +William has of getting up at seven o'clock and suddenly remembering that +he wants to talk diplomacy. The Chief will be furious all day now." + +Norgate lit a cigarette and began to open his letters. Ansell, however, +was in a discoursive mood. He swung around from his desk and leaned back +in his chair. + +"How can a man," he demanded, "see a question from the same point of view +at seven o'clock in the morning and seven o'clock in the evening? +Absolutely impossible, you know. That's what's the matter with our +versatile friend up yonder. He gets all aroused over some scheme or other +which comes to him in the dead of night, hops out of bed before any one +civilised is awake, and rings up for ambassadors. Then at night-time he +becomes normal again and takes everything back. The consequence is that +this place is a regular diplomatic see-saw. Settling down in Berlin +pretty well, aren't you, Norgate?" + +"Very nicely, thanks," the latter replied. + +"Dining alone with the Baroness von Haase!" his junior continued. "A +Court favourite, too! Never been seen alone before except with her young +princeling. What honeyed words did you use, Lothario--" + +"Oh, chuck it!" Norgate interrupted. "Tell me about the Baroness von +Haase! She is Austrian, isn't she?" + +Ansell nodded. + +"Related to the Hapsburgs themselves, I believe," he said. "Very old +family, anyhow. They say she came to spend a season here because she was +a little too go-ahead for the ladies of Vienna. I must say that I've +never seen her out without a chaperon before, except with Prince Karl. +They say he'd marry her--morganatically, of course--if they'd let him, +and if the lady were willing. If you want to know anything more about +her, go into Gray's room." + +Norgate looked up from his letters. + +"Why Gray's room? How does she come into his department?" + +Ansell shook his head. + +"No idea. I fancy she is there, though." + +Norgate left the room a few minutes later, and, strolling across the +hall of the Embassy, made his way to an apartment at the back of the +house. It was plainly furnished, there were bars across the window, and +three immense safes let into the wall. An elderly gentleman, with +gold-rimmed spectacles and a very benevolent expression, was busy with +several books of reference before him, seated at a desk. He raised his +head at Norgate's entrance. + +"Good morning, Norgate," he said. + +"Good morning, sir," Norgate replied. + +"Anything in my way?" + +Norgate shook his head. + +"Chief's gone to the Palace--no one knows why. I just looked in because I +met a woman the other day whom Ansell says you know something +about--Baroness von Haase." + +"Well?" + +"Is there anything to be told about her?" Norgate asked bluntly. "I dined +with her last night." + +"Then I don't think I would again, if I were you," the other advised. +"There is nothing against her, but she is a great friend of certain +members of the Royal Family who are not very well disposed towards us, +and she is rather a brainy little person. They use her a good deal, I +believe, as a means of confidential communication between here and +Vienna. She has been back and forth three or four times lately, without +any apparent reason." + +Norgate stood with his hands in his pockets, frowning slightly. + +"Why, she's half an Englishwoman," he remarked. + +"She may be," Mr. Gray admitted drily. "The other half's Austrian all +right, though. I can't tell you anything more about her, my dear fellow. +All I can say is that she is in my book, and so long as she is there, you +know it's better for you youngsters to keep away. Be off now. I am +decoding a dispatch." + +Norgate retraced his steps to his own room. Ansell glanced up from a mass +of passports as he entered. + +"How's the Secret Service Department this morning?" he enquired. + +"Old Gray seems much as usual," Norgate grumbled. "One doesn't get much +out of him." + +"Chief wants you in his room," Ansell announced. "He's just come in from +the Palace, looking like nothing on earth." + +"Wants me?" Norgate muttered. "Righto!" + +He went to the looking-glass, straightened his tie, and made his way +towards the Ambassador's private apartments. The latter was alone when he +entered, seated before his table. He was leaning back in his chair, +however, and apparently deep in thought. He watched Norgate sternly as he +crossed the room. + +"Good morning, sir," the latter said. + +The Ambassador nodded. + +"What have you been up to, Norgate?" he asked abruptly. + +"Nothing at all that I know of, sir," was the prompt reply. + +"This afternoon," the Ambassador continued slowly, "I was to have taken +you, as you know, to the Palace to be received by the Kaiser. At seven +o'clock this morning I had a message. I have just come from the Palace. +The Kaiser has given me to understand that your presence in Berlin is +unwelcome." + +"Good God!" Norgate exclaimed. + +"Can you offer me any explanation?" + +For a moment Norgate was speechless. Then he recovered himself. He forgot +altogether his habits of restraint. There was an angry note in his tone. + +"It's that miserable young cub of a Prince Karl!" he exclaimed. +"Last night I was dining, sir, with the Baroness von Haase at the +Café de Berlin." + +"Alone?" + +"Alone," Norgate admitted. "It was not for me to invite a chaperon if the +lady did not choose to bring one, was it, sir? As we were finishing +dinner, the Prince came in. He made a scene at our table and ordered me +to leave." + +"And you?" the Ambassador asked. + +"I simply treated him as I would any other young ass who forgot +himself," Norgate replied indignantly. "I naturally refused to go, and +the Baroness left the place with me." + +"And you did not expect to hear of this again?" + +"I honestly didn't. I should have thought, for his own sake, that the +young man would have kept his mouth shut. He was hopelessly in the wrong, +and he behaved like a common young bounder." + +The Ambassador shook his head slowly. + +"Mr. Norgate," he said, "I am very sorry for you, but you are under a +misapprehension shared by many young men. You believe that there is a +universal standard of manners and deportment, and a universal series of +customs for all nations. You have our English standard of manners in your +mind, manners which range from a ploughboy to a king, and you seem to +take it for granted that these are also subscribed to in other countries. +In my position I do not wish to say too much, but let me tell you that in +Germany they are not. If a prince here chooses to behave like a +ploughboy, he is right where the ploughboy would be wrong." + +There was a moment's silence. Norgate was looking a little dazed. + +"Then you mean to defend--" he began. + +"Certainly not," the Ambassador interrupted. "I am not speaking to you as +one of ourselves. I am speaking as the representative of England in +Berlin. You are supposed to be studying diplomacy. You have been guilty +of a colossal blunder. You have shown yourself absolutely ignorant of the +ideals and customs of the country in which you are. It is perfectly +correct for young Prince Karl to behave, as you put it, like a bounder. +The people expect it of him. He conforms entirely to the standard +accepted by the military aristocracy of Berlin. It is you who have been +in the wrong--diplomatically." + +"Then you mean, sir," Norgate protested, "that I should have taken it +sitting down?" + +"Most assuredly you should," the Ambassador replied, "unless you were +willing to pay the price. Your only fault--your personal fault, I +mean--that I can see is that it was a little indiscreet of you to dine +alone with a young woman for whom the Prince is known to have a +foolish passion. Diplomatically, however, you have committed every +fault possible, I am very sorry, but I think that you had better +report in Downing Street as soon as possible. The train leaves, I +think, at three o'clock." + +Norgate for a moment was unable to speak or move. He was struggling with +a sort of blind fury. + +"This is the end of me, then," he muttered at last. "I am to be disgraced +because I have come to a city of boors." + +"You are reprimanded and in a sense, no doubt, punished," the Ambassador +explained calmly, "because you have come to--shall I accept your term?--a +city of boors and fail to adapt yourself. The true diplomatist adapts +himself wherever he may be. My personal sympathies remain with you. I +will do what I can in my report." + +Norgate had recovered himself. + +"I thank you very much, sir," he said. "I shall catch the three +o'clock train." + +The Ambassador held out his hand. The interview had finished. He +permitted himself to speak differently. + +"I am very sorry indeed, Norgate, that this has happened," he declared. +"We all have our trials to bear in this city, and you have run up +against one of them rather before your time. I wish you good luck, +whatever may happen." + +Norgate clasped his Chief's hand and left the apartment. Then he made his +way to his rooms, gave his orders and sent a messenger to secure his seat +in the train. Last of all he went to the telephone. He rang up the number +which had become already familiar to him, almost with reluctance. He +waited for the reply without any pleasurable anticipations. He was filled +with a burning sense of resentment, a feeling which extended even to the +innocent cause of it. Soon he heard her voice. + +"That is Mr. Norgate, is it not?" + +"Yes," he replied. "I rang up to wish you good-by." + +"Good-by! But you are going away, then?" + +"I am sent away--dismissed!" + +He heard her little exclamation of grief. Its complete genuineness broke +down a little the wall of his anger. + +"And it is my fault!" she exclaimed. "If only I could do anything! Will +you wait--please wait? I will go to the Palace myself." + +His expostulation was almost a shock to her. + +"Baroness," he replied, "if I permitted your intervention, I could never +hold my head up in Berlin again! In any case, I could not stay here. The +first thing I should do would be to quarrel with that insufferable young +cad who insulted us last night. I am afraid, at the first opportunity, I +should tell--" + +"Hush!" she interrupted. "Oh, please hush! You must not talk like +this, even over the telephone. Cannot you understand that you are not +in England?" + +"I am beginning to realise," he answered gruffly, "what it means not to +be in a free country. I am leaving by the three o'clock train, Baroness. +Farewell!" + +"But you must not go like this," she pleaded. "Come first and see me." + +"No! It will only mean more disgrace for you. Besides--in any case, I +have decided to go away without seeing you again." + +Her voice was very soft. He found himself gripping the pages of the +telephone book which hung by his side. + +"But is that kind? Have I sinned, Mr. Francis Norgate?" + +"Of course not," he answered, keeping his tone level, almost indifferent. +"I hope that we shall meet again some day, but not in Berlin." + +There was a moment's silence. He thought, even, that she had gone away. +Then her reply came back. + +"So be it," she murmured. "Not in Berlin. Au revoir!" + + + + +CHAPTER III + + +Faithful to his insular prejudices, Norgate, on finding that the other +seat in his coupé was engaged, started out to find the train attendant +with a view to changing his place. His errand, however, was in vain. The +train, it seemed, was crowded. He returned to his compartment to find +already installed there one of the most complete and absolute types of +Germanism he had ever seen. A man in a light grey suit, the waistcoat of +which had apparently abandoned its efforts to compass his girth, with a +broad, pink, good-humoured face, beardless and bland, flaxen hair +streaked here and there with grey, was seated in the vacant place. He had +with him a portmanteau covered with a linen case, his boots were a bright +shade of yellow, his tie was of white satin with a design of lavender +flowers. A pair of black kid gloves lay by his side. He welcomed Norgate +with the bland, broad smile of a fellow-passenger whose one desire it is +to make a lifelong friend of his temporary companion. + +"We have the compartment to ourselves, is it not so? You are English?" + +Some queer chance founded upon his ill-humour, his disgust of Germany and +all things in it, induced Norgate to tell a deliberate falsehood. + +"Sorry," he replied in English. "I don't speak German." + +The man's satisfaction was complete. + +"But I--I speak the most wonderful English. It pleases me always to speak +English. I like to do so. It is practice for me. We will talk English +together, you and I. These comic papers, they do not amuse. And books in +the train, they make one giddy. What I like best is a companion and a +bottle of Rhine wine." + +"Personally," Norgate confessed gruffly, "I like to sleep." + +The other seemed a little taken aback but remained, apparently, full of +the conviction that his overtures could be nothing but acceptable. + +"It is well to sleep," he agreed, "if one has worked hard. Now I myself +am a hard worker. My name is Selingman. I manufacture crockery which I +sell in England. That is why I speak the English language so wonderful. +For the last three nights I have been up reading reports of my English +customers, going through their purchases. Now it is finished. I am well +posted. I am off to sell crockery in London, in Manchester, in Leeds, in +Birmingham. I have what the people want. They will receive me with open +arms, some of them even welcome me at their houses. Thus it is that I +look forward to my business trip as a holiday." + +"Very pleasant, I'm sure," Norgate remarked, curling himself up in his +corner. "Personally, I can't see why we can't make our own crockery. I +get tired of seeing German goods in England." + +Herr Selingman was apparently a trifle hurt, but his efforts to make +himself agreeable were indomitable. + +"If you will," he said, "I can explain why my crockery sells in England +where your own fails. For one thing, then, I am cheaper. There is a +system at my works, the like of which is not known in England. From the +raw material to the finished article I can produce forty per cent. +cheaper than your makers, and, mind you, that is not because I save in +wages. It is because of the system in the various departments. I do not +like to save in wages," he went on. "I like to see my people healthy and +strong and happy. I like to see them drink beer after work is over, and +on feast days and Sundays I like to see them sit in the gardens and +listen to the band, and maybe change their beer for a bottle of wine. +Industrially, Mr. Englishman, ours is a happy country." + +"Well, I hope you won't think I am rude," Norgate observed, "but from the +little I have seen of it I call it a beastly country, and if you don't +mind I am going to sleep." + +Herr Selingman sat for several moments with his mouth still open. Then he +gave a little grunt. There was not the slightest ill-humour in the +ejaculation or in his expression. He was simply pained. + +"I am sorry if I have talked too much," he said. "I forgot that you, +perhaps, are tired. You have met with disappointments, maybe. I am sorry. +I will read now and not disturb you." + +For an hour or so Norgate tried in vain to sleep. All this time the man +opposite turned the pages of his book with the utmost cautiousness, +moved on tiptoe once to reach down more papers, and held out his finger +to warn the train attendant who came with some harmless question. + +"The English gentleman," Norgate heard him whisper, "is tired. Let +him sleep." + +Soon after five o'clock, Norgate gave it up. He rose to his feet, +stretched himself, and was welcomed with a pleasant smile from his +companion. + +"You have had a refreshing nap," the latter remarked, "and now, is it not +so, you go to take a cup of English tea?" + +"You are quite right," Norgate admitted. "Better come with me." + +Herr Selingman smiled a smile of triumph. It was the reward of geniality, +this! He was forming a new friendship! + +"I come with great pleasure," he decided, "only while you drink the tea, +I drink the coffee or some beer. I will see. I like best the beer," he +explained, turning sidewise to get out of the door, "but it is not the +best for my figure. I have a good conscience and a good digestion, and I +eat and drink much. But it is good to be happy." + +They made their way down to the restaurant car and seated themselves at a +table together. + +"You let me do the ordering," Herr Selingman insisted. "The man here, +perhaps, does not speak English. So! You will drink your tea with me, +sir. It is a great pleasure to me to entertain an Englishman. I make many +friends travelling. I like to make friends. I remember them all, and +sometimes we meet again. _Kellner_, some tea for the gentleman--English +tea with what you call bread and butter. So! And for me--" Selingman +paused for a moment and drew a deep sigh of resignation--"some coffee." + +"Very kind of you, I'm sure," Norgate murmured. + +Herr Selingman beamed. + +"It is a great pleasure," he said, "but many times I wonder why you +Englishmen, so clever, so world-conquering, do not take the trouble to +make yourselves with the languages of other nations familiar. It means +but a little study. Now you, perhaps, are in business?" + +"Not exactly," Norgate replied grimly. "To tell you the truth, at the +present moment I have no occupation." + +"No occupation!" + +Herr Selingman paused in the act of conveying a huge portion of rusk to +his mouth, and regarded his companion with wonder. + +"So!" he repeated. "No occupation! Well, that is what in Germany we know +nothing of. Every one must work, or must take up the army as a permanent +profession. You are, perhaps, one of those Englishmen of whom one reads, +who give up all their time to sport?" + +Norgate shook his head. + +"As a matter of fact," he said, "I have worked rather hard during the +last five or six years. It is only just recently that I have lost my +occupation." + +Herr Selingman's curiosity was almost childlike in its transparency, but +Norgate found himself unable to gratify it. In any case, after his +denial of any knowledge of the German language, he could scarcely lay +claim to even the most indirect connection with the diplomatic service. + +"Ah, well," Herr Selingman declared, "opportunities will come. You have +perhaps lost some post. Well, there are others. I should not, I think, be +far away from the truth, sir, if I were to surmise that you had held some +sort of an official position?" + +"Perhaps," Norgate assented. + +"That is interesting," Herr Selingman continued. "Now with the English of +commerce I talk often, and I know their views of me and my country. But +sometimes I have fancied that among your official classes those who are +ever so slightly employed in Government service, there is--I do not love +the word, but I must use it--a distrust of Germany and her peace-loving +propensities." + +"I have met many people," Norgate admitted, "who do not look upon Germany +as a lover of peace." + +"They should come and travel here," Herr Selingman insisted eagerly. +"Look out of the windows. What do you see? Factory chimneys, furnaces +everywhere. And further on--what? Well-tilled lands, clean, prosperous +villages, a happy, domestic people. I tell you that no man in the world +is so fond of his wife and children, his simple life, his simple +pleasures, as the German." + +"Very likely," Norgate assented, "but if you look out of the windows +continually you will also see that every station-master on the line wears +a military uniform, that every few miles you see barracks. These simple +peasants you speak of carry themselves with a different air from ours. I +don't know much about it, but I should call it the effect of their +military training. I know nothing about politics. Very likely yours is a +nation of peace-loving men. As a casual observer, I should call you more +a nation of soldiers." + +"But that," Herr Selingman explained earnestly, "is for defence only." + +"And your great standing army, your wonderful artillery, your Zeppelins +and your navy," Norgate asked, "are they for defence only?" + +"Absolutely and entirely," Herr Selingman declared, with a new and +ponderous gravity. "There is nothing the most warlike German desires more +fervently than to keep the peace. We are strong only because we desire +peace, peace under which our commerce may grow, and our wealth increase." + +"Well, it seems to me, then," Norgate observed, "that you've gone to a +great deal of expense and taken a great deal of trouble for nothing. I +don't know much about these things, as I told you before, but there is no +nation in the world who wants to attack Germany." + +Herr Selingman laid his finger upon his nose. + +"That may be," he said. "Yet there are many who look at us with envious +eyes. I am a good German. I know what it is that we want. We want peace, +and to gain peace we need strength, and to be strong we arm. That is +everything. It will never be Germany who clenches her fist, who draws +down the black clouds of war over Europe. It will never be Germany, I +tell you. Why, a war would ruin half of us. What of my crockery? I sell +it all in England. Believe me, young gentleman, war exists only in the +brains of your sensational novelists. It does not come into the world of +real purpose." + +"Well, it's very interesting to hear you say so," Norgate admitted. "I +wish I could wholly agree with you." + +Herr Selingman caught him by the sleeve. + +"You are just a little," he confided, "just a little suspicious, my young +friend, you in your little island. Perhaps it is because you live upon an +island. You do not expand. You have small thoughts. You are not great +like we in Germany, not broad, not deep. But we will talk later of these +things. I must tell you about our Kaiser." + +Norgate opened his lips and closed them again. + +"Presently," he muttered. "See you later on." + +He strolled to his coupé, tried in vain to read, walked up and down the +length of the train, smoked a cigarette, and returned to his compartment +to find Herr Selingman immersed in the study of many documents. + +"Records of my customers and my transactions," the latter announced +blandly. "I have a great fondness for detail. I know everything. I carry +with me particulars of everything. That is where we Germans are so +thorough. See, I place them now all in my bag." + +He did so and locked it with great care. + +"We go to dinner, is it not so?" he suggested. + +"I suppose we may as well," Norgate assented indifferently. + +They found places in the crowded restaurant car. The manufacturer of +crockery made a highly satisfactory and important meal. Norgate, on the +other hand, ate little. Herr Selingman shook his head. + +"My young English friend," he declared, "all is not well with you that +you turn away from good food. Come. Afterwards, over a cigar, you shall +tell me what troubles you have, and I will give you sound advice. I have +a very wide knowledge of life. I have a way of seeing the truth, and I +like to help people." + +Norgate shook his head. "I am afraid," he said, "that my case is +hopeless." + +"Presently we will see," Herr Selingman continued, rubbing the window +with his cuff. "We are arrived, I think, at Lesel. Here will board the +train one of my agents. He will travel with us to the next station. It is +my way of doing business, this. It is better than alighting and wasting a +day in a small town. You will not mind, perhaps," he added, "if I bring +him into the carriage and talk? You do not understand German, so it will +not weary you." + +"Certainly not," Norgate replied. "I shall probably drop off to sleep." + +"He will be in the train for less than an hour," Herr Selingman +explained, "but I have many competitors, and I like to talk in private. +In here some one might overhear." + +"How do you know that I am not an English crockery manufacturer?" +Norgate remarked. + +Herr Selingman laughed heartily. His stomach shook, and tears rolled +down his eyes. + +"That is good!" he exclaimed. "An English crockery manufacturer! No, I do +not think so! I cannot see you with your sleeves turned up, walking +amongst the kilns. I cannot see you, even, studying the designs for pots +and basins." + +"Well, bring your man in whenever you want to," Norgate invited, as he +turned away. "I can promise, at least, that I shall not understand what +you are saying, and that I won't sneak your designs." + +There was a queer little smile on Herr Selingman's broad face. It almost +seemed as though he had discovered some hidden though unsuspected meaning +in the other's words. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + + +Norgate dozed fitfully as the train sped on through the darkness. He woke +once to find Herr Selingman in close confabulation with his agent on the +opposite side of the compartment. They had a notebook before them and +several papers spread out upon the seat. Norgate, who was really weary, +closed his eyes again, and it seemed to him that he dreamed for a few +moments. Then suddenly he found himself wide-awake. Although he remained +motionless, the words which Selingman had spoken to his companion were +throbbing in his ears. + +"I do not doubt your industry, Meyer, but it is your discretion which is +sometimes at fault. These plans of the forts of Liège--they might as well +be published in a magazine. We had them when they were made. We have +received copies of every alteration. We know to a metre how far the guns +will carry, how many men are required to man them, what stocks of +ammunition are close at hand. Understand, therefore, my friend, that the +sight of these carefully traced plans, which you hint to have obtained at +the risk of your life, excites me not at all." + +The other man's reply was inaudible. In a moment or two Selingman +spoke again. + +"The information which I am lacking just at present in your sphere of +operations, is civilian in character. Take Ghent, for instance. What I +should like here, what our records need at present, is a list of the +principal inhabitants with their approximate income, and, summarising it +all, the rateable value of the city. With these bases it would be easy to +fix a reasonable indemnity." + +Norgate was wide-awake now. He was curled up on his seat, underneath his +rug, and though his eyelids had quivered with a momentary excitement, he +was careful to remain as near as possible motionless. Again Selingman's +agent spoke, this time more distinctly. + +"The young man opposite," he whispered. "He is English, surely?" + +"He is English indeed," Selingman admitted, "but he speaks no German. +That I have ascertained. Give me your best attention, Meyer. Here is +again an important commission for you. Within the next few days, hire an +automobile and visit the rising country eastwards from Antwerp. At some +spot between six and eight miles from the city, on a slight incline and +commanding the River Scheldt, we desire to purchase an acre of land for +the erection of a factory. You can say that we have purchased the +concession for making an American safety razor. The land is wanted, and +urgently. See to this yourself and send plans and price to me in London. +On my return I shall call and inspect the sites and close the bargain." + +"And the Antwerp forts?" + +The other pursed his lips. + +"Pooh! Was it not the glorious firm of Krupp who fitted the guns there? +Do you think the men who undertook that task were idle? I tell you that +our plans of the Antwerp fortifications are more carefully worked out in +detail than the plans held by the Belgians themselves. Here is good work +for you to do, friend Meyer. That and the particulars from Brussels which +you know of, will keep you busy until we meet again." + +Herr Selingman began to collect his papers, but was suddenly thrown back +into his seat by the rocking of the train, which came, a few moments +later, to a standstill. The sound of the opening of windows from the +other side of the corridor was heard all down the train. Selingman and +his companion followed the general example, opening the door of the +carriage and the window opposite. A draught blew through the compartment. +One of the small folded slips of paper from Selingman's pocket-book +fluttered along the seat. It came within reach of Norgate. Cautiously he +stretched out his fingers and gripped it. In a moment it was in his +pocket. He sat up in his place. Selingman had turned around. + +"Anything the matter?" Norgate asked sleepily. + +"Not that one can gather," Selingman replied. "You have slept well. I am +glad that our conversation has not disturbed you. This is my agent from +Brussels--Mr. Meyer. He sells our crockery in that city--not so much as +he should sell, perhaps, but still he does his best." + +Mr. Meyer was a dark little man who wore gold-rimmed spectacles, neat +clothes, and a timid smile. Norgate nodded to him good-humouredly. + +"You should get Herr Selingman to come oftener and help you," he +remarked, yawning. "I can imagine that he would be able to sell anything +he tried to." + +"It is what I often tell him, sir," Mr. Meyer replied, "but he is too +fond of the English trade." + +"English money is no better than Belgian," Herr Selingman declared, "but +there is more of it. Let us go round to the restaurant car and drink a +bottle of wine together while the beds are prepared." + +"Certainly," Norgate assented, stretching himself. "By-the-by, you +had better look after your papers there, Herr Selingman. Just as I +woke up I saw a small slip fluttering along the seat. You made a most +infernal draught by opening that door, and I almost fancy it went out +of the window." + +Herr Selingman's face became suddenly grave. He went through the papers +one by one, and finally locked them up in his bag. + +"Nothing missing, I hope?" Norgate asked. + +Herr Selingman's face was troubled. + +"I am not sure," he said. "It is my belief that I had with me here a +list of my agents in England. I cannot find it. In a sense it is +unimportant, yet if a rival firm should obtain possession of it, there +might be trouble." + +Norgate looked out into the night and smiled. + +"Considering that it is blowing half a hurricane and commencing to rain," +he remarked, "the slip of paper which I saw blowing about will be of no +use to any one when it is picked up." + +They called the attendant and ordered him to prepare the sleeping +berths. Then they made their way down to the buffet car, and Herr +Selingman ordered a bottle of wine. + +"We will drink," he proposed, "to our three countries. In our way we +represent, I think, the industrial forces of the world--Belgium, England, +and Germany. We are the three countries who stand for commerce and peace. +We will drink prosperity to ourselves and to each other." + +Norgate threw off, with apparent effort, his sleepiness. + +"What you have said about our three countries is very true," he remarked. +"Perhaps as you, Mr. Meyer, are a Belgian, and you, Mr. Selingman, know +Belgium well and have connections with it, you can tell me one thing +which has always puzzled me. Why is it that Belgium, which is, as you +say, a commercial and peace-loving country, whose neutrality is +absolutely guaranteed by three of the greatest Powers in Europe, should +find it necessary to have spent such large sums upon fortifications?" + +"In which direction do you mean?" Selingman asked, his eyes narrowing a +little as he looked across at Norgate. + +"The forts of Liege and Namur," Norgate replied, "and Antwerp. I know +nothing more about it than I gathered from an article which I read not +long ago in a magazine. I had always looked upon Belgium as being outside +the pale of possible warfare, yet according to this article it seems to +be bristling to the teeth with armaments." + +Herr Selingman cleared his throat. + +"I will tell you the reason," he said. "You have come to the right man +to know. I am a civilian, but there are few things in connection with my +country which I do not understand. Mr. Meyer here, who is a citizen of +Brussels, will bear me out. It is the book of a clever, intelligent, but +misguided German writer which has been responsible for Belgium's +unrest--Bernhardi's _Germany and the Next War_--that and articles of a +similar tenor which preceded it." + +"Never read any of them," Norgate remarked. + +"It was erroneously supposed," Selingman continued, "that Bernhardi +represented the dominant military opinion of Germany when he wrote that +if Germany ever again invaded France, it would be, notwithstanding her +guarantees of neutrality, through Belgium. Bernhardi was a clever writer, +but he was a soldier, and soldiers do not understand the world policy of +a great nation such as Germany. Germany will make no war upon any one, +save commercially. She will never again invade France except under the +bitterest provocation, and if ever she should be driven to defend +herself, it will assuredly not be at the expense of her broken pledges. +The forts of Belgium might just as well be converted into apple-orchards. +They stand there to-day as the proof of a certain lack of faith in +Germany on the part of Belgium, ministered to by that King of the +Jingoes, as you would say in English, Bernhardi. How often it is that a +nation suffers most from her own patriots!" + +"Herr Selingman has expressed the situation admirably," Mr. Meyer +declared approvingly. + +"Very interesting, I'm sure," Norgate murmured. "There is one thing +about you foreigners," he added, with an envious sigh. "The way you all +speak the languages of other countries is wonderful. Are you a Belgian, +Mr. Meyer?" + +"Half Belgian and half French." + +"But you speak English almost without accent," Norgate remarked. + +"In commerce," Herr Selingman insisted, "that is necessary. All my agents +speak four languages." + +"You deserve to capture our trade," Norgate sighed. + +"To a certain extent, my young friend," Selingman declared, "we mean to +do it. We are doing it. And yet there is enough for us both. There is +trade enough for your millions and for mine. So long as Germany and +England remain friends, they can divide the commerce of the world between +them. It is our greatest happiness, we who have a business relying upon +the good-will of the two nations, to think that year by year the clouds +of discord are rolling away from between us. Young sir, as a German +citizen, I will drink a toast with you, an English one. I drink to +everlasting peace between my country and yours!" + +Norgate drained his glass. Selingman threw back his head as he followed +suit, and smacked his lips appreciatively. + +"And now," the former remarked, rising to his feet, "I think I'll go and +turn in. I dare say you two still have some business to talk about, +especially if Mr. Meyer is leaving us shortly." + +Norgate made his way back to his compartment, undressed leisurely and +climbed into the upper bunk. For an hour or two he indulged in the fitful +slumber usually engendered by night travelling. At the frontier he sat up +and answered the stereotyped questions. Herr Selingman, in sky-blue +pyjamas, and with face looking more beaming and florid than ever, poked +his head cheerfully out of the lower bunk. + +"Awake?" he enquired. + +"Very much so," Norgate yawned. + +"I have a surprise," Herr Selingman announced. "Wait." + +Almost as he spoke, an attendant arrived from the buffet car with some +soda-water. Herr Selingman's head vanished for a moment or two. When he +reappeared, he held two glasses in his hand. + +"A whisky soda made in real English fashion," he proclaimed triumphantly. +"A good nightcap, is it not? Now we are off again." + +Norgate held out his hand for the tumbler. + +"Awfully good of you," he murmured. + +"I myself," Selingman continued, seated on the edge of the bunk, with his +legs far apart to steady himself, "I myself enjoy a whisky soda. It will +be indeed a nightcap, so here goes." + +He drained his glass and set it down. Norgate followed suit. Selingman's +hand came up for the tumbler and Norgate was conscious of a curious +mixture of sensations which he had once experienced before in the +dentist's chair. He could see Selingman distinctly, and he fancied that +he was watching him closely, but the rest of the carriage had become +chaos. The sound of the locomotive was beating hard upon the drums of +his ears. His head fell back. + +It was broad daylight when he awoke. Selingman, fully dressed and +looking more beaming than ever, was seated upon a ridiculously +inadequate camp-stool upon the floor, smoking a cigarette. Norgate +stared at him stupidly. + +"My young friend," Herr Selingman declared impressively, "if there is one +thing in the world I envy you, it is that capacity for sleep. You all +have it, you English. Your heads touch the pillow, and off you go. Do you +know that the man is waiting for you to take your coffee?" + +Norgate lay quite still for several moments. Beyond a slight headache, he +was feeling as usual. He leaned over the side of the bunk. + +"How many whiskies and soda did I have last night?" he asked. + +Herr Selingman smiled. + +"But one only," he announced. "There was only one to be had. I found a +little whisky in my flask. I remembered that I had an English travelling +companion, and I sent for some soda-water. You drank yours, and you did +sleep. I go now and sit in the corridor while you dress." + +Norgate swung round in his bunk and slipped to the floor. + +"Jolly good of you," he muttered sleepily, "but it was very strong +whisky." + + + + +CHAPTER V + + +There was a babel of voices as the long train came to a stand-still in +the harbour station at Ostend. Selingman, with characteristic +forcefulness, pushed his way down the narrow corridor, driving before him +passengers of less weight and pertinacity, until finally he descended on +to the platform itself. Norgate, who had followed meekly in his wake, +stood listening for a moment to the confused stream of explanations. He +understood well enough what had happened, but with Selingman at his elbow +he assumed an air of non-comprehension. + +"It is extraordinary!" the latter exclaimed. "Never do I choose this +route but I am visited with some mishap. You hear what has happened?" + +"Fellow's trying to tell me," Norgate replied, "but his Flemish is worse +to understand than German." + +"The steamer," Selingman announced, "has met with an accident entering +the harbour. There will be a delay of at least six hours--possibly more. +It is most annoying. My appointments in London have been fixed for days." + +"Bad luck!" Norgate murmured. + +"You do not seem much distressed." + +"Why should I be? I really came this way because I was not sure whether +I would not stay here for a few days." + +"That is all very well for you," Selingman declared, as they followed +their porters into the shed. "For me, I am a man of affairs. It is +different. My business goes by clockwork. All is regulated by rule, with +precision, with punctuality. Now I shall be many hours behind my +schedule. I shall be compelled to alter my appointments--I, who pride +myself always upon altering nothing. But behold! One must make the best +of things. What a sunshine! What a sea! We shall meet, without a doubt, +upon the Plage. I have friends here. I must seek them. Au revoir, my +young travelling companion. To the good fortune!" + +They drifted apart, and Norgate, having made arrangements about his +luggage, strolled through the town and on to the promenade. It was early +for the full season at Ostend, but the sands were already crowded with an +immense throng of children and holiday-makers. The hotels were all open, +and streams of people were passing back and forth along the front, +Norgate, who had no wish to meet acquaintances, passed the first period +of his enforced wait a little wearily. He took a taxicab and drove as far +as Knocke. Here he strolled across the links and threw himself down +finally amongst a little wave of sandy hillocks close to the sea. The +silence, and some remains of the sleepiness of the previous night, soon +began to have their natural effect. He closed his eyes and began to doze. +When he awoke, curiously enough, it was a familiar voice which first fell +upon his ears. He turned his head cautiously. Seated not a dozen yards +away from him was a tall, thin man with a bag of golf clubs by his side. +He was listening with an air of engrossed attention to his companion's +impressive remarks. Norgate, raising himself upon his elbow, no longer +had any doubts. The man stretched upon his back on the sand, partly +hidden from sight by a little grass-grown undulation, was his late +travelling companion. + +"You do well, my dear Marquis, believe me!" the latter exclaimed. +"Property in Belgium is valuable to-day. Take my advice. Sell. There are +so many places where one may live, where the climate is better for a man +of your constitution." + +"That is all very well," his companion replied querulously, "but remember +that Belgium, after all, is my country. My château and estates came to me +by inheritance. Notwithstanding the frequent intermarriages of my family +with the aristocracy of your country, I am still a Belgian." + +"Ah! but, my dear friend," Selingman protested, "you are more than a +Belgian, more than a man of local nationality. You are a citizen of the +world of intelligence. You are able to see the truth. The days are coming +when small states may exist no longer without the all-protecting arm of a +more powerful country. I say no more than this. The position of Belgium +is artificial. Of her own will, or of necessity, she must soon become +merged in the onward flow of mightier nations." + +"What about Holland, then?" + +"Holland, too," Selingman continued, "knows the truth. She knows very +well that the limit of her days as an independent kingdom is almost +reached. The Power which has absorbed the states of Prussia into one +mighty empire, pauses only to take breath. There are many signs--" + +"But, my worthy friend," the other man interrupted irritably, "you must +take into consideration the fact that Belgium is in a different position. +Our existence as a separate kingdom might certainly be threatened by +Germany, but all that has been foreseen. Our neutrality is guaranteed. +Your country has pledged its honour to maintain it, side by side with +France and England. What have we to fear, then?" + +"You have to fear, Marquis," Selingman replied ponderously, "the +inevitable laws which direct the progress of nations. Treaties solemnly +subscribed to in one generation become worthless as time passes and +conditions change." + +"But I do not understand you there!" the other man exclaimed. "What you +say sounds to me like a reflection upon the honour of your country. Do +you mean to insinuate that she would possibly--that she would ever for a +moment contemplate breaking her pledged and sealed word?" + +"My friend," Selingman pronounced drily, "the path of honour and glory, +the onward progress of a mighty, struggling nation, carrying in its hand +culture and civilisation, might demand even such a sacrifice. Germany +recognises, is profoundly imbued with the splendour of her own ideals, +the matchlessness of her own culture. She feels justified in spreading +herself out wherever she can find an outlet--at any cost, mind, because +the end must be good." + +There was a moment's silence. Then the tall man stood upright. + +"If you came out to find me, my friend Selingman, to bring me this +warning, I suppose I should consider myself your debtor. As a matter of +fact, I do not. You have inspired me with nameless misgivings. Your voice +sounds in my ears like the voice of an ugly fate. I am, as you have often +reminded me, half German, and I have shown my friendship for Germany many +times. Unlike most of the aristocracy of my country, I look more often +northwards than towards the south. But I tell you frankly that there are +limits to my Germanism. I will play no more golf. I will walk with you to +the club-house." + +"All that I have to say," Selingman went on, "is not yet said. This +opportunity of meeting you is too precious to be wasted. Come. As we walk +there are certain questions I wish to put to you." + +They passed within a few feet of where Norgate was lying. He closed his +eyes and held his breath. It was not until their figures were almost +specks in the distance that he rose cautiously to his feet. He made his +way back to the club-house by another angle, gained his taxicab +unobserved, and drove back to Ostend. + + * * * * * + +Towards evening Norgate strolled into one of the cosmopolitan bars at the +back of the Casino. The first person he saw as he handed over his hat to +a waiter, was Selingman, spread out upon a cushioned seat with a young +lady upon either side of him. He at once summoned Norgate to his table. + +"An _apéritif_," he insisted. "Come, you must not refuse me. In two hours +we start. We tear ourselves away from this wonderful atmosphere. In +atmosphere, mademoiselle," he added, bowing to the right and the left, +"all is included." + +"It is not," Norgate admitted, "an invitation to be disregarded. On the +other hand, I have already an appetite." + +Selingman thundered out an order. + +"Here," he remarked, "we dwell for a few brief moments in Bohemia. I do +not introduce you. You sit down and join us. You are one of us. That you +speak only English counts for nothing. Mademoiselle Alice here is +American. Now tell us at once, how have you spent this afternoon? You +have bathed, perhaps, or walked upon the sands?" + +Norgate was on the point of speaking of his excursion to Knocke but was +conscious of Selingman's curiously intent gaze. The spirit of duplicity +seemed to grow upon him. + +"I walked for a little way," he said. "Afterwards I lay upon the sands +and slept. When I found that the steamer was still further delayed, I +had a bath. That was half an hour ago. I asked a man whom I met on the +promenade where one might dine in travelling clothes, lightly but +well, and he sent me here--the Bar de Londres--and here, for my good +fortune, I am." + +"It is a pity that monsieur does not speak French," one of Selingman's +companions murmured. + +"But, mademoiselle," Norgate protested, "I have spoken French all my +life. Herr Selingman here has misunderstood me. It is German of which I +am ignorant." + +The young lady, who immediately introduced herself as Mademoiselle +Henriette, passed her arm through Selingman's. + +"We dine here all together, my friend, is it not so?" she begged. "He +will not be in the way, and for myself, I am _triste_. You talk all the +time to Mademoiselle l'Américaine, perhaps because she is the friend of +some one in whom you are interested. But for me, it is dull. Monsieur +l'Anglais shall talk with me, and you may hear all the secrets that Alice +has to tell. We," she murmured, looking up at Norgate, "will speak of +other things, is it not so?" + +For a moment Selingman hesitated. Norgate would have moved on with a +little farewell nod, but Selingman's companions were insistent. + +"It shall be a _partie carrée_," they both declared, almost in unison. + +"You need have no fear," Mademoiselle Henriette continued. "I will talk +all the time to monsieur. He shall tell me his name, and we shall be +very great friends. I am not interested in the things of which they +talk, those others. You shall tell me of London, monsieur, and how you +live there." + +"Join us, by all means," Selingman invited. + +"On condition that you dine with me," Norgate insisted, as he took +up the menu. + +"Impossible!" Selingman declared firmly. + +"Oh! it matters nothing," Mademoiselle Henriette exclaimed, "so long +as we dine." + +"So long," Mademoiselle Alice intervened, "as we have this brief glimpse +of Mr. Selingman, let us make the best of it. We see him only because of +a _contretemps_. I think we must be very nice to him and persuade him to +take us to London to-night." + +Selingman's shake of the head was final. + +"Dear young ladies," he said, "it was delightful to find you here. I came +upon the chance, I admit, but who in Ostend would not be here between six +and eight? We dine, we walk down to the quay, and if you will, you shall +wave your hands and wish us _bon voyage,_ but London just now is +_triste_. It is here you may live the life the _bon Dieu_ sends, where +the sun shines all the time and the sea laps the sands like a great blue +lake, and you, mademoiselle, can wear those wonderful costumes and charm +all hearts. There is nothing like that for you in London." + +They ordered dinner and walked afterwards down to the quay. Mademoiselle +Henriette lingered behind with Norgate. + +"Let them go on," she whispered. "They have much to talk about. It is but +a short distance, and your steamer will not start before ten. We can walk +slowly and listen to the music. You are not in a hurry, monsieur, to +depart? Your stay here is too short already." + +Norgate's reply, although gallant enough, was a little vague. He was +watching Selingman with his companion. They were talking together with +undoubted seriousness. + +"Who is Mr. Selingman?" he enquired. "I know him only as a travelling +companion." + +Mademoiselle Henriette extended her hands. She shrugged her little +shoulders and looked with wide-open eyes up into her companion's +grave face. + +"But who, indeed, can answer that question?" she exclaimed. "Twice he has +been here for flying visits. Once Alice has been to see him in Berlin. He +is, I believe, a very wealthy manufacturer there. He crosses often to +England. He has money, and he is always gay." + +"And Mademoiselle Alice?" + +"Who knows?" was the somewhat pointless reply. "She came from America. +She arrived here this season with Monsieur le General." + +"What General?" Norgate asked. "A Belgian?" + +"But no," his companion corrected. "All the world knows that Alice is the +friend of General le Foys, chief of the staff in Paris. He is a very +great soldier. He spends eleven months working and one month here." + +"And she is also," Norgate observed meditatively, "the friend of Herr +Selingman. Tell me, mademoiselle, what do you suppose those two are +talking of now? See how close their heads are together. I don't think +that Herr Selingman is a Don Juan." + +"They speak, perhaps, of serious matters," his companion surmised, "but +who can tell? Besides, is it for us to waste our few moments wondering? +You will come back to Ostend, monsieur?" + +Norgate looked back at the streaming curve of lights flashing across the +dark waters. + +"One never knows," he answered. + +"That is what Monsieur Selingman himself says," she remarked, with a +little sigh. "'Enjoy your Ostend to-day, my little ones,' he said, when +he first met us this evening. 'One never knows how long these days will +last.' So, monsieur, we must indeed part here?" + +They had all come to a standstill at the gangway of the steamer. +Selingman had apparently finished his conversation with his companion. He +hurried Norgate off, and they waved their hands from the deck as a few +minutes later the steamer glided away. + +"A most delightful interlude," Selingman declared. "I have thoroughly +enjoyed these few hours. I trust, that every time this steamer meets with +a little accident, it will be at this time of the year and when I am on +my way to England." + +"You seem to have friends everywhere," Norgate observed, as he lit a +cigar. + +"Young ladies, yes," Selingman admitted. "It chanced that they were both +well-known to me. But who else?" + +Norgate made no reply. He felt that his companion was watching him. + +"It is something," he remarked, "to find charming young ladies in a +strange place to dine with one." + +Selingman smiled broadly. + +"If we travelled together often, my young friend," he said, "you would +discover that I have friends everywhere. If I have nothing else to do, I +go out and make a friend. Then, when I revisit that place, it loses its +coldness. There is some one there to welcome me, some one who is glad to +see me again. Look steadily in that direction, a few points to the left +of the bows. In two hours' time you will see the lights of your country. +I have friends there, too, who will welcome me. Meantime, I go below to +sleep. You have a cabin?" + +Norgate shook his head. + +"I shall doze on deck for a little time," he said. "It is too wonderful a +night to go below." + +"It is well for me that it is calm," Selingman acknowledged. "I do not +love the sea. Shall we part for a little time? If we meet not at Dover, +then in London, my young friend. London is the greatest city in the +world, but it is the smallest place in Europe. One cannot move in the +places one knows of without meeting one's friends." + +"Until we meet in London, then," Norgate observed, as he settled himself +down in his chair. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + + +Norgate spent an utterly fruitless morning on the day after his arrival +in London. After a lengthy but entirely unsatisfactory visit to the +Foreign Office, he presented himself soon after midday at Scotland Yard. + +"I should like," he announced, "to see the Chief Commissioner of +the Police." + +The official to whom he addressed his enquiry eyed him tolerantly. + +"Have you, by any chance, an appointment?" he asked. + +"None," Norgate admitted. "I only arrived from the Continent this +morning." + +The policeman shook his head slowly. + +"It is quite impossible, sir," he said, "to see Sir Philip without an +appointment. Your best course would be to write and state your business, +and his secretary will then fix a time for you to call." + +"Very much obliged to you, I'm sure," Norgate replied. "However, my +business is urgent, and if I can't see Sir Philip Morse, I will see some +one else in authority." + +Norgate was regaled with a copy of _The Times_ and a seat in a +barely-furnished waiting-room. In about twenty minutes he was told that a +Mr. Tyritt would see him, and was promptly shown into the presence of +that gentleman. Mr. Tyritt was a burly and black-bearded person of +something more than middle-age. He glanced down at Norgate's card in a +somewhat puzzled manner and motioned him to a seat. + +"What can I do for you, sir?" he enquired. "Sir Philip is very much +engaged for the next few days, but perhaps you can tell me your +business?" + +"I have just arrived from Berlin," Norgate explained. "Would you care to +possess a complete list of German spies in this country?" + +Mr. Tyritt's face was not one capable of showing the most profound +emotion. Nevertheless, he seemed a little taken aback. + +"A list of German spies?" he repeated. "Dear me, that sounds very +interesting!" + +He took up Norgate's card and glanced at it. The action was, in its way, +significant. + +"You probably don't know who I am," Norgate continued. "I have been in +the Diplomatic Service for eight years. Until a few days ago, I was +attached to the Embassy in Berlin." + +Mr. Tyritt was somewhat impressed by the statement. + +"Have you any objection to telling me how you became possessed of this +information?" + +"None whatever," was the prompt reply. "You shall hear the whole story." + +Norgate told him, as briefly as possible, of his meeting with Selingman, +their conversation, and the subsequent happenings, including the +interview which he had overheard on the golf links at Knocke. When he had +finished, there was a brief silence. + +"Sounds rather like a page out of a novel, doesn't it, Mr. Norgate?" the +police official remarked at last. + +"It may," Norgate assented drily. "I can't help what it sounds like. It +happens to be the exact truth." + +"I do not for a moment doubt it," the other declared politely. "I +believe, indeed, that there are a large number of Germans working in this +country who are continually collecting and forwarding to Berlin +commercial and political reports. Speaking on behalf of my department, +however, Mr. Norgate," he went on, "this is briefly our position. In the +neighbourhood of our naval bases, our dockyards, our military aeroplane +sheds, and in other directions which I need not specify, we keep the most +scrupulous and exacting watch. We even, as of course you are aware, +employ decoy spies ourselves, who work in conjunction with our friends at +Whitehall. Our system is a rigorous one and our supervision of it +unceasing. But--and this is a big 'but', Mr. Norgate--in other +directions--so far as regards the country generally, that is to say--we +do not take the subject of German spies seriously. I may almost say that +we have no anxiety concerning their capacity for mischief." + +"Those are the views of your department?" Norgate asked. + +"So far as I may be said to represent it, they are," Mr. Tyritt assented. +"I will venture to say that there are many thousands of letters a year +which leave this country, addressed to Germany, purporting to contain +information of the most important nature, which might just as well be +published in the newspapers. We ought to know, because at different times +we have opened a good many of them." + +"Forgive me if I press this point," Norgate begged. "Do you consider that +because a vast amount of useless information is naturally sent, that fact +lessens the danger as a whole? If only one letter in a thousand contains +vital information, isn't that sufficient to raise the subject to a more +serious level?" + +Mr. Tyritt crossed his legs. His tone still indicated the slight +tolerance of the man convinced beforehand of the soundness of his +position. + +"For the last twelve years," he announced,--"ever since I came into +office, in fact,--this bogey of German spies has been costing the nation +something like fifty thousand a year. It is only lately that we have come +to take that broader view of the situation which I am endeavouring +to--to--may I say enunciate? Germans over in this country, especially +those in comparatively menial positions, such as barbers and waiters, are +necessary to us industrially. So long as they earn their living +reputably, conform to our laws, and pay our taxes, they are welcome here. +We do not wish to unnecessarily disturb them. We wish instead to offer +them the full protection of the country in which they have chosen to do +productive work." + +"Very interesting," Norgate remarked. "I have heard this point of view +before. Once I thought it common sense. To-day I think it academic +piffle. If we leave the Germans engaged in the inland towns alone for a +moment, do you realise, I wonder, that there isn't any seaport in England +that hasn't its sprinkling of Germans engaged in the occupations of which +you speak?" + +"And in a general way," Mr. Tyritt assented, smiling, "they are +perfectly welcome to write home to their friends and relations each week +and tell them everything they see happening about them, everything they +know about us." + +Norgate rose reluctantly to his feet. + +"I won't trouble you any longer," he decided. "I presume that if I make a +few investigations on my own account, and bring you absolute proof that +any one of these people whose names are upon my list are in traitorous +communication with Germany, you will view the matter differently?" + +"Without a doubt," Mr. Tyritt promised. "Is that your list? Will you +allow me to glance through it?" + +"I brought it here to leave in your hands," Norgate replied, passing it +over. "Your attitude, however, seems to render that course useless." + +Mr. Tyritt adjusted his eyeglasses and glanced benevolently at the +document. A sharp ejaculation broke from his lips. As his eyes wandered +downwards, his first expression of incredulity gave way to one of +suppressed amusement. + +"Why, Mr. Norgate," he exclaimed, as he laid it down, "do you mean to +seriously accuse these people of being engaged in any sort of league +against us?" + +"Most certainly I do," Norgate insisted. + +"But the thing is ridiculous!" Mr. Tyritt declared. "There are names +here of princes, of bankers, of society women, many of them wholly and +entirely English, some of them household names. You expect me to believe +that these people are all linked together in what amounts to a conspiracy +to further the cause of Germany at the expense of the country in which +they live, to which they belong?" + +Norgate picked up his hat. + +"I expect you to believe nothing, Mr. Tyritt," he said drily. "Sorry I +troubled you." + +"Not at all," Mr. Tyritt protested, the slight irritation passing from +his manner. "Such a visit as yours is an agreeable break in my routine +work. I feel as though I might be a character in a great modern romance. +The names of your amateur criminals are still tingling in my memory." + +Norgate turned back from the door. + +"Remember them, if you can, Mr. Tyritt," he advised, "You may have cause +to, some day." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + + +Norgate sat, the following afternoon, upon the leather-stuffed fender of +a fashionable mixed bridge club in the neighbourhood of Berkeley Square, +exchanging greetings with such of the members as were disposed to find +time for social amenities. A smartly-dressed woman of dark complexion and +slightly foreign appearance, who had just cut out of a rubber, came over +and seated herself by his side. She took a cigarette from her case and +accepted a match from Norgate. + +"So you are really back again!" she murmured. "It scarcely seems +possible." + +"I am just beginning to realise it myself," he replied. "You haven't +altered, Bertha." + +"My dear man," she protested, "you did not expect me to age in a month, +did you? It can scarcely be more than that since you left for Berlin. Are +you not back again sooner than you expected?" + +Norgate nodded. + +"Very much sooner," he admitted. "I came in for some unexpected +leave, which I haven't the slightest intention of spending abroad, so +here I am." + +"Not, apparently, in love with Berlin," the lady, whose name was Mrs. +Paston Benedek, remarked. + +Norgate's air of complete candour was very well assumed. + +"I shall never be a success as a diplomatist," he confessed. "When I +dislike a place or a person, every one knows it. I hated Berlin. I hate +the thought of going back again." + +The woman by his side smiled enigmatically. + +"Perhaps," she murmured, "you may get an exchange." + +"Perhaps," Norgate assented. "Meanwhile, even a month away from London +seems to have brought a fresh set of people here. Who is the tall, thin +young man with the sunburnt face? He seems familiar, somehow, but I can't +place him." + +"He is a sailor," she told him. "Captain Baring his name is." + +"Friend of yours?" + +She looked at him sidewise. + +"Why do you ask?" + +"Jealousy," Norgate sighed, "makes one observant. You were lunching with +him in the Carlton Grill. You came in with him to the club this +afternoon." + +"Sherlock Holmes!" she murmured. "There are other men in the club with +whom I lunch--even dine." + +Norgate glanced across the room. Baring was playing bridge at a table +close at hand, but his attention seemed to be abstracted. He looked often +towards where Mrs. Benedek sat. There was a restlessness about his manner +scarcely in keeping with the rest of his appearance. + +"One misses a great deal," Norgate regretted, "through being only an +occasional visitor here." + +"As, for instance?" + +"The privilege of being one of those fortunate few." + +She laughed at him. Her eyes were full of challenge. She leaned a little +closer and whispered in his ear: "There is still a vacant place." + +"For to-night or to-morrow?" he asked eagerly. + +"For to-morrow," she replied. "You may telephone--3702 Mayfair--at +ten o'clock." + +He scribbled down the number. Then he put his pocket-book away +with a sigh. + +"I'm afraid you are treating that poor sailor-man badly," he declared. + +"Sometimes," she confided, "he bores me. He is so very much in earnest. +Tell me about Berlin and your work there?" + +"I didn't take to Germany," Norgate confessed, "and Germany didn't take +to me. Between ourselves--I shouldn't like another soul in the club to +know it--I think it is very doubtful if I go back there." + +"That little _contretemps_ with the Prince," she murmured under +her breath. + +He stiffened at once. + +"But how do you know of it?" + +She bit her lip. For a moment a frown of annoyance clouded her face. She +had said more than she intended. + +"I have correspondents in Berlin," she explained. "They tell me of +everything. I have a friend, in fact, who was in the restaurant +that night." + +"What a coincidence!" he exclaimed. + +She nodded and selected a fresh cigarette. + +"Isn't it! But that table is up. I promised to cut in there. Captain +Baring likes me to play at the same table, and he is here for such a +short time that one tries to be kind. It is indeed kindness," she added, +taking up her gold purse and belongings, "for he plays so badly." + +She moved towards the table. It happened to be Baring who cut out, and he +and Norgate drifted together. They exchanged a few remarks. + +"I met you at Marseilles once," Norgate reminded him. "You were with the +Mediterranean Squadron, commanding the _Leicester_, I believe." + +"Thought I'd seen you somewhere before," was the prompt acknowledgment. +"You're in the Diplomatic Service, aren't you?" + +Norgate admitted the fact and suggested a drink. The two men settled down +to exchange confidences over a whisky and soda. Baring looked around him +with some disapprobation. + +"I can't really stick this place," he asserted. "If it weren't for--for +some of the people here, I'd never come inside the doors. It's a rotten +way of spending one's time. You play, I suppose?" + +"Oh, yes, I play," Norgate admitted, "but I rather agree with you. How +wonderfully well Mrs. Benedek is looking, isn't she!" + +Baring withdrew his admiring eyes from her vicinity. + +"Prettiest and smartest woman in London," he declared. + +"By-the-by, is she English?" Norgate asked. + +"A mixture of French, Italian, and German, I believe," Baring replied. +"Her husband is Benedek the painter, you know." + +"I've heard of him," Norgate assented. "What are you doing now?" + +"I've had a job up in town for a week or so, at the Admiralty," Baring +explained. "We are examining the plans of a new--but you wouldn't be +interested in that." + +"I'm interested in anything naval," Norgate assured him. + +"In any case, it isn't my job to talk about it," Baring continued +apologetically. "We've just got a lot of fresh regulations out. Any one +would think we were going to war to-morrow." + +"I suppose war isn't such an impossible event," Norgate remarked. "They +all say that the Germans are dying to have a go at you fellows." + +Baring grinned. + +"They wouldn't have a dog's chance," he declared. "That's the only +drawback of having so strong a navy. We don't stand any chance of +getting a fight." + +"You'll have all you can do to keep up, judging by the way they talk in +Germany," Norgate observed. + +"Are you just home from there?" + +Norgate nodded. "I am at the Embassy in Berlin, or rather I have been," +he replied. "I am just home on six months' leave." + +"And that's your real impression?" Baring enquired eagerly. "You really +think that they mean to have a go at us?" + +"I think there'll be a war soon," Norgate confessed. "It probably won't +commence at sea, but you'll have to do your little lot, without a doubt." + +Baring gazed across the room. There was a hard light in his eyes. + +"Sounds beastly, I suppose," he muttered, "but I wish to God it would +come! A war would give us all a shaking up--put us in our right places. +We all seem to go on drifting any way now. The Services are all right +when there's a bit of a scrap going sometimes, but there's a nasty sort +of feeling of dry rot about them, when year after year all your +preparations end in the smoke of a sham fight. Now I am on this beastly +land job--but there, I mustn't bother you with my grumblings." + +"I am interested," Norgate assured him. "Did you say you were considering +something new?" + +Baring nodded. + +"Plans of a new submarine," he confided. "There's no harm in telling you +as much as that." + +Mrs. Benedek, who was dummy for the moment, strolled over to them. + +"I am not sure," she murmured, "whether I like the expression you have +brought back from Germany with you, Mr. Norgate." + +Norgate smiled. "Have I really acquired the correct diplomatic air?" he +asked. "I can assure you that it is an accident--or perhaps I am +imitative." + +"You have acquired," she complained, "an air of unnatural reserve. You +seem as though you had found some problem in life so weighty that you +could not lose sight of it even for a moment. Ah!" + +The glass-topped door had been flung wide open with an unusual flourish. +A barely perceptible start escaped Norgate. It was indeed an unexpected +appearance, this! Dressed with a perfect regard to the latest London +fashion, with his hair smoothly brushed and a pearl pin in his black +satin tie, Herr Selingman stood upon the threshold, beaming upon them. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + + +Selingman had the air of a man who returns after a long absence to some +familiar spot where he expects to find friends and where his welcome is +assured. Mrs. Paston Benedek slipped from her place upon the cushioned +fender and held out both her hands. + +"Ah, it is really you!" she exclaimed. "Welcome, dear friend! For days I +have wondered what it was in this place which one missed all the time. +Now I know." + +Selingman took the little outstretched hands and raised them to his lips. + +"Dear lady," he assured her, "you repay me in one moment for all the +weariness of my exile." + +She turned towards her companion. + +"Captain Baring," she begged, "please ring the bell. Mr. Selingman and I +always drink a toast together the moment he first arrives to pay us one +of his too rare visits. Thank you! You know Captain Baring, don't you, +Mr. Selingman? This is another friend of mine whom I think that you have +not met--Mr. Francis Norgate, Mr. Selingman. Mr. Norgate has just arrived +from Berlin, too." + +For a single moment the newcomer seemed to lose his Cheeryble-like +expression. The glance which he flashed upon Norgate contained other +elements besides those of polite pleasure. He was himself again, +however, almost instantly. He grasped his new acquaintance by the hand. + +"Mr. Norgate and I are already old friends," he insisted. "We occupied +the same coupe coming from Berlin and drank a bottle of wine together in +the buffet." + +Mrs. Benedek threw back her head and laughed, a familiar gesture which +her enemies declared was in some way associated with the dazzling +whiteness of her teeth. + +"And now," she exclaimed, "you find that you belong to the same bridge +club. What a coincidence!" + +"It is rather surprising, I must admit," Norgate assented. "Mr. Selingman +and I discussed many things last night, but we did not speak of bridge. +In fact, from the tone of our conversation, I should have imagined that +cards were an amusement which scarcely entered into Mr. Selingman's +scheme of life." + +"One must have one's distractions," Selingman protested. "I confess that +auction bridge, as it is played over here, is the one game in the world +which attracts me." + +"But how about the crockery?" Norgate asked. "Doesn't that come first?" + +"First, beyond a doubt," Selingman agreed heartily. "Always, though, my +plan of campaign is the same. On the day of my arrival here, I take +things easily. I spend an hour or so at the office in the morning, and +the afternoon I take holiday. After that I settle down for one week's +hard work. London--your great London--takes always first place with me. +In the mornings I see my agents and my customers. Perhaps I lunch with +one of them. At four o'clock I close my desk, and crockery does not exist +for me any longer. I get into a taxi, and I come here. My first game of +bridge is a treat to which I look forward eagerly. See, there are three +of us and several sitting out. Let us make another table. So!" + +They found a fourth without difficulty and took possession of a table at +the far end of the room. Selingman, with a huge cigar in his mouth, +played well and had every appearance of thoroughly enjoying the game. +Towards the end of their third rubber, Mrs. Benedek, who was dummy, +leaned across towards Norgate. + +"After all, perhaps you are better off here," she murmured in German. +"There is nothing like this in Berlin." + +"One is at least nearer the things one cherishes," Norgate quoted in the +same language. + +Selingman was playing the hand and held between his fingers a card +already drawn to play. For a moment, it was suspended in the air. He +looked towards Norgate, and there was a new quality in his piercing gaze, +an instant return in his expression of the shadow which had swept the +broad good-humour from his face on his first appearance. The change came +and went like a flash. He finished playing the hand and scored his points +before he spoke. Then he turned to Norgate. + +"Your gift of acquiring languages in a short space of time is most +extraordinary, my young friend! Since yesterday you have become able to +speak German, eh? Prodigious!" + +Norgate smiled without embarrassment. The moment was a critical one, +portentous to an extent which no one at that table could possibly +have realised. + +"I am afraid," he confessed, "that when I found that I had a fellow +traveller in my coupe I felt most ungracious and unsociable. I was in +a thoroughly bad temper and indisposed for conversation. The simplest +way to escape from it seemed to be to plead ignorance of any language +save my own." + +Selingman chuckled audibly. The cloud had passed from his face. To all +appearance that momentary suspicion had been strangled. + +"So you found me a bore!" he observed. "Then I must admit that your +manners were good, for when you found that I spoke English and that you +could not escape conversation, you allowed me to talk on about my +business, and you showed few signs of weariness. You should be a +diplomatist, Mr. Norgate." + +"Mr. Norgate is, or rather he was," Mrs. Paston Benedek remarked. "He has +just left the Embassy at Berlin." + +Selingman leaned back in his chair and thrust both hands into his +trousers pockets. He indulged in a few German expletives, bombastic and +thunderous, which relieved him so much that he was able to conclude his +speech in English. + +"I am the densest blockhead in all Europe!" he announced emphatically. +"If I had realised your identity, I would willingly have left you alone. +No wonder you were feeling indisposed for idle conversation! Mr. Francis +Norgate, eh? A little affair at the Café de Berlin with a lady and a +hot-headed young princeling. Well, well! Young sir, you have become more +to me than an ordinary acquaintance. If I had known the cause of your +ill-humour, I would certainly have left you alone, but I would have +shaken you first by the hand." + +The fourth at the table, who was an elderly lady of somewhat austere +appearance, produced a small black cigar from what seemed to be a +harmless-looking reticule which she was carrying, and lit it. Selingman +stared at her with his mouth open. + +"Is this a bridge-table or is it not?" she enquired severely. "These +little personal reminiscences are very interesting among yourselves, I +dare say, but I cut in here with the idea of playing bridge." + +Selingman was the first to recover his manners, although his eyes seemed +still fascinated by the cigar. + +"We owe you apologies, madam," he acknowledged. "Permit me to cut." + +The rubber progressed and finished in comparative silence. At its +conclusion, Selingman glanced at the clock. It was half-past seven. + +"I am hungry," he announced. + +Mrs. Benedek laughed at him. "Hungry at half-past seven! Barbarian!" + +"I lunched at half-past twelve," he protested. "I ate less than usual, +too. I did not even leave my office, I was so anxious to finish what was +necessary and to find myself here." + +Mrs. Benedek played with the cards a moment and then rose to her feet +with a little grimace. + +"Well, I suppose I shall have to give in," she sighed. "I am taking it +for granted, you see, that you are expecting me to dine with you." + +"My dear lady," Selingman declared emphatically, "if you were to break +through our time-honoured custom and deny me the joy of your company on +my first evening in London, I think that I should send another to look +after my business in this country, and retire myself to the seclusion of +my little country home near Potsdam. The inducements of managing one's +own affairs in this country, Mr. Norgate," he added, "are, as you may +imagine, manifold and magnetic." + +"We will not grudge them to you so long as you don't come too often," +Norgate remarked, as he bade them good night. "The man who monopolised +Mrs. Benedek would soon make himself unpopular here." + + + + +CHAPTER IX + + +Norgate had chosen, for many reasons, to return to London as a visitor. +His somewhat luxurious rooms in Albemarle Street were still locked up. He +had taken a small flat in the Milan Court, solely for the purpose of +avoiding immediate association with his friends and relatives. His whole +outlook upon life was confused and disturbed. Until he received a +definite pronouncement from the head-quarters of officialdom, he felt +himself unable to settle down to any of the ordinary functions of life. +And behind all this, another and a more powerful sentiment possessed him. +He had left Berlin without seeing or hearing anything further from Anna +von Haase. No word had come from her, nor any message. And now that it +was too late, he began to feel that he had made a mistake. It seemed to +him that he had visited upon her, in some indirect way, the misfortune +which had befallen him. It was scarcely her fault that she had been the +object of attentions which nearly every one agreed were unwelcome, from +this young princeling. Norgate told himself, as he changed his clothes +that evening, that his behaviour had been the behaviour of a jealous +school-boy. Then an inspiration seized him. Half dressed as he was, he +sat down at the writing-table and wrote to her. He wrote rapidly, and +when he had finished, he sealed and addressed the envelope without +glancing once more at its contents. The letter was stamped and posted +within a few minutes, but somehow or other it seemed to have made a +difference. His depression was no longer so complete. He looked forward +to his lonely dinner, at one of the smaller clubs to which he belonged, +with less aversion. + +"Do you know where any of my people are. Hardy?" he asked his servant. + +"In Scotland, I believe, sir," the man replied. "I called round this +afternoon, although I was careful not to mention the fact that you were +in town. The house is practically in the hands of caretakers." + +"Try to keep out of the way as much as you can. Hardy," Norgate +enjoined. "For a few days, at any rate, I should like no one to know +that I am in town." + +"Very good, sir," the man replied. "Might I venture to enquire, sir, if +you are likely to be returning to Berlin?" + +"I think it is very doubtful, Hardy," Norgate observed grimly. "We are +more likely to remain here for a time." + +Hardy brushed his master's hat for a moment or two in silence. + +"You will pardon my mentioning it, sir," he said--"I imagine it is of no +importance--but one of the German waiters on this floor has been going +out of his way to enter into conversation with me this evening. He seemed +to know your name and to know that you had just come from Germany. He +hinted at some slight trouble there, sir." + +"The dickens he did!" Norgate exclaimed. "That's rather quick +work, Hardy." + +"So I thought, sir," the man continued. "A very inquisitive individual +indeed I found him. He wanted to know whether you had had any news yet as +to any further appointment. He seemed to know quite well that you had +been at the Foreign Office this morning." + +"What did you tell him?" + +"I told him that I knew nothing, sir. I explained that you had not been +back to lunch, and that I had not seen you since the morning. He tried to +make an appointment with me to give me some dinner and take me to a +music-hall to-night." + +"What did you say to that?" Norgate enquired. + +"I left the matter open, sir," the man replied. "I thought I would +enquire what your wishes might be? The person evidently desires to gain +some information about your movements. I thought that possibly it might +be advantageous for me to tell him just what you desired." + +Norgate lit a cigarette. For the moment he was puzzled. It was true that +during their journey he had mentioned to Selingman his intention of +taking a flat at the Milan Court, but if this espionage were the direct +outcome of that information, it was indeed a wonderful organisation which +Selingman controlled. + +"You have acted very discreetly, Hardy," he said. "I think you had better +tell your friend that I am expecting to leave for somewhere at a moment's +notice. For your own information," he added, "I rather think that I shall +stay here. It seems to me quite possible that we may find London, for a +few weeks, just as interesting as any city in the world." + +"I am very glad to hear you say so, sir," the man murmured. "Shall I +fetch your overcoat?" + +The telephone bell suddenly interrupted them. Hardy took up the receiver +and listened for a moment. + +"Mr. Hebblethwaite would like to speak to you, sir," he announced. + +Norgate hurried to the telephone. A cheery voice greeted him. + +"Hullo! That you, Norgate? This is Hebblethwaite. I'm just back from a +few days in the country--found your note here. I want to hear all about +this little matter at once. When can I see you?" + +"Any time you like," Norgate replied promptly. + +"Let me see," the voice continued, "what are you doing to-night?" + +"Nothing!" + +"Come straight round to the House of Commons and dine. Or no--wait a +moment--we'll go somewhere quieter. Say the club in a quarter of an +hour--the Reform Club. How will that suit you?" + +"I'll be there, with pleasure," Norgate promised. + +"Righto! We'll hear what you've been doing to these peppery Germans. I +had a line from Leveson himself this morning. A lady in the case, I hear? +Well, well! Never mind explanations now. See you in a few minutes." + +Norgate laid down the receiver. His manner, as he accepted his +well-brushed hat, had lost all its depression. There was no one in the +Cabinet with more influence than Hebblethwaite. He would have his chance, +at any rate, and his chance at other things. + +"Look here, Hardy," he ordered, as he drew on his gloves, "spend as much +time as you like with that fellow and let me know what sort of questions +he asks you. Be careful not to mention the fact that I am dining with Mr. +Hebblethwaite. For the rest, fence with him. I am not quite sure what it +all means. If by any chance he mentions a man named Selingman, let me +know. Good night!" + +"Good night, sir!" the man replied. + +Norgate descended into the Strand and walked briskly towards Pall Mall. +The last few minutes seemed to him to be fraught with promise of a new +interest in life. Yet it was not of any of these things that he was +thinking as he made his way towards his destination. He was occupied most +of the time in wondering how long it would be before he could hope to +receive a reply from Berlin to his letter. + + + + +CHAPTER X + + +The Right Honourable John Hebblethwaite, M.P., since he had become a +Cabinet Minister and had even been mentioned as the possible candidate +for supreme office, had lost a great deal of that breezy, almost +boisterous effusion of manner which in his younger days had first +endeared him to his constituents. He received Norgate, however, with +marked and hearty cordiality, and took his arm as he led him to the +little table which he had reserved in a corner of the dining-room. The +friendship between the entirely self-made politician and Norgate, who was +the nephew of a duke, and whose aristocratic connections were +multifarious and far-reaching, was in its way a genuine one. There were +times when Hebblethwaite had made use of his younger friend to further +his own undoubted social ambitions. On the other hand, since he had +become a power in politics, he had always been ready to return in kind +such offices. The note which he had received from Norgate that day was, +however, the first appeal which had ever been made to him. + +"I have been away for a week-end's golf," Hebblethwaite explained, as +they took their places at the table. "There comes a time when figures +pall, and snapping away in debate seems to stick in one's throat. I +telephoned directly I got your note. Fortunately, I wasn't doing anything +this evening. We won't play about. I know you don't want to see me to +talk about the weather, and I know something's up, or Leveson wouldn't +have written to me, and you wouldn't be back from Berlin. Let's have the +whole story with the soup and fish, and we'll try and hit upon a way to +put things right before we reach the liqueurs." + +"I've lots to say to you," Norgate admitted simply. "I'll begin with the +personal side of it. Here's just a brief narration of exactly what +happened to me in the most fashionable restaurant of Berlin last +Thursday night." + +Norgate told his story. His friend listened with the absorbed attention +of a man who possesses complete powers of concentration. + +"Rotten business," he remarked, when it was finished. "I suppose you've +told old--I mean you've told them the story at the Foreign Office?" + +"Had it all out this morning," Norgate replied. + +"I know exactly what our friend told you," Mr. Hebblethwaite continued, +with a gleam of humour in his eyes. "He reminded you that the first duty +of a diplomat--of a young diplomat especially--is to keep on friendly +terms with the governing members of the country to which he is +accredited. How's that, eh?" + +"Pretty nearly word for word," Norgate admitted. "It's the sort of +platitude I could watch framing in his mind before I was half-way through +what I had to say. What they don't seem to take sufficient account of in +that museum of mummied brains and parchment tongues--forgive me, +Hebblethwaite, but it isn't your department--is that the Prince's +behaviour to me is such as no Englishman, subscribing to any code of +honour, could possibly tolerate. I will admit, if you like, that the +Kaiser's attitude may render it advisable for me to be transferred from +Berlin. I do not admit that I am not at once eligible for a position of +similar importance in another capital." + +"No one would doubt it," John Hebblethwaite grumbled, "except those +particular fools we have to deal with. I suppose they didn't see it in +the same light." + +"They did not," Norgate admitted. + +"We've a tough proposition to tackle," Hebblethwaite confessed +cheerfully, "but I am with you, Norgate, and to my mind one of the +pleasures of being possessed of a certain amount of power is to help +one's friends when you believe in the justice of their cause. If you +leave things with me, I'll tackle them to-morrow morning." + +"That's awfully good of you, Hebblethwaite," Norgate declared gratefully, +"and just what I expected. We'll leave that matter altogether just now, +if we may. My own little grievance is there, and I wanted to explain +exactly how it came about. Apart from that altogether, there is something +far more important which I have to say to you." + +Hebblethwaite knitted his brows. He was clearly puzzled. + +"Still personal, eh?" he enquired. + +Norgate shook his head. + +"It is something of vastly more importance," he said, "than any question +affecting my welfare. I am almost afraid to begin for fear I shall miss +any chance, for fear I may not seem convincing enough." + +"We'll have the champagne opened at once, then," Mr. Hebblethwaite +declared. "Perhaps that will loosen your tongue. I can see that this is +going to be a busy meal. Charles, if that bottle of Pommery 1904 is iced +just to the degree I like it, let it be served, if you please, in the +large sized glasses. Now, Norgate." + +"What I am going to relate to you," Norgate began, leaning across the +table and speaking very earnestly, "is a little incident which happened +to me on my way back from Berlin. I had as a fellow passenger a person +whom I am convinced is high up in the German Secret Service Intelligence +Department." + +"All that!" Mr. Hebblethwaite murmured. "Go ahead, Norgate. I like the +commencement of your story. I almost feel that I am moving through the +pages of a diplomatic romance. All that I am praying is that your fellow +passenger was a foreign lady--a princess, if possible--with wonderful +eyes, fascinating manners, and of a generous disposition." + +"Then I am afraid you will be disappointed," Norgate continued drily. +"The personage in question was a man whose name was Selingman. He told me +that he was a manufacturer of crockery and that he came often to England +to see his customers. He called himself a peace-loving German, and he +professed the utmost good-will towards our country and our national +policy. At the commencement of our conversation, I managed to impress him +with the idea that I spoke no German. At one of the stations on the line +he was joined by a Belgian, his agent, as he told me, in Brussels for the +sale of his crockery. I overheard this agent, whose name was Meyer, +recount to his principal his recent operations. He offered him an exact +plan of the forts of Liège. I heard him instructed to procure a list of +the wealthy inhabitants of Ghent and the rateable value of the city, and +I heard him commissioned to purchase land in the neighbourhood of Antwerp +for a secret purpose." + +Mr. Hebblethwaite's eyebrows became slowly upraised. The twinkle in his +eyes remained, however. + +"My!" he exclaimed softly. "We're getting on with the romance all right!" + +"During the momentary absence of this fellow and his agent from the +carriage," Norgate proceeded, "I possessed myself of a slip of paper +which had become detached from the packet of documents they had been +examining. It consisted of a list of names mostly of people resident in +the United Kingdom, purporting to be Selingman's agents. I venture to +believe that this list is a precise record of the principal German spies +in this country." + +"German spies!" Mr. Hebblethwaite murmured. "Whew!" + +He sipped his champagne. + +"That list," Norgate went on, "is in my pocket. I may add that although I +was careful to keep up the fiction of not understanding German, and +although I informed Herr Selingman that I had seen the paper in question +blow out of the window, he nevertheless gave me that night a drugged +whisky and soda, and during the time I slept he must have been through +every one of my possessions. I found my few letters and papers turned +upside down, and even my pockets had been ransacked." + +"Where was the paper, then?" Mr. Hebblethwaite enquired. + +"In an inner pocket of my pyjamas," Norgate explained. "I had them made +with a sort of belt inside, at the time I was a king's messenger." + +Mr. Hebblethwaite played with his tie for a moment and drank a little +more champagne. + +"Could I have a look at the list?" he asked, as though with a sudden +inspiration. + +Norgate passed it across the table to him. Mr. Hebblethwaite adjusted his +pince-nez, gave a little start as he read the first name, leaned back in +his chair as he came to another, stared at Norgate about half-way down +the list, as though to make sure that he was in earnest, and finally +finished it in silence. He folded it up and handed it back. + +"Well, well!" he exclaimed, a little pointlessly. "Now tell me, Norgate, +you showed this list down there?"--jerking his head towards the street. + +"I did," Norgate admitted. + +"And what did they say?" + +"Just what you might expect men whose lives are spent within the four +walls of a room in Downing Street to say," Norgate replied. "You are +half inclined to make fun of me yourself, Hebblethwaite, but at any +rate I know you have a different outlook from theirs. Old Carew was +frantically polite. He even declared the list to be most interesting! He +rambled on for about a quarter of an hour on the general subject of the +spy mania. German espionage, he told me, was one of the shadowy evils +from which England had suffered for generations. So far as regards +London and the provincial towns, he went on, whether for good or evil, +we have a large German population, and if they choose to make reports to +any one in Germany as to events happening here which come under their +observation, we cannot stop it, and it would not even be worth while to +try. As regards matters of military and naval importance, there was a +special branch, he assured me, for looking after these, and it was a +branch of the Service which was remarkably well-served and remarkably +successful. Having said this, he folded the list up and returned it to +me, rang the bell, gave me a frozen hand to shake, a mumbled promise +about another appointment as soon as there should be a vacancy, and that +was the end of it." + +"About that other appointment," Mr. Hebblethwaite began, with some +animation-- + +"Damn the other appointment!" Norgate interrupted testily. "I didn't come +here to cadge, Hebblethwaite. I am never likely to make use of my friends +in that way. I came for a bigger thing. I came to try and make you see a +danger, the reality of which I have just begun to appreciate myself for +the first time in my life." + +Mr. Hebblethwaite's manner slowly changed. He pulled down his waistcoat, +finished off a glass of wine, and leaned forward. + +"Norgate," he said, "I am sorry that this is the frame of mind in which +you have come to me. I tell you frankly that you couldn't have appealed +to a man in the Cabinet less in sympathy with your fears than I myself." + +"I am sorry to hear that," Norgate replied grimly, "but go on." + +"Before I entered the Cabinet," Mr. Hebblethwaite continued, "our +relations with Foreign Powers were just the myth to me that they are to +most people who read the _Morning Post_ one day and the _Daily Mail_ the +next. However, I made the best part of half a million in business through +knowing the top and the bottom and every corner of my job, and I started +in to do the same when I began to have a share in the government of the +country. The _entente_ with France is all right in its way, but I came to +the conclusion that the greatest and broadest stroke of diplomacy +possible to Englishmen to-day was to cultivate more benevolent and more +confidential relations with Germany. That same feeling has been spreading +through the Cabinet during the last two years. I am ready to take my +share of the blame or praise, whichever in the future shall be allotted +to the inspirer of that idea. It is our hope that when the present +Government goes out of office, one of its chief claims to public approval +and to historical praise will be the improvement of our relations with +Germany. We certainly do not wish to disturb the growing confidence which +exists between the two countries by any maladroit or unnecessary +investigations. We believe, in short, that Germany's attitude towards us +is friendly, and we intend to treat her in the same spirit." + +"Tell me," Norgate asked, "is that the reason why every scheme for the +expansion of the army has been shelved? Is that the reason for all the +troubles with the Army Council?" + +"It is," Hebblethwaite admitted. "I trust you, Norgate, and I look upon +you as a friend. I tell you what the whole world of responsible men and +women might as well know, but which we naturally don't care about +shouting from the housetops. We have come to the conclusion that there is +no possible chance of the peace of Europe being disturbed. We have come +to the conclusion that civilisation has reached that pitch when the last +resource of arms is absolutely unnecessary. I do not mind telling you +that the Balkan crisis presented opportunities to any one of the Powers +to plunge into warfare, had they been so disposed. No one bade more +boldly for peace then than Germany. No one wants war. Germany has nothing +to gain by it, no animosity against France, none towards Russia. Neither +of these countries has the slightest intention, now or at any time, of +invading Germany. Why should they? The matter of Alsace and Lorraine is +finished. If these provinces ever come back to France, it will be by +political means and not by any mad-headed attempt to wrest them away." + +"Incidentally," Norgate asked, "what about the enormous armaments of +Germany? What about her navy? What about the military spirit which +practically rules the country?" + +"I have spent three months in Germany during the last year," +Hebblethwaite replied. "It is my firm belief that those armaments and +that fleet are necessary to Germany to preserve her place of dignity +among the nations. She has Russia on one side and France on the +other, allies, watching her all the time, and of late years England +has been chipping at her whenever she got a chance, and flirting with +France. What can a nation do but make herself strong enough to defend +herself against unprovoked attack? Germany, of course, is full of the +military spirit, but it is my opinion, Norgate, that it is a great +deal fuller of the great commercial spirit. It isn't war with Germany +that we have to fear. It's the ruin of our commerce by their great +assiduity and more up-to-date methods. Now you've had a statement of +policy from me for which the halfpenny Press would give me a thousand +guineas if I'd sign it." + +"I've had it," Norgate admitted, "and I tell you frankly that I hate it. +I am an unfledged young diplomat in disgrace, and I haven't your +experience or your brains, but I have a hateful idea that I can see the +truth and you can't. You're too big and too broad in this matter, +Hebblethwaite. Your head's lifted too high. You see the horrors and the +needlessness, the logical side of war, and you brush the thought away +from you." + +Mr. Hebblethwaite sighed. + +"Perhaps so," he admitted. "One can only act according to one's +convictions. You must remember, though, Norgate, that we don't carry +our pacificism to extremes. Our navy is and always will be an +irresistible defence." + +"Even with hostile naval and aeroplane bases at--say--Calais, Boulogne, +Dieppe, Ostend?" + +Mr. Hebblethwaite pushed a box of cigars towards his guest, glanced at +the clock, and rose. + +"Young fellow," he said, "I have engaged a box at the Empire. Let +us move on." + + + + +CHAPTER XI + + +"My position as a Cabinet Minister," Mr. Hebblethwaite declared, with a +sigh, "renders my presence in the Promenade undesirable. If you want to +stroll around, Norgate, don't bother about me." + +Norgate picked up his hat. "Jolly good show," he remarked. "I'll be back +before it begins again." + +He descended to the lower Promenade and sauntered along towards the +refreshment bar. Mrs. Paston Benedek, who was seated in the stalls, +leaned over and touched his arm. + +"My friend," she exclaimed, "you are _distrait_! You walk as though you +looked for everything and saw nothing. And behold, you have found me!" + +Norgate shook hands and nodded to Baring, who was her escort. + +"What have you done with our expansive friend?" he asked. "I thought you +were dining with him." + +"I compromised," she laughed. "You see what it is to be so popular. I +should have dined and have come here with Captain Baring--that was our +plan for to-night. Captain Baring, however, was generous when he saw my +predicament. He suffered me to dine with Mr. Selingman, and he fetched me +afterwards. Even then we could not quite get rid of the dear man. He came +on here with us, and he is now, I believe, greeting acquaintances +everywhere in the Promenade. I am perfectly convinced that I shall have +to look the other way when we go out." + +"I think I'll see whether I can rescue him," Norgate remarked. "Good +show, isn't it?" he added, turning to her companion. + +"Capital," replied Baring, without enthusiasm. "Too many people +here, though." + +Norgate strolled on, and Mrs. Benedek tapped her companion on the +knuckles with her fan. + +"How dared you be so rude!" she exclaimed. "You are in a very bad humour +this evening. I can see that I shall have to punish you." + +"That's all very well," Baring grumbled, "but it gets more difficult to +see you alone every day. This evening was to have been mine. Now this fat +German turns up and lays claim to you, and then, about the first moment +we've had a chance to talk, Norgate comes gassing along. You're not +nearly as nice to me, Bertha, as you used to be." + +"My dear man," she protested, "in the first place I deny it. In the +second, I ask myself whether you are quite as devoted to me as you were +when you first came." + +"In what way?" he demanded. + +She turned her wonderful eyes upon him. + +"At first when you came," she declared, "you told me everything. You +spoke of your long mornings and afternoons at the Admiralty. You told me +of the room in which you worked, the men who worked there with you. You +told me of the building of that little model, and how you were all +allowed to try your own pet ideas with regard to it. And then, all of a +sudden, nothing--not a word about what you have been doing. I am an +intelligent woman. I love to have men friends who do things, and if they +are really friends of mine, I like to enter into their life, to know of +their work, to sympathise, to take an interest in it. It was like that +with you at first. Now it has all gone. You have drawn down a curtain. I +do not believe that you go to the Admiralty at all. I do not believe that +you have any wonderful invention there over which you spend your time." + +"Bertha, dear," he remonstrated, "do be reasonable." + +She shrugged her shoulders. + +"But am I not? See how reasonably I have spoken to you. I have told you +the exact truth. I have told you why I do not take quite that same +pleasure in your company as when you first came." + +"Do consider," he begged. "I spoke to you freely at first because we had +not reached the stage in the work when secrecy was absolutely necessary. +At present we are all upon our honour. From the moment we pass inside +that little room, we are, to all effects and purposes, dead men. Nothing +that happens there is to be spoken of or hinted at, even to our wives or +our dearest friends. It is the etiquette of my profession, Bertha. Be +reasonable." + +"Pooh!" she exclaimed. "Fancy asking a woman to be reasonable! Don't you +realise, you stupid man, that if you were at liberty to tell everybody +what it is that you do there, well, then I should have no more interest +in it? It is just because you say that you will not and you may not +tell, that, womanlike, I am curious." + +"But whatever good could it be to you to know?" he protested. "I should +simply addle your head with a mass of technical detail, not a quarter of +which you would be able to understand. Besides, I have told you, Bertha, +it is a matter of honour." + +She looked intently at her programme. + +"There are men," she murmured, "who love so much that even honour counts +for little by the side of--" + +"Of what?" he whispered hoarsely. + +"Of success." + +For a moment they sat in silence. The place was not particularly hot, yet +there were little beads of perspiration upon Baring's forehead. The +fingers which held his programme twitched. He rose suddenly to his feet. + +"May I go out and have a drink?" he asked. "I won't go if you don't want +to be alone." + +"My dear friend, I do not mind in the least," she assured him. "If you +find Mr. Norgate, send him here." + +In one of the smaller refreshment rooms sat Mr. Selingman, a bottle of +champagne before him and a wondrously attired lady on either side. The +heads of all three were close together. The lady on the left was talking +in a low tone but with many gesticulations. + +"Dear friend," she exclaimed, "for one single moment you must not think +that I am ungrateful! But consider. Success costs money always, and I +have been successful--you admit that. My rooms are frequented entirely +by the class of young men you have wished me to encourage. Pauline and I +here, and Rose, whom you have met, seek our friends in no other +direction. We are never alone, and, as you very well know, not a day has +passed that I have not sent you some little word of gossip or +information--the gossip of the navy and the gossip of the army--and there +is always some truth underneath what these young men say. It is what you +desire, is it not?" + +"Without a doubt," Selingman assented. "Your work, my dear Helda, has +been excellent. I commend you. I think with fervour of the day when first +we talked together, and the scheme presented itself to me. Continue to +play Aspasia in such a fashion to the young soldiers and sailors of this +country, and your villa at Monte Carlo next year is assured." + +The woman shrugged her shoulders. + +"I will not say that you are not generous," she declared, "for that would +be untrue, but sometimes you forget that these young men have very little +money, and the chief profit from their friendship, therefore, must come +to us in other ways." + +"You want a larger allowance?" Selingman asked slowly. + +"Not at present, but I want to warn you that the time may come when I +shall need more. A salon in Pimlico, dear friend, is an expensive thing +to maintain. These young men tell their friends of our hospitality, the +music, our entertainment. We become almost too much the fashion, and it +costs money." + +Selingman held up his champagne glass, gazed at the wine for a moment, +and slowly drank it. + +"I am not of those," he announced, "who expect service for nothing, +especially good service such as yours. Watch for the postman, dear lady. +Any morning this week there may come for you a pleasant little surprise." + +She leaned over and patted his arm. + +"You are a prince," she murmured. "But tell me, who is the grave-looking +young man?" + +Selingman glanced up. Norgate, who had been standing at the bar with +Baring, was passing a few feet away. + +"The rake's progress," the former quoted solemnly. + +Selingman raised his glass. + +"Come and join us," he invited. + +Norgate shook his head slightly and passed on. Selingman leaned a little +forward, watching his departing figure. The buoyant good-nature seemed to +have faded out of his face. + +"If you could get that young man to talk, now, Helda," he muttered, "it +would be an achievement." + +She glanced after him, "To me," she declared, "he looks one of the +difficult sort." + +"He is an Englishman with a grievance," Selingman continued. "If the +grievance cuts deep enough, he may--But we gossip." + +"The other was a navy man," the girl remarked. "His name is Baring." + +Selingman nodded. + +"You need not bother about him," he said. "If it is possible for him to +be of use, that is arranged for in another quarter. So! Let us finish our +wine and separate. That letter shall surely come. Have no fear." + +Selingman strolled away, a few minutes later. Baring had returned to Mrs. +Paston Benedek, and Norgate had resumed his place in the box. Selingman, +with a gold-topped cane under his arm, a fresh cigar between his lips, +and a broad smile of good-fellowship upon his face, strolled down one of +the wings of the Promenade. Suddenly he came to a standstill. In the box +opposite to him, Norgate and Hebblethwaite were seated side by side. +Selingman regarded them for a moment steadfastly. + +"A friend of Hebblethwaite's!" he muttered. "Hebblethwaite--the one man +whom Berlin doubts!" + +He withdrew a little into the shadows, his eyes fixed upon the box. A +little way off, in the stalls, Mrs. Paston Benedek was whispering to +Baring. Further back in the Promenade, Helda was entertaining a little +party of friends. Selingman's eyes remained fixed upon Norgate. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + + +Mrs. Paston Benedek, on the following afternoon, sat in one corner of the +very comfortable lounge set with its back to the light in her charming +drawing-room. Norgate sat in the other. + +"I think it is perfectly sweet of you to come," she declared. "I do not +care how many enemies I make--I will certainly dine with you to-night. +How I shall manage it I do not yet know. You shall call for me here at +eight o'clock--or say a quarter past, then we need not hurry away too +early from the club. If Captain Baring is there, perhaps it would be +better if you did not speak of our engagement." + +Norgate sighed. + +"What is the wonderful attraction about Baring?" he asked discontentedly. + +"Really, there isn't any," she replied. "I like to be kind, that is all. +I do not like to hurt anybody's feelings, and I know that Captain Baring +would like very much to dine with me to-night himself. I was obliged to +throw him over last night because of Mr. Selingman's arrival." + +"You have not always been so considerate," he persisted. "Why this +especial care for Baring's feelings?" + +She turned her head a little towards him. She was leaning back in her +corner of the lounge, her hands clasped behind her head. There was an +elaborate carelessness about her pose which she numbered among her +best effects. + +"Perhaps," she retorted, "I, too, find your sudden attraction for me a +little remarkable. On those few occasions when you did honour us at the +club before you left for Berlin, you were agreeable enough, but I do not +remember that you once asked me to dine with you. There was no Captain +Baring then." + +"The truth is," Norgate confessed, "since I returned, I have felt rather +like hiding myself. I don't care about going to my own club or visiting +my own friends. I came to the St. James's as a sort of compromise." + +"You are not very flattering," she complained. + +"Wouldn't you rather I were truthful?" asked Norgate. "One's +friends, one's real friends, are scarcely likely to be found at a +mixed bridge club." + +"After that," she sighed, "I am going to telephone to Captain Baring. He, +at any rate, is in love with me, and I need something to restore my +self-respect." + +"In love with you, perhaps, but are you in love with him?" + +She laughed, softly at first, but with an ever more insistent note of +satire underlying her mirth. + +"The woman," she said, "who expects to get anything out of life worth +having, doesn't fall in love. She may give a good deal, she may seem to +give everything, but if she is wise, she keeps her heart." + +"Poor Baring!" + +"Are you sure," she asked, fixing her brilliant eyes upon him, "that he +needs your sympathy? He is very much in love with me, and there are times +when I could almost persuade myself that I am in love with him. At any +rate, he attracts me." + +Norgate was momentarily sententious. "The psychology of love," he +murmured, looking into the fire, "is a queer study." + +Once more she laughed at him. + +"Before you went to Berlin," she said, "you used not to talk of the +psychology of love. Your methods, so far as I remember them, were a +little different. Confess now--you fell in love in Berlin." + +Norgate stifled a sudden desire to confide in his companion. + +"At my age!" he exclaimed. + +"It is true that it is not a susceptible age," Mrs. Benedek admitted. +"You are in what I call your mid-youth. Mid-youth, as a rule, is an age +of cynicism. As you grow older, you will appreciate more the luxury of +emotion. But tell me, was it the little Baroness who fascinated you? She +is a great beauty, is she not?" + +"I took her out to dinner," Norgate observed. "Therefore I suppose it was +my duty to be in love with her." + +"Fancy sharing the same sofa," she laughed, "with a rival of princes! +Do you know that the Baroness is a friend of mine? She comes sometimes +to London." + +"I am much more interested in your love affair," he protested. + +"And I find far more interest in your future," she insisted. "Let us +talk sensibly, like good friends and companions. What are you going to +do? They will not treat this affair seriously at the Foreign Office? They +cannot think that you were to blame?" + +"In a sense, no," he replied. "Diplomatically, however, I am, from their +point of view, a heinous offender. I rather think I am going to be +shelved for six months." + +"Just what one would expect from this horrible Government!" Mrs. Benedek +exclaimed indignantly. + +"What do you know about the Government?" he asked. "Are you taking up +politics as well as the study of the higher auction?" + +She sighed, and her eyes were fixed upon him very earnestly, as she +declared: "You do not understand me, my friend. You never did. I am +not altogether frivolous; I am not altogether an artist. I have my +serious moments." + +"Is this going to be one of them?" + +"Don't make fun of me, please," she begged, "You are like so many +Englishmen. Directly a woman tries to talk seriously, you will push her +back into her place. You like to treat her as something to frivol with +and make love to. Is it your _amour propre_ which is wounded, when you +feel sometimes forced to admit that she has as clear an insight into the +more important things of life as you yourself?" + +"Do you talk like that with Baring?" he asked. + +For several seconds she was silent. Her eyes had contracted a little. She +seemed to be seeking for some double meaning in his words. + +"Captain Baring is an intelligent man," she said, "and he is a man, too, +who understands his own particular subject. Of course it is a pleasure to +talk to him about it." + +"I thought navy men, as a rule," he remarked, "were not communicative." + +"Do you call it communicative," she enquired, "to discuss the subject you +love best with your greatest friend? But let us not talk any more of +Captain Baring. It is in you just now that I am interested, you and your +future. You seem to think that your friends at the Foreign Office are not +going to find you another position--for some time, at any rate. You are +not one of those men who think of nothing but sport and amusing +themselves. What are you going to do during the next few months?" + +"At present," he confessed thoughtfully, "I have only the vaguest ideas. +Perhaps you could help me." + +"Perhaps I could," she admitted. "We will talk of that another time, if +you like." + +It was obvious that she was speaking under a certain tension. The silence +which ensued was significant. + +"Why not now?" he asked. + +"It is too soon," she answered, "and you would not understand. I might +say things to you which would perhaps end our friendship, which would +give you a wrong impression. No, let us stay just as we are for a +little time." + +"This is most tantalising," grumbled Norgate. + +She leaned over and patted his hand. + +"Have patience, my friend," she whispered. "The great things come to +those who wait." + +An interruption, commonplace enough, yet in its way startling, checked +the words which were already upon his lips. The telephone bell from the +little instrument on the table within a few feet of them, rang +insistently. For a moment Mrs. Benedek herself appeared taken by +surprise. Then she raised the receiver to her ear. + +"My friend," she said to Norgate, "you must excuse me. I told them +distinctly to disconnect the instrument so that it rang only in my +bedroom. I am disobeyed, but no matter. Who is that?" + +Norgate leaned back in his place. His companion's little interjection, +however, was irresistible. He glanced towards her. There was a slight +flush of colour in her cheeks, her head was moving slowly as though +keeping pace to the words spoken at the other end. Suddenly she laughed. + +"Do not be so foolish," she said. "Yes, of course. You keep your share of +the bargain and I mine. At eight o'clock, then. I will say no more now, +as I am engaged with a visitor. _Au revoir!_" + +She set down the receiver and turned towards Norgate, who was turning the +pages of an illustrated paper. She made a little grimace. + +"Oh, but life is very queer!" she declared. "How I love it! Now I am +going to make you look glum, if indeed you do care just that little bit +which is all you know of caring. Perhaps you will be a little +disappointed. Tell me that you are, or my vanity will be hurt. Listen and +prepare. To-night I cannot dine with you." + +He turned deliberately around. "You are going to throw me over?" he +demanded, looking at her steadfastly. + +"To throw you over, dear friend," she repeated cheerfully. "You would do +just the same, if you were in my position." + +"It is an affair of duty," he persisted, "or the triumph of a rival?" + +She made a grimace at him. "It is an affair of duty," she admitted, "but +it is certainly with a rival that I must dine." + +He moved a little nearer to her on the lounge. + +"Tell me on your honour," he said, "that you are not dining with Baring, +and I will forgive!" + +For a moment she seemed as though she were summoning all her courage to +tell the lie which he half expected. Instead she changed her mind. + +"Do not be unkind," she begged. "I am dining with Captain Baring. The +poor man is distracted. You know that I cannot bear to hurt people. Be +kind this once. You may take my engagement book, you may fill it up as +you will, but to-night I must dine with him. Consider, my friend. You may +have many months before you in London. Captain Baring finishes his work +at the Admiralty to-day, and leaves for Portsmouth to-morrow morning. He +may not be in London again for some time. I promised him long ago that I +would dine with him to-night on one condition. That condition he is +keeping. I cannot break my word." + +Norgate rose gloomily to his feet. + +"Of course," he said, "I don't want to be unreasonable, and any one can +see the poor fellow is head over ears in love with you." + +She took his arm as she led him towards the door. + +"Listen," she promised, laughing into his face, "when you are as much in +love with me as he is, I will put off every other engagement I have in +the world, and I will dine with you. You understand? We shall meet later +at the club, I hope. Until then, _au revoir!_" + +Norgate hailed a taxi outside and was driven at once to the nearest +telephone call office. There, after some search in the directory, he rang +up a number and enquired for Captain Baring. There was a delay of about +five minutes. Then Baring spoke from the other end of the telephone. + +"Who is it wants me?" he enquired, rather impatiently. + +"Are you Baring?" Norgate asked, deepening his voice a little. + +"Yes! Who are you?" + +"I am a friend," Norgate answered slowly. + +"What the devil do you mean by 'a friend'?" was the irritated reply. "I +am engaged here most particularly." + +"There can be nothing so important," Norgate declared, "as the warning I +am charged to give to you. Remember that it is a friend who speaks. There +is a train about five o'clock to Portsmouth. Your work is finished. Take +that train and stay away from London." + +Norgate set down the receiver without listening to the tangle of +exclamations from the other end, and walked quickly out of the shop. He +re-entered his taxi. + +"The St. James's Club," he ordered. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + + +Norgate found Selingman in the little drawing-room of the club, reclining +in an easy-chair, a small cup of black coffee by his side. He appeared to +be exceedingly irate at the performance of his partner in a recent +rubber, and he seized upon Norgate as a possibly sympathetic confidant. + +"Listen to me for one moment," he begged, "and tell me whether I have not +the right to be aggrieved. I go in on my own hand, no trump. I am a +careful declarer. I play here every day when I am in London, and they +know me well to be a careful declarer. My partner--I do not know his +name; I hope I shall never know his name; I hope I shall never see him +again--he takes me out. 'Into what?' you ask. Into diamonds! I am +regretful, but I recognise, as I believe, a necessity. I ask you, of what +do you suppose his hand consists? Down goes my no trump on the table--a +good, a very good no trump. He has in his hand the ace, king, queen and +five diamonds, the king of clubs guarded, the ace and two little hearts, +and he takes me out into diamonds from no trumps with a score at love +all. Two pences they had persuaded me to play, too, and it was the rubber +game. Afterwards he said to me: 'You seem annoyed'; and I replied 'I am +annoyed,' and I am. I come in here to drink coffee and cool myself. +Presently I will cut into another rubber, where that young man is not. +Perhaps our friend Mrs. Benedek will be here. You and I and Mrs. Benedek, +but not, if we can help it, the lady who smokes the small black cigars. +She is very amiable, but I cannot attend to the game while she sits there +opposite to me. She fascinates me. In Germany sometimes our women smoke +cigarettes, but cigars, and in public, never!" + +"We'll get a rubber presently, I dare say," Norgate remarked, settling +himself in an easy-chair. "How's business?" + +"Business is very good," Selingman declared. "It is so good that I must +be in London for another week or so before I set off to the provinces. It +grows and grows all the time. Soon I must find a manager to take over +some of my work here. At my time of life one likes to enjoy. I love to be +in London; I do not like these journeys to Newcastle and Liverpool and +places a long way off. In London I am happy. You should go into business, +young man. It is not well for you to do nothing." + +"Do you think I should be useful in the crockery trade?" Norgate asked. + +Herr Selingman appeared to take the enquiry quite seriously. + +"Why not?" he demanded. "You are well-educated, you have address, +you have intelligence. Mrs. Benedek has spoken very highly of you. +But you--oh, no! It would not suit you at all to plunge yourself +into commerce, nor would it suit you, I think, to push the affairs +of a prosperous German concern. You are very English, Mr. Norgate, +is that not so?" + +"Not aggressively," Norgate replied. "As a matter of fact, I am rather +fed up with my own country just now." + +Mr. Selingman sat quite still in his chair. Some signs of a change which +came to him occasionally were visible in his face. He was for that moment +no longer the huge, overgrown schoolboy bubbling over with the joy and +appetite of life. His face seemed to have resolved itself into sterner +lines. It was the face of a thinker. + +"There are other Englishmen besides you," Selingman said, "who are a +little--what you call 'fed up' with your country. You have much common +sense. You do not believe that yours is the only country in the world. +You like sometimes to hear plain speech from one who knows?" + +"Without a doubt," Norgate assented. + +Mr. Selingman stroked his knee with his fat hand. + +"You in England," he continued, "you are too prosperous. Very, very +slowly the country is drifting into the hands of the people. A country +that is governed entirely by the people goes down, down, down. Your +classes are losing their hold and their influence. You have gone from +Tory to Whig, from Whig to Liberal, from Liberal to Radical, and soon it +will be the Socialists who govern. You know what will come then? +Colonies! What do your radicals care about colonies? Institutions! What +do they care about institutions? All you who have inherited money, they +will bleed. You will become worse than a nation of shop-keepers. You will +be an illustration to all the world of the dangers of democracy. So! I +go on. I tell you why that comes about. You are in the continent of +Europe, and you will not do as Europe does. You are a nation outside. You +have believed in yourselves and believed in yourselves, till you think +that you are infallible. Before long will come the revolution. It will be +a worse revolution than the French Revolution." + +Norgate smiled. "Too much common sense about us, I think, Mr. Selingman, +for such happenings," he declared. "I grant you that the classes are +getting the worst of it so far as regards the government of the country, +but I can't quite see the future that you depict." + +"Good Englishman!" Herr Selingman murmured approvingly. "That is your +proper attitude. You do not see because you will not see. I tell you that +the best thing in all the world would be a little blood-letting. You do +not like your Government. Would it not please you to see them humiliated +just a little?" + +"In what way?" + +"Oh! there are ways," Selingman declared. "A little gentle smack like +this,"--his two hands came together with a crash which echoed through the +room--"a little smack from Germany would do the business. People would +open their eyes and begin to understand. A Radical Government may fill +your factories with orders and rob the rich to increase the prosperity of +the poor, but it will not keep you a great nation amongst the others." + +Norgate nodded. + +"You seem to have studied the question pretty closely," he remarked. + +"I study the subject closely," Selingman went on, "because my interests +are yours. My profits are made in England. I am German born, but I am +English, too, in feeling. To me the two nations are one. We are of the +same race. That is why I am sorrowful when I see England slipping back. +That is why I would like to see her have just a little lesson." + +Selingman paused. Norgate rose to his feet and stood on the hearthrug, +with his elbow upon the mantelpiece. + +"Twice we have come as far as that, Mr. Selingman," he pointed out. +"England requires a little lesson. You have something in your mind behind +that, something which you are half inclined to say to me. Isn't that so? +Why not go on?" + +"Because I am not sure of you," Selingman confessed frankly. "Because +you might misunderstand what I say, and we should be friends no +longer, and you would say silly things about me and my views. +Therefore, I like to keep you for a friend, and I go no further at +present. You say that you are a little angry with your country, but +you Englishmen are so very prejudiced, so very quick to take offence, +so very insular, if I may use the word. I do not know how angry you +are with your country. I do not know if your mind is so big and broad +that you would be willing to see her suffer a little for her greater +good. Ah, but the lady comes at last!" + +Mrs. Benedek was accompanied by a tall, middle-aged man, of fair +complexion, whom Selingman greeted with marked respect. She turned +to Norgate. + +"Let me present you," she said, "to Prince Edward of Lenemaur--Mr. +Francis Norgate." + +The two men shook hands. + +"I played golf with you once at Woking," Norgate reminded his new +acquaintance. + +"I not only remember it," Prince Edward answered, "but I remember the +result. You beat me three up, and we were to have had a return, but you +had to leave for Paris on the next day." + +"You will be able to have your return match now," Mrs. Benedek observed. +"Mr. Norgate is going to be in England for some time. Let us play bridge. +I have to leave early to-night--I am dining out--and I should like to +make a little money." + +They strolled into the bridge-room. Selingman hung behind with Norgate. + +"Soon," he suggested, "we must finish our talk, is it not so? Dine with +me to-night. Mrs. Benedek has deserted me. We will eat at the Milan +Grill. The cooking there is tolerable, and they have some Rhine wine--but +you shall taste it." + +"Thank you," Norgate assented, "I shall be very pleased." + +They played three or four rubbers. Then Mrs. Benedek glanced at +the clock. + +"I must go," she announced. "I am dining at eight o'clock." + +"Stay but for one moment," Selingman begged. "We will all take a little +mixed vermouth together. I shall tell the excellent Horton how to +prepare it. Plenty of lemon-peel, and just a dash--but I will not give +my secret away." + +He called the steward and whispered some instructions in his ear. While +they were waiting for the result, a man came in with an evening paper in +his hand. He looked across the room to a table beyond that at which +Norgate and his friends were playing. + +"Heard the news, Monty?" he asked. + +"No! What is it?" was the prompt enquiry. + +"Poor old Baring--" + +The newcomer stopped short. For the first time he noticed Mrs. Benedek. +She half rose from her chair, however, and her eyes were fixed upon him. + +"What is it?" she exclaimed. "What has happened?" + +There was a moment's awkward silence. Mrs. Benedek snatched the paper +away from the man's fingers and read the little paragraph out aloud. For +a moment she was deathly white. + +"What is it?" Selingman demanded. + +"Freddy Baring," she whispered--"Captain Baring--shot himself in his room +at the Admiralty this afternoon! Some one telephoned to him. Five minutes +later he was found--dead--a bullet wound through his temple!... Give me +my chair, please. I think that I am going to faint." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + + +Selingman and Norgate dined together that evening in a corner of a large, +popular grill-room near the Strand. They were still suffering from the +shock of the recent tragedy. They both rather avoided the topic of +Baring's sudden death. Selingman made but one direct allusion to it. + +"Only yesterday," he remarked, "I said to little Bertha--I have known her +so long that I call her always Bertha--that this bureau work was bad for +Baring. When I was over last, a few months ago, he was the picture of +health. Yesterday he looked wild and worried. He was at work with others, +they say, at the Admiralty upon some new invention. Poor fellow!" + +Norgate, conscious of a curious callousness which even he himself found +inexplicable, made some conventional reply only. Selingman began to talk +of other matters. + +"Truly," he observed, "a visit to your country is good for the patriotic +German. Behold! here in London, we are welcomed by a German _maître +d'hôtel_; we are waited on by a German waiter; we drink German wine; we +eat off what I very well know is German crockery." + +"And some day, I suppose," Norgate put in, "we are to be German subjects. +Isn't that so?" + +Selingman's denial was almost unduly emphatic. + +"Never!" he exclaimed. "There is nothing so foolish as the way many of +you English seem to regard us Germans as though we were wild beasts of +prey. Now it gives me pleasure to talk with a man like yourself, Mr. +Norgate. I like to look a little into the future and speculate as to our +two countries. Above all things, this thing I do truly know. The German +nation stands for peace. Yet in order that peace shall everywhere +prevail, a small war, a humanely-conducted war, may sometime within the +future, one must believe, take place. It would last but a short time, but +it might lead to great changes. I have sometimes thought, my young friend +Norgate, that such a war might be the greatest blessing which England +could ever experience." + +"As a discipline, you mean?" Norgate murmured. + +"As a cleansing tonic," Selingman declared. "It would sweep out your +Radical Government. It would bring the classes back to power. It would +kindle in the spirits of your coming generation the spark of that +patriotism which is, alas! just now a very feeble flame. What do you +think? You agree with me, eh?" + +"It is going a long way," Norgate said cautiously, "to approve of a form +of discipline so stringent." + +"But not too far--oh, believe me, not too far!" Selingman insisted. "If +that war should come, it would come solely with the idea of sweeping away +this Government, which is most distasteful to all German politicians. It +would come solely with the idea that with a new form of government here, +more solid and lasting terms of friendship could be arranged between +Germany and England." + +"A very interesting theory," Norgate remarked. "Do you believe in it +yourself?" + +Selingman paused to give an order to a waiter. His tone suddenly became +more serious. He pointed to the menu. + +"They have dared," he exclaimed, "to bring us _Hollandaise_ sauce with +the asparagus! A gastronomic indignity! It is such things as this which +would endanger the _entente_ between our countries." + +"I don't mind _Hollandaise_" Norgate ventured. + +"Then of eating you know very little," Herr Selingman pronounced. "There +is only one sauce to be served with asparagus, and that is finely drawn +butter. I have explained to the _maître d'hôtel_. He must bring us what I +desire. Meanwhile, we spoke, I think, of our two countries. You asked me +a question. I do indeed believe in the theories which I have been +advancing." + +"But wouldn't a war smash up your crockery business?" Norgate asked. + +"For six months, yes! And after that six months, fortunes for all of us, +trade such as the world has never known, a settled peace, a real union +between two great and friendly countries. I wish England well. I love +England. I love my holidays over here, my business trips which are +holidays in themselves, and for their sake and for my own sake, I say +that just a little wrestle, a slap on the cheek from one and a punch on +the nose from the other, and we should find ourselves." + +"War is a very dangerous conflagration," Norgate remarked. "I cannot +think of any experiment more hazardous." + +"It is no experiment," Selingman declared. "It is a certainty. All that +we do in my country, we do by what we call previously ascertained +methods. We test the ground in front of us before we plant our feet upon +it. We not only look into the future, but we stretch out our hands. We +make the doubtful places sure. Our turn of mind is scientific. Our +road-making and our bridge-building, our empire-making and our diplomacy, +they are all fashioned in the same manner. If you could trust us, Mr. +Norgate, if you could trust yourself to work for the good of both +countries, we could make very good and profitable use of you during the +next six months. Would you like to hear more?" + +"But I know nothing about crockery!" + +"Would you like to hear more?" Selingman repeated. + +"I think I should." + +"Very well, then," Selingman proceeded. "Tomorrow we will talk of it. +There are some ways in which you might be very useful, useful at the same +time to your country and to ours. Your position might be somewhat +peculiar, but that you would be prepared for a short time to tolerate." + +"Peculiar in what respect?" Norgate asked. + +Selingman held his glass of yellow wine up to the light and criticised it +for a moment. He set it down empty. + +"Peculiar," he explained, "inasmuch as you might seem to be working with +Germany, whereas you were really England's best friend. But let us leave +these details until to-morrow. We have talked enough of serious matters. +I have a box at the Gaiety, and we must not be late--also a supper party +afterwards. This is indeed a country for enjoyment. To-morrow we speak of +these things again. You have seen our little German lady at the Gaiety? +You have heard her sing and watch her dance? Well, to-night you shall +meet her." + +"Rosa Morgen?" Norgate exclaimed. + +Selingman nodded complacently. + +"She sups with us," he announced, "she and others. That is why, when they +spoke to me of going back for bridge to-night, I pretended that I did not +hear. Bridge is very good, but there are other things. To-night I am in a +frivolous vein. I have many friends amongst the young ladies of the +Gaiety. You shall see how they will welcome me." + +"You seem to have found your way about over here," Norgate remarked, as +he lit a cigar and waited while his companion paid the bill. + +"I am a citizen of the world," Selingman admitted. "I enjoy myself as I +go, but I have my eyes always fixed upon the future. I make many friends, +and I do not lose them. I set my face towards the pleasant places, and I +keep it in that direction. It is the cult of some to be miserable; it is +mine to be happy. The person who does most good in the world is the +person who reflects the greatest amount of happiness. Therefore, I am a +philanthropist. You shall learn from me, my young friend, how to banish +some of that gloom from your face. You shall learn how to find +happiness." + +They made their way across to the Gaiety, where Selingman was a very +conspicuous figure in the largest and most conspicuous box. He watched +with complacency the delivery of enormous bouquets to the principal +artistes, and received their little bow of thanks with spontaneous and +unaffected graciousness. Afterwards he dragged Norgate round to the +stage-door, installed him in a taxi, and handed over to his escort two or +three of his guests. + +"I entrust you, Mr. Norgate," he declared, "with our one German export +more wonderful, even, than my crockery--Miss Rosa Morgen. Take good care +of her and bring her to the Milan. The other young ladies are my honoured +guests, but they are also Miss Morgen's. She will tell you their names. I +have others to look after." + +Norgate's last glimpse of Selingman was on the pavement outside the +theatre, surrounded by a little group of light-hearted girls and a few +young men. + +"He is perfectly wonderful, our Mr. Selingman," Miss Morgen murmured, as +they started off. "Tell me how long you have known him, Mr. Norgate?" + +"Four days," Norgate replied. + +She screamed with laughter. + +"It is so like him," she declared. "He makes friends everywhere. A day is +sufficient. He gives such wonderful parties. I do not know why we all +like to come, but we do. I suppose that we all get half-a-dozen +invitations to supper most nights, but there is not one of us who does +not put off everything to sup with Mr. Selingman. He sits in the +middle--oh, you shall watch him to-night!--and what he says I do not +know, but we laugh, and then we laugh again, and every one is happy." + +"I think he is the most irresistible person," Norgate agreed. "I met him +two or three nights ago, coming over from Berlin, and he spoke of nothing +but crockery and politics. To-night I dine with him, and I find a +different person." + +"He is a perfect dear," one of the other girls exclaimed, "but so +curiously inquisitive! I have a great friend, a gunner, whom I brought +with me to one of his parties, and he is always asking me questions about +him and his work. I had to absolutely worry Dick so as to be able to +answer all his questions, didn't I, Rosa?" + +Miss Morgen nodded a little guardedly. + +"I should not call him really inquisitive," she said. "It is because he +likes to seem interested in the subject which interests you." + +"I am not at all sure whether that is true," the other young lady +objected. "You remember when Ellison Gray was always around with us? +Why, I know that Mr. Selingman simply worried Maud's life out of her to +get a little model of his aeroplane from him. There were no end of +things he wanted to know about cubic feet and dimensions. He is a dear, +all the same." + +"A perfect dear!" the others echoed. + +They drew up outside the Milan. Rosa Morgen turned to their escort. + +"We will meet you in the hall in five minutes," she said. "Then we can +all go together and find Mr. Selingman." + + + + +CHAPTER XV + + +Selingman's supper party was in some respects both distinctive and +unusual. Norgate, looking around him, thought that he had never in his +life been among such a motley assemblage of people. There were eight or +nine musical comedy young ladies; a couple of young soldiers, one of whom +he knew slightly, who had arrived as escorts to two of the young ladies; +Prince Edward of Lenemaur; a youthful peer, who by various misdemeanours +had placed himself outside the pale of any save the most Bohemian +society, and several other men whose faces were unfamiliar. They occupied +a round table just inside the door of the restaurant, and they sat there +till long after the lights were lowered. The conversation all the time +was of the most general and frivolous description, and Selingman, as the +hour grew later, seemed to grow larger and redder and more joyous. The +only hint at any serious conversation came from the musical comedy star +who sat at Norgate's left. + +"Do you know our host very well?" she asked Norgate once. + +"I am afraid I can't say that I know him well at all," Norgate replied. +"I met him in the train coming from Berlin, a few nights ago." + +"He is the most original person," she declared. "He entertains whenever +he has a chance; he makes new friends every hour; he eats and drinks and +seems always to be enjoying himself like an overgrown baby. And yet, all +the time there is such a very serious side to him. One feels that he has +a purpose in it all." + +"Perhaps he has," Norgate ventured. + +"Perhaps he has," she agreed, lowering her voice a little. "At least, I +believe one thing. I believe that he is a good German and yet a great +friend of England." + +"You don't find the two incompatible, then?" + +"I do not," the young lady replied firmly. "I do not understand +everything, of course, but I am half German and half English, so I can +appreciate both sides, and I do believe that Mr. Selingman, if he had not +been so immersed in his business, might have been a great politician." + +The conversation drifted into other channels. Norgate was obliged to give +some attention to the more frivolous young lady on his right. The general +exodus to the bar smoking-room only took place long after midnight. Every +one was speaking of going on to a supper club to dance, and Norgate +quietly slipped away. He took a hurried leave of his host. + +"You will excuse me, won't you?" he begged. "Enjoyed my evening +tremendously. I'd like you to come and dine with me one night." + +"We will meet at the club to-morrow afternoon," Selingman declared. "But +why not come on with us now? You are not weary? They are taking me to a +supper club, these young people. I have engaged myself to dance with +Miss Morgen--I, who weigh nineteen stone! It will be a thing to see. +Come with us." + +Norgate excused himself and left the place a moment later. It was a fine +night, and he walked slowly towards Pall Mall, deep in thought. Outside +one of the big clubs on the right-hand side, a man descended from a +taxicab just as Norgate was passing. They almost ran into one another. + +"Norgate, you reprobate!" + +"Hebblethwaite!" + +The latter passed his arm through the young man's and led him towards the +club steps. + +"Come in and have a drink," he invited. "I am just up from the House. I +do wish you could get some of your military friends to stop worrying us, +Norgate. Two hours to-night have been absolutely wasted because they +would talk National Service and heckle us about the territorials." + +"I'll have the drink, although heaven knows I don't need any!" Norgate +replied. "As for the rest, I am all on the side of the hecklers. You +ought to know that." + +They drew two easy-chairs together in a corner of the great, deserted +smoking-room, and Hebblethwaite ordered the whiskies and sodas. + +"Yes," he remarked, "I forgot. You are on the other side, aren't you? I +haven't a word to say against the navy. We spend more money than is +necessary upon it, and I stick out for economy whenever I can. But as +regards the army, my theory is that it is useless. It's only a +temptation to us to meddle in things that don't concern us. The navy is +sufficient to defend these shores, if any one were foolish enough to wish +to attack us. If we need an army at all, we should need one ten times the +size, but we don't. Nature has seen to that. Yet tonight, when I was +particularly anxious to get on with some important domestic legislation, +we had to sit and listen to hours of prosy military talk, the +possibilities of this and that. They don't realise, these brain-fogged +ex-military men, that we are living in days of common sense. Before many +years have passed, war will belong to the days of romance." + +"For a practical politician, Hebblethwaite," Norgate pronounced, "you +have some of the rottenest ideas I ever knew. You know perfectly well +that if Germany attacked France, we are almost committed to chip in. We +couldn't sit still, could we, and see Calais and Boulogne, Dieppe and +Ostend, fortified against us?" + +"If Germany should attack France!" Hebblethwaite repeated. "If Prussia +should send an expeditionary force to Cornwall, or the Siamese should +declare themselves on the side of the Ulster men! We must keep in +politics to possibilities that are reasonable." + +"Take another view of the same case, then," Norgate continued. "Supposing +Germany should violate Belgium's independence?" + +"You silly idiot!" Hebblethwaite exclaimed, as he took a long draught +of his whisky and soda, lit a cigar, and leaned back in his chair, +"the neutrality of Belgium is guaranteed by a treaty, actually signed +by Germany!" + +"Supposing she should break her treaty?" Norgate persisted. "I told you +what I heard in the train the other night. It isn't for nothing that that +sort of work is going on." + +Hebblethwaite shook his head. + +"You are incorrigible, Norgate! Germany is one of the Powers of Europe +undoubtedly possessing a high sense of honour and rectitude of conduct. +If any nation possesses a national conscience, and an appreciation of +national ethics, they do. Germany would be less likely than any nation in +the world to break a treaty." + +"Hebblethwaite," Norgate declared solemnly, "if you didn't understand the +temperament and character of your constituents better than you do the +German temperament and character, you would never have set your foot +across the threshold of Westminster. The fact of it is you're a domestic +politician of the very highest order, but as regards foreign affairs and +the greater side of international politics, well, all I can say is you've +as little grasp of them as a local mayor might have." + +"Look here, young fellow," Hebblethwaite protested, "do you know that you +are talking to a Cabinet Minister?" + +"To a very possible Prime Minister," Norgate replied, "but I am going to +tell you what I think, all the same. I'm fed up with you all. I bring you +some certain and sure information, proving conclusively that Germany is +maintaining an extraordinary system of espionage over here, and you tell +me to mind my own business. I tell you, Hebblethwaite, you and your Party +are thundering good legislators, but you'll ruin the country before +you've finished. I've had enough. It seems to me we thoroughly deserve +the shaking up we're going to get. I am going to turn German spy myself +and work for the other side." + +"You do, if there's anything in it," Hebblethwaite retorted, with a grin. +"I promise we won't arrest you. You shall hop around the country at your +own sweet will, preach Teutonic doctrines, and pave the way for the +coming of the conquerors. You'll have to keep away from our arsenals and +our flying places, because our Service men are so prejudiced. Short of +that you can do what you like." + +Norgate finished his cigar in silence. Then he threw the end into the +fireplace, finished his whisky and soda, and rose. + +"Hebblethwaite," he said, "this is the second time you've treated me like +this. I shall give you another chance. There's just one way I may be of +use, and I am going to take it on. If I get into trouble about it, it +will be your fault, but next time I come and talk with you, you'll have +to listen to me if I shove the words down your throat. Good night!" + +"Good night, Norgate," Hebblethwaite replied pleasantly. "What you want +is a week or two's change somewhere, to get this anti-Teuton fever out of +your veins. I think we'll send you to Tokyo and let you have a turn with +the geishas in the cherry groves." + +"I wouldn't go out for your Government, anyway," Norgate declared. "I've +given you fair warning. I am going in on the other side. I'm fed up with +the England you fellows represent." + +"Nice breezy sort of chap you are for a pal!" Hebblethwaite grumbled. +"Well, get along with you, then. Come and look me up when you're in a +better humour." + +"I shall probably find you in a worse one," Norgate retorted. +"Good night!" + + * * * * * + +It was one o'clock when Norgate let himself into his rooms. To his +surprise, the electric lights were burning in his sitting-room. He +entered a little abruptly and stopped short upon the threshold. A slim +figure in dark travelling clothes, with veil pushed back, was lying +curled up on his sofa. She stirred a little at his coming, opened her +eyes, and looked at him. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + + +Throughout those weeks and months of tangled, lurid sensations, of +amazing happenings which were yet to come, Norgate never once forgot that +illuminative rush of fierce yet sweet feelings which suddenly thrilled +his pulses. He understood in that moment the intolerable depression of +the last few days. He realised the absolute advent of the one experience +hitherto missing from his life. The very intensity of his feelings kept +him silent, kept him unresponsive to her impetuous but unspoken welcome. +Her arms dropped to her side, her lips for a moment quivered. Her voice, +notwithstanding her efforts to control it, shook a little. She was no +longer the brilliant young Court beauty of Vienna. She was a tired and +disappointed girl. + +"You are surprised--I should not have come here! It was such a +foolish impulse." + +She caught up her gloves feverishly, but Norgate's moment of stupefaction +had passed. He clasped her hands. + +"Forgive me," he begged. "It is really you--Anna!" + +His words were almost incoherent, but his tone was convincing. Her fears +passed away. + +"You don't wonder that I was a little surprised, do you?" he exclaimed. +"You were not only the last person whom I was thinking of, but you +were certainly the last person whom I expected to see in London or to +welcome here." + +"But why?" she asked. "I told you that I came often to this country." + +"I remember," Norgate admitted. "Yet I never ventured to hope--" + +"Of course I should not have come here," she interrupted. "It was absurd +of me, and at such an hour! And yet I am staying only a few hundred yards +away. The temptation to-night was irresistible. I felt as one sometimes +does in this queer, enormous city--lonely. I telephoned, and your +servant, who answered me, said that you were expected back at any moment. +Then I came myself." + +"You cannot imagine that I am not glad to see you," he said earnestly. + +"I want to believe that you are glad," she answered. "I have been +restless ever since you left. Tell me at once, what did they say to +you here?" + +"I am practically shelved," he told her bitterly. "In twelve months' +time, perhaps, I may be offered something in America or Asia--countries +where diplomacy languishes. In a word, your mighty autocrat has spoken +the word, and I am sacrificed." + +She moved towards the window. + +"I am stifled!" she exclaimed. "Open it wide, please." + +He threw it open. They looked out eastwards. The roar of the night was +passing. Here and there were great black spaces. On the Thames a sky-sign +or two remained. The blue, opalescent glare from the Gaiety dome still +shone. The curving lights which spanned the bridges and fringed the +Embankment still glittered. The air, even here, high up as they were on +the seventh story of the building, seemed heavy and lifeless. + +"There is a storm coming," she said. "I have felt it for days." + +She stood looking out, pale, her large eyes strained as though seeking to +read something which eluded her in the clouds or the shadows which hung +over the city. She had rather the air of a frightened but eager child. +She rested her fingers upon his arm, not exactly affectionately, but as +though she felt the need of some protection. + +"Do you know," she whispered, "the feeling of this storm has been in my +heart for days. I am afraid--afraid for all of us!" + +"Afraid of what?" he asked gently. + +"Afraid," she went on, "because it seems to me that I can hear, at +times like this, when one is alone, the sound of what one of your +writers called footsteps amongst the hills, footsteps falling upon +wool, muffled yet somehow ominous. There is trouble coming. I know it. +I am sure of it." + +"In this country they do not think so," he reminded her. "Most of our +great statesmen of today have come to the conclusion that there will be +no more war." + +"You have no great statesmen," she answered simply. "You have plenty of +men who would make very fine local administrators, but you have no +statesmen, or you would have provided for what is coming." + +There was a curious conviction in her words, a sense of one speaking who +has seen the truth. + +"Tell me," he asked, "is there anything that you know of--" + +"Ah! but that I may not tell you," she interrupted, turning away from the +window. "Of myself just now I say nothing--only of you. I am here for a +day or two. It is through me that you have suffered this humiliation. I +wanted to know just how far it went. Is there anything I can do?" + +"What could any one do?" he asked. "I am the victim of circumstances." + +"But for a whole year!" she exclaimed. "You are not like so many young +Englishmen. You do not wish to spend your time playing polo and golf, +and shooting. You must do something. What are you going to do with +that year?" + +He moved across the room and took a cigarette from a box. + +"Give me something to drink, please," she begged. + +He opened a cupboard in his sideboard and gave her some soda-water. She +had still the air of waiting for his reply. + +"What am I going to do?" he repeated. "Well, here I am with an idle +twelve months. It makes no difference to anybody what time I get up, what +time I go to bed, with whom or how I spend the day. I suppose to some +people it would sound like Paradise. To me it is hateful. Shall I be your +secretary?" + +"How do you know that I need a secretary?" she asked. + +"How should I?" he replied. "Yet you are not altogether an idler in +life, are you?" + +For a moment she did not answer. The silence in the room was almost +impressive. He looked at her over the top of the soda-water syphon whose +handle he was manipulating. + +"What do you imagine might be my occupation, then?" she asked. + +"I have heard it suggested," he said slowly, "that you have been a useful +intermediary in carrying messages of the utmost importance between the +Kaiser and the Emperor of Austria." + +"Your Intelligence Department is not so bad," she remarked. "It is true. +Why not? At the German Court I count for little, perhaps. In Austria my +father was the Emperor's only personal friend. My mother was scarcely +popular there--she was too completely English--but since my father died +the Emperor will scarcely let me stay a week away. Yes, your information +is perhaps true. I will supplement it, if you like. Since our little +affair in the Café de Berlin, the Kaiser, who went out of his way to +insist upon your removal from Berlin, has notified the Emperor that he +would prefer to receive his most private dispatches either through the +regular diplomatic channels or by some other messenger." + +Norgate's emphatic expletive was only half-stifled as she continued. + +"For myself," she said with a shrug, "I am not sorry. I found it very +interesting, but of late those feelings of which I have told you have +taken hold of me. I have felt as though a terrible shadow were brooding +over the world." + +"Let me ask you once more," he begged. "Why are you in London?" + +"I received a wire from the Emperor," she explained, "instructing me to +return at once to Vienna. If I go there, I know very well that I shall +not be allowed to leave the city. I have been trusted implicitly, and +they will keep me practically a prisoner. They will think that I may feel +a resentment against the Kaiser, and they will be afraid. Therefore, I +came here. I have every excuse for coming. It is according to my original +plans. You will find that by to-morrow morning I shall have a second +message from Vienna. All the same, I am not sure that I shall go." + +There was a ring at the bell. Norgate started, and Anna looked at +the clock. + +"Who is that?" she asked. "Do you see the time?" + +Norgate moved to the door and threw it open. A waiter stood there. + +"What do you want?" demanded Norgate. + +The man pointed to the indicator. + +"The bell rang, sir," he replied. "Is there anything I can get for you?" + +"I rang no bell," Norgate asserted. "Your indicator must be out of +order." + +Norgate would have closed the door, but Anna intervened. + +"Tell the waiter I wish to speak to him," she begged. + +The man advanced at once into the room and glanced interrogatively at +Anna. She addressed him suddenly in Austrian, and he replied without +hesitation. She nodded. Then she turned to Norgate and laughed softly. + +"You see how perfect the system is," she said. "I was followed here, +passed on to your floor-waiter. You are a spy, are you not?" she added, +turning to the man. "But of course you are!" + +"Madame!" the man protested. "I do not understand." + +"You can go away," she replied. "You can tell Herr Selingman in your +morning's report that I came to Mr. Norgate's rooms at an early hour in +the morning and spent an hour talking with him. You can go now." + +The man withdrew without remark. He was a quiet, inoffensive-looking +person, with sallow complexion, suave but silent manners. Norgate closed +the door behind him. + +"A victim of the system which all Europe knows of except you people," +she remarked lightly. "Well, after this I must be careful. Walk with me +to my hotel." + +"Of course," he assented. + +They made their way along the silent corridors to the lift, out into the +streets, empty of traffic now save for the watering-carts and street +scavengers. + +"Will there be trouble for you," Norgate asked at last, "because of +this?" + +"There is more trouble in my own heart," she told him quietly. "I feel +strangely disturbed, uncertain which way to move. Let me take your +arm--so. I like to walk like that. Somehow I think, Mr. Francis Norgate, +that that little fracas in the Café de Berlin is going to make a great +difference in both our lives. I know now what I had begun to believe. +Like all the trusted agents of sovereigns, I have become an object of +suspicion. Well, we shall see. At least I am glad to know that there is +some one whom I can trust. Perhaps to-morrow I will tell you all that is +in my heart. We might even, if you wished it, if you were willing to face +a few risks, we might even work together to hold back the thunder. So! +Good night, my friend," she added, turning suddenly around. + +He held her hand for a moment as they stood together on the pavement +outside her hotel. For a single moment he fancied that there was a change +in that curious personal aloofness which seemed so distinctive of her. It +passed, however, as she turned from him with her usual half-insolent, +half gracious little nod. + +"To-morrow," she directed, "you must ring me up. Let it be at +eleven o'clock." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + + +The Ambassador glanced at the clock as he entered his library to greet +his early morning visitor. It was barely nine o'clock. + +"Dear friend," he exclaimed, as he held out his hands, "I am distressed +to keep you waiting! Such zeal in our affairs must, however, not remain +unnoticed. I will remember it in my reports." + +Anna smiled as he stooped to kiss her fingers. + +"I had special reasons," she explained, "for my haste. I was +disappointed, indeed, that I could not see you last night." + +"I was at Windsor," her host remarked. "Now come, sit there in the +easy-chair by the side of my table. My secretaries have not yet arrived. +We shall be entirely undisturbed. I have ordered coffee here, of which we +will partake together. A compromising meal to share, dear Baroness, but +in the library of my own house it may be excused. The Princess sends her +love. She will be glad if you will go to her apartments after we have +finished our talk." + +A servant entered with a tray, spread a cloth on a small round table, +upon which he set out coffee, with rolls and butter and preserves. For a +few moments they talked lightly of the weather, of her crossing, of +mutual friends in Berlin and Vienna. Then Anna, as soon as they were +alone, leaned a little forward in her chair. + +"You know that I have a sort of mission to you," she said. "I should not +call it that, perhaps, but it comes to very nearly the same thing. The +Emperor has charged me to express to you and to Count Lanyoki his most +earnest desire that if the things should come which we know of, you both +maintain your position here at any cost. The Emperor's last words to me +were: 'If war is to come, it may be the will of God. We are ready, but +there is one country which must be kept from the ranks of our enemies. +That country is England. England must be dealt with diplomatically.' He +looks across the continent to you, Prince. This is the friendly message +which I have brought from his own lips." + +The Prince stirred his coffee thoughtfully. He was a man just passing +middle-age, with grey hair, thin in places but carefully trimmed, brushed +sedulously back from his high forehead. His moustache, too, was grey, and +his face was heavily lined, but his eyes, clear and bright, were almost +the eyes of a young man. + +"You can reassure the Emperor," he declared. "As you may imagine, my +supply of information here is plentiful. If those things should come that +we know of, it is my firm belief that with some reasonable yet nominal +considerations, this Government will never lend itself to war." + +"You really believe that?" she asked earnestly. + +"I do," her companion assured her. "I try to be fair in my judgments. +London is a pleasant city to live in, and English people are agreeable +and well-bred, but they are a people absolutely without vital impulses. +Patriotism belongs to their poetry books. Indolence has stagnated their +blood. They are like a nation under a spell, with their faces turned +towards the pleasant and desirable things. Only a few months ago, they +even further reduced the size of their ridiculous army and threw cold +water upon a scheme for raising untrained help in case of emergency. Even +their navy estimates are passed with difficulty. The Government which is +conducting the destinies of a people like this, which believes that war +belongs to a past age, is never likely to become a menace to us." + +Anna drew a little sigh and lit the cigarette which the Prince passed +her. She threw herself back in her chair with an air of contentment. + +"It is so pleasant once more to be among the big things," she declared. +"In Berlin I think they are not fond of me, and they are so pompous and +secretive. Tell me, dear Prince, will you not be kinder to me? Tell me +what is really going to happen?" + +He moved his chair a little closer to hers. + +"I see no reason," he said cautiously, "why you should not be told. +Events, then, will probably move in this direction. Provocation will be +given by Servia. That is easily arranged. Tension will be caused, Austria +will make enormous demands, Russia will remonstrate, and, before any one +has time to breathe, the clouds will part to let the lightnings through. +If anything, we are over-ready, straining with over-readiness." + +"And the plan of campaign?" + +"Austria and Italy," the Prince continued slowly, "will easily keep +Russia in check. Germany will seize Belgium and rush through to Paris. +She will either impose her terms there or leave a second-class army to +conclude the campaign. There will be plenty of time for her then to turn +back and fall in with her allies against Russia." + +"And England?" Anna asked. "Supposing?" + +The Prince tapped the table with his forefinger. + +"Here," he announced, "we conquer with diplomacy. We have imbued the +present Cabinet, even the Minister who is responsible for the army, with +the idea that we stand for peace. We shall seem to be the attacked party +in this war. We shall say to England--'Remain neutral. It is not your +quarrel, and we will be capable of a great act of self-sacrifice. We will +withhold our fleet from bombarding the French towns. England could do no +more than deal with our fleet if she were at war. She shall do the same +without raising a finger.' No country could refuse so sane and +businesslike an offer, especially a country which will at once count upon +its fingers how much it will save by not going to war." + +"And afterwards?" + +The Prince shrugged his shoulders. "Afterwards is inevitable." + +"Please go on," she insisted. + +"We shall occupy the whole of the coast from Antwerp to Havre. The +indemnity which France and Russia will pay us will make us the mightiest +nation on earth. We shall play with England as a cat with a mouse, and +when the time comes.... Well, perhaps that will do," the Prince +concluded, smiling. + +Anna was silent for several moments. + +"I am a woman, you know," she said simply, "and this sounds, in a way, +terrible. Yet for months I have felt it coming." + +"There is nothing terrible about it," the Prince replied, "if you keep +the great principles of progress always before you. If a million or so +of lives are sacrificed, the great Germany of the future, gathering +under her wings the peoples of the world, will raise them to a pitch +of culture and contentment and happiness which will more than atone +for the sacrifices of to-day. It is, after all, the future to which we +must look." + +A telephone bell rang at the Prince's elbow. He listened for a moment +and nodded. + +"An urgent visitor demands a moment of my time," he said, rising. + +"I have taken already too much," Anna declared, "but I felt it was time +that I heard the truth. They fence with me so in Berlin, and, believe me, +Prince Herschfeld, in Vienna the Emperor is almost wholly ignorant of +what is planned." + +The door was opened behind them. The Prince turned around. A young man +had ushered in Herr Selingman. For a moment the latter looked steadily at +Anna. Then he glanced at the Ambassador as though questioningly. + +"You two must have met," the Prince murmured. + +"We have met," Anna declared, smiling, as she made her way towards the +door, "but we do not know one another. It is best like that. Herr +Selingman and I work in the same army--" + +"But I, madame, am the sergeant," Selingman interrupted, with a low bow, +"whilst you are upon the staff." + +She laughed as she made her adieux and departed. The door closed heavily +behind her. Selingman came a little further into the room. + +"You have read your dispatches this morning, Prince?" he asked. + +"Not yet," the latter replied. "Is there news, then?" + +Selingman pointed to the closed door. "You have spoken for long +with her?" + +"Naturally," the Prince assented. "She is a confidential friend of the +Emperor. She has been entrusted for the last two years with all the +private dispatches between Vienna and Berlin." + +"In your letters you will find news," Selingman declared. "She is +pronounced suspect. She is under my care at this moment. A report was +brought to me half an hour ago that she was here. I came on at once +myself. I trust that I am in time?" + +The Prince stood quite silent for a moment. + +"Fortunately," he answered coolly, "I have told her nothing." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + + +As Norgate entered the premises of Selingman, Horsfal and Company a +little later on the same morning he looked around him in some surprise. +He had expected to find a deserted warehouse--probably only an office. He +saw instead all the evidences of a thriving and prosperous business. +Drays were coming and going from the busy door. Crates were piled up to +the ceiling, clerks with notebooks in their hands passed continually back +and forth. A small boy in a crowded office accepted his card and +disappeared. In a few minutes he led Norgate into a waiting-room and +handed him a paper. + +"Mr. Selingman is engaged with a buyer for a few moments, sir," he +reported. "He will see you presently." + +Norgate looked through the windows out into the warehouse. There was no +doubt whatever that this was a genuine and considerable trading concern. +Presently the door of the inner office opened, and he heard Mr. +Selingman's hearty tones. + +"You have done well for yourself and well for your firm, sir," he was +saying. "There is no one in Germany or in the world who can produce +crockery at the price we do. They will give you a confirmation of the +order in the office. Ah! my young friend," he went on, turning to +Norgate, "you have kept your word, then. You are not a customer, but you +may walk in. I shall make no money out of you, but we will talk +together." + +Norgate passed on into a comfortably furnished office, a little redolent +of cigar smoke. Selingman bit off the end of a cigar and pushed the box +towards his visitor. + +"Try one of these," he invited. "German made, but Havana +tobacco--mild as milk." + +"Thank you," Norgate answered. "I don't smoke cigars in the morning. I'll +have a cigarette, if I may." + +"As you will. What do you think of us now that you have found your +way here?" + +"Your business seems to be genuine enough, at all events," Norgate +observed. + +"Genuine? Of course it is!" Selingman declared emphatically. "Do you +think I should be fool enough to be connected with a bogus affair? My +father and my grandfather before me were manufacturers of crockery. I can +assure you that I am a very energetic and a very successful business man. +If I have interests in greater things, those interests have developed +naturally, side by side with my commercial success. When I say that I am +a German, that to me means more, much more, than if I were to declare +myself a native of any other country in the world. Sit opposite to me +there. I have a quarter of an hour to spare. I can show you, if you will, +over a thousand designs of various articles. I can show you +orders--genuine orders, mind--from some of your big wholesale houses, +which would astonish you. Or, if you prefer it, we can talk of affairs +from another point of view. What do you say?" + +"My interest in your crockery," Norgate announced, "is non-existent. I +have come to hear your offer. I have decided to retire--temporarily, at +any rate--from the Diplomatic Service. I understand that I am in +disgrace, and I resent it. I resent having had to leave Berlin except at +my own choice. I am looking for a job in some other walk of life." + +Selingman nodded approvingly. + +"Forgive me," he said, "but it is true, then, that you are in some way +dependent upon your profession?" + +"I am not a pauper outside it," Norgate replied, "but that is not the +sole question. I need work, an interest in life, something to think +about. I must either find something to do, or I shall go to Abyssinia. I +should prefer an occupation here." + +"I can help you," Selingman said slowly, "if you are a young man of +common sense. I can put you in the way of earning, if you will, a +thousand pounds a year and your travelling expenses, without interfering +very much with your present mode of life." + +"Selling crockery?" + +Selingman flicked the ash from the end of his cigar. He shook his head +good-naturedly. + +"I am a judge of character, young man," he declared. "I pride myself upon +that accomplishment. I know very well that in you we have one with +brains. Nevertheless, I do not believe that you would sell my crockery." + +"It seems easy enough," Norgate observed. + +"It may seem easy," Selingman objected, "but it is not. You have not, I +am convinced, the gifts of a salesman. You would not reason and argue +with these obstinate British shopkeepers. No! Your value to me would lie +in other directions--in your social position, your opportunities of +meeting with a class above the commercial one in which I have made my few +English friends, and in your own intelligence." + +"I scarcely see of what value these things would be to a vendor of +crockery." + +"They would be of no value at all," Selingman admitted. "It is not in the +crockery business that I propose to make use of you. I believe that we +both know that. We may dismiss it from our minds. It is only fencing with +words. I will take you a little further. You have heard, by chance, of +the Anglo-German Peace Society?" + +"The name sounds familiar," Norgate confessed. "I can't say that I know +anything about it." + +"It was I who inaugurated that body," Selingman announced. "It is I who +direct its interests." + +"Congratulate you, I'm sure. You must find it uphill work sometimes." + +"It is uphill work all the time," the German agreed. "Our great object +is, as you can guess from the title, to promote good-feeling between the +two countries, to heal up all possible breaches, to soothe and dispel +that pitiful jealousy, of which, alas! too much exists. It is not easy, +Mr. Norgate. It is not easy, my young friend. I meet with many +disappointments. Yet it is a great and worthy undertaking." + +"It sounds all right," Norgate observed. "Where do I come in?" + +"I will explain. To carry out the aims of our society, there is much +information which we are continually needing. People in Germany are often +misled by the Press here. Facts and opinions are presented to them often +from an unpalatable point of view. Furthermore, there is a section of the +Press which, so far from being on our side, seems deliberately to try to +stir up ill-feeling between the two countries. We want to get behind the +Press. For that purpose we need to know the truth about many matters; and +as the truth is a somewhat rare commodity, we are willing to pay for it. +Now we come face to face. It will be your business, if you accept my +offer, to collect such facts as may be useful to us." + +"I see," Norgate remarked dubiously, "or rather I don't see at all. Give +me an example of the sort of facts you require." + +Mr. Selingman leaned a little forward in his chair. He was warming to +his subject. + +"By all means. There is the Irish question, then." + +"The Irish question," Norgate repeated. "But of what interest can that be +to you in Germany?" + +"Listen," Selingman continued. "Just as you in London have great +newspapers which seem to devote themselves to stirring up bitter feeling +between our two countries, so we, alas! in Germany, have newspapers and +journals which seem to devote all their energies to the same object. Now +in this Irish question the action of your Government has been very much +misrepresented in that section of our Press and much condemned. I should +like to get at the truth from an authoritative source. I should like to +get it in such a form that I can present it fairly and honestly to the +public of Germany." + +"That sounds reasonable enough," Norgate admitted. "There are several +pamphlets--" + +"I do not want pamphlets," Selingman interrupted. "I want an actual +report from Ulster and Dublin of the state of feeling in the country, +and, if possible, interviews with prominent people. For this the society +would pay a bonus over and above the travelling expenses and your salary. +If you accept my offer, this is probably one of the first tasks I should +commit to you." + +"Give me a few more examples," Norgate begged. + +"Another subject," Selingman continued, "upon which there is wide +divergence of opinions in Germany, and a great deal of misrepresentation, +is the attitude of certain of your Cabinet Ministers towards the French +_entente_: how far they would support it, at what they would stop short." + +"Isn't that rather a large order?" Norgate ventured. "I don't number +many Cabinet Ministers among my personal friends." + +Selingman puffed away at his cigar for a moment. Then he withdrew it +from his mouth and expelled large volumes of smoke. + +"You are, I believe, intimately acquainted with Mr. Hebblethwaite?" + +"How the mischief did you know that?" Norgate demanded. + +"Our society," Selingman announced, smiling ponderously, "has +ramifications in every direction. It is our business to know much. We are +collectors of information of every sort and nature." + +"Seems to have been part of your business to follow me about," +observed Norgate. + +"Perhaps so. If we thought it good for us to have you followed about, we +certainly should," Selingman admitted. "You see, in Germany," he added, +leaning back in his chair, "we lay great stress upon detail and +intelligence. We get to know things: not the smattering of things, like +you over here are too often content with, but to know them thoroughly and +understand them. Nothing ever takes us by surprise. We are always +forewarned. So far as any one can, we read the future." + +"You are a very great nation, without a doubt," Norgate acknowledged, +"but my quarter of an hour is coming to an end. Tell me what else you +would expect from me if I accepted this post?" + +"For the moment, I can think of nothing," Selingman replied. "There are +many ways in which we might make use of you, but to name them now would +be to look a little too far into the future." + +"By whom should I really be employed?" + +"By the Anglo-German Peace Society," Selingman answered promptly. "Let +me say a word more about that society. I am proud of it. I am one of +those prominent business men who are responsible for its initiation. I +have given years of time and thought to it. All our efforts are directed +towards promoting a better understanding with England, towards teaching +the two countries to appreciate one another. But in the background there +is always something else. It is useless to deny that the mistrust +existing between the two countries has brought them more than once +almost to the verge of war. What we want is to be able, at critical +times, to throw oil upon the troubled waters, and if the worst should +come, if a war really should break out, then we want to be able to act +as peacemakers, to heal as soon as possible any little sores that there +may be, and to enter afterwards upon a greater friendship with a +purified England." + +"It sounds very interesting," Norgate confessed. "I had an idea that you +were proposing something quite different." + +"Please explain." + +"To be perfectly frank with you," Norgate acknowledged, "I thought you +wanted me to do the ordinary spy business--traces of fortresses, and +particulars about guns and aeroplanes--" + +"Rubbish, my dear fellow!" Selingman interrupted. "Rubbish! Those things +we leave to our military department, and pray that the question of their +use may never arise. We are concerned wholly with economic and social +questions, and our great aim is not war but peace." + +"Very well, then," Norgate decided, "I accept. When shall I start?" + +Selingman laid his hand upon the other's shoulder as he rose to his feet. + +"Young man," he said, "you have come to a wise decision. Your salary will +commence from the first of this month. Continue to live as usual. Let me +have the opportunity of seeing you at the club, and let me know each day +where you can be found. I will give you your instructions from day to +day. You will be doing a great work, and, mind you, a patriotic work. If +ever your conscience should trouble you, remember that. You are working +not for Germany but for England." + +"I will always remember that," Norgate promised, as he turned away. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + + +Norgate found Anna waiting for him in the hall of the smaller hotel, +a little further westward, to which she had moved. He looked +admiringly at her cool white muslin gown and the perfection of her +somewhat airy toilette. + +"You are five minutes late," she remonstrated. + +"I had to go into the city," he apologised. "It was rather an important +engagement. Soon I must tell you all about it." + +She looked at him a little curiously. + +"I will be patient," promised Anna, "and ask no questions." + +"You are still depressed?" + +"Horribly," she confessed. "I do not know why, but London is getting on +my nerves. It is so hatefully, stubbornly, obstinately imperturbable. I +would find another word, but it eludes me. I think you would call it +smug. And it is so noisy. Can we not go somewhere for lunch where it is +tranquil, where one can rest and get away from this roar?" + +"We could go to Ranelagh, if you liked," suggested Norgate. "There +are some polo matches on this afternoon, but it will be quiet enough +for lunch." + +"I should love it!" she exclaimed. "Let us go quickly." + +They lunched in a shady corner of the restaurant and sat afterwards +under a great oak tree in a retired spot at the further end of the +gardens. Anna was still a little thoughtful. + +"Do you know," she told her companion, "that I have received a hint to +present myself in Berlin as soon as possible?" + +"Are you going?" Norgate demanded quickly. + +"I am not sure," she answered. "I feel that I must, and yet, in a sense, +I do not like to go. I have a feeling that they do not mean to let me out +of Berlin again. They think that I know too much." + +"But why should they suddenly lose faith in you?" Norgate asked. + +"Perhaps because the end is so near," she replied. "They know that I have +strong English sympathies. Perhaps they think that they would not bear +the strain of the times which are coming." + +"You are an even greater pessimist than I myself," Norgate observed. "Do +you really believe that the position is so critical?" + +"I know it," she assured him. "I will not tell you all my reasons. There +is no need for me to break a trust without some definite object. It seems +to me that if your Secret Service Department were worth anything at all, +your country would be in a state almost of panic. What is it they are +playing down there? Polo, isn't it? There are six or eight military +teams, crowds of your young officers making holiday. And all the time +Krupps are working overtime, working night and day, and surrounded by +sentries who shoot at sight any stranger. There are parts of the country, +even now, under martial law. The streets and the plains resound to the +footsteps of armed hosts." + +"But there is no excuse for war," he reminded her. + +"An excuse is very easily found," she sighed. "German diplomacy is clumsy +enough, but I think it can manage that. Do you know that this morning I +had a letter from one of the greatest nobles of our own Court at Vienna? +He knew that I had intended to take a villa in Normandy for August and +September. He has written purposely to warn me not to do so, to warn me +not to be away from Austria or Germany after the first of August." + +"So soon!" he murmured. + +They listened to the band for a moment. In the distance, an unceasing +stream of men and women were passing back and forth under the trees and +around the polo field. + +"It will come like a thunderbolt," she said, "and when I think of it, all +that is English in me rises up in revolt. In my heart I know so well that +it is Germany and Germany alone who will provoke this war. I am terrified +for your country. I admit it, you see, frankly. The might of Germany is +only half understood here. It is to be a war of conquest, almost of +extermination." + +"That isn't the view of your friend Selingman," Norgate reminded her. +"He, too, hints at coming trouble, but he speaks of it as just a salutary +little lesson." + +"Selingman, more than any one else in the world, knows differently," she +assured him. "But come, we talk too seriously on such a wonderful +afternoon. I have made up my mind on one point, at least. I will stay +here for a few days longer. London at this time of the year is wonderful. +Besides, I have promised the Princess of Thurm that I will go to Ascot +with her. Why should we talk of serious things any longer? Let us have a +little rest. Let us promenade there with those other people, and listen +to the band, and have some tea afterwards." + +Norgate rose with alacrity, and they strolled across the lawns and down +towards the polo field. Very soon they found themselves meeting friends +in every direction. Anna extricated herself from a little group of +acquaintances who had suddenly claimed her and came over to Norgate. + +"Prince Herschfeld wants to talk to me for a few minutes," she whispered. +"I think I should like to hear what he has to say. The Princess is there, +too, whom I have scarcely seen. Will you come and be presented?" + +"Might I leave you with them for a few minutes?" Norgate suggested. +"There is a man here whom I want to talk to. I will come back for you in +half an hour." + +"You must meet the Prince first," she insisted. "He was interested when +he heard who you were." + +She turned to the little group who were awaiting her return. The +Ambassador moved a little forward. + +"Prince," she said, "may I present to you Mr. Francis Norgate? Mr. +Norgate has just come from Berlin." + +"Not with the kindliest feelings towards us, I am afraid," remarked the +Prince, holding out his hand. "I hope, however, that you will not judge +us, as a nation, too severely." + +"On the contrary, I was quite prepared to like Germany," Norgate +declared. "I was simply the victim of a rather unfortunate happening." + +"There are many others besides myself who sincerely regret it," the +Prince said courteously. "You are kind enough to leave the Baroness for a +little time in our charge. We will take the greatest care of her, and I +hope that when you return you will give me the great pleasure of +presenting you to the Princess." + +"You are very kind," Norgate murmured. + +"We shall meet again, then," the Prince declared, as he turned away with +Anna by his side. + +"In half an hour," Anna whispered, smiling at him over her shoulder. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + + +The Right Honourable John William Hebblethwaite strolled along by the +rails of the polo ground, exchanging greetings with friends, feeling very +well content with himself and the world generally. A difficult session +was drawing towards an end. The problem which had defeated so many +governments seemed at last, under his skilful treatment, capable of +solution. Furthermore, the session had been one which had added to his +reputation both as an orator and a statesman. There had been an +astonishingly flattering picture of him in an illustrated paper that +week, and he was exceedingly pleased with the effect of the white hat +which he was wearing at almost a jaunty angle. He was a great man and he +knew it. Nevertheless, he greeted Norgate with ample condescension and +engaged him at once in conversation. + +"Delighted to see you in such company, my young friend," he declared. +"I think that half an hour's conversation with Prince Herschfeld would +put some of those fire-eating ideas out of your head. That's the man +whom we have to thank for the everyday improvement of our relations +with Germany." + +"The Prince has the reputation of being a great diplomatist," +Norgate remarked. + +"Added to which," Hebblethwaite continued, "he came over here charged, +as you might say, almost with a special mission. He came over here to +make friends with England. He has done it. So long as we have him in +London, there will never be any serious fear of misunderstanding between +the two countries." + +"What a howling optimist you are!" Norgate observed. + +"My young friend," Hebblethwaite protested, "I am nothing of the sort. I +am simply a man of much common sense, enjoying, I may add, a few hours' +holiday. By-the-by, Norgate, if one might venture to enquire without +indiscretion, who was the remarkably charming foreign lady whom you were +escorting?" + +"The Baroness von Haase," Norgate replied. "She is an Austrian." + +Mr. Hebblethwaite sighed. He rather posed as an admirer of the other sex. + +"You young fellows," he declared, "who travel about the world, are much +to be envied. There is an elegance about the way these foreign women +dress, a care for detail in their clothes and jewellery, and a carriage +which one seldom finds here." + +They had reached the far end of the field, having turned their backs, in +fact, upon the polo altogether. Norgate suddenly abandoned their +conversation. + +"Look here," he said, in an altered tone, "do you feel inclined to answer +a few questions?" + +"For publication?" Hebblethwaite asked drily. "You haven't turned +journalist, by any chance, have you?" + +Norgate shook his head. "Nevertheless," he admitted, "I have changed my +profession. The fact is that I have accepted a stipend of a thousand a +year and have become a German spy." + +"Good luck to you!" exclaimed Hebblethwaite, laughing softly. "Well, fire +away, then. You shall pick the brains of a Cabinet Minister at your +leisure, so long as you'll give me a cigarette--and present me, when we +have finished, to the Baroness. The country has no secrets from you, +Norgate. Where will you begin?" + +"Well, you've been warned, any way," Norgate reminded him, as he offered +his cigarette case. "Now tell me. It is part of my job to obtain from you +a statement of your opinion as to exactly how far our _entente_ with +France is binding upon us." + +Hebblethwaite cleared his throat. + +"If this is for publication," he remarked, "could you manage a photograph +of myself at the head of the interview, in these clothes and with this +hat? I rather fancy myself to-day. A pocket kodak is, of course, part of +the equipment of a German spy." + +"Sorry," Norgate regretted, "but that's a bit out of my line. I am the +disappointed diplomatist, doing the dirty work among my late friends. +What we should like to know from Mr. Hebblethwaite, confidentially +narrated to a personal friend, is whether, in the event of a war between +Germany and Russia and France, England would feel it her duty to +intervene?" + +Hebblethwaite glanced around. The throng of people had cleared off to +watch the concluding stages of the match. + +"I have a sovereign on this," he remarked, glancing at his card. + +"Which have you backed?" Norgate enquired. + +"The Lancers." + +"Well, it's any odds on the Hussars, so you've lost your money," +Norgate told him. + +Hebblethwaite sighed resignedly. "Well," he said, "the question you +submit is a problem which has presented itself to us once or twice, +although I may tell you that there isn't a soul in the Cabinet except one +who believes in the chance of war. We are not a fire-eating lot, you +know. We are all for peace, and we believe we are going to have it. +However, to answer your questions more closely, our obligations depend +entirely upon the provocation giving cause for the war. If France and +Russia provoked it in any way, we should remain neutral. If it were a war +of sheer aggression from Germany against France, we might to a certain +extent intervene. There is not one of us, however, who believes for a +single moment that Germany would enter upon such a war." + +"When you admit that we might to a certain extent intervene," Norgate +said, "exactly how should we do it, I wonder? We are not in a +particular state of readiness to declare war upon anybody or anything, +are we?" he added, as they turned around and strolled once more towards +the polo ground. + +"We have had no money to waste upon senseless armaments," Mr. +Hebblethwaite declared severely, "and if you watch the social measures +which we have passed during the last two years, you will see that every +penny we could spare has been necessary in order to get them into working +order. It is our contention that an army is absolutely unnecessary and +would simply have the effect of provoking military reprisals. If we, by +any chance in the future, were drawn into war, our navy would be at the +service of our allies. What more could any country ask than to have +assured for them the absolute control of the sea?" + +"That's all very well," Norgate assented. "It might be our fair share on +paper, and yet it might not be enough. What about our navy if Antwerp, +Ostend, Dunkirk, Calais, Boulogne, and Havre were all German ports, as +they certainly would be in an unassisted conflict between the French and +the Germans?" + +They were within hearing now of the music of the band. Hebblethwaite +quickened his pace a little impatiently. + +"Look here," he protested, "I came down here for a holiday, I tell you +frankly that I believe in the possibility of war just as much as I +believe in the possibility of an earthquake. My own personal feeling is +that it is just as necessary to make preparations against one as the +other. There you are, my German spy, that's all I have to say to you. +Here are your friends. I must pay my respects to the Prince, and I should +like to meet your charming companion." + +Anna detached herself from a little group of men at their approach, and +Norgate at once introduced his friend. + +"I have only been able to induce Mr. Hebblethwaite to talk to me for the +last ten minutes," he declared, "by promising to present him to you." + +"A ceremony which we will take for granted," she suggested, holding out +her fingers. "Each time I have come to London, Mr. Hebblethwaite, I have +hoped that I might have this good fortune. You interest us so much on the +Continent." + +Mr. Hebblethwaite bowed and looked as though he would have liked the +interest to have been a little more personal. + +"You see," Anna explained, as she stood between the two men, "both +Austria and Germany, the two countries where I spend most of my time, are +almost military ridden. Our great statesmen, or the men who stand behind +them, are all soldiers. You represent something wholly different. Your +nation is as great and as prosperous as ours, and yet you are a pacifist, +are you not, Mr. Hebblethwaite? You scorn any preparations for war. You +do not believe in it. You give back the money that we should spend in +military or naval preparations to the people, for their betterment. It is +very wonderful." + +"We act according to our convictions," Mr. Hebblethwaite pronounced. "It +is our earnest hope that we have risen sufficiently in the scale of +civilisation to be able to devote our millions to more moral objects than +the massing of armaments." + +"And you have no fears?" she persisted earnestly. "You honestly believe +that you are justified in letting the fighting spirit of your people +lie dormant?" + +"I honestly believe it, Baroness," Mr. Hebblethwaite replied. "Life is a +battle for all of them, but the fighting which we recognise is the fight +for moral and commercial supremacy, the lifting of the people by +education and strenuous effort to a higher plane of prosperity." + +"Of course," Anna murmured, "what you say sounds frightfully convincing. +History only will tell us whether you are in the right." + +"My thirst," Mr. Hebblethwaite observed, glancing towards the little +tables set out under the trees, "suggests tea and strawberries." + +"If some one hadn't offered me tea in a moment or two," Anna declared, "I +should have gone back to the Prince, with whom I must confess I was very +bored. Shall we discuss politics or talk nonsense?" + +"Talk nonsense," Mr. Hebblethwaite decided. "This is my holiday. My brain +has stopped working. I can think of nothing beyond tea and strawberries. +We will take that table under the elm trees, and you shall tell us all +about Vienna." + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + + +Norgate, after leaving Anna at her hotel, drove on to the club, where he +arrived a few minutes before seven. Selingman was there with Prince +Edward, and half a dozen others. Selingman, who happened not to be +playing, came over at once and sat by his side on the broad fender. + +"You are late, my young friend," he remarked. + +"My new career," Norgate replied, "makes demands upon me. I can no longer +spend the whole afternoon playing bridge. I have been attending to +business." + +"It is very good," Selingman declared amiably. "That is the way I like to +hear you talk. To amuse oneself is good, but to work is better still. +Have you, by chance, any report to make?" + +"I have had a long conversation with Mr. Hebblethwaite at Ranelagh this +afternoon," Norgate announced. + +There was a sudden change in Selingman's expression, a glint of eagerness +in his eyes. + +"With Hebblethwaite! You have begun well. He is the man above all others +of whose views we wish to feel absolutely certain. We know that he is a +strong man and a pacifist, but a pacifist to what extent? That is what we +wish to be clear about. Now tell me, you spoke to him seriously?" + +"Very seriously, indeed," Norgate assented. "The subject suggested +itself naturally, and I contrived to get him to discuss the possibilities +of a European war. I posed rather as a pessimist, but he simply jeered at +me. He assured me that an earthquake was more probable. I pressed him on +the subject of the _entente_. He spoke of it as a thing of romance and +sentiment, having no place in any possible development of the +international situation. I put hypothetical cases of a European war +before him, but he only scoffed at me. On one point only was he +absolutely and entirely firm--under no circumstances whatever would the +present Cabinet declare war upon anybody. If the nation found itself face +to face with a crisis, the Government would simply choose the most +dignified and advantageous solution which embraced peace. In short, there +is one thing which you may count upon as absolutely certain. If England +goes to war at any time within the next four years, it will be under some +other government." + +Selingman was vastly interested. He had drawn very close to Norgate, his +pudgy hands stretched out upon his knees. He dropped his voice so that it +was audible only a few feet away. + +"Let me put an extreme case," he suggested. "Supposing Russia and Germany +were at war, and France, as Russia's ally, were compelled to mobilise. It +would not be a war of Germany's provocation, but Germany, in +self-defence, would be bound to attack France. She might also be +compelled by strategic considerations to invade Belgium. What do you +think your friend Hebblethwaite would say to that?" + +"I am perfectly convinced," Norgate replied, "that Hebblethwaite would +work for peace at any price. The members of our present Government are +pacifists, every one of them, with the possible exception of the +Secretary of the Admiralty." + +"Ah!" Mr. Selingman murmured. "Mr. Spencer Wyatt! He is the gentleman who +clamours so hard and fights so well for his navy estimates. Last time, +though, not all his eloquence could prevail. They were cut down almost a +half, eh?" + +"I believe that was so," Norgate admitted. + +"Mr. Spencer Wyatt, eh?" Selingman continued, his eyes fixed upon the +ceiling. "Well, well, one cannot wonder at his attitude. It is not his +role to pose as an economist. He is responsible for the navy. +Naturally he wants a big navy. I wonder what his influence in the +Cabinet really is." + +"As to that," Norgate observed, "I know no more than the man in +the street." + +"Naturally," Mr. Selingman agreed. "I was thinking to myself." + +There was a brief silence. Norgate glanced around the room. + +"I don't see Mrs. Benedek here this afternoon," he remarked. + +Selingman shook his head solemnly. + +"The inquest on the death of that poor fellow Baring is being held +to-day," he explained. "That is why she is staying away. A sad thing +that, Norgate--a very sad happening." + +"It was indeed." + +"And mysterious," Selingman went on. "The man apparently, an hour before, +was in high spirits. The special work upon which he was engaged at the +Admiralty was almost finished. He had received high praise for his share +in it. Every one who had seen him that day spoke of him as in absolutely +capital form. Suddenly he whips out a revolver from his desk and shoots +himself, and all that any one knows is that he was rung up by some one on +the telephone. There's a puzzle for you, Norgate." + +Norgate made no reply. He felt Selingman's eyes upon him. + +"A wonderful plot for the sensational novelist. To the ordinary human +being who knew Baring, there remains a substratum almost of uneasiness. +Where did that voice come from that spoke along the wires, and what was +its message? Baring, by all accounts, had no secrets in his life. What +was the message--a warning or a threat?" + +"I did not read the account of the inquest," Norgate observed. "Wasn't it +possible to trace the person who rang up, through the telephone office?" + +"In an ordinary case, yes," Selingman agreed. "In this case, no! The +person who rang up made use of a call office. But come, it is a gloomy +subject, this. I wish I had known that you were likely to see Mr. +Hebblethwaite this afternoon. Bear this in mind in case you should come +across him again. It would interest me very much to know whether any +breach of friendship has taken place at all between him and Mr. Spencer +Wyatt. Do you know Spencer Wyatt, by-the-by?" + +"Only slightly," Norgate replied, "Not well enough to talk to him +intimately, as I can do to Hebblethwaite." + +"Well, remember that last little commission," Selingman concluded. "Are +you staying on or leaving now? If you are going, we will walk together. A +little exercise is good for me sometimes. My figure requires it. It is a +very short distance, but it is better than nothing at all." + +"I am quite ready," Norgate assured him. + +They left the room and descended the stairs together. At the entrance +to the building, Selingman paused for a moment. Then he seemed suddenly +to remember. + +"It is habit," he declared. "I stand here for a taxi, but we have agreed +to walk, is it not so? Come!" + +Norgate was looking across the street to the other side of the pavement. +A man was standing there, engaged in conversation with a plainly-dressed +young woman. To Norgate there was something vaguely familiar about the +latter, who turned to glance at him as they strolled by on the other side +of the road. It was not until they reached the corner of the street, +however, that he remembered. She was the young woman at the telephone +call office near Westbourne Grove! + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + + +Mr. Hebblethwaite was undoubtedly annoyed. He found himself regretting +more than ever the good nature which had prompted him to give this +visitor an audience at a most unusual hour. He had been forced into the +uncomfortable position of listening to statements the knowledge of which +was a serious embarrassment to him. + +"Whatever made you come to me, Mr. Harrison?" he exclaimed, when at last +his caller's disclosures had been made. "It isn't my department." + +"I came to you, sir," the official replied, "because I have the privilege +of knowing you personally, and because I was quite sure that in your +hands the matter would be treated wisely." + +"You are sure of your facts, I suppose?" + +"Absolutely, sir." + +"I do not know much about navy procedure," Mr. Hebblethwaite said +thoughtfully, "but it scarcely seems to me possible for what you tell me +to have been kept secret." + +"It is not only possible, sir," the man assured him, "but it has been +done before in Lord Charles Beresford's time. You will find, if you make +enquiries, that not only are the Press excluded to-day from the +shipbuilding yards in question, but the work-people are living almost in +barracks. There are double sentries at every gate, and no one is +permitted under any circumstances to pass the outer line of offices." + +Mr. Hebblethwaite sat, for a few moments, deep in thought. + +"Well, Mr. Harrison," he said at last, "there is no doubt that you have +done what you conceived to be your duty, although I must tell you +frankly that I wish you had either kept what you know to yourself or +taken the information somewhere else. Since you have brought it to me, +let me ask you this question. Are you taking any further steps in the +matter at all?" + +"Certainly not, sir," was the quiet reply. "I consider that I have done +my duty and finished with it, when I leave this room." + +"You are content, then," Mr. Hebblethwaite observed, "to leave this +matter entirely in my hands?" + +"Entirely, sir," the official assented. "I am perfectly content, from +this moment, to forget all that I know. Whatever your judgment prompts +you to do, will, I feel sure, be satisfactory." + +Mr. Hebblethwaite rose to his feet and held out his hand. + +"Well, Mr. Harrison," he concluded, "you have performed a disagreeable +duty in a tactful manner. Personally, I am not in the least grateful to +you, for, as I dare say you know, Mr. Spencer Wyatt is a great friend of +mine. As a member of the Government, however, I think I can promise you +that your services shall not be forgotten. Good evening!" + +The official departed. Mr. Hebblethwaite thrust his hands into his +pockets, glanced at the clock impatiently, and made use of an expression +which seldom passed his lips. He was in evening dress, and due to dine +with his wife on the other side of the Park. Furthermore, he was very +hungry. The whole affair was most annoying. He rang the bell. + +"Ask Mr. Bedells to come here at once," he told the servant, "and tell +your mistress I am exceedingly sorry, but I shall be detained here for +some time. She had better go on without me and send the car back. I will +come as soon as I can. Explain that it is a matter of official business. +When you have seen Mrs. Hebblethwaite, you can bring me a glass of sherry +and a biscuit." + +The man withdrew, and Mr. Hebblethwaite opened a telephone directory. In +a few moments Mr. Bedells, who was his private secretary, appeared. + +"Richard," his chief directed, "ring up Mr. Spencer Wyatt. Tell him that +whatever his engagements may be, I wish to see him here for five minutes. +If he is out, you must find out where he is. You can begin by ringing up +at his house." + +Bedells devoted himself to the telephone. Mr. Hebblethwaite munched a +biscuit and sipped his sherry. Presently the latter laid down the +telephone and reported success. + +"Mr. Spencer Wyatt was on his way to a city dinner, sir," he announced. +"They caught him in the hall and he will call here." + +Mr. Hebblethwaite nodded. "See that he is sent up directly he comes." + +In less than five minutes Mr. Spencer Wyatt was ushered in. He was +wearing the uniform of an Admiral of the Fleet--a tall, broad-shouldered +man, fair complexioned, and with the bearing of a sailor. + +"Hullo, Hebblethwaite, what's wrong?" he asked. "Your message just caught +me. I am dining with the worshipful tanners--turtle soup and all the rest +of it. Don't let me miss more than I can help." + +Mr. Hebblethwaite walked to the door to be sure that it was closed and +came back again. + +"Look here, Wyatt," he exclaimed, "what the devil have you been up to?" + +Wyatt whistled softly. A light broke across his face. + +"What do you mean?" he demanded. + +"You know perfectly well what I mean," Hebblethwaite continued. "Five +weeks ago we had it all out at a Cabinet meeting. You asked Parliament to +lay down six battleships, four cruisers, thirty-five submarines, and +twelve torpedo boats. You remember what a devil of a row there was. +Eventually we compromised for half the number of battleships, two +cruisers, and the full amount of small craft." + +"Well?" + +"I am given to understand," Hebblethwaite said slowly, "that you have +absolutely disregarded the vote--that the whole number of battleships are +practically commenced, and the whole number of cruisers, and rather more +than the number of smaller craft." + +Wyatt threw his cocked hat upon the table. + +"Well, I am up against it a bit sooner than I expected," he remarked. +"Who's been peaching?" + +"Never mind," Hebblethwaite replied. "I am not telling you that. You've +managed the whole thing very cleverly, and you know very well, Wyatt, +that I am on your side. I was on your side in pressing the whole of your +proposals upon the Cabinet, although honestly I think they were far +larger than necessary. However, we took a fair vote, and we compromised. +You had no more right to do what you have done--" + +"I admit it, Hebblethwaite," Wyatt interrupted quickly. "Of course, if +this comes out, my resignation's ready for you, but I tell you frankly, +as man to man, I can't go on with my job, and I won't, unless I get the +ships voted that I need. We are behind our standard now. I spent +twenty-four hours making up my mind whether I should resign or take this +risk. I came to the conclusion that I should serve my country better by +taking the risk. So there you are. What are you going to do about it?" + +"What the mischief can I do about it?" Hebblethwaite demanded irritably. +"You are putting me in an impossible position. Let me ask you this, +Wyatt. Is there anything at the back of your head that the man in the +street doesn't know about?" + +"Yes!" + +"What is it, then?" + +"I have reasons to believe," Wyatt announced deliberately, "reasons +which are quite sufficient for me, although it was impossible for me to +get up in Parliament and state them, that Germany is secretly making +preparations for war either before the end of this year or the +beginning of next." + +Hebblethwaite threw himself into an easy-chair. + +"Sit down, Wyatt," he said. "Your dinner can wait for a few minutes. I +have had another man--only a youngster, and he doesn't know +anything--talking to me like that. We are fully acquainted with +everything that is going on behind the scenes. All our negotiations with +Germany are at this moment upon the most friendly footing. We haven't a +single matter in dispute. Old Busby, as you know, has been over in Berlin +himself and has come back a confirmed pacifist. If he had his way, our +army would practically cease to exist. He has been on the spot. He ought +to know, and the army's his job." + +"Busby," Wyatt declared, "is the silliest old ass who ever escaped +petticoats by the mere accident of sex. I tell you he is just the sort of +idiot the Germans have been longing to get hold of and twist round their +fingers. Before twelve months or two years have passed, you'll curse the +name of that man, when you look at the mess he has made of the army. +Peace is all very well--universal peace. The only way we can secure it is +by being a good deal stronger than we are at present." + +"That is your point of view," Hebblethwaite reminded him. "I tell you +frankly that I incline towards Busby's." + +"Then you'll eat your words," Wyatt asserted, "before many months are +out. I, too, have been in Germany lately, although I was careful to go as +a tourist, and I have picked up a little information. I tell you it +isn't for nothing that Germany has a complete list of the whole of her +rolling stock, the actual numbers in each compartment registered and +reserved for the use of certain units of her troops. I tell you that from +one end of the country to the other her state of military preparedness is +amazing. She has but to press a button, and a million men have their +rifles in their hands, their knapsacks on their backs, and each regiment +knows exactly at which station and by what train to embark. She is making +Zeppelins night and day, training her men till they drop with exhaustion. +Krupp's works are guarded by double lines of sentries. There are secrets +there which no one can penetrate. And all the time she is building ships +feverishly. Look here--you know my cousin, Lady Emily Fakenham?" + +"Of course!" + +"Only yesterday," Wyatt continued impressively, "she showed me a +letter--I read it, mind--from a cousin of Prince Hohenlowe. She met him +at Monte Carlo this year, and they had a sort of flirtation. In the +postscript he says: 'If you take my advice, don't go to Dinard this +August. Don't be further away from home than you can help at all this +summer.' What do you think that meant?" + +"It sounds queer," Hebblethwaite admitted. + +"Germany is bound to have a knock at us," Spencer Wyatt went on. "We've +talked of it so long that the words pass over our heads, as it were, but +she means it. And I tell you another thing. She means to do it while +there's a Radical Government in power here, and before Russia finishes +her reorganisation scheme. I am not a soldier, Hebblethwaite, but the +fellows we've got up at the top--not the soldiers themselves but the +chaps like old Busby and Simons--are simply out and out rotters. That's +plain speaking, isn't it, but you and I are the two men concerned in the +government of this country who do talk common sense to one another. We've +fine soldiers and fine organisers, but they've been given the go-by +simply because they know their job and would insist upon doing it +thoroughly, if at all. Russia will have another four million men ready to +be called up by the end of 1915, and not only that, but what is more +important, is that she'll have the arms and the uniforms for them. +Germany isn't going to wait for that. I've thought it all out. We are +going to get it in the neck before seven or eight months have passed, and +if you want to know the truth, Hebblethwaite, that's why I have taken a +risk and ordered these ships. The navy is my care, and it's my job to see +that we keep it up to the proper standard. Whose votes rob me of my extra +battleships? Why, just a handful of Labour men and Irishmen and cocoa +Liberals, who haven't an Imperial idea in their brains, who think war +belongs to the horrors of the past, and think they're doing their duty by +what they call 'keeping down expenses.' Hang it, Hebblethwaite, it's +worse than a man who won't pay fire insurance for his house in a +dangerous neighbourhood, so as to save a bit of money! What I've done I +stick to. Split on me, if you want to." + +"I don't think I shall do that," Hebblethwaite said, "but honestly, +Wyatt, I can't follow you in your war talk. We got over the Agadir +trouble. We've got over a much worse one--the Balkan crisis. There +isn't a single contentious question before us just now. The sky is +almost clear." + +"Believe me," Wyatt insisted earnestly, "that's just the time to look for +the thunderbolt. Can't you see that when Germany goes to war, it will be +a war of conquest, the war which she has planned for all these years? +She'll choose her own time, and she'll make a _casus belli_, right +enough, when the time comes. Of course, she'd have taken advantage of the +position last year, but she simply wasn't ready. If you ask me, I believe +she thinks herself now able to lick the whole of Europe. I am not at all +sure, thanks to Busby and our last fifteen years' military +administration, that she wouldn't have a good chance of doing it. Any +way, I am not going to have my fleet cut down." + +"The country is prosperous," Hebblethwaite acknowledged. "We can afford +the ships." + +"Then look here, old chap," Wyatt begged, "I am not pleading for my own +sake, but the country's. Keep your mouth shut. See what the next month or +two brings. If there's trouble--well, I don't suppose I shall be jumped +on then. If there isn't, and you want a victim, here I am. I disobeyed +orders flagrantly. My resignation is in my desk at any moment." + +Hebblethwaite glanced at the clock. + +"I am very hungry," he said, "and I have a long way to go for dinner. +We'll let it go at that, Wyatt. I'll try and keep things quiet for you. +If it comes out, well, you know the risk you run." + +"I know the bigger risk we are all running," Wyatt declared, as he took a +cigarette from an open box on the table by his side and turned towards +the door. "I'll manage the turtle soup now, with luck. You're a good +fellow, Hebblethwaite. I know it goes against the grain with you, but, by +Jove, you may be thankful for this some time!" + +The Right Honourable John William Hebblethwaite took the hat from his +footman, stepped into his car, and was driven rapidly away. He leaned +back among the cushions, more thoughtful than usual. There was a yellow +moon in the sky, pale as yet. The streets were a tangled vortex of +motorcars and taxies, all filled with men and women in evening dress. It +was the height of a wonderful season. Everywhere was dominant the note of +prosperity, gaiety, even splendour. The houses in Park Lane, +flower-decked, displayed through their wide-flung windows a constant +panorama of brilliantly-lit rooms. Every one was entertaining. In the +Park on the other side were the usual crowd of earnest, hard-faced men +and women, gathered in little groups around the orator of the moment. +Hebblethwaite felt a queer premonition that evening. A man of sanguine +temperament, thoroughly contented with himself and his position, he +seemed almost for the first time in his life, to have doubts, to look +into the future, to feel the rumblings of an earthquake, the great +dramatic cry of a nation in the throes of suffering. Had they been wise, +all these years, to have legislated as though the old dangers by land and +sea had passed?--to have striven to make the people fat and prosperous, +to have turned a deaf ear to every note of warning? Supposing the other +thing were true! Supposing Norgate and Spencer Wyatt had found the truth! +What would history have to say then of this Government of which he was so +proud? Would it be possible that they had brought the country to a great +prosperity by destroying the very bulwarks of its security? + +The car drew up with a jerk, and Hebblethwaite came back to earth. +Nevertheless, he promised himself, as he hastened across the pavement, +that on the morrow he would pay a long-delayed visit to the War Office. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + + +Anna was seated, a few days later, with her dearest friend, the Princess +of Thurm, in a corner of the royal enclosure at Ascot. For the first time +since their arrival they found themselves alone. From underneath her +parasol the Princess looked at her friend curiously. + +"Anna," she said, "something has happened to you." + +"Perhaps, but explain yourself," Anna replied composedly. + +"It is so simple. There you sit in a Doucet gown, perfection as ever, +from the aigrette in your hat to those delicately pointed shoes. You have +been positively hunted by all the nicest men--once or twice, indeed, I +felt myself neglected--and not a smile have I seen upon your lips. You go +about, looking just a little beyond everything. What did you see, child, +over the tops of the trees in the paddock, when Lord Wilton was trying so +hard to entertain you?" + +"An affair of moods, I imagine," Anna declared. "Somehow I don't feel +quite in the humour for Ascot to-day. To be quite frank," she went on, +turning her head slowly, "I rather wonder that you do, Mildred." + +The Princess raised her eyebrows. + +"Why not? Everything, so far as I am concerned, is _couleur de rose_. +Madame Blanche declared yesterday that my complexion would last for +twenty years. I found a dozen of the most adorable hats in Paris. The +artist who designs my frocks was positively inspired the last time I sat +to him. I am going to see Maurice in a few weeks, and meanwhile I have +several new flirtations which interest me amazingly. As for you, my +child, one would imagine that you had lost your taste for all frivolity. +You are as cold as granite. Be careful, dear. The men of to-day, in this +country, at any rate, are spoilt. Sometimes they are even uncourtier-like +enough to accept a woman's refusal." + +"Well," Anna observed, smiling faintly, "even a lifetime at Court has not +taught me to dissimulate. I am heavy-hearted, Mildred. You wondered what +I was looking at when I gazed over those green trees under which all +those happy people were walking. I was looking out across the North Sea. +I was looking through Belgium to Paris. I saw a vast curtain roll up, and +everything beyond it was a blood-stained panorama." + +A shade rested for a moment on her companion's fair face. She shrugged +her shoulders. + +"We've known for a long time, dear, that it must come." + +"But all the same, in these last moments it is terrible," Anna insisted. +"Seriously, Mildred, I wonder that I should feel it more than you. You +are absolutely English. Your father is English, your mother is English. +It is only your husband that is Austrian. You have lived in Austria only +for seven years. Has that been sufficient to destroy all your patriotism, +all your love for your own country?" + +The Princess made a little grimace. + +"My dear Anna," she said, "I am not so serious a person as you are. I am +profoundly, incomprehensibly selfish. The only human being in the whole +world for whom I have had a spark of real affection is Maurice, and I +adore him. What he has told me to do, I have done. What makes him happy +makes me happy. For his sake, even, I have forgotten and shall always +forget that I was born an Englishwoman. Circumstances, too," she went on +thoughtfully, "have made it so easy. England is such a changed country. +When I was a child, I could read of the times when our kings really +ruled, of our battles for dominion, of our fight for colonies, of our +building up a great empire, and I could feel just a little thrill. I +can't now. We have gone ahead of Napoleon. From a nation of shop-keepers +we have become a nation of general dealers--a fat, over-confident, +bourgeois people. Socialism has its hand upon the throat of the classes. +Park Lane, where our aristocracy lived, is filled with the mansions of +South African Jews, whom one must meet here or keep out of society +altogether. Our country houses have gone the same way. Our Court set is +dowdy, dull to a degree, and common in a different fashion. You are +right. I have lost my love for England, partly because of my marriage, +partly because of those things which have come to England herself." + +For the first time there was a little flush of colour in Anna's +exquisitely pale cheeks. There was even animation in her tone as she +turned towards her friend. + +"Mildred," she exclaimed, "it is splendid to hear you say what is really +in your mind! I am so glad you have spoken to me like this. I feel these +things, too. Now I am not nearly so English as you. My mother was English +and my father Austrian. Therefore, only half of me should be English. +Yet, although I am so much further removed from England than you are, I +have suddenly felt a return of all my old affection for her." + +"You are going to tell me why?" her companion begged. + +"Of course! It is because I believe--it is too ridiculous--but I believe +that I am in your position with the circumstances reversed. I am +beginning to care in the most foolish way for an unmistakable +Englishman." + +"If we had missed this little chance of conversation," the Princess +declared, "I should have been miserable for the rest of my life! There is +the Duke hanging about behind. For heaven's sake, don't turn. Thank +goodness he has gone away! Now go on, dear. Tell me about him at once. I +can't imagine who it may be. I have watched you with so many men, and I +know quite well, so long as that little curl is at the corner of your +lips, that they none of them count. Do I know him?" + +"I do not think so," Anna replied. "He is not a very important person." + +"It isn't the man you were dining with in the Café de Berlin when Prince +Karl came in?" + +"Yes, it is he!" + +The Princess made a little grimace. + +"But how unsuitable, my dear," she exclaimed, "if you are really in +earnest! What is the use of your thinking of an Englishman? He is quite +nice, I know. His mother and my mother were friends, and we met once or +twice. He was very kind to me in Paris, too. But for a serious affair--" + +"Well, it may not come to that," Anna interrupted, "but there it is. I +suppose that it is partly for his sake that I feel this depression." + +"I should have thought that he himself would have been a little out of +sympathy with his country just now," the Princess remarked. "They tell me +that the Foreign Office ate humble pie with the Kaiser for that affair +shockingly. They not only removed him from the Embassy, but they are +going to give him nothing in Europe. I heard for a fact that the Kaiser +requested that he should not be attached to any Court with which Germany +had diplomatic relations." + +Anna nodded. "I believe that it is true," she admitted, "but I am not +sure that he realises it himself. Even if he does, well, you know the +type. He is English to the backbone." + +"But there are Englishmen," the Princess insisted earnestly, "who are +amenable to common sense. There are Englishmen who are sorrowing over the +decline of their own country and who would not be _so_ greatly distressed +if she were punished a little." + +"I am afraid Mr. Norgate is not like that," Anna observed drily. +"However, one cannot be sure. Bother! I thought people were very kind to +leave us so long in peace. Dear Prince, how clever of you to find out +our retreat!" + +The Ambassador stood bareheaded before them. + +"Dear ladies," he declared, "you are the lode-stones which would draw one +even through these gossamer walls of lace and chiffons, of draperies as +light as the sunshine and perfumes as sweet as Heine's poetry." + +"Very pretty," Anna laughed, "but what you really mean is that you were +looking for two of your very useful slaves and have found them." + +The Ambassador glanced around. Their isolation was complete. + +"Ah! well," he murmured, "it is a wonderful thing to be so charmingly +aided towards such a wonderful end." + +"And to have such complete trust in one's friends," Anna remarked, +looking him steadfastly in the face. + +The Prince did not flinch. His smile was perfectly courteous and +acknowledging. + +"That is my happiness," he admitted. "I will tell you the reason which +directed my footsteps this way," he added, drawing a small betting book +from his pocket. "You must back Prince Charlie for the next race. I will, +if you choose, take your commissions. I have a man waiting at the rails." + +"Twenty pounds for me, please," the Princess declared. "I have the horse +marked on my card, but I had forgotten for the moment." + +"And the same for me," Anna begged. "But did you really come only to +bring us this valuable tip, Prince?" + +The Ambassador stooped down. + +"There is a dispatch on its way to me," he said softly, "which I believe +concerns you. It might be necessary for you to take a short journey +within the next few days." + +"Not back to Berlin?" Anna exclaimed. + +Their solitude had been invaded by now, and the Princess was talking to +two or three men who were grouped about her chair. The Ambassador stooped +a little lower. + +"To Rome," he whispered. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + + +Back from the dusty roads, the heat and noise of the long day, Anna was +resting on the couch in her sitting-room. A bowl of roses and a note +which she had read three or four times stood on a little table by her +side. One of the blossoms she had fastened into the bosom of her loose +gown. The blinds were drawn, the sounds of the traffic outside were +muffled and distant. Her bath had been just the right temperature, her +maid's attention was skilful and delicate as ever. She was conscious of +the drowsy sweet perfume of the flowers, the pleasant sense of powdered +cleanliness. Everything should have conduced to rest, but she lay there +with her eyes wide-open. There was so much to think about, so much that +was new finding its way into her stormy young life. + +"Madame!" + +Anna turned her head. Her maid had entered noiselessly from the inner +room and was standing by her side. + +"Madame does not sleep? There is a person outside who waits for an +interview. I have denied him, as all others. He gave me this." + +Anna almost snatched the piece of paper from her maid's fingers. She +glanced at the name, and the disappointment which shone in her eyes was +very apparent. It was succeeded by an impulse of surprise. + +"You can show him in," she directed. + +Selingman appeared a few moments later--Selingman, cool, rosy, and +confident, on the way to his beloved bridge club. He took the hand +which Anna, without moving, held out to him, and raised it gallantly +to his lips. + +"I thought it was understood, my crockery friend," she murmured, "that in +London we did not interchange visits." + +"Most true, gracious lady," he admitted, "but there are circumstances +which can alter the most immovable decisions. At this moment we are +confronted with one. I come to discuss with you the young Englishman, +Francis Norgate." + +She turned her head a little. Her eyes were full of enquiry. + +"To discuss him with me?" + +Selingman's eyes as though by accident fell upon the roses and the note. + +"Ah, well," she murmured, "go on." + +"It is wonderful," Selingman proceeded, "to be able to tell the truth. I +speak to you as one comrade to another. This young man was your companion +at the Café de Berlin. For the indiscretion of behaving like a +bull-headed but courageous young Englishman, he is practically dismissed +from the Service. He comes back smarting with the injustice of it. Chance +brings him in my way. I proceed to do my best to make use of this +opportunity." + +"So like you, dear Herr Selingman!" Anna murmured. + +Selingman beamed. + +"Ever gracious, dear lady. Well, to continue, then. Here I find a young +Englishman of exactly the order and position likely to be useful to us. I +approach him frankly. He has been humiliated by the country he was +willing to serve. I talk to him of that country. 'You are English, of +course,' I remind him, 'but what manner of an England is it to-day which +claims you?' It is a very telling argument, this. Upon the classes of +this country, democracy has laid a throttling hand. There is a spirit of +discontent, they say, among the working-classes, the discontent which +breeds socialism. There is a worse spirit of discontent among the upper +classes here, and it is the discontent which breeds so-called traitors." + +"I can imagine all the rest," Anna interposed coolly. "How far have you +succeeded?" + +"The young man," Selingman told her, "has accepted my proposals. He has +drawn three months' salary in advance. He furnished me yesterday with +details of a private conversation with a well-known Cabinet Minister." + +Anna turned her head. "So soon!" she murmured. + +"So soon," Selingman repeated. "And now, gracious lady, here comes my +visit to you. We have a recruit, invaluable if he is indeed a recruit at +heart, dangerous if he has the brains and wit to choose to make himself +so. I, on my way through life, judge men and women, and I judge +them--well, with few exceptions, unerringly, but at the back of my brain +there lingers something of mistrust of this young man. I have seen +others in his position accept similar proposals. I have seen the +struggles of shame, the doubts, the assertion of some part of a man's +lower nature reconciling him in the end to accepting the pay of a foreign +country. I have seen none of these things in this young man--simply a +cold and deliberate acceptance of my proposals. He conforms to no type. +He sets up before me a problem which I myself have failed wholly to +solve. I come to you, dear lady, for your aid." + +"I am to spy upon the spy," she remarked. + +"It is an easy task," Selingman declared. "This young man is your slave. +Whatever your daily business may be here, some part of your time, I +imagine, will be spent in his company. Let me know what manner of man he +is. Is this innate corruptness which brings him so easily to the bait, or +is it the stinging smart of injustice from which he may well be +suffering? Or, failing these, has he dared to set his wits against mine, +to play the double traitor? If even a suspicion of this should come to +you, there must be an end of Mr. Francis Norgate." + +Anna toyed for a moment with the rose at her bosom. Her eyes were looking +out of the room. Once again she was conscious of a curious slackening of +purpose, a confusion of issues which had once seemed to her so clear. + +"Very well," she promised. "I will send you a report in the course of a +few days." + +"I should not," Selingman continued, rising, "venture to trouble you, +Baroness, as I know the sphere of your activities is far removed from +mine, but chance has put you in the position of being able to ascertain +definitely the things which I desire to know. For our common sake you +will, I am sure, seek to discover the truth." + +"So far as I can, certainly," Anna replied, "but I must admit that I, +like you, find Mr. Norgate a little incomprehensible." + +"There are men," Selingman declared, "there have been many of the +strongest men in history, impenetrable to the world, who have yielded +their secrets readily to a woman's influence. The diplomatists in life +who have failed have been those who have underrated the powers possessed +by your wonderful sex." + +"Among whom," Anna remarked, "no one will ever number Herr Selingman." + +"Dear Baroness," Selingman concluded, as the maid whom Anna had summoned +stood ready to show him out, "it is because in my life I have been +brought into contact with so many charming examples of your power." + + * * * * * + +Once more silence and solitude. Anna moved restlessly about on her couch. +Her eyes were a little hot. That future into which she looked seemed to +become more than ever a tangled web. At half-past seven her maid +reappeared. + +"Madame will dress for dinner?" + +Anna swung herself to her feet. She glanced at the clock. + +"I suppose so," she assented. + +"I have three gowns laid out," the maid continued respectfully. "Madame +would look wonderful in the light green." + +"Anything," Anna yawned. + +The telephone bell tinkled. Anna took down the receiver herself. + +"Yes?" she asked. + +Her manner suddenly changed. It was a familiar voice speaking. Her maid, +who stood in the background, watched and wondered. + +"It is you, Baroness! I rang up to see whether there was any chance of +your being able to dine with me? I have just got back to town." + +"How dared you go away without telling me!" she exclaimed. "And how can I +dine with you? Do you not realise that it is Ascot Thursday, and I have +had many invitations to dine to-night? I am going to a very big +dinner-party at Thurm House." + +"Bad luck!" Norgate replied disconsolately. "And to-morrow?" + +"I have not finished about to-night yet," Anna continued. "I suppose you +do not, by any chance, want me to dine with you very much?" + +"Of course I do," was the prompt answer. "You see plenty of the Princess +of Thurm and nothing of me, and there is always the chance that you may +have to go abroad. I think that it is your duty--" + +"As a matter of duty," Anna interrupted, "I ought to dine at Thurm House. +As a matter of pleasure, I shall dine with you. You will very likely not +enjoy yourself. I am going to be very cross indeed. You have neglected +me shamefully. It is only these wonderful roses which have saved you." + +"So long as I am saved," he murmured, "tell me, please, where you would +like to dine?" + +"Any place on earth," she replied. "You may call for me here at half-past +eight. I shall wear a hat and I would like to go somewhere where our +people do not go." + +Anna set down the telephone. The listlessness had gone from her manner. +She glanced at the clock and ran lightly into the other room. + +"Put all that splendour away," she ordered her maid cheerfully. "To-night +we shall dazzle no one. Something perfectly quiet and a hat, please. I +dine in a restaurant. And ring the bell, Marie, for two aperitifs--not +that I need one. I am hungry, Marie. I am looking forward to my dinner +already. I think something dead black. I am looking well tonight. I can +afford to wear black." + +Marie beamed. + +"Madame has recovered her spirits," she remarked demurely. + +Anna was suddenly silent. Her light-heartedness was a revelation. She +turned to her maid. + +"Marie," she directed, "you will telephone to Thurm House. You will ask +for Lucille, the Princess's maid. You will give my love to the Princess. +You will say that a sudden headache has prostrated me. It will be enough. +You need say no more. To-morrow I lunch with the Princess, and she will +understand." + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + + +"Confess," Anna exclaimed, as she leaned back in her chair, "that my idea +was excellent! Your little restaurant was in its way perfection, but the +heat--does one feel it anywhere, I wonder, as one does in London?" + +"Here, at any rate, we have air," Norgate remarked appreciatively. + +"We are far removed," she went on, "from the clamour of diners, that +babel of voices, the smell of cooking, the meretricious music. We look +over the house-tops. Soon, just behind that tall building there, you will +see the yellow moon." + +They were taking their coffee in Anna's sitting-room, seated in +easy-chairs drawn up to the wide-flung windows. The topmost boughs of +some tall elm trees rustled almost in their faces. Away before them +spread the phantasmagoria of a wilderness of London roofs, softened and +melting into the dim blue obscurity of the falling twilight. Lights were +flashing out everywhere, and above them shone the stars. Norgate drew a +long breath of content. + +"It is wonderful, this," he murmured. + +"We are at least alone," Anna said, "and I can talk to you. I want to +talk to you. Should you be very much flattered, I wonder, if I were to +say that I have been thinking of little else for the last three or four +days than how to approach you, how to say something to you without any +fear of being misunderstood, how to convince you of my own sincerity?" + +"If I am not flattered," he answered, looking at her keenly, "I am at +least content. Please go on." + +"You are one of those, I believe," she continued earnestly, "who realise +that somewhere not far removed from the splendour of these summer days, a +storm is gathering. I am one of those who know. England has but a few +more weeks of this self-confident, self-esteeming security. Very soon the +shock will come. Oh! you sit there, my friend, and you are very +monosyllabic, but that is because you do not wholly trust me." + +He swung suddenly round upon her and there was an unaccustomed fire +in his eyes. + +"May it not be for some other reason?" he asked quickly. + +There was a moment's silence. Her own face seemed paler than ever in the +strange half light, but her eyes were wonderful. He told himself with +passionate insistence that they were the eyes of a truthful woman. + +"Tell me," she begged, "what reason?" + +He leaned towards her. + +"It is so hopeless," he said. "I am just a broken diplomat whose career +is ended almost before it is begun, and you--well, you have everything at +your feet. It is foolish of me, isn't it, but I love you." + +He took her hand, and she did not withdraw it. + +"If it is foolish," she murmured, "then I am foolish, too. Perhaps you +can guess now why I came to London." + +He drew her into his arms. She made no resistance. Her lips, even, were +seeking his. It seemed to him in those breathless moments that a greater +thing than even the destiny of nations was born into the world. There +was a new vigour in his pulses as she gently pushed him back, a new +splendour in life. + +"Dear," she exclaimed, "of course we are both very foolish, and yet, I do +not know. I have been wondering why this has not come to me long ago, and +now that it has come I am happy." + +"You care--you really care?" he insisted passionately. + +"Of course I do," she told him, quietly enough and yet very +convincingly. "If I did not care I should not be here. If I did not +care, I should not be going to say the things to you which I am going to +say now. Sit back in your chair, please, hold my hand still, smoke if +you will, but listen." + +He obeyed. A deeper seriousness crept into her tone, but her face was +still soft and wonderful. The new things were lingering there. + +"I want to tell you first," she said, "what I think you already know. The +moment for which Germany has toiled so long, from which she has never +faltered, is very close at hand. With all her marvellous resources and +that amazing war equipment of which you in this country know little, she +will soon throw down the gage to England. You are an Englishman, Francis. +You are not going to forget it, are you?" + +"Forget it?" he repeated. + +"I know," she continued slowly, "that Selingman has made advances to you. +I know that he has a devilish gift for enrolling on his list men of +honour and conscience. He has the knack of subtle argument, of twisting +facts and preying upon human weaknesses. You have been shockingly treated +by your Foreign Office. You yourself are entirely out of sympathy with +your Government. You know very well that England, as she is, is a country +which has lost her ideals, a country in which many of her sons might +indeed, without much reproach, lose their pride, Selingman knows this. He +knows how to work upon these facts. He might very easily convince you +that the truest service you could render your country was to assist her +in passing through a temporary tribulation." + +He looked at her almost in surprise. + +"You seem to know the man's methods," he observed. + +"I do," she answered, "and I detest them. Now, Francis, please tell me +the truth. Is your name, too, upon that long roll of those who are +pledged to assist his country?" + +"It is," he admitted. + +She drew a little away. + +"You admit it? You have already consented?" + +"I have drawn a quarter's salary," Norgate confessed. "I have entered +Selingman's corps of the German Secret Service." + +"You mean that you are a traitor!" she exclaimed. + +"A traitor to the false England of to-day," Norgate replied, "a friend, +I hope, of the real England." + +She sat quite still for some moments. + +"Somehow or other," she said, "I scarcely fancied that you would give in +so easily." + +"You seem disappointed," he remarked, "yet, after all, am I not on +your side?" + +"I suppose so," she answered, without enthusiasm. + +There was another and a more prolonged silence. Norgate rose at last +to his feet. He walked restlessly to the end of the room and back +again. A dark mass of clouds had rolled up; the air seemed almost +sulphurous with the presage of a coming storm. They looked out into +the gathering darkness. + +"I don't understand," he said. "You are Austrian; that is the same as +German. I tell you that I have come over on your side. You seem +disappointed." + +"Perhaps I am," she admitted, standing up, too, and linking her arm +through his. "You see, my mother was English, and they say that I am +entirely like her. I was brought up here in the English country. +Sometimes my life at Vienna and Berlin seems almost like a dream to me, +something unreal, as though I were playing at being some other woman. +When I am back here, I feel as though I had come home. Do you know really +that nothing would make me happier than to hear or think nothing about +duty, to just know that I had come back to England to stay, and that you +were English, and that we were going to live just the sort of life I +pictured to myself that two people could live so happily over here, +without too much ambition, without intrigue, simply and honestly. I am a +little weary of cities and courts, Francis. To-night more than ever +England seems to appeal to me, to remind me that I am one of her +daughters." + +"Are you trying me, Anna?" he asked hoarsely. + +"Trying you? Of course not!" she answered. "I am speaking to you just +simply and naturally, because you are the one person in the world to whom +I may speak like that." + +"Then let's drop it, both of us!" he exclaimed, holding her arm +tightly to his. "Courts and cities can do without you, and Selingman +can do without me. We'll take a cottage somewhere and live through +these evil days." + +She shook her head. + +"You and I are not like that, Francis," she declared. "When the storm +breaks, we mustn't be found hiding in our holes. You know that quite +well. It is for us to decide what part we may play. You have chosen. So, +in a measure, have I. Tomorrow I am going on a secret mission to Italy." + +"Anna!" he cried in dismay. + +"Alas, yes!" she repeated, "We may not even meet again, Francis, till the +map of Europe has been rewritten with the blood of many of our friends +and millions of our country-people. But I shall think of you, and the +kiss you will give me now shall be the last upon my lips." + +"You can go away?" he demanded. "You can leave me like this?" + +"I must," she answered simply. "I have work before me. Good-by, Francis! +Somehow I knew what was coming. I believe that I am glad, dear, but I +must think about it, and so must you." + +Norgate left the hotel and walked out amid the first mutterings of the +storm. He found a taxi and drove to his rooms. For an hour he sat before +his window, watching the lightning play, fighting the thoughts which beat +upon his brain, fighting all the time a losing battle. At midnight the +storm had ceased. He walked back through the rain-streaming streets. The +air was filled with sweet and pungent perfumes. The heaviness had passed +from the atmosphere. His own heart was lighter; he walked swiftly. +Outside her hotel he paused and looked up at the window. There was a +light still burning in her room. He even fancied that he could see the +outline of her figure leaning back in the easy-chair which he had wheeled +up close to the casement. He entered the hotel, stepped into the lift, +ascended to her floor, and made his way with tingling pulses and beating +heart along the corridor. He knocked softly at her door. There was a +little hesitation, then he heard her voice on the other side. + +"Who is that?" + +"It is I--Francis," he answered softly. "Let me in." + +There was a little exclamation. She opened the door, holding up +her finger. + +"Quietly," she whispered. "What is it, Francis? Why have you come back? +What has happened to you?" + +He drew her into the room. She herself looked weary, and there were +lines under her eyes. It seemed, even, as though she might have been +weeping. But it was a new Norgate who spoke. His words rang out with a +fierce vigour, his eyes seemed on fire. + +"Anna," he cried, "I can't fence with you. I can't lie to you. I can't +deceive you. I've tried these things, and I went away choking, I had to +come back. You shall know the truth, even though you betray me. I am no +man of Selingman's. I have taken his paltry money--it went last night to +a hospital. I am for England--God knows it!--the England of any +government, England, however misguided or mistaken. I want to do the work +for her that's easiest and that comes to me. I am on Selingman's roll. +What do you think he'll get from me? Nothing that isn't false, no +information that won't mislead him, no facts save those I shall distort +until they may seem so near the truth that he will build and count upon +them. Every minute of my time will be spent to foil his schemes. They +don't believe me in Whitehall, or Selingman would be at Bow Street +to-morrow morning. That's why I am going my own way. Tell him, if you +will. There is only one thing strong enough to bring me here, to risk +everything, and that's my love for you." + +She was in his arms, sobbing and crying, and yet laughing. She clutched +at him, drew down his face and covered his lips with kisses. + +"Oh! I am so thankful," she cried, "so thankful! Francis, I ached--my +heart ached to have you sit there and talk as you did. Now I know that +you are the man I thought you were. Francis, we will work together." + +"You mean it?" + +"I do, England was my mother's country, England shall be my husband's +country. I will tell you many things that should help. From now my work +shall be for you. If they find me out, well, I will pay the price. You +shall run your risk, Francis, for your country, and I must take mine; but +at least we'll keep our honour and our conscience and our love. Oh, this +is a better parting, dear! This is a better good night!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + + +Mrs. Benedek was the first to notice the transformation which had +certainly taken place in Norgate's appearance. She came and sat by his +side upon the cushioned fender. + +"What a metamorphosis!" she exclaimed. "Why, you look as though +Providence had been showering countless benefits upon you." + +There were several people lounging around, and Mrs. Benedek's remark +certainly had point. + +"You look like Monty, when he's had a winning week," one of them +observed. + +"It is something more than gross lucre," a young man declared, who had +just strolled up. "I believe that it is a good fat appointment. Rome, +perhaps, where every one of you fellows wants to get to, nowadays." + +"Or perhaps," the Prince intervened, with a little bow, "Mrs. Benedek has +promised to dine with you? She is generally responsible for the gloom or +happiness of us poor males in this room." + +Norgate smiled. + +"None of these wonderful things have happened--and yet, something perhaps +more wonderful," he announced. "I am engaged to be married." + +There was a mingled chorus of exclamations and congratulations. +Selingman, who had been standing on the outskirts of the group, drew a +little nearer. His face wore a somewhat puzzled expression. + +"And the lady?" he enquired. "May we not know the lady's name? That is +surely important?" + +"It is the Baroness von Haase," Norgate replied. "You probably know her +by name and repute, at least, Mr. Selingman. She is an Austrian, but she +is often at Berlin." + +Selingman stretched out his great hand. For some reason or other, the +announcement seemed to have given him real pleasure. + +"Know her? My dear young friend, while I may not claim the privilege of +intimate friendship with her, the Baroness is a young lady of the +greatest distinction and repute in Berlin. I congratulate you. I +congratulate you most heartily. The anger of our young princeling is no +longer to be wondered at. I cannot tell you how thoroughly interesting +this news is to me." + +"You are very good indeed, I am sure, all of you," Norgate declared, +answering the general murmur of kindly words. "The Baroness doesn't play +bridge, but I'd like to bring her in one afternoon, if I may." + +"I have had the honour of meeting the Baroness von Haase several times," +Prince Lenemaur said. "It will give me the utmost pleasure to renew my +acquaintance with her. These alliances are most pleasing. Since I have +taken up my residence in this country, I regard them with the utmost +favour. They do much to cement the good feeling between Germany, +Austria, and England, which is so desirable." + +"English people," Mrs. Benedek remarked, "will at least have the +opportunity of judging Austrian women from the proper standpoint. Anna is +one of the most accomplished and beautiful women in either Vienna or +Berlin. I hope so much that she will not have forgotten me altogether." + +They all drifted presently back to the bridge tables. Norgate, however, +excused himself. He had some letters to write, he declared, and +presently he withdrew to the little drawing-room. In about a quarter of +an hour, as he had expected, the door opened, and Selingman entered. He +crossed the room at once to where Norgate was writing and laid his hand +upon his shoulder. + +"Young man," he said, "I wish to talk with you. Bring your chair around. +Sit there so that the light falls upon your face. So! Now let me see. +Where does that door lead to?" + +"Into the secretary's room, but it is locked," Norgate told him. + +"So! And the outer one I myself have carefully closed. We talk here, +then, in private. This is great news which you have brought this +afternoon." + +"It is naturally of some interest to me," Norgate assented, "but I +scarcely see--" + +"It is of immense interest, also, to me," Selingman interrupted. "It may +be that you do not know this at present. It may be that I anticipate, but +if so, no matter. Between you and your fiancée there will naturally be no +secrets. You are perhaps already aware that she holds a high position +amongst those who are working for the power and development and expansion +of our great empire?" + +"I have gathered something of the sort," Norgate admitted. "I know, of +course, that she is a personal favourite of the Emperor's, and _persona +grata_ at the Court of Berlin." + +"You have no scruple, then, about marrying a woman who belongs to a +certain clique, a certain school of diplomacy which you might, from a +superficial point of view, consider inimical to your country's +interests?" + +"I have no scruple at all in marrying the Baroness von Haase," Norgate +replied firmly. "As for the rest, you and I have discussed fully the +matter of the political relations between our countries. I have shown you +practically have I not, what my own views are?" + +"That is true, my young friend," Selingman confessed. "We have spoken +together, man to man, heart to heart. I have tried to show you that even +though we should stand with sword outstretched across the seas, yet in +the hearts of our people there dwells a real affection, real good-will +towards your country. I think that I have convinced you. I have come, +indeed, to have a certain amount of confidence in you. That I have +already proved. But your news to-day alters much. There are grades of +that society which you have joined, rings within rings, as you may well +imagine. I see the prospect before me now of making much greater and more +valuable use of you. It was your brain, and a certain impatience with +the political conduct of your country, which brought you over to our +side. Why should not that become an alliance--an absolute alliance? Your +interests are drawn into ours. You have now a real and great reason for +throwing in your lot with us. Let me look at you. Let me think whether I +may not venture upon a great gamble." + +Norgate did not flinch. He appeared simply a little puzzled. Selingman's +blue, steel-like eyes seemed striving to reach the back of his brain. + +"All the things that we accomplish in my country," the latter continued, +"we do by method and order. We do them scientifically. We reach out into +the future. So far as we can, we foresee everything. We leave little to +chance. Yet there are times when one cannot deal in certainties. Young +man, the news which you have told us this afternoon has brought us to +this pitch. I am inclined to gamble--to gamble upon you." + +"Is there any question of consulting me in this?" Norgate asked coolly. + +Selingman brushed the interruption on one side. + +"I now make clear to you what I mean," he continued. "You have joined my +little army of helpers, those whom I have been able to convince of the +justice and reasonableness of Germany's ultimate aim. Now I want more +from you. I want to make of you something different. More than anything +in the world, for the furtherance of my schemes here, I need a young +Englishman of your position and with your connections, to whom I can give +my whole confidence, who will act for me with implicit obedience, +without hesitation. Will you accept that post, Francis Norgate?" + +"If you think I am capable of it," Norgate replied promptly. + +"You are capable of it," Selingman asserted. "There is only one grim +possibility to be risked. Are you entirely trustworthy? Would you flinch +at the danger moment? Before this afternoon I hesitated. It is your +alliance with the Baroness which gives me that last drop of confidence +which was necessary." + +"I am ready to do your work," Norgate said. "I can say no more. My own +country has no use for me. My own country seems to have no use for any +one at all just now who thinks a little beyond the day's eating and +drinking and growing fat." + +Selingman nodded his head. The note of bitterness in the other's tone was +to his liking. + +"Of rewards, of benefits, I shall not now speak," he proceeded. "You have +something in you of the spirit of men who aim at the greater things. +There is, indeed, in your attitude towards life something of the +idealism, the ever-stretching heavenward culture of my own people. I +recognise that spirit in you, and I will not give a lower tone to our +talk this afternoon by speaking of money. Yet what you wish for you may +have. When the time comes, what further reward you may desire, whether it +be rank or high position, you may have, but for the present let it be +sufficient that you are my man." + +He held out his hand, and all the time his eyes never left Norgate's. +Gone the florid and beaming geniality of the man, his easy good-humour, +his air of good-living and rollicking gaiety. There were lines in his +forehead. The firm contraction of his lips brought lines even across his +plump cheeks. It was the face, this, of a strong man and a thinker. He +held Norgate's fingers, and Norgate never flinched. + +"So!" he said at last, as he turned away. "Now you are indeed in the +inner circle, Mr. Francis Norgate. Good! Listen to me, then. We will +speak of war, the war that is to come, the war that is closer at hand +than even you might imagine." + +"War with England?" Norgate exclaimed. + +Selingman struck his hands together. + +"No!" he declared. "You may take it as a compliment, if you like--a +national compliment. We do not at the present moment desire war with +England. Our plan of campaign, for its speedy and successful +accomplishment, demands your neutrality. The North Sea must be free to +us. Our fleet must be in a position to meet and destroy, as it is well +able to do, the Russian and the French fleets. Now you know what has kept +Germany from war for so long." + +"You are ready for it, then?" Norgate remarked. + +"We are over-ready for it," Selingman continued. "We are spoiling for +it. We have piled up enormous stores of ordnance, ammunition, and all +the appurtenances of warfare. Our schemes have been cut and dried to the +last detail. Yet time after time we have been forced to stay our hand. +Need I tell you why? It is because, in all those small diplomatic +complications which have arisen and from which war might have followed, +England has been involved. We want to choose a time and a cause which +will give England every opportunity of standing peacefully on one side. +That time is close at hand. From all that I can hear, your country is, +at the present moment, in danger of civil war. Your Ministers who are +most in favour are Radical pacifists. Your army has never been so small +or your shipbuilding programme more curtailed. Besides, there is no +warlike spirit in your nation; you sleep peacefully. I think that our +time has come. You will not need to strain your ears, my friend. Before +many weeks have passed, the tocsin will be sounding. Does that move you? +Let me look at you." + +Norgate's face showed little emotion. Selingman nodded ponderously. + +"Surely," Norgate asked, "Germany will wait for some reasonable pretext?" + +"She will find one through Austria," Selingman replied. "That is simple. +Mind, though this may seem to you a war wholly of aggression, and though +I do not hesitate to say that we have been prepared for years for a war +of aggression, there are other factors which will come to light. Only a +few months ago, an entire Russian scheme for the invasion of Germany next +spring was discovered by one of our Secret Service agents." + +Norgate nodded. + +"One question more," he said. "Supposing Germany takes the plunge, and +then England, contrary to anticipation, decides to support France?" + +Selingman's face darkened. A sudden purposeless anger shook his voice. + +"We choose a time," he declared, "when England's hands are tied. She is +in no position to go to war with any one. I have many reports reaching me +every day. I have come to the firm conclusion that we have reached the +hour. England will not fight." + +"And what will happen to her eventually?" Norgate asked. + +Selingman smiled slowly. + +"When France is crushed," he explained, "and her northern ports +garrisoned by us, England must be taught just a little lesson, the lesson +of which you and I have spoken, the lesson which will be for her good. +That is what we have planned. That is how things will happen. Hush! There +is some one coming. It is finished, this. Come to me to-morrow morning. +There is work for you." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + + +Later on that evening, Norgate walked up and down the platform at +Charing-Cross with Anna. Her arm rested upon his; her expression was +animated and she talked almost eagerly. Norgate carried himself like a +man who has found a new thing in life. He was feeling none of the +depression of the last few days. + +"Dear," Anna begged, "you won't forget, will you, all the time that I am +away, that you must never for a single moment relax your caution? +Selingman speaks of trust. Well, he gambles, it is true, yet he protects +himself whenever he can. You will not move from early morning until you +go to bed at night, without being watched. To prove what I say--you see +the man who is reading an evening paper under the gas-lamp there? Yes? He +is one of Selingman's men. He is watching us now. More than once he has +been at our side. Scraps of conversation, or anything he can gather, will +go back to Selingman, and Selingman day by day pieces everything +together. Don't let there be a single thing which he can lay hold of." + +"I'll lead him a dance," Norgate promised, nodding a little grimly. "As +for that, Anna dear, you needn't be afraid. If ever I had any wits, +they'll be awake during the next few weeks." + +"When I come back from Rome," Anna went on, "I shall have more to tell +you. I believe that I shall be able to tell you even the date of the +great happening. I wonder what other commissions he will give you. The +one to-night is simple. Be careful, dear. Think--think hard before you +make up your mind. Remember that there is some duplicity which might +become suddenly obvious. An official statement might upset everything. +These English papers are so garrulous. You might find yourself +hard-pressed for an explanation." + +"I'll be careful, dear," Norgate assured her, as they stood at last +before the door of her compartment. "And of ourselves?" + +She lifted her veil. + +"We have so little time," she murmured. + +"But have you thought over what I suggested?" he begged. + +She laughed at him softly. + +"It sounds quite attractive," she whispered. "Shall we talk of it when I +come back from Italy? Good-by, dear! Of course, I do not really want to +kiss you, but our friend under the gas-lamp is looking--and you know our +engagement! It is so satisfactory to dear Mr. Selingman. It is the one +genuine thing about us, isn't it? So good-by!" + +The long train drew out from the platform a few minutes later. Norgate +lingered until it was out of sight. Then he took a taxi and drove to +the House of Commons. He sent in a card addressed to David Bullen, +Esq., and waited for some time. At last a young man came down the +corridor towards him. + +"I am Mr. Bullen's private secretary," he announced. "Mr. Bullen cannot +leave the House for some time. Would you care to go into the Strangers' +Gallery, or will you wait in his room?" + +"I should like to listen to the debate, if it is possible," +Norgate decided. + +A place was found for him with some difficulty. The House was crowded. +The debate concerned one of the proposed amendments to the Home Rule +Bill, not in itself important, yet interesting to Norgate on account of +the bitter feeling which seemed to underlie the speeches of the extreme +partisans on either side. The debate led nowhere. There was no division, +no master mind intervening, yet it left a certain impression on Norgate's +mind. At a little before ten, the young man who had found him his place +touched his shoulder. + +"Mr. Bullen will see you now, sir," he said. + +Norgate followed his conductor through a maze of passages into a +barely-furnished but lofty apartment. The personage whom he had come to +see was standing at the further end, talking somewhat heatedly to one or +two of his supporters. At Norgate's entrance, however, he dismissed them +and motioned his visitor to a chair. He was a tall, powerful-looking man, +with the eyes and forehead of a thinker. There was a certain laconic +quality in his speech which belied his nationality. + +"You come to me, I understand, Mr. Norgate," he began, "on behalf of some +friends in America, not directly, but representing a gentleman who in his +letter did not disclose himself. It sounds rather complicated, but +please talk to me. I am at your service." + +"I am sorry for the apparent mystery," Norgate said, as he took the seat +to which he was invited. "I will make up for it by being very brief. I +have come on behalf of a certain individual--whom we will call, if you +please, Mr. X----. Mr. X---- has powerful connections in America, +associated chiefly with German-Americans. As you know from your own +correspondence with an organisation over there, the situation in Ireland +is intensely interesting to them at the present moment." + +"I have gathered that, sir," Mr. Bullen confessed. "The help which the +Irish and Americans have sent to Dublin has scarcely been of the +magnitude which one might have expected, but one is at least assured of +their sympathy." + +"It is partly my mission to assure you of something else," Norgate +declared. "A secret meeting has been held in New York, and a sum of money +has been promised, the amount of which would, I think, surprise you. The +conditions attached to this gift, however, are peculiar. They are +inspired by a profound disbelief in the _bona fides_ of England and the +honourableness of her intentions so far as regards the administration of +the bill when passed." + +Mr. Bullen, who at first had seemed a little puzzled, was now deeply +interested. He drew his chair nearer to his visitor's. + +"What grounds have you, or those whom you represent, for saying that?" +he demanded. + +"None that I can divulge," Norgate replied. "Yet they form the motive of +the offer which I am about to make to you. I am instructed to say that +the sum of a million pounds will be paid into your funds on certain +guarantees to be given by you. It is my business here to place these +guarantees before you and to report as to your attitude concerning them." + +"One million pounds!" Mr. Bullen murmured, breathlessly. + +"There are the conditions," Norgate reminded him. + +"Well?" + +"In the first place," Norgate continued, "the subscribers to this fund, +which is by no means exhausted by the sum I mention, demand that you +accept no compromise, that at all costs you insist upon the whole bill, +and that if it is attempted at the last moment to deprive the Irish +people by trickery of the full extent of their liberty, you do not +hesitate to encourage your Nationalist party to fight for their freedom." + +Mr. Bullen's lips were a little parted, but his face was immovable. + +"Go on." + +"In the event of your doing so," Norgate continued, "more money, and arms +themselves if you require them, will be available, but the motto of those +who have the cause of Ireland entirely at heart is, 'No compromise!' They +recognise the fact that you are in a difficult position. They fear that +you have allowed yourself to be influenced, to be weakened by pressure +so easily brought upon you from high quarters." + +"I understand," Mr. Bullen remarked. "Go on." + +"There is a further condition," Norgate proceeded, "though that is less +important. The position in Europe at the present moment seems to indicate +a lasting peace, yet if anything should happen that that peace should be +broken, you are asked to pledge your word that none of your Nationalist +volunteers should take up arms on behalf of England until that bill has +become law and is in operation. Further, if that unlikely event, a war, +should take place, that you have the courage to keep your men solid and +armed, and that if the Ulster volunteers, unlike your men, decide to +fight for England, as they very well might do, that you then proceed to +take by force what it is not the intention of England to grant you by any +other means." + +Mr. Bullen leaned back in his chair. He picked up a penholder and played +with it for several moments. + +"Young man," he asked at last, "who is Mr. X----?" + +"That, in the present stage of our negotiations," Norgate answered +coolly, "I am not permitted to tell you." + +"May I guess as to his nationality?" Mr. Bullen enquired. + +"I cannot prevent your doing that." + +"The speculation is an interesting one," Mr. Bullen went on, still +fingering the penholder. "Is Mr. X---- a German?" + +Norgate was silent. + +"I cannot answer questions," he said, "until you have expressed +your views." + +"You can have them, then," Mr. Bullen declared. + +"You can go back to Mr. X---- and tell him this. Ireland needs help +sorely to-day from all her sons, whether at home or in foreign +countries. More than anything she needs money. The million pounds of +which you speak would be a splendid contribution to what I may term our +war chest. But as to my views, here they are. It is my intention, and +the intention of my Party, to fight to the last gasp for the literal +carrying out of the bill which is to grant us our liberty. We will not +have it whittled away or weakened one iota. Our lives, and the lives of +greater men, have been spent to win this measure, and now we stand at +the gates of success. We should be traitors if we consented to part with +a single one of the benefits it brings us. Therefore, you can tell Mr. +X---- that should this Government attempt any such trickery as he not +unreasonably suspects, then his conditions will be met. My men shall +fight, and their cause will be just." + +"So far," Norgate admitted, "this is very satisfactory." + +"To pass on," Mr. Bullen continued, "let me at once confess that I find +something sinister, Mr. Norgate, in this mysterious visit of yours, in +the hidden identity of Mr. X----. I suspect some underlying motive +which prompts the offering of this million pounds. I may be wrong, but +it seems to me that I can see beneath it all the hand of a foreign +enemy of England." + +"Supposing you were right, Mr. Bullen," Norgate said, "what is England +but a foreign enemy of Ireland?" + +A light flashed for a moment in Mr. Bullen's eyes. His lip curled +inwards. + +"Young man," he demanded, "are you an Englishman?" + +"I am," Norgate admitted. + +"You speak poorly, then. To proceed to the matter in point, my word is +pledged to fight. I will plunge the country I love into civil war to gain +her rights, as greater patriots than I have done before. But the thing +which I will not do is to be made the cat's-paw, or to suffer Ireland to +be made the cat's-paw, of Germany. If war should come before the +settlement of my business, this is the position I should take. I would +cross to Dublin, and I would tell every Nationalist Volunteer to shoulder +his rifle and to fight for the British Empire, and I would go on to +Belfast--I, David Bullen--to Belfast, where I think that I am the most +hated man alive, and I would stand side by side with the leader of those +men of Ulster, and I would beg them to fight side by side with my +Nationalists. And when the war was over, if my rights were not granted, +if Ireland were not set free, then I would bid my men take breathing time +and use all their skill, all the experience they had gained, and turn and +fight for their own freedom against the men with whom they had struggled +in the same ranks. Is that million pounds to be mine, Mr. Norgate?" + +Norgate shook his head. + +"Nor any part of it, sir," he answered. + +"I presume," Mr. Bullen remarked, as he rose, "that I shall never have +the pleasure of meeting Mr. X----?" + +"I most sincerely hope," Norgate declared fervently, "that you never +will. Good-day, Mr. Bullen!" + +He held out his hand. Mr. Bullen hesitated. + +"Sir," he said, "I am glad to shake hands with an Irishman. I am willing +to shake hands with an honest Englishman. Just where you come in, I don't +know, so good evening. You will find my secretary outside. He will show +you how to get away." + +For a moment Norgate faltered. A hot rejoinder trembled upon his lips. +Then he remembered himself and turned on his heel. It was his first +lesson in discipline. He left the room without protest. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + + +Mr. Hebblethwaite turned into Pall Mall, his hands behind his back, his +expression a little less indicative of bland good humour than usual. He +had forgotten to light his customary cigarette after the exigencies of a +Cabinet Council. He had even forgotten to linger for a few minutes upon +the doorstep in case any photographer should be hanging around to take a +snapshot of a famous visitor leaving an historic scene, and quite +unconsciously he ignored the salutation of several friends. It was only +by the merest chance that he happened to glance up at the corner of the +street and recognised Norgate across the way. He paused at once and +beckoned to him. + +"Well, young fellow," he exclaimed, as they shook hands, "how's the +German spy business going?" + +"Pretty well, thanks," Norgate answered coolly. "I am in it twice over +now. I'm marrying an Austrian lady shortly, very high up indeed in the +Diplomatic Secret Service of her country. Between us you may take it that +we could read, if we chose, the secrets of the Cabinet Council from which +you have just come." + +"Any fresh warnings, eh?" + +Norgate turned and walked by his friend's side. + +"It is no use warning you," he declared. "You've a hide as thick as a +rhinoceros. Your complacency is bomb-proof. You won't believe anything +until it's too late." + +"Confoundedly disagreeable companion you make, Norgate," the Cabinet +Minister remarked irritably. "You know quite as well as I do that +the German scare is all bunkum, and you only hammer it in either to +amuse yourself or because you are of a sensational turn of mind. All +the same--" + +"All the same, what?" Norgate interrupted. + +Hebblethwaite took his young friend's arm and led him into his club. + +"We will take an apéritif in the smoking-room," he said. "After that I +will look in my book and see where I am lunching. It is perhaps not +the wisest thing for a Cabinet Minister to talk in the street. Since +the Suffragette scares, I have quite an eye for a detective, and there +has been a fellow within a few yards of your elbow ever since you +spoke to me." + +"That's all right," Norgate reassured him. "Let's see, it's Tuesday, +isn't it? I call him Boko. He never leaves me. My week-end shadowers are +a trifle less assiduous, but Boko is suspicious. He has deucedly long +ears, too." + +"What the devil are you talking about?" Hebblethwaite demanded, as +they sat down. + +"The fact of it is," Norgate explained, "they don't altogether trust me +in my new profession. They give me some important jobs to look after, but +they watch me night and day. What they'd do if I turned 'em up, I can't +imagine. By-the-by, if you do hear of my being found mysteriously shot +or poisoned or something of that sort, don't you take on any theory as to +suicide. It will be murder, right enough. However," he added, raising his +glass to his lips and nodding, "they haven't found me out yet." + +"I hear," Hebblethwaite muttered, "that the bookstalls are loaded with +this sort of rubbish. You do it very well, though." + +"Oh! I am the real thing all right," Norgate declared. "By-the-by, what's +the matter with you?" + +"Nothing," Hebblethwaite replied. "When you come to think of it, sitting +here and feeling the reviving influence of this remarkably well-concocted +beverage, I can confidently answer 'Nothing.' And yet, a few minutes ago, +I must admit that I was conscious of a sensation of gloom. You know, +Norgate, you're not the only idiot in the world who goes about seeing +shadows. For the first time in my life I begin to wonder whether we +haven't got a couple of them among us. Of course, I don't take any notice +of Spencer Wyatt. It's his job. He plays the part of popular +hero--National Anthem, God Save the Empire, and all that sort of thing. +He must keep in with his admirals and the people, so of course he's +always barking for ships. But White, now. I have always looked upon White +as being absolutely the most level-headed, sensible, and peace-adoring +Minister this country ever had." + +"What's wrong with him?" Norgate asked. + +"I cannot," Hebblethwaite regretted, "talk confidentially to a +German spy." + +"Getting cautious as the years roll on, aren't you?" Norgate sighed. +"I hoped I was going to get something interesting out of you to cable +to Berlin." + +"You try cabling to Berlin, young fellow," Hebblethwaite replied grimly, +"and I'll have you up at Bow Street pretty soon! There's no doubt about +it, though, old White has got the shivers for some reason or other. To +any sane person things were never calmer and more peaceful than at the +present moment, and White isn't a believer in the German peril, either. +He is half inclined to agree with old Busby. He got us out of that Balkan +trouble in great style, and all I can say is that if any nation in Europe +wanted war then, she could have had it for the asking." + +"Well, exactly what is the matter with White at the present moment?" +Norgate demanded. + +"Got the shakes," Hebblethwaite confided. "Of course, we don't employ +well-born young Germans who are undergoing a period of rustication, as +English spies, but we do get to know a bit what goes on there, and the +reports that are coming in are just a little curious. Rolling stock is +being called into the termini of all the railways. Staff officers in +mufti have been round all the frontiers. There's an enormous amount of +drilling going on, and the ordnance factories are working at full +pressure, day and night." + +"The manoeuvres are due very soon," Norgate reminded his friend. + +"So I told White," Hebblethwaite continued, "but manoeuvres, as he +remarked, don't lead to quite so much feverish activity as there is about +Germany just now. Personally, I haven't a single second's anxiety. I only +regret the effect that this sort of feeling has upon the others. Thank +heavens we are a Government of sane, peace-believing people!" + +"A Government of fat-headed asses who go about with your ears stuffed +full of wool," Norgate declared, with a sudden bitterness. "What you've +been telling me is the truth. Germany's getting ready for war, and you'll +have it in the neck pretty soon." + +Hebblethwaite set down his empty glass. He had recovered his composure. + +"Well, I am glad I met you, any way, young fellow," he remarked. "You're +always such an optimist. You cheer one up. Sorry I can't ask you to +lunch," he went on, consulting his book, "but I find I am motoring down +for a round of golf this afternoon." + +"Yes, you would play golf!" Norgate grunted, as they strolled towards the +door. "You're the modern Nero, playing golf while the earthquake yawns +under London." + +"Play you some day, if you like," Hebblethwaite suggested, as he called +for a taxi. "They took my handicap down two last week at Walton +Heath--not before it was time, either. By-the-by, when can I meet the +young lady? My people may be out of town next week, but I'll give you +both a lunch or a dinner, if you'll say the word. Thursday night, eh?" + +"At present," Norgate replied, "the Baroness is in Italy, arranging for +the mobilisation of the Italian armies, but if she's back for Thursday, +we shall be delighted. She'll be quite interested to meet you. A keen, +bright, alert politician of your type will simply fascinate her." + +"We'll make it Thursday night, then, at the Carlton," Hebblethwaite +called out from his taxi. "Take care of Boko. So long!" + +At the top of St. James's Street, Norgate received the bow of a very +elegantly-dressed young woman who was accompanied by a well-known +soldier. A few steps further on he came face to face with Selingman. + +"A small city, London," the latter declared. "I am on my way to the +Berkeley to lunch. Will you come with me? I am alone to-day, and I hate +to eat alone. Miss Morgen has deserted me shamefully." + +"I met her a moment or two ago," Norgate remarked. "She was with +Colonel Bowden." + +Selingman nodded. "Rosa has been taking a great interest in flying +lately. Colonel Bowden is head of the Flying Section. Well, well, one +must expect to be deserted sometimes, we older men." + +"Especially in so great a cause," Norgate observed drily. + +Selingman smiled enigmatically. + +"And you, my young friend," he enquired, "what have you been doing +this morning?" + +"I have just left Hebblethwaite," Norgate answered. + +"There was a Cabinet Council this morning, wasn't there?" + +Norgate nodded. + +"An unimportant one, I should imagine. Hebblethwaite seemed thoroughly +satisfied with himself and with life generally. He has gone down to +Walton Heath to play golf." + +Selingman led the way into the restaurant. + +"Very good exercise for an English Cabinet Minister," he remarked, +"capital for the muscles!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + + +"I had no objection," Norgate remarked, a few hours later, "to lunching +with you at the Berkeley--very good lunch it was, too--but to dine with +you in Soho certainly seems to require some explanation. Why do we do it? +Is it my punishment for a day's inactivity, because if so, I beg to +protest. I did my best with Hebblethwaite this morning, and it was only +because there was nothing for him to tell me that I heard nothing." + +Selingman spread himself out at the little table and talked in voluble +German to the portly head-waiter in greasy clothes. Then he turned to +his guest. + +"My young friend," he enjoined, "you should cultivate a spirit of +optimism. I grant you that the place is small and close, that the odour +of other people's dinners is repellent, that this cloth, perhaps, is not +so clean as it once was, or the linen so fine as we are accustomed to. +But what would you have? All sides of life come into the great scheme. It +is here that we shall meet a person whom I need to meet, a person whom I +do not choose to have visit me at my home, whom I do not choose to be +seen with in any public place of great repute." + +"I should say we were safe here from knocking against any of our +friends!" Norgate observed. "Anyhow, the beer's all right." + +They were served with light-coloured beer in tall, chased tumblers. +Selingman eyed his with approval. + +"A nation," he declared, "which brews beer like this, deserves well of +the world. You did wisely, Norgate, to become ever so slightly associated +with us. Now examine carefully these _hors d'oeuvres_. I have talked with +Karl, the head-waiter. Instead of eighteen pence, we shall pay three +shillings each for our dinner. The whole resources of the establishment +are at our disposal. Fresh tins of _delicatessen_, you perceive. Do not +be afraid that you will go-away hungry." + +"I am more afraid," Norgate grumbled, "that I shall go away sick. +However!" + +"You may be interested to hear," announced Selingman, glancing up, "that +our visit is not in vain. You perceive the two men entering? The nearest +one is a Bulgarian. He is a creature of mine. The other is brought here +by him to meet us. It is good." + +The newcomers made their way along the room. One, the Bulgarian, was +short and dark. He wore a well-brushed blue serge suit with a red tie, +and a small bowler hat. He was smoking a long, brown cigarette and he +carried a bundle of newspapers. Behind him came a youth with a pale, +sensitive face and dark eyes, ill-dressed, with the grip of poverty upon +him, from his patched shoes to his frayed collar and well-worn cap. +Nevertheless, he carried himself as though indifferent to these things. +His companion stopped short as he neared the table at which the two men +were sitting, and took off his hat, greeting Selingman with respect. + +"My friend Stralhaus!" Selingman exclaimed. "It goes well, I trust? +You are a stranger. Let me introduce to you my secretary, Mr. +Francis Norgate." + +Stralhaus bowed and turned to his young companion. + +"This," he said, "is the young man with whom you desired to speak. We +will sit down if we may. Sigismund, this is the great Herr Selingman, +philanthropist and millionaire, with his secretary, Mr. Norgate. We take +dinner with him to-night." + +The youth shook hands without enthusiasm. His manner towards Selingman +was cold. At Norgate he glanced once or twice with something approaching +curiosity. Stralhaus proceeded to make conversation. + +"Our young friend," he explained, addressing Norgate, "is an exile in +London. He belongs to an unfortunate country. He is a native of Bosnia." + +The boy's lip curled. + +"It is possible," he remarked, "that Mr. Norgate has never even heard of +my country. He is very little likely to know its history." + +"On the contrary," Norgate replied, "I know it very well. You have had +the misfortune, during the last few years, to come under Austrian rule." + +"Since you put it like that," the boy declared, "we are friends. I am one +of those who cry out to Heaven in horror at the injustice which has been +done. We love liberty, we Bosnians. We love our own people and our own +institutions, and we hate Austria. May you never know, sir, what it is to +be ruled by an alien race!" + +"You have at least the sympathy of many nations who are powerless to +interfere," Selingman said quietly. "I read your pamphlet, Mr. Henriote, +with very great interest. Before we leave to-night, I shall make a +proposal to you." + +The boy seemed puzzled for a moment, but Stralhaus intervened with some +commonplace remark. + +"After dinner," he suggested, "we will talk." + +Certainly during the progress of the meal Henriote said little. He ate, +although obviously half famished, with restraint, but although Norgate +did his best to engage him in conversation, he seemed taciturn, almost +sullen. Towards the end of dinner, when every one was smoking and coffee +had been served, Selingman glanced at his watch. + +"Now," he said, "I will tell you, my young Bosnian patriot, why I sent +for you. Would you like to go back to your country, in the first place?" + +"It is impossible!" Henriote declared bitterly, "I am exile. I am +forbidden to return under pain of death." + +Selingman opened his pocket-book, and, searching among his papers, +produced a thin blue one which he opened and passed across the table. + +"Read that," he ordered shortly. + +The young man obeyed. A sudden exclamation broke from his lips. A pink +flush, which neither the wine nor the food had produced, burned in his +cheeks. He sat hunched up, leaning forward, his eyes devouring the paper. +When he had finished, he still gripped it. + +"It is my pardon!" he cried. "I may go back home--back to Bosnia!" + +"It is your free pardon," Selingman replied, "but it is granted to you +upon conditions. Those conditions, I may say, are entirely for your +country's sake and are framed by those who feel exactly as you feel--that +Austrian rule for Bosnia is an injustice." + +"Go on," the young man muttered. "What am I to do?" + +"You are a member," Selingman went on, "of the extreme revolutionary +party, a party pledged to stop at nothing, to drive your country's +enemies across her borders. Very well, listen to me. The pardon which +you have there is granted to you without any promise having been asked +for or given in return. It is I alone who dictate terms to you. Your +country's position, her wrongs, and the abuses of the present form of +government, can only be brought before the notice of Europe in one way. +You are pledged to do that. All that I require of you is that you keep +your pledge." + +The young man half rose to his feet with excitement. + +"Keep it! Who is more anxious to keep it than I? If Europe wants to know +how we feel, she shall know! We will proclaim the wrongs of our country +so that England and Russia, France and Italy, shall hear and judge for +themselves. If you need deeds to rivet the attention of the world upon +our sufferings, then there shall be deeds. There shall--" + +He stopped short. A look of despair crossed his face. + +"But we have no money!" he exclaimed. "We patriots are starving. Our +lands have been confiscated. We have nothing. I live over here Heaven +knows how--I, Sigismund Henriote, have toiled for my living with Polish +Jews and the outcasts of Europe." + +Selingman dived once more into his pocket-book. He passed a packet across +the table. + +"Young man," he said, "that sum has been collected for your funds by the +friends of your country abroad. Take it and use it as you think best. All +that I ask from you is that what you do, you do quickly. Let me suggest +an occasion for you. The Archduke of Austria will be in your capital +almost as soon as you can reach home." + +The boy's face was transfigured. His great eyes were lit with a wonderful +fire. His frame seemed to have filled out. Norgate looked at him in +wonderment. He was like a prophet; then suddenly he grew calm. He placed +his pardon, to which was attached his passport, and the notes, in his +breast-coat pocket. He rose to his feet and took the cap from the floor +by his side. + +"There is a train to-night," he announced. "I wish you farewell, +gentlemen. I know nothing of you, sir," he added, turning to Selingman, +"and I ask no questions. I only know that you have pointed towards the +light, and for that I thank you. Good night, gentlemen!" + +He left them and walked out of the restaurant like a man in a dream. +Selingman helped himself to a liqueur and passed the bottle to Norgate. + +"It is in strange places that one may start sometimes the driving wheels +of Fate," he remarked. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + + +Anna almost threw herself from the railway carriage into Norgate's arms. +She kissed him on both cheeks, held him for a moment away from her, then +passed her arm affectionately through his. + +"You dear!" she exclaimed. "Oh, how weary I am of it! Nearly a week in +the train! And how well you are looking! And I am not going to stay a +single second bothering about luggage. Marie, give the porter my +dressing-case. Here are the keys. You can see to everything." + +Norgate, carried almost off his feet by the delight of her welcome, led +her away towards a taxicab. + +"I am starving," she told him. "I would have nothing at Dover except a +cup of tea. I knew that you would meet me, and I thought that we would +have our first meal in England together. You shall take me somewhere +where we can have supper and tell me all the news. I don't look too +hideous, do I, in my travelling clothes?" + +"You look adorable," he assured her, "and I believe you know it." + +"I have done my best," she confessed demurely. "Marie took so much +trouble with my hair. We had the most delightful coupe all to +ourselves. Fancy, we are back again in London! I have been to Italy, I +have spoken to kings and prime ministers, and I am back again with you. +And queerly enough, not until to-morrow shall I see the one person who +really rules Italy." + +"Who is that?" he asked. + +"I am not sure that I shall tell you everything," she decided. "You have +not opened your mouth to me yet. I shall wait until supper-time. Have you +changed your mind since I went away?" + +"I shall never change it," he assured her eagerly. "We are in a taxicab +and I know it's most unusual and improper, but--" + +"If you hadn't kissed me," she declared a moment later as she +leaned forward to look in the glass, "I should not have eaten a +mouthful of supper." + +They drove to the Milan Grill. It was a little early for the theatre +people, and they were almost alone in the place. Anna drew a great sigh +of content as she settled down in her chair. + +"I think I must have been lonely for a long time," she whispered, "for +it is so delightful to get back and be with you. Tell me what you have +been doing?" + +"I have been promoted," Norgate announced. "My prospective alliance with +you has completed Selingman's confidence in me. I have been entrusted +with several commissions." + +He told her of his adventures. She listened breathlessly to the account +of his dinner in Soho. + +"It is queer how all this is working out," she observed. "I knew before +that the trouble was to come through Austria. The Emperor was very +anxious indeed that it should not. He wanted to have his country brought +reluctantly into the struggle. Even at this moment I believe that if he +thought there was the slightest chance of England becoming embroiled, he +would travel to Berlin himself to plead with the Kaiser. I really don't +know why, but the one thing in Austria which would be thoroughly +unpopular would be a war with England." + +"Tell me about your mission?" he asked. + +"To a certain point," she confessed, with a little grimace, "it was +unsuccessful. I have brought a reply to the personal letter I took over +to the King. I have talked with Guillamo, the Secretary of State for +Foreign Affairs, with whom, of course, everything is supposed to rest. +What I have brought with me, however, and what I heard from Guillamo, are +nothing but a repetition of the assurances given to our Ambassador. The +few private words which I was to get I have failed in obtaining, simply +because the one person who could have spoken them is here in London." + +"Who is that?" he enquired curiously. + +"The Comtesse di Strozzi," she told him. "It is she who has directed the +foreign policy of Italy through Guillamo for the last ten years. He does +nothing without her. He is like a lost child, indeed, when she is away. +And where do you think she is? Why, here in London. She is staying at the +Italian Embassy. Signor Cardina is her cousin. The great ball to-morrow +night, of which you have read, is in her honour. You shall be my escort. +At one time I knew her quite well." + +"The Comtesse di Strozzi!" he exclaimed. "Why, she spent the whole of +last season in Paris. I saw quite a great deal of her." + +"How odd!" Anna murmured. "But how delightful! We shall be able to talk +to her together, you and I." + +"It is rather a coincidence," he admitted "She had a sort of craze to +visit some of the places in Paris where it is necessary for a woman to go +incognito, and I was always her escort. I heard from her only a few weeks +ago, and she told me that she was coming to London." + +Anna shook her head at him gaily. + +"Well," she said, "I won't indulge in any ante-jealousies. I only +hope that through her we shall get to know the truth. Are things here +still quiet?" + +"Absolutely." + +"Also in Paris. Francis, I feel so helpless. On my way I thought of +staying over, of going to see the Minister of War and placing certain +facts before him. And then I realised how little use it would all be. +They won't believe us, Francis. They would simply call us alarmists. They +won't believe that the storm is gathering." + +"Don't I know it!" Norgate assented earnestly. "Why, Hebblethwaite here +has always been a great friend of mine. I have done all I can to +influence him. He simply laughs in my face. To-day, for the first time, +he admitted that there was a slight uneasiness at the Cabinet Meeting, +and that White had referred to a certain mysterious activity throughout +Germany. Nevertheless, he has gone down to Walton Heath to play golf." + +She made a little grimace. + +"Your great Drake," she reminded him, "played bowls when the Armada +sailed. Your Cabinet Ministers will be playing golf or tennis. Oh, what a +careless country you are!--a careless, haphazard, blind, pig-headed +nation to watch over the destinies of such an Empire! I'm so tired of +politics, dear. I am so tired of all the big things that concern other +people. They press upon one. Now it is finished. You and I are alone. You +are my lover, aren't you? Remind me of it. If you will, I will discuss +the subject you mentioned the other day. Of course I shall say 'No!' I am +not nearly ready to be married yet. But I should like to hear your +arguments." + +Their heads grew closer and closer together. They were almost +touching when Selingman and Rosa Morgen came in. Selingman paused +before their table. + +"Well, well, young people!" he exclaimed. "Forgive me, Baroness, if I am +somewhat failing in respect, but the doings of this young man have become +some concern of mine." + +Her greeting was tinged with a certain condescension. She had suddenly +stiffened. There was something of the _grande dame_ in the way she held +up the tips of her fingers. + +"You do not disapprove, I trust?" + +"Baroness," Selingman declared earnestly, "it is an alliance for which no +words can express my approval. It comes at the one moment. It has riveted +to us and our interests one whose services will never be forgotten. May +I venture to hope that your journey to Italy has been productive?" + +"Not entirely as we had hoped," Anna replied, "yet the position there is +not unfavourable." + +Selingman glanced towards the table at which Miss Morgen had already +seated herself. + +"I must not neglect my duties," he remarked, turning away. + +"Especially," Anna murmured, glancing across the room, "when they might +so easily be construed into pleasures." + +Selingman beamed amiably. + +"The young lady," he said, "is more than ornamental--she is extremely +useful. From the fact that I may not be privileged to present her to you, +I must be careful that she cannot consider herself neglected. And so good +night, Baroness! Good night, Norgate!" + +He passed on. The Baroness watched him as he took his place opposite his +companion. + +"Is it my fancy," Norgate asked, "or does Selingman not meet entirely +with your approval?" + +She shrugged her shoulders. + +"It is not that," she replied. "He is a great man, in his way, the +Napoleon of the bourgeoisie, but then he is one of them himself. He +collects the whole scheme of information as to the social life and +opinions--the domestic particulars, I call them--of your country. Details +of your industries are at his finger-tips. He and I do not come into +contact. I am the trusted agent of both sovereigns, but it is only in +high diplomatic affairs that I ever intervene. Selingman, it is true, +may be considered the greatest spy who ever breathed, but a spy he is. If +we could only persuade your too amiable officials to believe one-tenth of +what we could tell them, I think our friend there would breakfast in an +English fortress, if you have such a thing." + +"We should only place him under police supervision," declared Norgate, +"and let him go. It's just our way, that's all." + +She waved the subject of Selingman on one side, but almost at that moment +he stood once more before them. He held an evening paper in his hand. + +"I bring you the news," he announced. "A terrible tragedy has happened. +The Archduke of Austria and his Consort have been assassinated on their +tour through Bosnia." + +For a moment neither Anna nor Norgate moved. Norgate felt a strange sense +of sickening excitement. It was as though the curtain had been rung up! + +"Is the assassin's name there?" he asked. + +"The crime," Selingman replied, "appears to have been committed by a +young Servian student. His name is Sigismund Henriote." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + + +They paused at last, breathless, and walked out of the most wonderful +ballroom in London into the gardens, aglow with fairy lanterns whose +brilliance was already fading before the rising moon. They found a seat +under a tall elm tree, and Anna leaned back. It was a queer mixture of +sounds which came to their ears; in the near distance, the music of a +wonderful orchestra rising and falling; further away, the roar of the +great city still awake and alive outside the boundary of those grey +stone walls. + +"Of course," she murmured, "this is the one thing which completes my +subjugation. Fancy an Englishman being able to waltz! Almost in that +beautiful room I fancied myself back in Vienna, except that it was more +wonderful because it was you." + +"You are turning my head," he whispered. "This is like a night out of +Paradise. And to think that we are really in the middle of London!" + +"Ah! do not mention London," she begged, "or else I shall begin to think +of Sodom and Gomorrah. After all, why need one live for anything else +except the present?" + +"There is the Comtesse," he reminded her disconsolately. + +She sighed. + +"How horrid of you!" + +"Let us forget her, then," he begged. "We will go into the marquee there +and have supper, and afterwards dance again. We'll steal to-night out of +the calendar. We'll call it ours and play with it as we please." + +She shook her head. + +"No," she decided, "you have reminded me of our duty, and you are quite +right. You were brought here to talk to the Comtesse. I do not know why, +but she is in a curiously impenetrable frame of mind. I tried hard to get +her to talk to me, but it was useless; you must see what you can do. +Fortunately, she seems to be absolutely delighted to have met you again. +You have a dance with her, have you not?" + +He drew out his programme reluctantly. + +"The next one, too," he sighed. + +Anna rose quickly to her feet. + +"How absurd of me to forget! Take me inside, please, and go and look for +her at once." + +"It's all very well," Norgate grumbled, "but the last time I saw her she +was about three deep among the notabilities. I really don't feel that I +ought to jostle dukes and ambassadors to claim a dance." + +"You must not be so foolish," Anna insisted. "The Comtesse cares nothing +for dukes and ambassadors, but she is most ridiculously fond of +good-looking young men. Mind, you will do better with her if you speak +entirely outside all of us. She is a very peculiar woman. If one could +only read the secrets she has stored up in her brain! Sometimes she is so +lavish with them, and at other times, and with other people, it seems as +though it would take an earthquake to force a sentence from her lips. +There she is, see, in that corner. Never mind the people around her. Go +and do your duty." + +Norgate found it easier than he had expected. She no sooner saw him +coming than she rose to her feet and welcomed him. She laid her fingers +upon his arm, and they moved away towards the ballroom. + +"I am afraid," he apologised, "that I am rather an intruder. You all +seemed so interested in listening to the Duke." + +"On the contrary, I welcome you as a deliverer," she declared. "I have +heard those stories so often, and worse than having heard them is the +necessity always to smile. The Duke is a dear good person, and he has +been exceedingly kind to me during the whole of my stay, but oh, how one +sometimes does weary oneself of this London of yours! Yet I love it. Do +you know that you were almost the first person I asked for when I arrived +here? They told me that you were in Berlin." + +"I was," he admitted. "I am in the act of being transferred." + +"Fortunate person!" she murmured. "You speak the language of all +capitals, but I cannot fancy you in Berlin." + +They had reached the edge of the ballroom. He hesitated. + +"Do you care to dance or shall we go outside and talk?" + +She smiled at him. "Both, may we not? You dear, discreet person, when I +think of the strange places where I have danced with you--Perhaps it is +better not to remember!" + +They moved away to the music and later on found their way into the +garden. The Comtesse was a little thoughtful. + +"You are a great friend of Anna's, are you not?" she enquired. + +"We are engaged to be married," he answered simply. + +She made a little grimace. + +"Ah!" she sighed, "you nice men, it comes to you all. You amuse +yourselves with us for a time, and then the real feeling comes, and where +are we? But it is queer, too," she went on thoughtfully, "that Anna +should marry an Englishman, especially just now." + +"Why 'especially just now'?" + +The Comtesse evaded the question. + +"Anna seemed always," she said, "to prefer the men of her own country. +Oh, what music! Shall we have one turn more, Mr. Francis Norgate? It is +the waltz they played--but who could expect a man to remember!" + +They plunged again into the crowd of dancers. The Comtesse was breathless +yet exhilarated when at last they emerged. + +"But you dance, as ever, wonderfully!" she cried. "You make me think of +those days in Paris. You make me even sad." + +"They remain," he assured her, "one of the most pleasant memories +of my life." + +She patted his hand affectionately. Then her tone changed. + +"Almost," she declared, "you have driven all other things out of my +mind. What is it that Anna is so anxious to know from me? You are in her +confidence, she tells me." + +"Entirely." + +"That again is strange," the Comtesse continued, "when one considers your +nationality, yet Anna herself has assured me of it. Do you know that she +is a person whom I very much envy? Her life is so full of variety. She is +the special protégée of the Emperor. No woman at Vienna is more trusted." + +"I am not sure," Norgate observed, "that she was altogether satisfied +with the results of her visit to Rome." + +The Comtesse's fan fluttered slowly back and forth. She looked for a +moment or two idly upon the brilliant scene. The smooth garden paths, the +sheltered seats, the lawns themselves, were crowded with little throngs +of women in exquisite toilettes, men in uniform and Court dress. There +were well-known faces everywhere. It was the crowning triumph of a +wonderful London season. + +"Anna's was a very difficult mission," the Comtesse pointed out +confidentially. "There is really no secret about these matters. The whole +world knows of Italy's position. A few months ago, at the time of what +you call the Balkan Crisis, Germany pressed us very hard for a definite +assurance of our support, under any conditions, of the Triple Alliance. I +remember that Andrea was three hours with the King that day, and our +reply was unacceptable in Berlin. It may have helped to keep the peace. +One cannot tell. The Kaiser's present letter is simply a repetition of +his feverish attempt to probe our intentions." + +"But at present," Norgate ventured, "there is no Balkan Crisis." + +The Comtesse looked at him lazily out of the corners of her sleepy eyes. + +"Is there not?" she asked simply. "I have been away from Italy for a week +or so, and Andrea trusts nothing to letters. Yesterday I had a dispatch +begging me to return. I go to-morrow morning. I do not know whether it is +because of the pressure of affairs, or because he wearies himself a +little without me." + +"One might easily imagine the latter," Norgate remarked. "But is it +indeed any secret to you that there is a great feeling of uneasiness +throughout the Continent, an extraordinary state of animation, a bustle, +although a secret bustle, of preparation in Germany?" + +"I have heard rumours of this," the Comtesse confessed. + +"When one bears these things in mind and looks a little into the future," +Norgate continued, "one might easily believe that the reply to that still +unanswered letter of the Kaiser's might well become historical." + +"You would like me, would you not," she asked, "to tell you what that +reply will most certainly be?" + +"Very much!" + +"You are an Englishman," she remarked thoughtfully, "and intriguing with +Anna. I fear that I do not understand the position." + +"Must you understand it?" + +"Perhaps not," she admitted. "It really matters very little. I will speak +to you just in the only way I can speak, as a private individual. I tell +you that I do not believe that Andrea will ever, under any circumstances, +join in any war against England, nor any war which has for its object the +crushing of France. In his mind the Triple Alliance was the most selfish +alliance which any country has ever entered into, but so long as the +other two Powers understood the situation, it was scarcely Italy's part +to point out the fact that she gained everything by it and risked +nothing. Italy has sheltered herself for years under its provisions, but +neither at the time of signing it, nor at any other time, has she had the +slightest intention of joining in an aggressive war at the request of her +allies. You see, her Government felt themselves safe--and I think that +that was where Andrea was so clever--in promising to fulfil their +obligations in case of an attack by any other Power upon Germany or +Austria, because it was perfectly certain to Andrea, and to every person +of common sense, that no such aggressive attack would ever be made. You +read Austria's demands from Servia in the paper this morning?" + +"I did," Norgate admitted. "No one in the world could find them +reasonable." + +"They are not meant to be reasonable," the Comtesse pointed out. "They +are the foundation from which the world quarrel shall spring. Russia +must intervene to protect Servia from their hideous injustice. Germany +and Austria will throw down the gage. Germany may be right or she may be +wrong, but she believes she can count on Great Britain's neutrality. She +needs our help and believes she will get it. That is because German +diplomacy always believes that it is going to get what it wants. Now, in +a few words, I will tell you what the German Emperor would give me a +province to know. I will tell you that no matter what the temptation, +what the proffered reward may be, Italy will not join in this war on the +side of Germany and Austria." + +"You are very kind, Comtesse," Norgate said simply, "and I shall respect +your confidence." + +She rose and laid her fingers upon his arm. + +"To people whom I like," she declared, "I speak frankly. I give away no +secrets. I say what I believe. And now I must leave you for a much +subtler person and a much subtler conversation. Prince Herschfeld is +waiting to talk to me. Perhaps he, too, would like to know the answer +which will go to his master, but how can I tell?" + +The Ambassador had paused before them. The Comtesse rose and +accepted his arm. + +"I shall take away with me to-night at least two charming memories," she +assured him, as she gathered up her skirts. "My two dances, Mr. Norgate, +have been delightful. Now I am equally sure of entertainment of another +sort from Prince Herschfeld." + +The Prince bowed. + +"Ah! madame," he sighed, "it is so hard to compete with youth. I fear +that the feet of Mr. Norgate will be nimbler than my brain to-night." + +She nodded sympathetically. + +"You are immersed in affairs, of course," she murmured. "Au revoir, Mr. +Norgate! Give my love to Anna. Some day I hope that I shall welcome you +both in Rome." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII + + +Norgate pushed his way through a confused medley of crates which had just +been unloaded and made his way up the warehouse to Selingman's office. +Selingman was engaged for a few minutes but presently opened the door of +his sanctum and called his visitor in. + +"Well, my young friend," he exclaimed, "you have brought news? Sit down. +This is a busy morning. We have had large shipments from Germany. I have +appointments with buyers most of the day, yet I can talk to you for a +little time. You were at the ball last night?" + +"I was permitted to escort the Baroness von Haase," Norgate replied. + +Selingman nodded ponderously. + +"I ask you no questions," he said. "The Baroness works on a higher plane. +I know more than you would believe, though. I know why the dear lady went +to Rome; I know why she was at the ball. I know in what respect you were +probably able to help her. But I ask no questions. We work towards a +common end, but we work at opposite ends of the pole. Curiosity alone +would be gratified if you were to tell me everything that transpired." + +"You keep yourself marvellously well-informed as to most things, don't +you, Mr. Selingman?" Norgate remarked. + +"Platitudes, young man, platitudes," Selingman declared, "words of air. +What purpose have they? You know who I am. I hold in my hand a thousand +strings. Any one that I pull will bring an answering message to my brain. +Come, what is it you wish to say to me?" + +"I am doing my work for you," Norgate remarked, "and doing it +extraordinarily well. I do not object to a certain amount of +surveillance, but I am getting fed up with Boko." + +"Who the hell is Boko?" Selingman demanded. + +"I must apologise," Norgate replied. "A nickname only. He is a little +red-faced man who looks like a children's toy and changes his clothes +about seven times a day. He is with me from the moment I rise to the last +thing at night. He is getting on my nerves. I am fast drifting into the +frame of mind when one looks under the bed before one can sleep." + +"Young man," Selingman said, "a month ago you were a person of no +importance. To-day, so far as I am concerned, you are a treasure-casket. +You hold secrets. You have a great value to us. Every one in your +position is watched; it is part of our system. If the man for whom you +have found so picturesque a nickname annoys you, he shall be changed. +That is the most I can promise you." + +"You don't trust me altogether, then?" Norgate observed coolly. + +Selingman tapped on the table in front of him with his pudgy forefinger. + +"Norgate," he declared solemnly, "trust is a personal matter. I have no +personal feelings. I am a machine. All the work I do is done by +machinery, the machinery of thought, the machinery of action. These are +the only means by which sentiment can be barred and the curious +fluctuations of human temperament guarded against. If you were my son, or +if you had dropped straight down from Heaven with a letter of +introduction from the proper quarters, you would still be under my +surveillance." + +"That seems to settle the matter," Norgate confessed, "so I suppose I +mustn't grumble. Yours is rather a bloodless philosophy." + +"Perhaps," Selingman assented. "You see me as I sit here, a merchant of +crockery, and I am a kind person. If I saw suffering, I should pause to +ease it. If a wounded insect lay in my path, I should step out of my way +to avoid it. But if my dearest friend, my nearest relation, seemed likely +to me to do one fraction of harm to the great cause, I should without one +second's compunction arrange for their removal as inevitably, and with as +little hesitation, as I leave this place at one o'clock for my luncheon." + +Norgate shrugged his shoulders. + +"One apparently runs risks in serving you," he remarked. + +"What risks?" Selingman asked keenly. + +"The risk of being misunderstood, of making mistakes." + +"Pooh!" Selingman exclaimed. "I do not like the man who talks of risks. +Let us dismiss this conversation. I have work for you." + +Norgate assumed a more interested attitude. + +"I am ready," he said. "Go on, please." + +"A movement is on foot," Selingman proceeded, "to establish manufactories +in this country for the purpose of producing my crockery. A very large +company will be formed, a great part of the money towards which is +already subscribed. We have examined several sites with a view to +building factories, but I have not cared at present to open up direct +negotiations. A rumour of our enterprise is about, and the price of the +land we require would advance considerably if the prospective purchaser +were known. The land is situated, half an acre at Willesden, +three-quarters of an acre at Golder's Hill, and an acre at Highgate. I +wish you to see the agents for the sale of these properties. I have +ascertained indirectly the price, which you will find against each lot, +with the agent's name," Selingman continued, passing across a folded slip +of foolscap. "You will treat in your own name and pay the deposit +yourself. Try and secure all three plots to-day, so that the lawyers can +prepare the deeds and my builder can make some preparatory plans there +during the week." + +Norgate accepted the little bundle of papers with some surprise. Enclosed +with them was a thick wad of bank-notes. + +"There are two thousand pounds there for your deposits," Selingman +continued. "If you need more, telephone to me, but understand I want to +start to work laying the foundations within the next few days." + +"I'll do the best I can," Norgate promised, "but this is rather a change +for me, isn't it? Will Boko come along?" + +Selingman smiled for a moment, but immediately afterwards his face was +almost stern. + +"Young man," he said, "from the moment you pledged your brains to my +service, every action of your day has been recorded. From one of my +pigeonholes I could draw out a paper and tell you where you lunched +yesterday, where you dined the day before, whom you met and with whom you +talked, and so it will be until our work is finished." + +"So long as I know," Norgate sighed, rising to his feet, "I'll try to get +used to him." + +Norgate found no particular difficulty in carrying out the commissions +entrusted to him. The sale of land is not an everyday affair, and he +found the agents exceedingly polite and prompt. The man with whom he +arranged the purchase of about three quarters of an acre of building land +at Golder's Green, on the conclusion of the transaction exhibited some +little curiosity. + +"Queer thing," he remarked, "but I sold half an acre, a month or two ago, +to a man who came very much as you come to-day. Might have been a +foreigner. Said he was going to put up a factory to make boots and shoes. +He is not going to start to build until next year, but he wanted a very +solid floor to stand heavy machinery. Look here." + +The agent climbed upon a pile of bricks, and Norgate followed his +example. There was a boarded space before them, with scaffolding poles +all around, but no other signs of building, and the interior consisted +merely of a perfectly smooth concrete floor. + +"That's the queerest way of setting about building a factory I ever saw," +the man pointed out. + +Norgate, who was not greatly interested, assented. The agent escorted him +back to his taxicab. + +"Of course, it's not my business," he admitted, "and you needn't say +anything about this to your principals, but I hope they don't stop with +laying down concrete floors. Of course, money for the property is the +chief thing we want, but we do want factories and the employment of +labour, and the sooner the better. This fellow--Reynolds, he said his +name was--pays up for the property all right, has that concrete floor +prepared, and clears off." + +"Raising the money to build, perhaps," Norgate remarked. "I don't think +there's any secret about my people's intentions. They are going to build +factories for the manufacture of crockery." + +The agent brightened up. + +"Well, that's a new industry, anyway. Crockery, eh?" + +"It's a big German firm in Cannon Street," Norgate explained. "They are +going to make the stuff here. That ought to be better for our people." + +The young man nodded. + +"I expect they're afraid of tariff reform," he suggested. "Those Germans +see a long way ahead sometimes." + +"I am beginning to believe that they do," Norgate assented, as he stepped +into the taxi. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII + + +Norgate walked into the club rather late that afternoon. Selingman and +Prince Lenemaur were talking together in the little drawing-room. They +called him in, and a few minutes later the Prince took his leave. + +"Well, that's all arranged," Norgate reported. "I have bought the three +sites. There was only one thing the fellow down at Golder's Hill was +anxious about." + +"And that?" + +"He hoped you weren't just going to put down a concrete floor and then +shut the place up." + +Mr. Selingman's amiable imperturbability was for once disturbed. + +"What did the fellow mean?" he enquired. + +"Haven't an idea," Norgate replied, "but he made me stand on a pile of +bricks and look at a strip of land which some one else had bought upon a +hill close by. I suppose they want the factories built as quickly as +possible, and work-people around the place." + +"I shall have two hundred men at work to-morrow morning," Selingman +remarked. "If that agent had not been a very ignorant person, he would +have known that a concrete floor is a necessity to any factory where +heavy machinery is used." + +"Is it?" Norgate asked simply. + +"Any other question?" Selingman demanded. + +"None at all." + +"Then we will go and play bridge." + +They cut into the same rubber. Selingman, however, was not at first +entirely himself. He played his cards in silence, and he once very nearly +revoked. Mrs. Benedek took him to task. + +"Dear man," she said, "we rely upon you so much, and to-day you fail to +amuse us. What is there upon your mind? Let us console you, if we can." + +"Dear lady, it is nothing," Selingman assured her. "My company is +planning big developments in connection with our business. The details +afford me much food for thought. My attention, I fear, sometimes wanders. +Forgive me, I will make amends. When the day comes that my new factories +start work, I will give such a party as was never seen. I will invite you +all. We will have a celebration that every one shall talk of. And +meanwhile, behold! I will wander no longer. I declare no trumps." + +Selingman for a time was himself again. When he cut out, however, he +fidgeted a little restlessly around the room and watched Norgate share +the same fate with an air of relief. He laid his hand upon the +latter's arm. + +"Come into the other room, Norgate," he invited. "I have something to +say to you." + +Norgate obeyed at once, but the room was already occupied. A little blond +lady was entertaining a soldier friend at tea. She withdrew her head +from somewhat suspicious proximity to her companion's at their entrance +and greeted Selingman with innocent surprise. + +"How queer that you should come in just then, Mr. Selingman!" she +exclaimed. "We were talking about Germany, Captain Fielder and I." + +Selingman beamed upon them both. He was entirely himself again. He looked +as though the one thing in life he had desired was to find Mrs. Barlow +and her military companion in possession of the little drawing-room. + +"My country is flattered," he declared, "especially," he added, with a +twinkle in his eyes, "as the subject seemed to be proving so +interesting." + +She made a little grimace at him. + +"Seriously, Mr. Selingman," she continued, "Captain Fielder and I have +been almost quarrelling. He insists upon it that some day or other +Germany means to declare war upon us. I have been trying to point out +that before many years have passed England and France will have drifted +apart. Germany is the nearest to us of the continental nations, isn't +she, by relationship and race?" + +"Mrs. Barlow," Selingman pronounced, "yours is the most sensible allusion +to international politics which I have heard for many years. You are +right. If I may be permitted to say so," he added, "Captain Fielder is +wrong. Germany has no wish to fight with any one. The last country in the +world with whom she would care to cross swords is England." + +"If Germany does not wish for war," Captain Fielder persisted, "why does +she keep such an extraordinary army? Why does she continually add to her +navy? Why does she infest our country with spies and keep all her +preparations as secret as possible?" + +"Of these things I know little," Selingman confessed, "I am a +manufacturer, and I have few friends among the military party. But this +we all believe, and that is that the German army and navy are our +insurance against trouble from the east. They are there so that in case +of political controversy we shall have strength at our back when we seek +to make favourable terms. As to using that strength, God forbid!" + +The little lady threw a triumphant glance across at her companion. + +"There, Captain Fielder," she declared, "you have heard what a typical, +well-informed, cultivated German gentleman has to say. I rely much more +upon Mr. Selingman than upon any of the German reviews or official +statements of policy." + +Captain Fielder was bluntly unconvinced. + +"Mr. Selingman, without doubt," he agreed, "may represent popular and +cultivated German opinion. The only thing is whether the policy of the +country is dictated by that class. Do you happen to have seen the +afternoon papers?" + +"Not yet," Mr. Selingman admitted. "Is there any news?" + +"There is the full text," Captain Fielder continued, "of Austria's +demands upon Servia. I may be wrong, but I say confidently that those +demands, which are impossible of acceptance, which would reduce Servia, +in fact, to the condition of a mere vassal state, are intended to provoke +a state of war." + +Mr. Selingman shook his head. + +"I have seen the proposals," he remarked. "They were in the second +edition of the morning papers. They are onerous, without a doubt, but +remember that as you go further east, all diplomacy becomes a matter of +barter. They ask for so much first because they are prepared to take a +great deal less." + +"It is my opinion," Captain Fielder pronounced, "that these demands are +couched with the sole idea of inciting Russia's intervention. There is +already a report that Servia has appealed to St. Petersburg. It is quite +certain that Russia, as the protector of the Slav nations, can never +allow Servia to be humbled to this extent." + +"Even then," Mr. Selingman protested good-humouredly, "Austria is +not Germany." + +"There are very few people," Captain Fielder continued, "who do not +realise that Austria is acting exactly as she is bidden by Germany. +To-morrow you will find that Russia has intervened. If Vienna disregards +her, there will be mobilisation along the frontiers. It is my private and +very firm impression that Germany is mobilising to-day, and secretly." + +Mr. Selingman laughed good-humouredly. + +"Well, well," he said, "let us hope it is not quite so bad as that." + +"You are frightening me, Captain Fielder," Mrs. Barlow declared. "I am +going to take you off to play bridge." + +They left the room. Selingman looked after them a little curiously. + +"Your military friend," he remarked, "is rather a pessimist." + +"Well, we haven't many of them," Norgate replied. "Nine people out of ten +believe that a war is about as likely to come as an earthquake." + +Selingman glanced towards the closed door. + +"Supposing," he said, dropping his voice a little, "supposing I were to +tell you, young man, that I entirely agreed with your friend? Supposing I +were to tell you that, possibly by accident, he has stumbled upon the +exact truth? What would you say then?" + +Norgate shrugged his shoulders. + +"Well," he observed, "we've agreed, haven't we, that a little +lesson would be good for England? It might as well come now as at +any other time." + +"It will not come yet," Mr. Selingman went on, "but I will tell you what +is going to happen." + +His voice had fallen almost to a whisper, his manner had become +portentous. + +"Within a week or two," he said, "Germany and Austria will have declared +war upon Russia and Servia and France. Italy will join the allies--that +you yourself know. As for England, her time has not come yet. We shall +keep her neutral. All the recent information which we have collected +makes it clear that she is not in a position to fight, even if she wished +to. Nevertheless, to make a certainty of it, we shall offer her great +inducements. We shall be ready to deal with her when Calais, Ostend, +Boulogne, and Havre are held by our armies. Now listen, do you flinch?" + +The two men were still standing in the middle of the room. Selingman's +brows were lowered, his eyes were keen and hard-set. He had gripped +Norgate by the left shoulder and held him with his face to the light. + +"Speak up," he insisted. "It is now or never, if you mean to go through +with this. You're not funking it, eh?" + +"Not in the least," Norgate declared. + +For the space of almost thirty seconds Selingman did not remove his gaze. +All the time his hand was like a vice upon Norgate's shoulder. + +"Very well," he said at last, "you represent rather a gamble on my +part, but I am not afraid of the throw. Come back to our bridge now. +It was just a moment's impulse--I saw something in your face. You +realise, I suppose--but there, I won't threaten you. Come back and +we'll drink a mixed vermouth together. The next few days are going to +be rather a strain." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV + + +Norgate's expression was almost one of stupefaction. He looked at the +slim young man who had entered his sitting-room a little diffidently and +for a moment he was speechless. + +"Well, I'm hanged!" he murmured at last. "Hardy, you astonish me!" + +"The clothes are a perfect fit, sir," the man observed, "and I think that +we are exactly the same height." + +Norgate took a cigarette from an open box, tapped it against the table +and lit it. He was fascinated, however, by the appearance of the man who +stood respectfully in the background. + +"Talk about clothes making the man!" he exclaimed. "Why, Hardy, do you +realise your possibilities? You could go into my club and dine, order +jewels from my jeweller. I am not at all sure that you couldn't take my +place at a dinner-party." + +The man smiled deprecatingly. + +"Not quite that, I am sure, sir. If I may be allowed to say so, though, +when you were good enough to give me the blue serge suit a short time +ago, and a few of your old straw hats, two or three gentlemen stopped me +under the impression that I was you. I should not have mentioned it, sir, +but for the present circumstances." + +"And no wonder!" Norgate declared. "If this weren't really a serious +affair, Hardy, I should be inclined to make a little humorous use of you. +That isn't what I want now, though. Listen. Put on one of my black +overcoats and a silk hat, get the man to call you a taxi up to the door, +and drive to Smith's Hotel. You will enquire for the suite of the +Baroness von Haase. The Baroness will allow you to remain in her rooms +for half an hour. At the end of that time you will return here, change +your clothes, and await any further orders." + +"Very good, sir," the man replied. + +"Help yourself to cigarettes," Norgate invited, passing the box across. +"Do the thing properly. Sit well back in the taxicab, although I'm +hanged if I think that my friend Boko stands an earthly. Plenty of money +in your pocket?" + +"Plenty, thank you, sir." + +The man left the room, and Norgate, after a brief delay, followed his +example. A glance up and down the courtyard convinced him that Boko had +disappeared. He jumped into a taxi, gave an address in Belgrave Square, +and within a quarter of an hour was ushered into the presence of Mr. +Spencer Wyatt, who was seated at a writing-table covered with papers. + +"Mr. Norgate, isn't it?" the latter remarked briskly. "I had Mr. +Hebblethwaite's note, and I am very pleased to give you five minutes. Sit +down, won't you, and fire away." + +"Did Mr. Hebblethwaite give you any idea as to what I wanted?" +Norgate asked. + +"Better read his note," the other replied, pushing it across the table +with a little smile. + +Norgate took it up and read:-- + +"My dear Spencer Wyatt, + +"A young friend of mine, Francis Norgate, who has been in the Diplomatic +Service for some years and is home just now from Berlin under +circumstances which you may remember, has asked me to give him a line of +introduction to you which will secure him an interview during to-day. +Here is that line. Norgate is a young man for whom I have a great +friendship. I consider him possessed of unusual intelligence and many +delightful gifts, but, like many others of us, he is a crank. You can +listen with interest to anything he may have to say to you, unless he +speaks of Germany. That's his weak point. On any other subject he is as +sane as the best of us. + +"Many thanks. Certainly I am coming to the Review. We are all looking +forward to it immensely. + +"Ever yours, + +"JOHN W. HEBBLETHWAITE." + +Norgate set down the letter. + +"There are two points of view, Mr. Spencer Wyatt," he said, "as to +Germany. Mr. Hebblethwaite believes that I am an alarmist. I know that I +am not. This isn't any ordinary visit of mine. I have come to see you on +the most urgent matter which any one could possibly conceive. I have come +to give you the chance to save our country from the worst disaster that +has ever befallen her." + +Mr. Spencer Wyatt looked at his visitor steadily. His eyebrows had drawn +a little closer together. He remained silent, however. + +"I talk about the things I know of," Norgate continued. "By chance I +have been associated during the last few weeks with the head of the +German spies who infest this country. I have joined his ranks; I have +become a double traitor. I do his work, but every report I hand in is a +false one." + +"Do you realise quite what you are saying, Mr. Norgate?" + +"Realise it?" Norgate repeated. "My God! Do you think I come here to say +these things to you for dramatic effect, or from a sense of humour, or as +a lunatic? Every word I shall say to you is the truth. At the present +moment there isn't a soul who seriously believes that England is going to +be drawn into what the papers describe as a little eastern trouble. I +want to tell you that that little eastern trouble has been brought about +simply with the idea of provoking a European war. Germany is ready to +strike at last, and this is her moment. Not a fortnight ago I sat +opposite the boy Henriote in a café in Soho. My German friend handed him +the money to get back to his country and to buy bombs. It's all part of +the plot. Austria's insane demands are part of the plot; they are meant +to drag Russia in. Russia must protest; she must mobilise. Germany is +secretly mobilising at this moment. She will declare war against Russia, +strike at France through Belgium. She will appeal to us for our +neutrality." + +"These are wonderful things you are saying, Mr. Norgate!" + +"I am telling you the simple truth," Norgate went on, "and the +history of our country doesn't hold anything more serious or more +wonderful. Shall I come straight to the point? I promised to reach it +within five minutes." + +"Take your own time," the other replied. "My work is unimportant enough +by the side of the things you speak of. You honestly believe that Germany +is provoking a war against Russia and France?" + +"I know it," Norgate went on. "She believes--Germany believes--that +Italy will come in. She also believes, from false information that she +has gathered in this country, that under no circumstances will England +fight. It isn't about that I came to you. We've become a slothful, slack, +pleasure-loving people, but I still believe that when the time comes we +shall fight. The only thing is that we shall be taken at a big +disadvantage. We shall be open to a raid upon our fleet. Do you know that +the entire German navy is at Kiel?" + +Mr. Wyatt nodded. "Manoeuvres," he murmured. + +"Their manoeuvre," Norgate continued earnestly, "is to strike one great +blow at our scattered forces. Mr. Spencer Wyatt, I have come here to warn +you. I don't understand the workings of your department. I don't know to +whom you are responsible for any step you might take. But I have come to +warn you that possibly within a few days, probably within a week, +certainly within a fortnight, England will be at war." + +Mr. Wyatt glanced down at Hebblethwaite's letter. + +"You are rather taking my breath away, Mr. Norgate!" + +"I can't help it, sir," Norgate said simply. "I know that what I am +telling you must sound like a fairy tale. I beg you to take it from me as +the truth." + +"But," Mr. Spencer Wyatt remarked, "if you have come into all this +information, Mr. Norgate, why didn't you go to your friend Hebblethwaite? +Why haven't you communicated with the police and given this German spy of +yours into charge?" + +"I have been to Hebblethwaite, and I have been to Scotland Yard," Norgate +told him firmly, "and all that I have got for my pains has been a snub. +They won't believe in German spies. Mr. Wyatt, you are a man of a little +different temperament and calibre from those others. I tell you that all +of them in the Cabinet have their heads thrust deep down into the sand. +They won't listen to me. They wouldn't believe a word of what I am saying +to you, but it's true." + +Mr. Spencer Wyatt leaned back in his chair. He had folded his arms. He +was looking over the top of his desk across the room. His eyebrows were +knitted, his thoughts had wandered away. For several moments there was +silence. Then at last he rose to his feet, unlocked the safe which stood +by his side, and took out a solid chart dotted in many places with little +flags, each one of which bore the name of a ship. He looked at it +attentively. + +"That's the position of every ship we own, at six o'clock this evening," +he pointed out. "It's true we are scattered. We are purposely scattered +because of the Review. On Monday morning I go down to the Admiralty, and +I give the word. Every ship you see represented by those little flags, +moves in one direction." + +"In other words," Norgate remarked, "it is a mobilisation." + +"Exactly!" + +Norgate leaned forward in his chair. + +"You're coming to what I want to suggest," he proceeded. "Listen. You can +do it, if you like. Go down to the Admiralty to-night. Give that order. +Set the wireless going. Mobilise the fleet to-night." + +Mr. Wyatt looked steadfastly at his companion. His fingers were +restlessly stroking his chin, his eyes seemed to be looking through +his visitor. + +"But it would be a week too soon," he muttered. + +"Risk it," Norgate begged. "You have always the Review to fall back upon. +The mobilisation, to be effective, should be unexpected. Mobilise +to-morrow. I am telling you the truth, sir, and you'll know it before +many days are passed. Even if I have got hold of a mare's nest, you know +there's trouble brewing. England will be in none the worse position to +intervene for peace, if her fleet is ready to strike." + +Mr. Spencer Wyatt rose to his feet. He seemed somehow an altered man. + +"Look here," he announced gravely, "I am going for the gamble. If I have +been misled, there will probably be an end of my career. I tell you +frankly, I believe in you. I believe in the truth of the things you talk +about. I risked everything, only a few weeks ago, on my belief. I'll risk +my whole career now. Keep your mouth shut; don't say a word. Until +to-morrow you will be the only man in England who knows it. I am going to +mobilise the fleet to-night. Shake hands, Mr. Norgate. You're either the +best friend or the worst foe I've ever had. My coat and hat," he ordered +the servant who answered his summons. "Tell your mistress, if she +enquires, that I have gone down to the Admiralty on special business." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV + + +Anna passed her hand through Norgate's arm and led him forcibly away from +the shop window before which they had been standing. + +"My mind is absolutely made up," she declared firmly. "I adore +shopping, I love Bond Street, and I rather like you, but I will have no +more trifles, as you call them. If you do not obey, I shall gaze into +the next tobacconist's window we pass, and go in and buy you all sorts +of unsmokable and unusable things. And, oh, dear, here is the Count! I +feel like a child who has played truant from school. What will he do to +me, Francis?" + +"Don't worry, dear," Norgate laughed. "We're coming to the end of this +tutelage, you know." + +Count Lanyoki, who had stopped his motor-car, came across the street +towards them. He was, as usual, irreproachably attired. He wore white +gaiters, patent shoes, and a grey, tall hat. His black hair, a little +thin at the forehead, was brushed smoothly back. His moustache, also +black but streaked with grey, was twisted upwards. He had, as always, the +air of having just left the hands of his valet. + +"Dear Baroness," he exclaimed, as he accosted her, "London has been +searched for you! At the Embassy my staff are reduced to despair. +Telephones, notes, telegrams, and personal calls have been in vain. +Since lunch-time yesterday it seemed to us that you must have found some +other sphere in which to dwell." + +"Perhaps I have," Anna laughed. "I am so sorry to have given you all this +trouble, but yesterday--well, let me introduce, if I may, my husband, Mr. +Francis Norgate. We were married by special license yesterday afternoon." + +The Count's amazement was obvious. Diplomatist though he was, it was +several seconds before he could collect himself and rise to the +situation. He broke off at last, however, in the midst of a string of +interjections and realised his duties. + +"My dear Baroness," he said, "my dear lady, let me wish you every +happiness. And you, sir," he added, turning to Norgate, "you must have, +without a doubt, my most hearty congratulations. There! That is said. And +now to more serious matters. Baroness, have you not always considered +yourself the ward of the Emperor?" + +She nodded. + +"His Majesty has been very kind to me," she admitted. "At the same time, +I feel that I owe more to myself than I do to him. His first essay at +interfering in my affairs was scarcely a happy one, was it?" + +"Perhaps not," the Count replied. "And yet, think what you have done! You +have married an Englishman!" + +"I thought English people were quite popular in Vienna," Anna +reminded him. + +The Count hesitated. "That," he declared, "is scarcely the question. +What troubles me most is that forty-eight hours ago I brought you a +dispatch from the Emperor." + +"You brought," Anna pointed out, "what really amounted to an order to +return at once to Vienna. Well, you see, I have disobeyed it." + +They were standing at the corner of Clifford Street, and the Count, with +a little gesture, led the way into the less crowded thoroughfare. + +"Dear Baroness," he continued, as they walked slowly along, "I am placed +now in a most extraordinary position. The Emperor's telegram was of +serious import. It cannot be that you mean to disobey his summons?" + +"Well, I really couldn't put off being married, could I," Anna protested, +"especially when my husband had just got the special license. Besides, I +do not wish to return to Vienna just now." + +The Count glanced at Norgate and appeared to deliberate for a moment. + +"The state of affairs in the East," he said, "is such that it is +certainly wiser for every one just now to be within the borders of their +own country." + +"You believe that things are serious?" Anna enquired. "You believe, then, +that real trouble is at hand?" + +"I fear so," the Count acknowledged. "It appears to us that Servia has a +secret understanding with Russia, or she would not have ventured upon +such an attitude as she is now adopting towards us. If that be so, the +possibilities of trouble are immense, almost boundless. That is why, +Baroness, the Emperor has sent for you. That is why I think you should +not hesitate to at once obey his summons." + +Anna looked up at her companion, her eyes wide open, a little smile +parting her lips. + +"But, Count," she exclaimed, "you seem to forget! A few days ago, all +that you say to me was reasonable enough, but to-day there is a great +difference, is there not? I have married an Englishman. Henceforth this +is my country." + +There was a moment's silence. The Count seemed dumbfounded. He stared at +Anna as though unable to grasp the meaning of her words. + +"Forgive me, Baroness!" he begged. "I cannot for the moment realise the +significance of this thing. Do you mean me to understand that you +consider yourself now an Englishwoman?" + +"I do indeed," she assented. "There are many ties which still bind me to +Austria--ties, Count," she proceeded, looking him in the face, "of which +I shall be mindful. Yet I am not any longer the Baroness von Haase. I am +Mrs. Francis Norgate, and I have promised to obey my husband in all +manner of ridiculous things. At the same time, may I add something which +will, perhaps, help you to accept the position with more philosophy? My +husband is a friend of Herr Selingman's." + +The Count glanced quickly towards Norgate. There was some relief in his +face--a great deal of distrust, however. + +"Baroness," he said, "my advice to you, for your own good entirely, is, +with all respect to your husband, that you shorten your honeymoon and +pay your respects to the Emperor. I think that you owe it to him. I think +that you owe it to your country." + +Anna for a moment was grave again. + +"Just at present," she pronounced, "I realise one debt only, and that is +to my husband. I will come to the Embassy to-morrow and discuss these +matters with you, Count, but whether my husband accompanies me or not, I +have now no secrets from him." + +"The position, then," the Count declared, "is intolerable. May I ask +whether you altogether realise, Baroness; what this means? The Emperor is +your guardian. All your estates are subject to his jurisdiction. It is +his command that you return to Vienna." + +Anna laughed again. She passed her fingers through Norgate's arm. + +"You see," she explained, as they stood for a moment at the corner of the +street, "I have a new emperor now, and he will not let me go." + + * * * * * + +Selingman frowned a little as he recognised his visitor. Nevertheless, +he rose respectfully to his feet and himself placed a chair by the side +of his desk. + +"My dear Count!" he exclaimed. "I am very glad to see you, but this is an +unusual visit. I would have met you somewhere, or come to the Embassy. +Have we not agreed that it was well for Herr Selingman, the crockery +manufacturer--" + +"That is all very well, Selingman," the Count interrupted, "but this +morning I have had a shock. It was necessary for me to talk with you at +once. In Bond Street I met the Baroness von Haase. For twenty-four hours +London has been ransacked in vain for her. This you may not know, but I +will now tell you. She has been our trusted agent, the trusted agent of +the Emperor, in many recent instances. She has carried secrets in her +brain, messages to different countries. There is little that she does not +know. The last twenty-four hours, as I say, I have sought for her. The +Emperor requires her presence in Vienna. I meet her in Bond Street this +morning and she introduces to me her husband, an English husband, Mr. +Francis Norgate!" + +He drew back a little, with outstretched hands. Selingman's face, +however, remained expressionless. + +"Married already!" he commented. "Well, that is rather a surprise." + +"A surprise? To be frank, it terrifies me!" the Count cried. "Heaven +knows what that woman could tell an Englishman, if she chose! And her +manner--I did not like it. The only reassuring thing about it was that +she told me that her husband was one of your men." + +"Quite true," Selingman assented. "He is. It is only recently that he +came to us, but I do not mind telling you that during the last few weeks +no one has done such good work. He is the very man we needed." + +"You have trusted him?" + +"I trust or I do not trust," Selingman replied. "That you know. I have +employed this young man in very useful work. I cannot blindfold him. +He knows." + +"Then I fear treachery," the Count declared. + +"Have you any reason for saying that?" Selingman asked. + +The Count lit a cigarette with trembling fingers. + +"Listen," he said, "always, my friend, you undervalue a little the +English race. You undervalue their intelligence, their patriotism, their +poise towards the serious matters of life. I know nothing of Mr. Francis +Norgate save what I saw this morning. He is one of that type of +Englishmen, clean-bred, well-born, full of reserve, taciturn, yet, I +would swear, honourable. I know the type, and I do not believe in such a +man being your servant." + +The shadow of anxiety crossed Selingman's face. + +"Have you any reason for saying this?" he repeated. + +"No reason save the instinct which is above reason," the Count replied +quickly. "I know that if the Baroness and he put their heads together, we +may be under the shadow of catastrophe." + +Selingman sat with folded arms for several moments. + +"Count," he said at last, "I appreciate your point of view. You have, I +confess, disturbed me. Yet of this young man I have little fear. I did +not approach him by any vulgar means. I took, as they say here, the bull +by the horns. I appealed to his patriotism." + +"To what?" the Count demanded incredulously. + +"To his patriotism," Selingman repeated. "I showed him the decadence of +his country, decadence visible through all her institutions, through her +political tendencies, through her young men of all classes. I convinced +him that what the country needed was a bitter tonic, a kind but +chastening hand. I convinced him of this. He believes that he betrays his +country for her ultimate good. As I told you before, he has brought me +information which is simply invaluable. He has a position and connections +which are unique." + +The Count drew his chair a little nearer. + +"You say that he has done you great service," he said. "Well, you must +admit for yourself that the day is too near now for much more to be +expected. Could you not somehow guard against his resolution breaking +down at the last moment? Think what it may mean to him--the sound of his +national anthem at a critical moment, the clash of arms in the distance, +the call of France across the Channel. A week--even half a week's extra +preparation might make much difference." + +Selingman sat for a short time, deep in thought. Then he drew out a box +of pale-looking German cigars and lit one. + +"Count," he announced solemnly, "I take off my hat to you. Leave the +matter in my hands." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI + + +Norgate set down the telephone receiver and turned to Anna, who was +seated in an easy-chair by his side. + +"Selingman is down-stairs," he announced. "I rather expected I should see +something of him as I didn't go to the club this afternoon. You won't +mind if he comes up?" + +"The man is a nuisance," Anna declared, with a little grimace. "I was +perfectly happy, Francis, sitting here before the open window and looking +out at the lights in that cool, violet gulf of darkness. I believe that +in another minute I should have said something to you absolutely +ravishing. Then your telephone rings and back one comes to earth again!" + +Norgate smiled as he held her hand in his. + +"We will get rid of him quickly, dearest," he promised. + +There was a knock at the door, and Selingman entered, his face wreathed +in smiles. He was wearing a long dinner coat and a flowing black tie. He +held out both his hands. + +"So this is the great news that has kept you away from us!" he exclaimed. +"My congratulations, Norgate. You can never say again that the luck has +left you. Baroness, may I take advantage of my slight acquaintance to +express my sincere wishes for your happiness?" + +They wheeled up a chair for him, and Norgate produced some cigars. The +night was close. They were on the seventh story, overlooking the river, +and a pleasant breeze stole every now and then into the room. + +"You are well placed here," Selingman declared. "Myself, I too like to +be high up." + +"These are really just my bachelor rooms," Norgate explained, "but under +the circumstances we thought it wiser to wait before we settled down +anywhere. Is there any news to-night?" + +"There is great news," Selingman announced gravely. "There is news of +wonderful import. In a few minutes you will hear the shouting of the boys +in the Strand there. You shall hear it first from me. Germany has found +herself compelled to declare war against Russia." + +They were both speechless. Norgate was carried off his feet. The reality +of the thing was stupendous. + +"Russia has been mobilising night and day on the frontiers of East +Prussia," Selingman continued. "Germany has chosen to strike the first +blow. Now listen, both of you. I am going to speak in these few minutes +to Norgate here very serious words. I take it that in the matters which +lie between him and me, you, Baroness, are as one with him?" + +"It is so," Norgate admitted. + +"To be frank, then," Selingman went on, "you, Norgate, during these +momentous days have been the most useful of all my helpers here. The +information which I have dispatched to Berlin, emanating from you, has +been more than important--it has been vital. It has been so vital that I +have a long dispatch to-night, begging me to reaffirm my absolute +conviction as to the truth of the information which I have forwarded. +Let us, for a moment, recapitulate. You remember your interview with Mr. +Hebblethwaite on the subject of war?" + +"Distinctly," Norgate assented. + +"It was your impression," Selingman continued, "gathered from that +conversation, that under no possible circumstances would Mr. +Hebblethwaite himself, or the Cabinet as a whole, go to war with Germany +in support of France. Is that correct?" + +"It is correct," Norgate admitted. + +"Nothing has happened to change your opinion?" + +"Nothing." + +"To proceed, then," Selingman went on. "Some little time ago you called +upon Mr. Bullen at the House of Commons. You promised a large +contribution to the funds of the Irish Party, a sum which is to be paid +over on the first of next month, on condition that no compromise in the +Home Rule question shall be accepted by him, even in case of war. And +further, that if England should find herself in a state of war, no +Nationalists should volunteer to fight in her ranks. Is this correct?" + +"Perfectly," Norgate admitted. + +"The information was of great interest in Berlin," Selingman pointed out. +"It is realised there that it means of necessity a civil war." + +"Without a doubt." + +"You believe," Selingman persisted, "that I did not take an exaggerated +or distorted view of the situation, as discussed between you and Mr. +Bullen, when I reported that civil war in Ireland was inevitable?" + +"It is inevitable," Norgate agreed. + +Selingman sat for several moments in portentous silence. + +"We are on the threshold of great events," he announced. "The Cabinet +opinion in Berlin has been swayed by the two factors which we have +discussed. It is the wish of Germany, and her policy, to end once and for +all the eastern disquiet, to weaken Russia so that she can no longer call +herself the champion of the Slav races and uphold their barbarism against +our culture. France is to be dealt with only as the ally of Russia. We +want little more from her than we have already. But our great desire is +that England of necessity and of her own choice, should remain, for the +present, neutral. Her time is to come later. Italy, Germany, and Austria +can deal with France and Russia to a mathematical certainty. What we +desire to avoid are any unforeseen complications. I leave you to-night, +and I cable my absolute belief in the statements deduced from your work. +You have nothing more to say?" + +"Nothing," Norgate replied. + +Selingman was apparently relieved. He rose, a little later, to his feet. + +"My young friend," he concluded, "in the near future great rewards will +find their way to this country. There is no one who has deserved more +than you. There is no one who will profit more. That reminds me. There +was one little question I had to ask. A friend of mine has seen you on +your way back and forth to Camberley three or four times lately. You +lunched the other day with the colonel of one of your Lancer regiments. +How did you spend your time at Camberley?" + +For a moment Norgate made no reply. The moonlight was shining into the +room, and Anna had turned out all the lights with the exception of one +heavily-shaded lamp. Her eyes were shining as she leaned a little forward +in her chair. + +"Boko again, I suppose," Norgate grunted. + +"Certainly Boko," Selingman acknowledged. + +"I was in the Yeomanry when I was younger," Norgate explained slowly. "I +had some thought of entering the army before I took up diplomacy. Colonel +Chalmers is a friend of mine. I have been down to Camberley to see if I +could pick up a little of the new drill." + +"For what reason?" Selingman demanded. + +"Need I tell you that?" Norgate protested. "Whatever my feeling for +England may be at the present moment, however bitterly I may regret the +way she has let her opportunities slip, the slovenly political condition +of the country, yet I cannot put away from me the fact that I am an +Englishman. If trouble should come, even though I may have helped to +bring it about, even though I may believe that it is a good thing for the +country to have to meet trouble, I should still fight on her side." + +"But there will be no war," Selingman reminded him. "You yourself have +ascertained that the present Cabinet will decline war at any cost." + +"The present Government, without a doubt," Norgate assented. "I am +thinking of later on, when your first task is over." + +Selingman nodded gravely. + +"When that day comes," he said, as he rose and took up his hat, "it will +not be a war. If your people resist, it will be a butchery. Better to +find yourself in one of the Baroness' castles in Austria when that time +comes! It is never worth while to draw a sword in a lost cause. I wish +you good night, Baroness. I wish you good night, Norgate." + +He shook hands with them both firmly, but there was still something of +reserve in his manner. Norgate rang for his servant to show him out. They +took their places once more by the window. + +"War!" Norgate murmured, his eyes fixed upon the distant lights. + +Anna crept a little nearer to him. + +"Francis," she whispered, "that man has made me a little uneasy. +Supposing they should discover that you have deceived them, before they +have been obliged to leave the country!" + +"They will be much too busy," Norgate replied, "to think about me." + +Anna's face was still troubled. "I did not like that man's look," she +persisted, "when he asked you what you were doing at Camberley. Perhaps +he still believes that you have told the truth, but he might easily have +it in his mind that you knew too many of their secrets to be trusted when +the vital moment came." + +Norgate leaned over and drew her towards him. + +"Selingman has gone," he murmured. "It is only outside that war is +throbbing. Dearest, I think that my vital moments are now!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII + + +Mr. Hebblethwaite permitted himself a single moment of abstraction. He +sat at the head of the table in his own remarkably well-appointed +dining-room. His guests--there were eighteen or twenty of them in +all--represented in a single word Success--success social as well as +political. His excellently cooked dinner was being served with faultless +precision. His epigrams had never been more pungent. The very +distinguished peeress who sat upon his right, and whose name was a +household word in the enemy's camp, had listened to him with enchained +and sympathetic interest. For a single second he permitted his thoughts +to travel back to the humble beginnings of his political career. He had a +brief, flashlight recollection of the suburban parlour of his early days, +the hard fight at first for a living, then for some small place in local +politics, and then, larger and more daring schemes as the boundary of his +ambitions became each year a little further extended. Beyond him now was +only one more step to be taken. The last goal was well within his reach. + +The woman at his right recommenced their conversation, which had been for +a moment interrupted. + +"We were speaking of success," she said. "Success often comes to one +covered by the tentacles and parasites of shame, and yet, even in its +grosser forms, it has something splendid about it. But success that +carries with it no apparent drawback whatever is, of course, the most +amazing thing of all. I was reading that wonderful article of Professor +Wilson's last month. He quotes you very extensively. His analysis of your +character was, in its way, interesting. Directly I had read it, however, +I felt that it lacked one thing--simplicity. I made up my mind that the +next time we talked intimately, I would ask you to what you yourself +attributed your success?" + +Hebblethwaite smiled graciously. + +"I will not attempt to answer you in epigrams," he replied. "I will pay a +passing tribute to a wonderful constitution, an invincible sense of +humour, which I think help one to keep one's head up under many trying +conditions. But the real and final explanation of my success is that I +embraced the popular cause. I came from the people, and when I entered +into politics, I told myself and every one else that it was for the +people I should work. I have never swerved from that purpose. It is to +the people I owe whatever success I am enjoying to-day." + +The Duchess nodded thoughtfully. + +"Yes," she admitted, "you are right there. Shall I proceed with my own +train of thought quite honestly?" + +"I shall count it a compliment," he assured her earnestly, "even if your +thoughts contain criticisms." + +"You occupy so great a position in political life to-day," she continued, +"that one is forced to consider you, especially in view of the future, as +a politician from every point of view. Now, by your own showing, you +have been a specialist. You have taken up the cause of the people against +the classes. You have stripped many of us of our possessions--the Duke, +you know, hates the sound of your name--and by your legislation you have, +without a doubt, improved the welfare of many millions of human beings. +But that is not all that a great politician must achieve, is it? There is +our Empire across the seas." + +"Imperialism," he declared, "has never been in the foreground of my +programme, but I call myself an Imperialist. I have done what I could for +the colonies. I have even abandoned on their behalf some of my pet +principles of absolute freedom in trade." + +"You certainly have not been prejudiced," she admitted. "Whether your +politics have been those of an Imperialist from the broadest point of +view--well, we won't discuss that question just now. We might, perhaps, +differ. But there is just one more point. Zealously and during the whole +of your career, you have set your face steadfastly against any increase +of our military power. They say that it is chiefly due to you and Mr. +Busby that our army to-day is weaker in numbers than it has been for +years. You have set your face steadily against all schemes for national +service. You have taken up the stand that England can afford to remain +neutral, whatever combination of Powers on the Continent may fight. Now +tell me, do you see any possibility of failure, from the standpoint of a +great politician, in your attitude?" + +"I do not," he answered. "On the contrary, I am proud of all that I have +done in that direction. For the reduction of our armaments I accept the +full responsibility. It is true that I have opposed national service. I +want to see the people develop commercially. The withdrawing of a million +of young men, even for a month every year, from their regular tasks, +would not only mean a serious loss to the manufacturing community, but it +would be apt to unsettle and unsteady them. Further, it would kindle in +this country the one thing I am anxious to avoid--the military spirit. We +do not need it, Duchess. We are a peace-loving nation, civilised out of +the crude lust for conquest founded upon bloodshed. I do believe that +geographically and from every other point of view, England, with her +navy, can afford to fold her arms, and if other nations should at any +time be foolish enough to imperil their very existence by fighting for +conquest or revenge, then we, who are strong enough to remain aloof, can +only grow richer and stronger by the disasters which happen to them." + +There was a momentary silence. The Duchess leaned back in her chair, and +Mr. Hebblethwaite, always the courteous host, talked for a while to the +woman on his left. The Duchess, however, reopened the subject a few +minutes later. + +"I come, you must remember, Mr. Hebblethwaite," she observed, "from long +generations of soldiers, and you, as you have reminded me, from a long +race of yeomen and tradespeople. Therefore, without a doubt, our point +of view must be different. That, perhaps, is what makes conversation +between us so interesting. To me, a conflict in Europe, sooner or +later, appears inevitable. With England preserving a haughty and insular +neutrality, which, from her present military condition, would be almost +compulsory, the struggle would be between Russia, France, Italy, +Germany, and Austria. Russia is an unknown force, but in my mind I see +Austria and Italy, with perhaps one German army, holding her back for +many months, perhaps indefinitely. On the other hand, I see France +overrun by the Germans very much as she was in 1870. I adore the French, +and I have little sympathy with the Germans, but as a fighting race I +very reluctantly feel that I must admit the superiority of the Germans. +Very well, then. With Ostend, Calais, Boulogne, and Havre seized by +Germany, as they certainly would be, and turned into naval bases, do you +still believe that England's security would be wholly provided for by +her fleet?" + +Mr. Hebblethwaite smiled. + +"Duchess," he said, "sooner or later I felt quite sure that our +conversation would draw near to the German bogey. The picture you draw is +menacing enough. I look upon its probability as exactly on the same par +as the overrunning of Europe by the yellow races." + +"You believe in the sincerity of Germany?" she asked. + +"I do," he admitted firmly. "There is a military element in Germany which +is to be regretted, but the Germans themselves are a splendid, cultured, +and peace-loving people, who are seeking their future not at the point +of the sword but in the counting-houses of the world. If I fear the +Germans, it is commercially, and from no other point of view." + +"I wish I could feel your confidence," the Duchess sighed. + +"I have myself recently returned from Berlin," Mr. Hebblethwaite +continued. "Busby, as you know, has been many times an honoured guest +there at their universities and in their great cities. He has had every +opportunity of probing the tendencies of the people. His mind is +absolutely and finally made up. Not in all history has there ever existed +a race freer from the lust of bloodthirsty conquest than the German +people of to-day." + +Mr. Hebblethwaite concluded his sentence with some emphasis. He felt that +his words were carrying conviction. Some of the conversation at their end +of the table had been broken off to listen to his pronouncements. At that +moment his butler touched him upon the elbow. + +"Mr. Bedells has just come up from the War Office, sir," he announced. +"He is waiting outside. In the meantime, he desired me to give you this." + +The butler, who had served an archbishop, and resented often his own +presence in the establishment of a Radical Cabinet Minister, presented a +small silver salver on which reposed a hastily twisted up piece of paper. +Mr. Hebblethwaite, with a little nod, unrolled it and glanced towards the +Duchess, who bowed complacently. With the smile still upon his lips, a +confident light in his eyes, Mr. Hebblethwaite held out the crumpled +piece of paper before him and read the hurriedly scrawled pencil lines: + +"_Germany has declared war against Russia and presented an ultimatum to +France. I have other messages_." + +Mr. Hebblethwaite was a strong man. He was a man of immense self-control. +Yet in that moment the arteries of life seemed as though they had ceased +to flow. He sat at the head of his table, and his eyes never left those +pencilled words. His mind fought with them, discarded them, only to find +them still there hammering at his brain, traced in letters of scarlet +upon the distant walls. War! The great, unbelievable tragedy, the one +thousand-to-one chance in life which he had ever taken! His hand almost +fell to his side. There was a queer little silence. No one liked to ask +him a question; no one liked to speak. It was the Duchess at last who +murmured a few words, when the silence had become intolerable. + +"It is bad news?" she whispered. + +"It is very bad news indeed," Mr. Hebblethwaite answered, raising his +voice a little, so that every one at the table might hear him. "I have +just heard from the War Office that Germany has declared war against +Russia. You will perhaps, under the circumstances, excuse me." + +He rose to his feet. There was a queer singing in his ears. The feast +seemed to have turned to a sickly debauch. All that pinnacle of success +seemed to have fallen away. The faces of his guests, even, as they +looked at him, seemed to his conscience to be expressing one thing, and +one thing only--that same horrible conviction which was deadening his own +senses. He and the others--could it be true?--had they taken up lightly +the charge and care of a mighty empire and dared to gamble upon, instead +of providing for, its security? He thrust the thought away; and the +natural strength of the man began to reassert itself. If they had done +ill, they had done it for the people's sake. The people must rally to +them now. He held his head high as he left the room. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII + + +Norgate found himself in an atmosphere of strange excitement during his +two hours' waiting at the House of Commons on the following day. He was +ushered at last into Mr. Hebblethwaite's private room. Hebblethwaite had +just come in from the House and was leaning a little back in his chair, +in an attitude of repose. He glanced at Norgate with a faint smile. + +"Well, young fellow," he remarked, "come to do the usual 'I told you so' +business, I suppose?" + +"Don't be an ass!" Norgate most irreverently replied. "There are one or +two things I must tell you and tell you at once. I may have hinted at +them before, but you weren't taking things seriously then. First of all, +is Mr. Bullen in the House?" + +"Of course!" + +"Could you send for him here just for a minute?" Norgate pleaded. "I am +sure it would make what I am going to say sound more convincing to you." + +Hebblethwaite struck a bell by his side and despatched a messenger. + +"How are things going?" Norgate asked. + +"France is mobilising as fast as she can," Hebblethwaite announced. +"We have reports coming in that Germany has been at it for at least a +week, secretly. They say that Austrian troops have crossed into +Poland. There isn't anything definite yet, but it's war, without a +doubt, war just as we'd struck the right note for peace. Russia was +firm but splendid. Austria was wavering. Just at the critical moment, +like a thunderbolt, came Germany's declaration of war. Here's Mr. +Bullen. Now go ahead, Norgate." + +Mr. Bullen came into the room, recognised Norgate, and stopped short. + +"So you're here again, young man, are you?" he exclaimed. "I don't know +why you've sent for me, Hebblethwaite, but if you take my advice, you +won't let that young fellow go until you've asked him a few questions." + +"Mr. Norgate is a friend of mine," Hebblethwaite said. "I think you +will find--" + +"Friend or no friend," the Irishman interrupted, "he is a traitor, and I +tell you so to his face." + +"That is exactly what I wished you to tell Mr. Hebblethwaite," Norgate +remarked, nodding pleasantly. "I just want you to recall the +circumstances of my first visit here." + +"You came and offered me a bribe of a million pounds," Mr. Bullen +declared, "if I would provoke a civil war in Ireland in the event of +England getting into trouble. I wasn't sure whom you were acting for +then, but I am jolly certain now. That young fellow is a German spy, +Hebblethwaite." + +"Mr. Hebblethwaite knew that quite well," admitted Norgate coolly. "I +came and told him so several times. I think that he even encouraged me to +do my worst." + +"Look here, Norgate," Hebblethwaite intervened, "I'm certain you are +driving at something serious. Let's have it." + +"Quite right, I am," Norgate assented. "I just wanted to testify to you +that Mr. Bullen's reply to my offer was the patriotic reply of a loyal +Irishman. I did offer him that million pounds on behalf of Germany, and +he did indignantly refuse it, but the point of the whole thing is--my +report to Germany." + +"And that?" Mr. Hebblethwaite asked eagerly. + +"I reported Mr. Bullen's acceptance of the sum," Norgate told them. "I +reported that civil war in Ireland was imminent and inevitable and would +come only the sooner for any continental trouble in which England might +become engaged." + +Mr. Hebblethwaite's face cleared. + +"I begin to understand now, Norgate," he muttered. "Good fellow!" + +Mr. Bullen was summoned in hot haste by one of his supporters and hurried +out. Norgate drew his chair a little closer to his friend's. + +"Look here, Hebblethwaite," he said, "you wouldn't listen to me, you +know--I don't blame you--but I knew the truth of what I was saying. I +knew what was coming. The only thing I could do to help was to play the +double traitor. I did it. My chief, who reported to Berlin that this +civil war was inevitable, will get it in the neck, but there's more to +follow. The Baroness von Haase and I were associated in an absolutely +confidential mission to ascertain the likely position of Italy in the +event of this conflict. I know for a fact that Italy will not come in +with her allies." + +"Do you mean that?" Mr. Hebblethwaite asked eagerly. + +"Absolutely certain," Norgate assured him. + +Hebblethwaite half rose from his place with excitement. + +"I ought to telephone to the War Office," he declared. "It will alter the +whole mobilisation of the French troops." + +"France knows," Norgate told him quietly. "My wife has seen to that. She +passed the information on to them just in time to contract the whole line +of mobilisation." + +"You've been doing big things, young fellow!" Mr. Hebblethwaite exclaimed +excitedly. "Go on. Tell me at once, what was your report to Germany?" + +"I reported that Italy would certainly fulfil the terms of her alliance +and fight," Norgate replied. "Furthermore, I have convinced my chief over +here that under no possible circumstances would the present Cabinet +sanction any war whatsoever. I have given him plainly to understand that +you especially are determined to leave France to her fate if war should +come, and to preserve our absolute neutrality at all costs." + +"Go on," Hebblethwaite murmured. "Finish it, anyhow." + +"There is very little more," Norgate concluded. "I have a list here of +properties in the outskirts of London, all bought by Germans, and all +having secret preparations for the mounting of big guns. You might just +pass that on to the War Office, and they can destroy the places at their +leisure. There isn't anything else, Hebblethwaite. As I told you, I've +played the double traitor. It was the only way I could help. Now, if I +were you, I would arrest the master-spy for whom I have been working. +Most of the information he has picked up lately has been pretty bad, and +I fancy he'll get a warm reception if he does get back to Berlin, but if +ever there was a foreigner who abused the hospitality of this country, +Selingman's the man." + +"We'll see about that presently," Mr. Hebblethwaite declared, leaning +back. "Let me think over what you have told me. It comes to this, +Norgate. You've practically encouraged Germany to risk affronting us." + +"I can't help that," Norgate admitted. "Germany has gone into this war, +firmly believing that Italy will be on her side, and that we shall have +our hands occupied in civil war, and in any case that we should remain +neutral. I am not asking you questions, Hebblethwaite. I don't know what +the position of the Government will be if Germany attacks France in the +ordinary way. But one thing I do believe, and that is that if Germany +breaks Belgian neutrality and invades Belgium, there isn't any English +Government which has ever been responsible for the destinies of this +country, likely to take it lying down. We are shockingly unprepared, or +else, of course, there'd have been no war at all. We shall lose hundreds +of thousands of our young men, because they'll have to fight before they +are properly trained, but we must fight or perish. And we shall fight--I +am sure of that, Hebblethwaite." + +"We are all Englishmen," Hebblethwaite answered simply. + +The door was suddenly opened. Spencer Wyatt pushed his way past a +protesting doorkeeper. Hebblethwaite rose to his feet; he seemed to +forget Norgate's presence. + +"You've been down to the Admiralty?" he asked quickly. "Do you know?" + +Spencer Wyatt pointed to Norgate. His voice shook with emotion. + +"I know, Hebblethwaite," he replied, "but there's something that you +don't know. We were told to mobilise the fleet an hour ago. My God, what +chance should we have had! Germany means scrapping, and look where our +ships are, or ought to be." + +"I know it," Hebblethwaite groaned. + +"Well, they aren't there!" Spencer Wyatt announced triumphantly. "A week +ago that young fellow came to me. He told me what was impending. I half +believed it before he began. When he told me his story, I gambled upon +it. I mistook the date for the Grand Review. I signed the order for +mobilisation at the Admiralty, seven days ago. We are safe, +Hebblethwaite! I've been getting wireless messages all day yesterday and +to-day. We are at Cromarty and Rosyth. Our torpedo squadron is in +position, our submarines are off the German coast. It was just the toss +of a coin--papers and a country life for me, or our fleet safe and a +great start in the war. This is the man who has done it." + +"It's the best news I've heard this week," Hebblethwaite declared, with +glowing face. "If our fleet is safe, the country is safe for a time. If +this thing comes, we've a chance. I'll go through the country. I'll start +the day war's declared. I'll talk to the people I've slaved for. They +shall come to our help. We'll have the greatest citizen army who ever +fought for their native land. I've disbelieved in fighting all my life. +If we are driven to it, we'll show the world what peace-loving people can +do, if the weapon is forced into their hands. Norgate, the country owes +you a great debt. Another time, Wyatt, I'll tell you more than you know +now. What can we do for you, young fellow?" + +Norgate rose to his feet. + +"My work is already chosen, thanks," he said, as he shook hands. "I have +been preparing for some time." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX + + +The card-rooms at the St. James's Club were crowded, but very few people +seemed inclined to play. They were standing or sitting about in little +groups. A great many of them were gathered around the corner where +Selingman was seated. He was looking somewhat graver than usual, but +there was still a confident smile upon his lips. + +"My little friend," he said, patting the hand of the fair lady by his +side, "reassure yourself. Your husband and your husband's friends are +quite safe. For England there will come no fighting. Believe me, that is +a true word." + +"But the impossible is happening all the time," Mrs. Barlow protested. +"Who would have believed that without a single word of warning Germany +would have declared war against Russia?" + +Mr. Selingman raised his voice a little. + +"Let me make the situation clear," he begged. "Listen to me, if you will, +because I am a patriotic German but also a lover of England, a sojourner +here, and one of her greatest friends. Germany has gone to war against +Russia. Why? You will say upon a trifling pretext. My answer to you is +this. There is between the Teuton and the Slav an enmity more mighty than +anything you can conceive of. It has been at the root of all the unrest +in the Balkans. Many a time Germany has kept the peace at the imminent +loss of her own position and prestige. But one knows now that the +struggle must come. The Russians are piling up a great army with only one +intention. They mean to wrest from her keeping certain provinces of +Austria, to reduce Germany's one ally to the condition of a vassal state, +to establish the Slav people there and throughout the Balkan States, at +the expense of the Teuton. Germany must protect her own. It is a +struggle, mind you, which concerns them alone. If only there were common +sense in the world, every one else would stand by and let Germany and +Austria fight with Russia on the one great issue--Slav or Teuton." + +"But there's France," little Mrs. Barlow reminded him. "She can't keep +out of it. She is Russia's ally." + +"Alas! my dear madam," Selingman continued, "you point out the tragedy of +the whole situation. If France could see wisdom, if France could see +truth, she would fold her arms with you others, keep her country and her +youth and her dignity. But I will be reasonable. She is, as you say, +bound--bound by her alliance to Russia, and she will fight. Very well! +Germany wants no more from France than what she has. Germany will fight a +defensive campaign. She will push France back with one hand, in as +friendly a manner as is compatible with the ethics of war. On the east +she will move swiftly. She will fight Russia, and, believe me, the issue +will not be long doubtful. She will conclude an honourable peace with +France at the first opportunity." + +"Then you don't think we shall be involved at all?" some one else asked. + +"If you are," Selingman declared, "it will be your own doing, and it will +simply be the most criminal act of this generation. Germany has nothing +but friendship for England. I ask you, what British interests are +threatened by this inevitable clash between the Slav and the Teuton? It +is miserable enough for France to be dragged in. It would be lunacy for +England. Therefore, though it is true that serious matters are pending, +though, alas! I must return at once to see what help I can afford my +country, never for a moment believe, any of you, that there exists the +slightest chance of war between Germany and England." + +"Then I don't see," Mrs. Barlow sighed, "why we shouldn't have a rubber +of bridge." + +"Let us," Selingman assented. "It is a very reasonable suggestion. It +will divert our thoughts. Here is the afternoon paper. Let us first see +whether there is any further news." + +It was Mrs. Paston Benedek who opened it. She stared at the first sheet +for a moment with eyes which were almost dilated. Then she looked around. +Her voice sounded unnatural. + +"Look!" she cried. "Francis Norgate--Mr. Francis Norgate has committed +suicide in his rooms!" + +"It is not possible!" Selingman exclaimed. + +They all crowded around the paper. The announcement was contained in a +few lines only. Mr. Francis Norgate had been discovered shot through the +heart in his sitting-room at the Milan Court, with a revolver by his +side. There was a letter addressed to his wife, who had left the day +before for Paris. No further particulars could be given of the tragedy. +The little group of men and women all looked at one another in a strange, +questioning manner. For a moment the war cloud seemed to have passed even +from their memories. It was something newer and in a sense more dramatic, +this. Norgate--one of themselves! Norgate, who had played bridge with +them day after day, had been married only a week or so ago--dead, under +the most horrible of all conditions! And Baring, only a few weeks before! +There was an uneasiness about which no one could put into words, vague +suspicions, strange imaginings. + +"It's only three weeks," some one muttered, "since poor Baring shot +himself! What the devil does it mean? Norgate--why, the fellow was full +of common sense." + +"He was fearfully cut up," some one interposed, "about that Berlin +affair." + +"But he was just married," Mrs. Paston Benedek reminded them, "married to +the most charming woman in Europe,--rich, too, and noble. I saw them only +two days ago together. They were the picture of happiness. This is too +terrible. I am going into the other room to sit down. Please forgive me. +Mr. Selingman, will you give me your arm?" + +She passed into the little drawing-room, almost dragging her companion. +She closed the door behind them. Her eyes were brilliant. The words came +hot and quivering from her lips. + +"Listen!" she ordered. "Tell me the truth. Was this suicide or not?" + +"Why should it not be?" Selingman asked gravely. "Norgate was an +Englishman, after all. He must have felt that he had betrayed his +country. He has given us, as you know, very valuable information. The +thought must have preyed upon his conscience." + +"Don't lie to me!" she interrupted. "Tell me the truth now or never come +near me again, never ask me another question, don't be surprised to find +the whole circle of your friends here broken up and against you. It's +only the truth I ask for. If a thing is necessary, do I not know that it +must be done? But I will hear the truth. There was that about Baring's +death which I never understood; but this--this shall be explained." + +Selingman stood for a moment or two with folded arms. + +"Dear lady," he said soothingly, "you are not like the others. You have +earned the knowledge of the truth. You shall have it. I did not mistrust +Francis Norgate, but I knew very well that when the blow fell, he would +waver. These Englishmen are all like that. They can lose patience with +their ill-governed country. They can go abroad, write angry letters to +_The Times_, declare that they have shaken the dust of their native land +from their feet. But when the pinch comes, they fall back. Norgate has +served me well, but he knew too much. He is safer where he is." + +"He was murdered, then!" she whispered. + +Selingman nodded very slightly. + +"It is seldom," he declared, "that we go so far. Believe me, it is only +because our great Empire is making its move, stretching out for the great +world war, that I gave the word. What is one man's life when millions are +soon to perish?" + +She sank down into an easy-chair and covered her face with her hands. + +"I am answered," she murmured, "only I know now I was not made for these +things. I love scheming, but I am a woman." + + + + +CHAPTER XL + + +Mr. Selingman's influence over his fellows had never been more marked +than on that gloomiest of all afternoons. They gathered around him as he +sat on the cushioned fender, a cup of tea in one hand and a plateful of +buttered toast by his side. + +"To-day," he proclaimed, "I bring good news. Yesterday, I must admit, +things looked black, and the tragedy to poor young Norgate made us all +miserable." + +"I should have said things looked worse," one of the men declared, +throwing down an afternoon paper. "The Cabinet Council is still sitting, +and there are all sorts of rumours in the city." + +"I was told by a man in the War Office," Mrs. Barlow announced, "that +England would stand by her treaty to Belgium, and that Germany has made +all her plans to invade France through Belgium." + +"Rumours, of course, there must be," Selingman agreed, "but I bring +something more than rumour. I received to-day, by special messenger from +Berlin, a dispatch of the utmost importance. Germany is determined to +show her entire friendliness towards England. She recognises the +difficulties of your situation. She is going to make a splendid bid for +your neutrality. Much as I would like to, I cannot tell you more. This, +however, I know to be the basis of her offer. You in England could help +in the fight solely by means of your fleet. It is Germany's suggestion +that, in return for your neutrality, she should withdraw her fleet from +action and leave the French northern towns unbombarded. You will then be +in a position to fulfil your obligations to France, whatever they may be, +without moving a stroke or spending a penny. It is a triumph of +diplomacy, that--a veritable triumph." + +"It does sound all right," Mrs. Barlow admitted. + +"It has relieved my mind of a mighty burden," Selingman continued, +setting down his empty plate and brushing the crumbs from his waistcoat. +"I feel now that we can look on at this world drama with sorrowing eyes, +indeed, but free from feelings of hatred and animosity. I have had a +trying day. I should like a little bridge. Let us--" + +Selingman did not finish his sentence. The whole room, for a moment, +seemed to become a study in still life. A woman who had been crossing the +floor stood there as though transfixed. A man who was dealing paused with +an outstretched card in his hand. Every eye was turned on the threshold. +It was Norgate who stood there, Norgate metamorphosed, in khaki +uniform--an amazing spectacle! Mrs. Barlow was the first to break the +silence with a piercing shriek. Then the whole room seemed to be in a +turmoil. Selingman alone sat quite still. There was a grey shade upon his +face, and the veins were standing out at the back of his hands. + +"So sorry to startle you all," Norgate said apologetically. "Of course, +you haven't seen the afternoon papers. It was my valet who was found +dead in my rooms--a most mysterious affair," he added, his eyes meeting +Selingman's. "The inquest is to be this afternoon." + +"Your valet!" Selingman muttered. + +"A very useful fellow," Norgate continued, strolling to the fireplace and +standing there, "but with a very bad habit of wearing my clothes when I +am away. I was down in Camberley for three days and left him in charge." + +They showered congratulations upon him, but in the midst of them the +strangeness of his appearance provoked their comment. + +"What does it mean?" Mrs. Benedek asked, patting his arm. "Have you +turned soldier?" + +"In a sense I have," Norgate admitted, "but only in the sense that every +able-bodied Englishman will have to do, in the course of the next few +months. Directly I saw this coming, I arranged for a commission." + +"But there is to be no war!" Mrs. Barlow exclaimed. "Mr. Selingman +has been explaining to us this afternoon what wonderful offers +Germany is making, so that we shall be able to remain neutral and yet +keep our pledges." + +"Mr. Selingman," Norgate said quietly, "is under a delusion. Germany, it +is true, has offered us a shameless bribe. I am glad to be able to tell +you all that our Ministry, whatever their politics may be, have shown +themselves men. An English ultimatum is now on its way to Berlin. War +will be declared before midnight." + +Selingman rose slowly to his feet. His face was black with passion. +He pushed a man away who stood between them. He was face to face +with Norgate. + +"So you," he thundered, suddenly reckless of the bystanders, "are a +double traitor! You have taken pay from Germany and deceived her! You +knew, after all, that your Government would make war when the time came. +Is that so?" + +"I was always convinced of it," Norgate replied calmly. "I also had the +honour of deceiving you in the matter of Mr. Bullen. I have been the +means, owing to your kind and thoughtful information, of having the fleet +mobilised and ready to strike at the present moment, and there are +various little pieces of property I know about, Mr. Selingman, around +London, where we have taken the liberty of blowing up your foundations. +There may be a little disappointment for you, too, in the matter of +Italy. The money you were good enough to pay me for my doubtful services, +has gone towards the establishment of a Red Cross hospital. As for you, +Selingman, I denounce you now as one of those who worked in this country +for her ill, one of those pests of the world, working always in the +background, dishonourably and selfishly, against the country whose +hospitality you have abused. If I have met you on your own ground, well, +I am proud of it. You are a German spy, Selingman." + +Selingman's hand fumbled in his pocket. Scarcely a soul was surprised +when Norgate gripped him by the wrist, and they saw the little shining +revolver fall down towards the fender. + +"You shall suffer for these words," Selingman thundered. "You young +fool, you shall bite the dust, you and hundreds of thousands of your +cowardly fellows, when the German flag flies from Buckingham Palace." + +Norgate held up his hand and turned towards the door. Two men in plain +clothes entered. + +"That may be a sight," Norgate said calmly, "which you, at any rate, will +not be permitted to see. I have had some trouble in arranging for your +arrest, as we are not yet under martial law, but I think you will find +your way to the Tower of London before long, and I hope it will be with +your back to the light and a dozen rifles pointing to your heart." + +A third man had come into the room. He tapped Selingman on the shoulder +and whispered in his ear. + +"I demand to see your warrant!" the latter exclaimed. + +The officer produced it. Selingman threw it on the floor and spat upon +it. He looked around the room, in the further corner of which two men +and a woman were standing upon chairs to look over the heads of the +little crowd. + +"Take me where you will," he snarled. "You are a rotten, treacherous, +cowardly race, you English, and I hate you all. You can kill me first, if +you will, but in two months' time you shall learn what it is like to wait +hand and foot upon your conquerors." + +He strode out of the room, a guard on either side of him and the door +closed. One woman had fainted. Mrs. Paston Benedek was swaying back +and forth upon the cushioned fender, sobbing hysterically. Norgate +stood by her side. + +"I have forgotten the names," he announced pointedly, "of many of that +fellow's dupes. I am content to forget them. I am off now," he went on, +his tone becoming a little kinder. "I am telling you the truth. It's war. +You men had better look up any of the forces that suit you and get to +work. We shall all be needed. There is work, too, for the women, any +quantity of it. My wife will be leaving again for France next week with +the first Red Cross Ambulance Corps. I dare say she will be glad to hear +from any one who wants to help." + +"I shall be a nurse," Mrs. Paston Benedek decided. "I am sick of bridge +and amusing myself." + +"The costume is quite becoming," Mrs. Barlow murmured, glancing at +herself in the looking-glass, "and I adore those poor dear soldiers." + +"Well, I'll leave you to it," Norgate declared. "Good luck to you all!" + +They crowded around him, shaking him by the hand, still besieging him +with questions about Selingman. He shook his head good-humouredly and +made his way towards the door. + +"There's nothing more to tell you," he concluded. "Selingman is just one +of the most dangerous spies who has ever worked in this country, but the +war itself was inevitable. We've known that for years, only we wouldn't +believe it. We'll all meet again, perhaps, in the work later on." + +Late that night, Norgate stood hand in hand with Anna at the window of +their little sitting-room. Down in the Strand, the newsboys were +shouting the ominous words. The whole of London was stunned. The great +war had come! + +"It's wonderful, dear," Anna whispered, "that we should have had +these few days of so great happiness. I feel brave and strong now for +our task." + +Norgate held her closely to him. + +"We've been in luck," he said simply. "We were able to do something +pretty soon. I have had the greatest happiness in life a man can have. +Now I am going to offer my life to my country and pray that it may be +spared for you. But above all, whatever happens," he added, leaning a +little further from the window towards where the curving lights gleamed +across the black waters of the Thames, "above all, whatever may happen to +us, we are face to face with one splendid thing--a great country to fight +for, and a just cause. I saw Hebblethwaite as I came in. He is a changed +man. Talks about raising an immense citizen army in six months. Both his +boys have taken up commissions. Hebblethwaite himself is going around the +country, recruiting. They are his people, after all. He has given them +their prosperity at the expense, alas! of our safety. It's up to them now +to prove whether the old spirit is there or not. We shall need two +million men. Hebblethwaite believes we shall get them long before the +camps are ready to receive them. If we do, it will be his justification." + +"And if we don't?" Anna murmured. + +Norgate threw his head a little further back. + +"Most pictures," he said, "have two sides, but we need only look at one. +I am going to believe that we shall get them. I am going to remember the +only true thing that fellow Selingman ever said: that our lesson had come +before it is too late. I am going to believe that the heart and +conscience of the nation is still a live thing. If it is, dear, the end +is certain. And I am going to believe that it is!" + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DOUBLE TRAITOR *** + + +******* This file should be named 10534-8.txt or 10534-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/5/3/10534 + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. 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For +example an eBook of filename 10234 would be found at: + +https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/2/3/10234 + +or filename 24689 would be found at: +https://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/6/8/24689 + +An alternative method of locating eBooks: +https://www.gutenberg.org/GUTINDEX.ALL + +*** END: FULL LICENSE *** diff --git a/old/10534-8.zip b/old/10534-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c0300c0 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10534-8.zip diff --git a/old/10534.txt b/old/10534.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5ee7aeb --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10534.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9266 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Double Traitor , by E. Phillips Oppenheim + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + + + + +Title: The Double Traitor + +Author: E. Phillips Oppenheim + +Release Date: December 25, 2003 [eBook #10534] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: US-ASCII + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DOUBLE TRAITOR *** + + +E-text prepared by Juliet Sutherland, Mary Meehan, and the Project +Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + +THE DOUBLE TRAITOR + +BY E. PHILLIPS OPPENHEIM + +1915 + + + + + + +CHAPTER I + + +The woman leaned across the table towards her companion. + +"My friend," she said, "when we first met--I am ashamed, considering that +I dine alone with you to-night, to reflect how short a time ago--you +spoke of your removal here from Paris very much as though it were a +veritable exile. I told you then that there might be surprises in store +for you. This restaurant, for instance! We both know our Paris, yet do we +lack anything here which you find at the Ritz or Giro's?" + +The young man looked around him appraisingly. The two were dining at one +of the newest and most fashionable restaurants in Berlin. The room +itself, although a little sombre by reason of its oak panelling, was +relieved from absolute gloom by the lightness and elegance of its +furniture and appointments, the profusion of flowers, and the soft grey +carpet, so thickly piled that every sound was deadened. The delicate +strains of music came from an invisible orchestra concealed behind a +canopy of palms. The head-waiters had the correct clerical air, half +complacent, half dignified. Among the other diners were many beautiful +women in marvellous toilettes. A variety of uniforms, worn by the +officers at different tables, gave colour and distinction to a _tout +ensemble_ with which even Norgate could find no fault. + +"Germany has changed very much since I was here as a boy," he confessed. +"One has heard of the growing wealth of Berlin, but I must say that I +scarcely expected--" + +He hesitated. His companion laughed softly at his embarrassment. + +"Do not forget," she interrupted, "that I am Austrian--Austrian, that is +to say, with much English in my blood. What you say about Germans does +not greatly concern me." + +"Of course," Norgate resumed, as he watched the champagne poured into his +glass, "one is too much inclined to form one's conclusions about a nation +from the types one meets travelling, and you know what the Germans have +done for Monte Carlo and the Riviera--even, to a lesser extent, for Paris +and Rome. Wherever they have been, for the last few years, they seem to +have left the trail of the _nouveaux riches_. It is not only their +clothes but their manners and bearing which affront." + +The woman leaned her head for a moment against the tips of her slim and +beautifully cared for fingers. She looked steadfastly across the table at +her vis-a-vis. + +"Now that you are here," she said softly, "you must forget those things. +You are a diplomatist, and it is for you, is it not, outwardly, at any +rate, to see only the good of the country in which your work lies." + +Norgate flushed very slightly. His companion's words had savoured almost +of a reproof. + +"You are quite right," he admitted. "I have been here for a month, +though, and you are the first person to whom I have spoken like this. And +you yourself," he pointed out, "encouraged me, did you not, when you +insisted upon your Austro-English nationality?" + +"You must not take me too seriously," she begged, smiling. "I spoke +foolishly, perhaps, but only for your good. You see, Mr. Francis Norgate, +I am just a little interested in you and your career." + +"And I, dear Baroness," he replied, smiling across at her, "am more than +a little interested in--you." + +She unfurled her fan. + +"I believe," she sighed, "that you are going to flirt with me." + +"I should enter into an unequal contest," Norgate asserted. "My methods +would seem too clumsy, because I should be too much in earnest." + +"Whatever the truth may be about your methods," she declared, "I rather +like them, or else I should not be risking my reputation in this still +prudish city by dining with you alone and without a chaperon. Tell me a +little about yourself. We have met three times, is it not--once at the +Embassy, once at the Palace, and once when you paid me that call. How old +are you? Tell me about your people in England, and where else you have +served besides Paris?" + +"I am thirty years old," he replied. "I started at Bukarest. From there +I went to Rome. Then I was second attache at Paris, and finally, as you +see, here." + +"And your people--they are English, of course?" + +"Naturally," he answered. "My mother died when I was quite young, and my +father when I was at Eton. I have an estate in Hampshire which seems to +get on very well without me." + +"And you really care about your profession? You have the real feeling for +diplomacy?" + +"I think there is nothing else like it in the world," he assured her. + +"You may well say that," she agreed enthusiastically. "I think you might +almost add that there has been no time in the history of Europe so +fraught with possibilities, so fascinating to study, as the present." + +He looked at her keenly. It is the first instinct of a young diplomatist +to draw in his horns when a beautiful young woman confesses herself +interested in his profession. + +"You, too, think of these things, then?" he remarked. + +She shrugged her shoulders. + +"But naturally! What is there to do for a woman but think? We cannot act, +or rather, if we do, it is in a very insignificant way. We are lookers-on +at most of the things in life worth doing." + +"I will spare you all the obvious retorts," he said, "if you will tell me +why you are gazing into that mirror so earnestly?" + +"I was thinking," she confessed, "what a remarkably good-looking +couple we were." + +He followed the direction of her eyes. He himself was of a recognised +type. His complexion was fair, his face clean-shaven and strong almost to +ruggedness. His mouth was firm, his nose thin and straight, his grey eyes +well-set. He was over six feet and rather slim for his height. But if his +type, though attractive enough, was in its way ordinary, hers was +entirely unusual. She, too, was slim, but so far from being tall, her +figure was almost petite. Her dark brown hair was arranged in perfectly +plain braids behind and with a slight fringe in front. Her complexion was +pale. Her features were almost cameo-like in their delicacy and +perfection, but any suggestion of coldness was dissipated at once by the +extraordinary expressiveness of her mouth and the softness of her deep +blue eyes. Norgate looked from the mirror into her face. There was a +little smile upon his lips, but he said nothing. + +"Some day," she said, "not in the restaurant here but when we are +alone and have time, I should so much like to talk with you on really +serious matters." + +"There is one serious matter," he assured her, "which I should like to +discuss with you now or at any time." + +She made a little grimace at him. + +"Let it be now, then," she suggested, leaning across the table. "We will +leave my sort of serious things for another time. I am quite certain +that I know where your sort is going to lead us. You are going to make +love to me." + +"Do you mind?" he asked earnestly. + +She became suddenly grave. + +"Not yet," she begged. "Let us talk and live nonsense for a few more +weeks. You see, I really have not known you very long, have I, and this +is a very dangerous city for flirtations. At Court one has to be so +careful, and you know I am already considered far too much of a Bohemian +here. I was even given to understand, a little time ago, by a very great +lady, that my position was quite precarious." + +"Does that--does anything matter if--" + +"It is not of myself alone that I am thinking. Everything matters to one +in your profession," she reminded him pointedly. + +"I believe," he exclaimed, "that you think more of my profession than you +do of me!" + +"Quite impossible," she retorted mockingly. "And yet, as I dare say you +have already realised, it is not only the things you say to our statesmen +here, and the reports you make, which count. It is your daily life among +the people of the nation to which you are attached, the friends you make +among them, the hospitality you accept and offer, which has all the time +its subtle significance. Now I am not sure, even, that I am, a very good +companion for you, Mr. Francis Norgate." + +"You are a very bad one for my peace of mind," he assured her. + +She shook her head. "You say those things much too glibly," she declared. +"I am afraid that you have served a very long apprenticeship." + +"If I have," he replied, leaning a little across the table, "it has been +an apprenticeship only, a probationary period during which one struggles +towards the real thing." + +"You think you will know when you have found it?" she murmured. + +He drew a little breath. His voice even trembled as he answered her. "I +know now," he said softly. + +Their heads were almost touching. Suddenly she drew apart. He glanced at +her in some surprise, conscious of an extraordinary change in her face, +of the half-uttered exclamation strangled upon her lips. He turned his +head and followed the direction of her eyes. Three young men in the +uniform of officers had entered the room, and stood there as though +looking about for a table. Before them the little company of head-waiters +had almost prostrated themselves. The manager, summoned in breathless +haste, had made a reverential approach. + +"Who are these young men?" Norgate enquired. + +His companion made no reply. Her fine, silky eyebrows were drawn a +little closer together. At that moment the tallest of the three +newcomers seemed to recognise her. He strode at once towards their +table. Norgate, glancing up at his approach, was simply conscious of the +coming of a fair young man of ordinary German type, who seemed to be in +a remarkably bad temper. + +"So I find you here, Anna!" + +The Baroness rose as though unwillingly to her feet. She dropped the +slightest of curtseys and resumed her place. + +"Your visit is a little unexpected, is it not, Karl?" she remarked. + +"Apparently!" the young man answered, with an unpleasant laugh. + +He turned and stared at Norgate, who returned his regard with +half-amused, half-impatient indifference. The Baroness leaned +forward eagerly. + +"Will you permit me to present Mr. Francis Norgate to you, Karl?" + +Norgate, who had suddenly recognised the newcomer, rose to his feet, +bowed and remained standing. The Prince's only reply to the introduction +was a frown. + +"Kindly give me your seat," he said imperatively. "I will conclude your +entertainment of the Baroness." + +For a moment there was a dead silence. In the background several of +the _maitres d'hotel_ had gathered obsequiously around. For some +reason or other, every one seemed to be looking at Norgate as though +he were a criminal. + +"Isn't your request a little unusual, Prince?" he remarked drily. + +The colour in the young man's face became almost purple. + +"Did you hear what I said, sir?" he demanded. "Do you know who I am?" + +"Perfectly," Norgate replied. "A prince who apparently has not learnt how +to behave himself in a public place." + +The young man took a quick step forward. Norgate's fists were clenched +and his eyes glittering. The Baroness stepped between them. + +"Mr. Norgate," she said, "you will please give me your escort home." + +The Prince's companions had seized him, one by either arm. An older man +who had been dining in a distant corner of the room, and who wore the +uniform of an officer of high rank, suddenly approached. He addressed the +Prince, and they all talked together in excited whispers. Norgate with +calm fingers arranged the cloak around his companion and placed a hundred +mark note upon his plate. + +"I will return for my change another evening," he said to the dumbfounded +waiter. "If you are ready, Baroness." + +They left the restaurant amid an intense hush. Norgate waited +deliberately whilst the door was somewhat unwillingly held open for him +by a _maitre d'hotel,_ but outside the Baroness's automobile was summoned +at once. She placed her fingers upon Norgate's arm, and he felt that she +was shivering. + +"Please do not take me home," she faltered. "I am so sorry--so +very sorry." + +He laughed. "But why?" he protested. "The young fellow behaved like a +cub, but no one offered him any provocation. I should think by this time +he is probably heartily ashamed of himself. May I come and see you +to-morrow?" + +"Telephone me," she begged, as she gave him her hand through the window. +"You don't quite understand. Please telephone to me." + +She suddenly clutched his hand with both of hers and then fell back out +of sight among the cushions. Norgate remained upon the pavement until the +car had disappeared. Then he looked back once more into the restaurant +and strolled across the brilliantly-lit street towards the Embassy. + + + + +CHAPTER II + + +Norgate, during his month's stay in Berlin, had already adopted regular +habits. On the following morning he was called at eight o'clock and rode +for two hours in the fashionable precincts of the city. The latter +portion of the time he spent looking in vain for a familiar figure in a +green riding-habit. The Baroness, however, did not appear. At ten o'clock +Norgate returned to the Embassy, bathed and breakfasted, and a little +after eleven made his way round to the business quarters. One of his +fellow-workers there glanced up and nodded at his arrival. + +"Where's the Chief?" Norgate enquired. + +"Gone down to the Palace," the other young man, whose name was Ansell, +replied; "telephoned for the first thing this morning. Ghastly habit +William has of getting up at seven o'clock and suddenly remembering that +he wants to talk diplomacy. The Chief will be furious all day now." + +Norgate lit a cigarette and began to open his letters. Ansell, however, +was in a discoursive mood. He swung around from his desk and leaned back +in his chair. + +"How can a man," he demanded, "see a question from the same point of view +at seven o'clock in the morning and seven o'clock in the evening? +Absolutely impossible, you know. That's what's the matter with our +versatile friend up yonder. He gets all aroused over some scheme or other +which comes to him in the dead of night, hops out of bed before any one +civilised is awake, and rings up for ambassadors. Then at night-time he +becomes normal again and takes everything back. The consequence is that +this place is a regular diplomatic see-saw. Settling down in Berlin +pretty well, aren't you, Norgate?" + +"Very nicely, thanks," the latter replied. + +"Dining alone with the Baroness von Haase!" his junior continued. "A +Court favourite, too! Never been seen alone before except with her young +princeling. What honeyed words did you use, Lothario--" + +"Oh, chuck it!" Norgate interrupted. "Tell me about the Baroness von +Haase! She is Austrian, isn't she?" + +Ansell nodded. + +"Related to the Hapsburgs themselves, I believe," he said. "Very old +family, anyhow. They say she came to spend a season here because she was +a little too go-ahead for the ladies of Vienna. I must say that I've +never seen her out without a chaperon before, except with Prince Karl. +They say he'd marry her--morganatically, of course--if they'd let him, +and if the lady were willing. If you want to know anything more about +her, go into Gray's room." + +Norgate looked up from his letters. + +"Why Gray's room? How does she come into his department?" + +Ansell shook his head. + +"No idea. I fancy she is there, though." + +Norgate left the room a few minutes later, and, strolling across the +hall of the Embassy, made his way to an apartment at the back of the +house. It was plainly furnished, there were bars across the window, and +three immense safes let into the wall. An elderly gentleman, with +gold-rimmed spectacles and a very benevolent expression, was busy with +several books of reference before him, seated at a desk. He raised his +head at Norgate's entrance. + +"Good morning, Norgate," he said. + +"Good morning, sir," Norgate replied. + +"Anything in my way?" + +Norgate shook his head. + +"Chief's gone to the Palace--no one knows why. I just looked in because I +met a woman the other day whom Ansell says you know something +about--Baroness von Haase." + +"Well?" + +"Is there anything to be told about her?" Norgate asked bluntly. "I dined +with her last night." + +"Then I don't think I would again, if I were you," the other advised. +"There is nothing against her, but she is a great friend of certain +members of the Royal Family who are not very well disposed towards us, +and she is rather a brainy little person. They use her a good deal, I +believe, as a means of confidential communication between here and +Vienna. She has been back and forth three or four times lately, without +any apparent reason." + +Norgate stood with his hands in his pockets, frowning slightly. + +"Why, she's half an Englishwoman," he remarked. + +"She may be," Mr. Gray admitted drily. "The other half's Austrian all +right, though. I can't tell you anything more about her, my dear fellow. +All I can say is that she is in my book, and so long as she is there, you +know it's better for you youngsters to keep away. Be off now. I am +decoding a dispatch." + +Norgate retraced his steps to his own room. Ansell glanced up from a mass +of passports as he entered. + +"How's the Secret Service Department this morning?" he enquired. + +"Old Gray seems much as usual," Norgate grumbled. "One doesn't get much +out of him." + +"Chief wants you in his room," Ansell announced. "He's just come in from +the Palace, looking like nothing on earth." + +"Wants me?" Norgate muttered. "Righto!" + +He went to the looking-glass, straightened his tie, and made his way +towards the Ambassador's private apartments. The latter was alone when he +entered, seated before his table. He was leaning back in his chair, +however, and apparently deep in thought. He watched Norgate sternly as he +crossed the room. + +"Good morning, sir," the latter said. + +The Ambassador nodded. + +"What have you been up to, Norgate?" he asked abruptly. + +"Nothing at all that I know of, sir," was the prompt reply. + +"This afternoon," the Ambassador continued slowly, "I was to have taken +you, as you know, to the Palace to be received by the Kaiser. At seven +o'clock this morning I had a message. I have just come from the Palace. +The Kaiser has given me to understand that your presence in Berlin is +unwelcome." + +"Good God!" Norgate exclaimed. + +"Can you offer me any explanation?" + +For a moment Norgate was speechless. Then he recovered himself. He forgot +altogether his habits of restraint. There was an angry note in his tone. + +"It's that miserable young cub of a Prince Karl!" he exclaimed. +"Last night I was dining, sir, with the Baroness von Haase at the +Cafe de Berlin." + +"Alone?" + +"Alone," Norgate admitted. "It was not for me to invite a chaperon if the +lady did not choose to bring one, was it, sir? As we were finishing +dinner, the Prince came in. He made a scene at our table and ordered me +to leave." + +"And you?" the Ambassador asked. + +"I simply treated him as I would any other young ass who forgot +himself," Norgate replied indignantly. "I naturally refused to go, and +the Baroness left the place with me." + +"And you did not expect to hear of this again?" + +"I honestly didn't. I should have thought, for his own sake, that the +young man would have kept his mouth shut. He was hopelessly in the wrong, +and he behaved like a common young bounder." + +The Ambassador shook his head slowly. + +"Mr. Norgate," he said, "I am very sorry for you, but you are under a +misapprehension shared by many young men. You believe that there is a +universal standard of manners and deportment, and a universal series of +customs for all nations. You have our English standard of manners in your +mind, manners which range from a ploughboy to a king, and you seem to +take it for granted that these are also subscribed to in other countries. +In my position I do not wish to say too much, but let me tell you that in +Germany they are not. If a prince here chooses to behave like a +ploughboy, he is right where the ploughboy would be wrong." + +There was a moment's silence. Norgate was looking a little dazed. + +"Then you mean to defend--" he began. + +"Certainly not," the Ambassador interrupted. "I am not speaking to you as +one of ourselves. I am speaking as the representative of England in +Berlin. You are supposed to be studying diplomacy. You have been guilty +of a colossal blunder. You have shown yourself absolutely ignorant of the +ideals and customs of the country in which you are. It is perfectly +correct for young Prince Karl to behave, as you put it, like a bounder. +The people expect it of him. He conforms entirely to the standard +accepted by the military aristocracy of Berlin. It is you who have been +in the wrong--diplomatically." + +"Then you mean, sir," Norgate protested, "that I should have taken it +sitting down?" + +"Most assuredly you should," the Ambassador replied, "unless you were +willing to pay the price. Your only fault--your personal fault, I +mean--that I can see is that it was a little indiscreet of you to dine +alone with a young woman for whom the Prince is known to have a +foolish passion. Diplomatically, however, you have committed every +fault possible, I am very sorry, but I think that you had better +report in Downing Street as soon as possible. The train leaves, I +think, at three o'clock." + +Norgate for a moment was unable to speak or move. He was struggling with +a sort of blind fury. + +"This is the end of me, then," he muttered at last. "I am to be disgraced +because I have come to a city of boors." + +"You are reprimanded and in a sense, no doubt, punished," the Ambassador +explained calmly, "because you have come to--shall I accept your term?--a +city of boors and fail to adapt yourself. The true diplomatist adapts +himself wherever he may be. My personal sympathies remain with you. I +will do what I can in my report." + +Norgate had recovered himself. + +"I thank you very much, sir," he said. "I shall catch the three +o'clock train." + +The Ambassador held out his hand. The interview had finished. He +permitted himself to speak differently. + +"I am very sorry indeed, Norgate, that this has happened," he declared. +"We all have our trials to bear in this city, and you have run up +against one of them rather before your time. I wish you good luck, +whatever may happen." + +Norgate clasped his Chief's hand and left the apartment. Then he made his +way to his rooms, gave his orders and sent a messenger to secure his seat +in the train. Last of all he went to the telephone. He rang up the number +which had become already familiar to him, almost with reluctance. He +waited for the reply without any pleasurable anticipations. He was filled +with a burning sense of resentment, a feeling which extended even to the +innocent cause of it. Soon he heard her voice. + +"That is Mr. Norgate, is it not?" + +"Yes," he replied. "I rang up to wish you good-by." + +"Good-by! But you are going away, then?" + +"I am sent away--dismissed!" + +He heard her little exclamation of grief. Its complete genuineness broke +down a little the wall of his anger. + +"And it is my fault!" she exclaimed. "If only I could do anything! Will +you wait--please wait? I will go to the Palace myself." + +His expostulation was almost a shock to her. + +"Baroness," he replied, "if I permitted your intervention, I could never +hold my head up in Berlin again! In any case, I could not stay here. The +first thing I should do would be to quarrel with that insufferable young +cad who insulted us last night. I am afraid, at the first opportunity, I +should tell--" + +"Hush!" she interrupted. "Oh, please hush! You must not talk like +this, even over the telephone. Cannot you understand that you are not +in England?" + +"I am beginning to realise," he answered gruffly, "what it means not to +be in a free country. I am leaving by the three o'clock train, Baroness. +Farewell!" + +"But you must not go like this," she pleaded. "Come first and see me." + +"No! It will only mean more disgrace for you. Besides--in any case, I +have decided to go away without seeing you again." + +Her voice was very soft. He found himself gripping the pages of the +telephone book which hung by his side. + +"But is that kind? Have I sinned, Mr. Francis Norgate?" + +"Of course not," he answered, keeping his tone level, almost indifferent. +"I hope that we shall meet again some day, but not in Berlin." + +There was a moment's silence. He thought, even, that she had gone away. +Then her reply came back. + +"So be it," she murmured. "Not in Berlin. Au revoir!" + + + + +CHAPTER III + + +Faithful to his insular prejudices, Norgate, on finding that the other +seat in his coupe was engaged, started out to find the train attendant +with a view to changing his place. His errand, however, was in vain. The +train, it seemed, was crowded. He returned to his compartment to find +already installed there one of the most complete and absolute types of +Germanism he had ever seen. A man in a light grey suit, the waistcoat of +which had apparently abandoned its efforts to compass his girth, with a +broad, pink, good-humoured face, beardless and bland, flaxen hair +streaked here and there with grey, was seated in the vacant place. He had +with him a portmanteau covered with a linen case, his boots were a bright +shade of yellow, his tie was of white satin with a design of lavender +flowers. A pair of black kid gloves lay by his side. He welcomed Norgate +with the bland, broad smile of a fellow-passenger whose one desire it is +to make a lifelong friend of his temporary companion. + +"We have the compartment to ourselves, is it not so? You are English?" + +Some queer chance founded upon his ill-humour, his disgust of Germany and +all things in it, induced Norgate to tell a deliberate falsehood. + +"Sorry," he replied in English. "I don't speak German." + +The man's satisfaction was complete. + +"But I--I speak the most wonderful English. It pleases me always to speak +English. I like to do so. It is practice for me. We will talk English +together, you and I. These comic papers, they do not amuse. And books in +the train, they make one giddy. What I like best is a companion and a +bottle of Rhine wine." + +"Personally," Norgate confessed gruffly, "I like to sleep." + +The other seemed a little taken aback but remained, apparently, full of +the conviction that his overtures could be nothing but acceptable. + +"It is well to sleep," he agreed, "if one has worked hard. Now I myself +am a hard worker. My name is Selingman. I manufacture crockery which I +sell in England. That is why I speak the English language so wonderful. +For the last three nights I have been up reading reports of my English +customers, going through their purchases. Now it is finished. I am well +posted. I am off to sell crockery in London, in Manchester, in Leeds, in +Birmingham. I have what the people want. They will receive me with open +arms, some of them even welcome me at their houses. Thus it is that I +look forward to my business trip as a holiday." + +"Very pleasant, I'm sure," Norgate remarked, curling himself up in his +corner. "Personally, I can't see why we can't make our own crockery. I +get tired of seeing German goods in England." + +Herr Selingman was apparently a trifle hurt, but his efforts to make +himself agreeable were indomitable. + +"If you will," he said, "I can explain why my crockery sells in England +where your own fails. For one thing, then, I am cheaper. There is a +system at my works, the like of which is not known in England. From the +raw material to the finished article I can produce forty per cent. +cheaper than your makers, and, mind you, that is not because I save in +wages. It is because of the system in the various departments. I do not +like to save in wages," he went on. "I like to see my people healthy and +strong and happy. I like to see them drink beer after work is over, and +on feast days and Sundays I like to see them sit in the gardens and +listen to the band, and maybe change their beer for a bottle of wine. +Industrially, Mr. Englishman, ours is a happy country." + +"Well, I hope you won't think I am rude," Norgate observed, "but from the +little I have seen of it I call it a beastly country, and if you don't +mind I am going to sleep." + +Herr Selingman sat for several moments with his mouth still open. Then he +gave a little grunt. There was not the slightest ill-humour in the +ejaculation or in his expression. He was simply pained. + +"I am sorry if I have talked too much," he said. "I forgot that you, +perhaps, are tired. You have met with disappointments, maybe. I am sorry. +I will read now and not disturb you." + +For an hour or so Norgate tried in vain to sleep. All this time the man +opposite turned the pages of his book with the utmost cautiousness, +moved on tiptoe once to reach down more papers, and held out his finger +to warn the train attendant who came with some harmless question. + +"The English gentleman," Norgate heard him whisper, "is tired. Let +him sleep." + +Soon after five o'clock, Norgate gave it up. He rose to his feet, +stretched himself, and was welcomed with a pleasant smile from his +companion. + +"You have had a refreshing nap," the latter remarked, "and now, is it not +so, you go to take a cup of English tea?" + +"You are quite right," Norgate admitted. "Better come with me." + +Herr Selingman smiled a smile of triumph. It was the reward of geniality, +this! He was forming a new friendship! + +"I come with great pleasure," he decided, "only while you drink the tea, +I drink the coffee or some beer. I will see. I like best the beer," he +explained, turning sidewise to get out of the door, "but it is not the +best for my figure. I have a good conscience and a good digestion, and I +eat and drink much. But it is good to be happy." + +They made their way down to the restaurant car and seated themselves at a +table together. + +"You let me do the ordering," Herr Selingman insisted. "The man here, +perhaps, does not speak English. So! You will drink your tea with me, +sir. It is a great pleasure to me to entertain an Englishman. I make many +friends travelling. I like to make friends. I remember them all, and +sometimes we meet again. _Kellner_, some tea for the gentleman--English +tea with what you call bread and butter. So! And for me--" Selingman +paused for a moment and drew a deep sigh of resignation--"some coffee." + +"Very kind of you, I'm sure," Norgate murmured. + +Herr Selingman beamed. + +"It is a great pleasure," he said, "but many times I wonder why you +Englishmen, so clever, so world-conquering, do not take the trouble to +make yourselves with the languages of other nations familiar. It means +but a little study. Now you, perhaps, are in business?" + +"Not exactly," Norgate replied grimly. "To tell you the truth, at the +present moment I have no occupation." + +"No occupation!" + +Herr Selingman paused in the act of conveying a huge portion of rusk to +his mouth, and regarded his companion with wonder. + +"So!" he repeated. "No occupation! Well, that is what in Germany we know +nothing of. Every one must work, or must take up the army as a permanent +profession. You are, perhaps, one of those Englishmen of whom one reads, +who give up all their time to sport?" + +Norgate shook his head. + +"As a matter of fact," he said, "I have worked rather hard during the +last five or six years. It is only just recently that I have lost my +occupation." + +Herr Selingman's curiosity was almost childlike in its transparency, but +Norgate found himself unable to gratify it. In any case, after his +denial of any knowledge of the German language, he could scarcely lay +claim to even the most indirect connection with the diplomatic service. + +"Ah, well," Herr Selingman declared, "opportunities will come. You have +perhaps lost some post. Well, there are others. I should not, I think, be +far away from the truth, sir, if I were to surmise that you had held some +sort of an official position?" + +"Perhaps," Norgate assented. + +"That is interesting," Herr Selingman continued. "Now with the English of +commerce I talk often, and I know their views of me and my country. But +sometimes I have fancied that among your official classes those who are +ever so slightly employed in Government service, there is--I do not love +the word, but I must use it--a distrust of Germany and her peace-loving +propensities." + +"I have met many people," Norgate admitted, "who do not look upon Germany +as a lover of peace." + +"They should come and travel here," Herr Selingman insisted eagerly. +"Look out of the windows. What do you see? Factory chimneys, furnaces +everywhere. And further on--what? Well-tilled lands, clean, prosperous +villages, a happy, domestic people. I tell you that no man in the world +is so fond of his wife and children, his simple life, his simple +pleasures, as the German." + +"Very likely," Norgate assented, "but if you look out of the windows +continually you will also see that every station-master on the line wears +a military uniform, that every few miles you see barracks. These simple +peasants you speak of carry themselves with a different air from ours. I +don't know much about it, but I should call it the effect of their +military training. I know nothing about politics. Very likely yours is a +nation of peace-loving men. As a casual observer, I should call you more +a nation of soldiers." + +"But that," Herr Selingman explained earnestly, "is for defence only." + +"And your great standing army, your wonderful artillery, your Zeppelins +and your navy," Norgate asked, "are they for defence only?" + +"Absolutely and entirely," Herr Selingman declared, with a new and +ponderous gravity. "There is nothing the most warlike German desires more +fervently than to keep the peace. We are strong only because we desire +peace, peace under which our commerce may grow, and our wealth increase." + +"Well, it seems to me, then," Norgate observed, "that you've gone to a +great deal of expense and taken a great deal of trouble for nothing. I +don't know much about these things, as I told you before, but there is no +nation in the world who wants to attack Germany." + +Herr Selingman laid his finger upon his nose. + +"That may be," he said. "Yet there are many who look at us with envious +eyes. I am a good German. I know what it is that we want. We want peace, +and to gain peace we need strength, and to be strong we arm. That is +everything. It will never be Germany who clenches her fist, who draws +down the black clouds of war over Europe. It will never be Germany, I +tell you. Why, a war would ruin half of us. What of my crockery? I sell +it all in England. Believe me, young gentleman, war exists only in the +brains of your sensational novelists. It does not come into the world of +real purpose." + +"Well, it's very interesting to hear you say so," Norgate admitted. "I +wish I could wholly agree with you." + +Herr Selingman caught him by the sleeve. + +"You are just a little," he confided, "just a little suspicious, my young +friend, you in your little island. Perhaps it is because you live upon an +island. You do not expand. You have small thoughts. You are not great +like we in Germany, not broad, not deep. But we will talk later of these +things. I must tell you about our Kaiser." + +Norgate opened his lips and closed them again. + +"Presently," he muttered. "See you later on." + +He strolled to his coupe, tried in vain to read, walked up and down the +length of the train, smoked a cigarette, and returned to his compartment +to find Herr Selingman immersed in the study of many documents. + +"Records of my customers and my transactions," the latter announced +blandly. "I have a great fondness for detail. I know everything. I carry +with me particulars of everything. That is where we Germans are so +thorough. See, I place them now all in my bag." + +He did so and locked it with great care. + +"We go to dinner, is it not so?" he suggested. + +"I suppose we may as well," Norgate assented indifferently. + +They found places in the crowded restaurant car. The manufacturer of +crockery made a highly satisfactory and important meal. Norgate, on the +other hand, ate little. Herr Selingman shook his head. + +"My young English friend," he declared, "all is not well with you that +you turn away from good food. Come. Afterwards, over a cigar, you shall +tell me what troubles you have, and I will give you sound advice. I have +a very wide knowledge of life. I have a way of seeing the truth, and I +like to help people." + +Norgate shook his head. "I am afraid," he said, "that my case is +hopeless." + +"Presently we will see," Herr Selingman continued, rubbing the window +with his cuff. "We are arrived, I think, at Lesel. Here will board the +train one of my agents. He will travel with us to the next station. It is +my way of doing business, this. It is better than alighting and wasting a +day in a small town. You will not mind, perhaps," he added, "if I bring +him into the carriage and talk? You do not understand German, so it will +not weary you." + +"Certainly not," Norgate replied. "I shall probably drop off to sleep." + +"He will be in the train for less than an hour," Herr Selingman +explained, "but I have many competitors, and I like to talk in private. +In here some one might overhear." + +"How do you know that I am not an English crockery manufacturer?" +Norgate remarked. + +Herr Selingman laughed heartily. His stomach shook, and tears rolled +down his eyes. + +"That is good!" he exclaimed. "An English crockery manufacturer! No, I do +not think so! I cannot see you with your sleeves turned up, walking +amongst the kilns. I cannot see you, even, studying the designs for pots +and basins." + +"Well, bring your man in whenever you want to," Norgate invited, as he +turned away. "I can promise, at least, that I shall not understand what +you are saying, and that I won't sneak your designs." + +There was a queer little smile on Herr Selingman's broad face. It almost +seemed as though he had discovered some hidden though unsuspected meaning +in the other's words. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + + +Norgate dozed fitfully as the train sped on through the darkness. He woke +once to find Herr Selingman in close confabulation with his agent on the +opposite side of the compartment. They had a notebook before them and +several papers spread out upon the seat. Norgate, who was really weary, +closed his eyes again, and it seemed to him that he dreamed for a few +moments. Then suddenly he found himself wide-awake. Although he remained +motionless, the words which Selingman had spoken to his companion were +throbbing in his ears. + +"I do not doubt your industry, Meyer, but it is your discretion which is +sometimes at fault. These plans of the forts of Liege--they might as well +be published in a magazine. We had them when they were made. We have +received copies of every alteration. We know to a metre how far the guns +will carry, how many men are required to man them, what stocks of +ammunition are close at hand. Understand, therefore, my friend, that the +sight of these carefully traced plans, which you hint to have obtained at +the risk of your life, excites me not at all." + +The other man's reply was inaudible. In a moment or two Selingman +spoke again. + +"The information which I am lacking just at present in your sphere of +operations, is civilian in character. Take Ghent, for instance. What I +should like here, what our records need at present, is a list of the +principal inhabitants with their approximate income, and, summarising it +all, the rateable value of the city. With these bases it would be easy to +fix a reasonable indemnity." + +Norgate was wide-awake now. He was curled up on his seat, underneath his +rug, and though his eyelids had quivered with a momentary excitement, he +was careful to remain as near as possible motionless. Again Selingman's +agent spoke, this time more distinctly. + +"The young man opposite," he whispered. "He is English, surely?" + +"He is English indeed," Selingman admitted, "but he speaks no German. +That I have ascertained. Give me your best attention, Meyer. Here is +again an important commission for you. Within the next few days, hire an +automobile and visit the rising country eastwards from Antwerp. At some +spot between six and eight miles from the city, on a slight incline and +commanding the River Scheldt, we desire to purchase an acre of land for +the erection of a factory. You can say that we have purchased the +concession for making an American safety razor. The land is wanted, and +urgently. See to this yourself and send plans and price to me in London. +On my return I shall call and inspect the sites and close the bargain." + +"And the Antwerp forts?" + +The other pursed his lips. + +"Pooh! Was it not the glorious firm of Krupp who fitted the guns there? +Do you think the men who undertook that task were idle? I tell you that +our plans of the Antwerp fortifications are more carefully worked out in +detail than the plans held by the Belgians themselves. Here is good work +for you to do, friend Meyer. That and the particulars from Brussels which +you know of, will keep you busy until we meet again." + +Herr Selingman began to collect his papers, but was suddenly thrown back +into his seat by the rocking of the train, which came, a few moments +later, to a standstill. The sound of the opening of windows from the +other side of the corridor was heard all down the train. Selingman and +his companion followed the general example, opening the door of the +carriage and the window opposite. A draught blew through the compartment. +One of the small folded slips of paper from Selingman's pocket-book +fluttered along the seat. It came within reach of Norgate. Cautiously he +stretched out his fingers and gripped it. In a moment it was in his +pocket. He sat up in his place. Selingman had turned around. + +"Anything the matter?" Norgate asked sleepily. + +"Not that one can gather," Selingman replied. "You have slept well. I am +glad that our conversation has not disturbed you. This is my agent from +Brussels--Mr. Meyer. He sells our crockery in that city--not so much as +he should sell, perhaps, but still he does his best." + +Mr. Meyer was a dark little man who wore gold-rimmed spectacles, neat +clothes, and a timid smile. Norgate nodded to him good-humouredly. + +"You should get Herr Selingman to come oftener and help you," he +remarked, yawning. "I can imagine that he would be able to sell anything +he tried to." + +"It is what I often tell him, sir," Mr. Meyer replied, "but he is too +fond of the English trade." + +"English money is no better than Belgian," Herr Selingman declared, "but +there is more of it. Let us go round to the restaurant car and drink a +bottle of wine together while the beds are prepared." + +"Certainly," Norgate assented, stretching himself. "By-the-by, you +had better look after your papers there, Herr Selingman. Just as I +woke up I saw a small slip fluttering along the seat. You made a most +infernal draught by opening that door, and I almost fancy it went out +of the window." + +Herr Selingman's face became suddenly grave. He went through the papers +one by one, and finally locked them up in his bag. + +"Nothing missing, I hope?" Norgate asked. + +Herr Selingman's face was troubled. + +"I am not sure," he said. "It is my belief that I had with me here a +list of my agents in England. I cannot find it. In a sense it is +unimportant, yet if a rival firm should obtain possession of it, there +might be trouble." + +Norgate looked out into the night and smiled. + +"Considering that it is blowing half a hurricane and commencing to rain," +he remarked, "the slip of paper which I saw blowing about will be of no +use to any one when it is picked up." + +They called the attendant and ordered him to prepare the sleeping +berths. Then they made their way down to the buffet car, and Herr +Selingman ordered a bottle of wine. + +"We will drink," he proposed, "to our three countries. In our way we +represent, I think, the industrial forces of the world--Belgium, England, +and Germany. We are the three countries who stand for commerce and peace. +We will drink prosperity to ourselves and to each other." + +Norgate threw off, with apparent effort, his sleepiness. + +"What you have said about our three countries is very true," he remarked. +"Perhaps as you, Mr. Meyer, are a Belgian, and you, Mr. Selingman, know +Belgium well and have connections with it, you can tell me one thing +which has always puzzled me. Why is it that Belgium, which is, as you +say, a commercial and peace-loving country, whose neutrality is +absolutely guaranteed by three of the greatest Powers in Europe, should +find it necessary to have spent such large sums upon fortifications?" + +"In which direction do you mean?" Selingman asked, his eyes narrowing a +little as he looked across at Norgate. + +"The forts of Liege and Namur," Norgate replied, "and Antwerp. I know +nothing more about it than I gathered from an article which I read not +long ago in a magazine. I had always looked upon Belgium as being outside +the pale of possible warfare, yet according to this article it seems to +be bristling to the teeth with armaments." + +Herr Selingman cleared his throat. + +"I will tell you the reason," he said. "You have come to the right man +to know. I am a civilian, but there are few things in connection with my +country which I do not understand. Mr. Meyer here, who is a citizen of +Brussels, will bear me out. It is the book of a clever, intelligent, but +misguided German writer which has been responsible for Belgium's +unrest--Bernhardi's _Germany and the Next War_--that and articles of a +similar tenor which preceded it." + +"Never read any of them," Norgate remarked. + +"It was erroneously supposed," Selingman continued, "that Bernhardi +represented the dominant military opinion of Germany when he wrote that +if Germany ever again invaded France, it would be, notwithstanding her +guarantees of neutrality, through Belgium. Bernhardi was a clever writer, +but he was a soldier, and soldiers do not understand the world policy of +a great nation such as Germany. Germany will make no war upon any one, +save commercially. She will never again invade France except under the +bitterest provocation, and if ever she should be driven to defend +herself, it will assuredly not be at the expense of her broken pledges. +The forts of Belgium might just as well be converted into apple-orchards. +They stand there to-day as the proof of a certain lack of faith in +Germany on the part of Belgium, ministered to by that King of the +Jingoes, as you would say in English, Bernhardi. How often it is that a +nation suffers most from her own patriots!" + +"Herr Selingman has expressed the situation admirably," Mr. Meyer +declared approvingly. + +"Very interesting, I'm sure," Norgate murmured. "There is one thing +about you foreigners," he added, with an envious sigh. "The way you all +speak the languages of other countries is wonderful. Are you a Belgian, +Mr. Meyer?" + +"Half Belgian and half French." + +"But you speak English almost without accent," Norgate remarked. + +"In commerce," Herr Selingman insisted, "that is necessary. All my agents +speak four languages." + +"You deserve to capture our trade," Norgate sighed. + +"To a certain extent, my young friend," Selingman declared, "we mean to +do it. We are doing it. And yet there is enough for us both. There is +trade enough for your millions and for mine. So long as Germany and +England remain friends, they can divide the commerce of the world between +them. It is our greatest happiness, we who have a business relying upon +the good-will of the two nations, to think that year by year the clouds +of discord are rolling away from between us. Young sir, as a German +citizen, I will drink a toast with you, an English one. I drink to +everlasting peace between my country and yours!" + +Norgate drained his glass. Selingman threw back his head as he followed +suit, and smacked his lips appreciatively. + +"And now," the former remarked, rising to his feet, "I think I'll go and +turn in. I dare say you two still have some business to talk about, +especially if Mr. Meyer is leaving us shortly." + +Norgate made his way back to his compartment, undressed leisurely and +climbed into the upper bunk. For an hour or two he indulged in the fitful +slumber usually engendered by night travelling. At the frontier he sat up +and answered the stereotyped questions. Herr Selingman, in sky-blue +pyjamas, and with face looking more beaming and florid than ever, poked +his head cheerfully out of the lower bunk. + +"Awake?" he enquired. + +"Very much so," Norgate yawned. + +"I have a surprise," Herr Selingman announced. "Wait." + +Almost as he spoke, an attendant arrived from the buffet car with some +soda-water. Herr Selingman's head vanished for a moment or two. When he +reappeared, he held two glasses in his hand. + +"A whisky soda made in real English fashion," he proclaimed triumphantly. +"A good nightcap, is it not? Now we are off again." + +Norgate held out his hand for the tumbler. + +"Awfully good of you," he murmured. + +"I myself," Selingman continued, seated on the edge of the bunk, with his +legs far apart to steady himself, "I myself enjoy a whisky soda. It will +be indeed a nightcap, so here goes." + +He drained his glass and set it down. Norgate followed suit. Selingman's +hand came up for the tumbler and Norgate was conscious of a curious +mixture of sensations which he had once experienced before in the +dentist's chair. He could see Selingman distinctly, and he fancied that +he was watching him closely, but the rest of the carriage had become +chaos. The sound of the locomotive was beating hard upon the drums of +his ears. His head fell back. + +It was broad daylight when he awoke. Selingman, fully dressed and +looking more beaming than ever, was seated upon a ridiculously +inadequate camp-stool upon the floor, smoking a cigarette. Norgate +stared at him stupidly. + +"My young friend," Herr Selingman declared impressively, "if there is one +thing in the world I envy you, it is that capacity for sleep. You all +have it, you English. Your heads touch the pillow, and off you go. Do you +know that the man is waiting for you to take your coffee?" + +Norgate lay quite still for several moments. Beyond a slight headache, he +was feeling as usual. He leaned over the side of the bunk. + +"How many whiskies and soda did I have last night?" he asked. + +Herr Selingman smiled. + +"But one only," he announced. "There was only one to be had. I found a +little whisky in my flask. I remembered that I had an English travelling +companion, and I sent for some soda-water. You drank yours, and you did +sleep. I go now and sit in the corridor while you dress." + +Norgate swung round in his bunk and slipped to the floor. + +"Jolly good of you," he muttered sleepily, "but it was very strong +whisky." + + + + +CHAPTER V + + +There was a babel of voices as the long train came to a stand-still in +the harbour station at Ostend. Selingman, with characteristic +forcefulness, pushed his way down the narrow corridor, driving before him +passengers of less weight and pertinacity, until finally he descended on +to the platform itself. Norgate, who had followed meekly in his wake, +stood listening for a moment to the confused stream of explanations. He +understood well enough what had happened, but with Selingman at his elbow +he assumed an air of non-comprehension. + +"It is extraordinary!" the latter exclaimed. "Never do I choose this +route but I am visited with some mishap. You hear what has happened?" + +"Fellow's trying to tell me," Norgate replied, "but his Flemish is worse +to understand than German." + +"The steamer," Selingman announced, "has met with an accident entering +the harbour. There will be a delay of at least six hours--possibly more. +It is most annoying. My appointments in London have been fixed for days." + +"Bad luck!" Norgate murmured. + +"You do not seem much distressed." + +"Why should I be? I really came this way because I was not sure whether +I would not stay here for a few days." + +"That is all very well for you," Selingman declared, as they followed +their porters into the shed. "For me, I am a man of affairs. It is +different. My business goes by clockwork. All is regulated by rule, with +precision, with punctuality. Now I shall be many hours behind my +schedule. I shall be compelled to alter my appointments--I, who pride +myself always upon altering nothing. But behold! One must make the best +of things. What a sunshine! What a sea! We shall meet, without a doubt, +upon the Plage. I have friends here. I must seek them. Au revoir, my +young travelling companion. To the good fortune!" + +They drifted apart, and Norgate, having made arrangements about his +luggage, strolled through the town and on to the promenade. It was early +for the full season at Ostend, but the sands were already crowded with an +immense throng of children and holiday-makers. The hotels were all open, +and streams of people were passing back and forth along the front, +Norgate, who had no wish to meet acquaintances, passed the first period +of his enforced wait a little wearily. He took a taxicab and drove as far +as Knocke. Here he strolled across the links and threw himself down +finally amongst a little wave of sandy hillocks close to the sea. The +silence, and some remains of the sleepiness of the previous night, soon +began to have their natural effect. He closed his eyes and began to doze. +When he awoke, curiously enough, it was a familiar voice which first fell +upon his ears. He turned his head cautiously. Seated not a dozen yards +away from him was a tall, thin man with a bag of golf clubs by his side. +He was listening with an air of engrossed attention to his companion's +impressive remarks. Norgate, raising himself upon his elbow, no longer +had any doubts. The man stretched upon his back on the sand, partly +hidden from sight by a little grass-grown undulation, was his late +travelling companion. + +"You do well, my dear Marquis, believe me!" the latter exclaimed. +"Property in Belgium is valuable to-day. Take my advice. Sell. There are +so many places where one may live, where the climate is better for a man +of your constitution." + +"That is all very well," his companion replied querulously, "but remember +that Belgium, after all, is my country. My chateau and estates came to me +by inheritance. Notwithstanding the frequent intermarriages of my family +with the aristocracy of your country, I am still a Belgian." + +"Ah! but, my dear friend," Selingman protested, "you are more than a +Belgian, more than a man of local nationality. You are a citizen of the +world of intelligence. You are able to see the truth. The days are coming +when small states may exist no longer without the all-protecting arm of a +more powerful country. I say no more than this. The position of Belgium +is artificial. Of her own will, or of necessity, she must soon become +merged in the onward flow of mightier nations." + +"What about Holland, then?" + +"Holland, too," Selingman continued, "knows the truth. She knows very +well that the limit of her days as an independent kingdom is almost +reached. The Power which has absorbed the states of Prussia into one +mighty empire, pauses only to take breath. There are many signs--" + +"But, my worthy friend," the other man interrupted irritably, "you must +take into consideration the fact that Belgium is in a different position. +Our existence as a separate kingdom might certainly be threatened by +Germany, but all that has been foreseen. Our neutrality is guaranteed. +Your country has pledged its honour to maintain it, side by side with +France and England. What have we to fear, then?" + +"You have to fear, Marquis," Selingman replied ponderously, "the +inevitable laws which direct the progress of nations. Treaties solemnly +subscribed to in one generation become worthless as time passes and +conditions change." + +"But I do not understand you there!" the other man exclaimed. "What you +say sounds to me like a reflection upon the honour of your country. Do +you mean to insinuate that she would possibly--that she would ever for a +moment contemplate breaking her pledged and sealed word?" + +"My friend," Selingman pronounced drily, "the path of honour and glory, +the onward progress of a mighty, struggling nation, carrying in its hand +culture and civilisation, might demand even such a sacrifice. Germany +recognises, is profoundly imbued with the splendour of her own ideals, +the matchlessness of her own culture. She feels justified in spreading +herself out wherever she can find an outlet--at any cost, mind, because +the end must be good." + +There was a moment's silence. Then the tall man stood upright. + +"If you came out to find me, my friend Selingman, to bring me this +warning, I suppose I should consider myself your debtor. As a matter of +fact, I do not. You have inspired me with nameless misgivings. Your voice +sounds in my ears like the voice of an ugly fate. I am, as you have often +reminded me, half German, and I have shown my friendship for Germany many +times. Unlike most of the aristocracy of my country, I look more often +northwards than towards the south. But I tell you frankly that there are +limits to my Germanism. I will play no more golf. I will walk with you to +the club-house." + +"All that I have to say," Selingman went on, "is not yet said. This +opportunity of meeting you is too precious to be wasted. Come. As we walk +there are certain questions I wish to put to you." + +They passed within a few feet of where Norgate was lying. He closed his +eyes and held his breath. It was not until their figures were almost +specks in the distance that he rose cautiously to his feet. He made his +way back to the club-house by another angle, gained his taxicab +unobserved, and drove back to Ostend. + + * * * * * + +Towards evening Norgate strolled into one of the cosmopolitan bars at the +back of the Casino. The first person he saw as he handed over his hat to +a waiter, was Selingman, spread out upon a cushioned seat with a young +lady upon either side of him. He at once summoned Norgate to his table. + +"An _aperitif_," he insisted. "Come, you must not refuse me. In two hours +we start. We tear ourselves away from this wonderful atmosphere. In +atmosphere, mademoiselle," he added, bowing to the right and the left, +"all is included." + +"It is not," Norgate admitted, "an invitation to be disregarded. On the +other hand, I have already an appetite." + +Selingman thundered out an order. + +"Here," he remarked, "we dwell for a few brief moments in Bohemia. I do +not introduce you. You sit down and join us. You are one of us. That you +speak only English counts for nothing. Mademoiselle Alice here is +American. Now tell us at once, how have you spent this afternoon? You +have bathed, perhaps, or walked upon the sands?" + +Norgate was on the point of speaking of his excursion to Knocke but was +conscious of Selingman's curiously intent gaze. The spirit of duplicity +seemed to grow upon him. + +"I walked for a little way," he said. "Afterwards I lay upon the sands +and slept. When I found that the steamer was still further delayed, I +had a bath. That was half an hour ago. I asked a man whom I met on the +promenade where one might dine in travelling clothes, lightly but +well, and he sent me here--the Bar de Londres--and here, for my good +fortune, I am." + +"It is a pity that monsieur does not speak French," one of Selingman's +companions murmured. + +"But, mademoiselle," Norgate protested, "I have spoken French all my +life. Herr Selingman here has misunderstood me. It is German of which I +am ignorant." + +The young lady, who immediately introduced herself as Mademoiselle +Henriette, passed her arm through Selingman's. + +"We dine here all together, my friend, is it not so?" she begged. "He +will not be in the way, and for myself, I am _triste_. You talk all the +time to Mademoiselle l'Americaine, perhaps because she is the friend of +some one in whom you are interested. But for me, it is dull. Monsieur +l'Anglais shall talk with me, and you may hear all the secrets that Alice +has to tell. We," she murmured, looking up at Norgate, "will speak of +other things, is it not so?" + +For a moment Selingman hesitated. Norgate would have moved on with a +little farewell nod, but Selingman's companions were insistent. + +"It shall be a _partie carree_," they both declared, almost in unison. + +"You need have no fear," Mademoiselle Henriette continued. "I will talk +all the time to monsieur. He shall tell me his name, and we shall be +very great friends. I am not interested in the things of which they +talk, those others. You shall tell me of London, monsieur, and how you +live there." + +"Join us, by all means," Selingman invited. + +"On condition that you dine with me," Norgate insisted, as he took +up the menu. + +"Impossible!" Selingman declared firmly. + +"Oh! it matters nothing," Mademoiselle Henriette exclaimed, "so long +as we dine." + +"So long," Mademoiselle Alice intervened, "as we have this brief glimpse +of Mr. Selingman, let us make the best of it. We see him only because of +a _contretemps_. I think we must be very nice to him and persuade him to +take us to London to-night." + +Selingman's shake of the head was final. + +"Dear young ladies," he said, "it was delightful to find you here. I came +upon the chance, I admit, but who in Ostend would not be here between six +and eight? We dine, we walk down to the quay, and if you will, you shall +wave your hands and wish us _bon voyage,_ but London just now is +_triste_. It is here you may live the life the _bon Dieu_ sends, where +the sun shines all the time and the sea laps the sands like a great blue +lake, and you, mademoiselle, can wear those wonderful costumes and charm +all hearts. There is nothing like that for you in London." + +They ordered dinner and walked afterwards down to the quay. Mademoiselle +Henriette lingered behind with Norgate. + +"Let them go on," she whispered. "They have much to talk about. It is but +a short distance, and your steamer will not start before ten. We can walk +slowly and listen to the music. You are not in a hurry, monsieur, to +depart? Your stay here is too short already." + +Norgate's reply, although gallant enough, was a little vague. He was +watching Selingman with his companion. They were talking together with +undoubted seriousness. + +"Who is Mr. Selingman?" he enquired. "I know him only as a travelling +companion." + +Mademoiselle Henriette extended her hands. She shrugged her little +shoulders and looked with wide-open eyes up into her companion's +grave face. + +"But who, indeed, can answer that question?" she exclaimed. "Twice he has +been here for flying visits. Once Alice has been to see him in Berlin. He +is, I believe, a very wealthy manufacturer there. He crosses often to +England. He has money, and he is always gay." + +"And Mademoiselle Alice?" + +"Who knows?" was the somewhat pointless reply. "She came from America. +She arrived here this season with Monsieur le General." + +"What General?" Norgate asked. "A Belgian?" + +"But no," his companion corrected. "All the world knows that Alice is the +friend of General le Foys, chief of the staff in Paris. He is a very +great soldier. He spends eleven months working and one month here." + +"And she is also," Norgate observed meditatively, "the friend of Herr +Selingman. Tell me, mademoiselle, what do you suppose those two are +talking of now? See how close their heads are together. I don't think +that Herr Selingman is a Don Juan." + +"They speak, perhaps, of serious matters," his companion surmised, "but +who can tell? Besides, is it for us to waste our few moments wondering? +You will come back to Ostend, monsieur?" + +Norgate looked back at the streaming curve of lights flashing across the +dark waters. + +"One never knows," he answered. + +"That is what Monsieur Selingman himself says," she remarked, with a +little sigh. "'Enjoy your Ostend to-day, my little ones,' he said, when +he first met us this evening. 'One never knows how long these days will +last.' So, monsieur, we must indeed part here?" + +They had all come to a standstill at the gangway of the steamer. +Selingman had apparently finished his conversation with his companion. He +hurried Norgate off, and they waved their hands from the deck as a few +minutes later the steamer glided away. + +"A most delightful interlude," Selingman declared. "I have thoroughly +enjoyed these few hours. I trust, that every time this steamer meets with +a little accident, it will be at this time of the year and when I am on +my way to England." + +"You seem to have friends everywhere," Norgate observed, as he lit a +cigar. + +"Young ladies, yes," Selingman admitted. "It chanced that they were both +well-known to me. But who else?" + +Norgate made no reply. He felt that his companion was watching him. + +"It is something," he remarked, "to find charming young ladies in a +strange place to dine with one." + +Selingman smiled broadly. + +"If we travelled together often, my young friend," he said, "you would +discover that I have friends everywhere. If I have nothing else to do, I +go out and make a friend. Then, when I revisit that place, it loses its +coldness. There is some one there to welcome me, some one who is glad to +see me again. Look steadily in that direction, a few points to the left +of the bows. In two hours' time you will see the lights of your country. +I have friends there, too, who will welcome me. Meantime, I go below to +sleep. You have a cabin?" + +Norgate shook his head. + +"I shall doze on deck for a little time," he said. "It is too wonderful a +night to go below." + +"It is well for me that it is calm," Selingman acknowledged. "I do not +love the sea. Shall we part for a little time? If we meet not at Dover, +then in London, my young friend. London is the greatest city in the +world, but it is the smallest place in Europe. One cannot move in the +places one knows of without meeting one's friends." + +"Until we meet in London, then," Norgate observed, as he settled himself +down in his chair. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + + +Norgate spent an utterly fruitless morning on the day after his arrival +in London. After a lengthy but entirely unsatisfactory visit to the +Foreign Office, he presented himself soon after midday at Scotland Yard. + +"I should like," he announced, "to see the Chief Commissioner of +the Police." + +The official to whom he addressed his enquiry eyed him tolerantly. + +"Have you, by any chance, an appointment?" he asked. + +"None," Norgate admitted. "I only arrived from the Continent this +morning." + +The policeman shook his head slowly. + +"It is quite impossible, sir," he said, "to see Sir Philip without an +appointment. Your best course would be to write and state your business, +and his secretary will then fix a time for you to call." + +"Very much obliged to you, I'm sure," Norgate replied. "However, my +business is urgent, and if I can't see Sir Philip Morse, I will see some +one else in authority." + +Norgate was regaled with a copy of _The Times_ and a seat in a +barely-furnished waiting-room. In about twenty minutes he was told that a +Mr. Tyritt would see him, and was promptly shown into the presence of +that gentleman. Mr. Tyritt was a burly and black-bearded person of +something more than middle-age. He glanced down at Norgate's card in a +somewhat puzzled manner and motioned him to a seat. + +"What can I do for you, sir?" he enquired. "Sir Philip is very much +engaged for the next few days, but perhaps you can tell me your +business?" + +"I have just arrived from Berlin," Norgate explained. "Would you care to +possess a complete list of German spies in this country?" + +Mr. Tyritt's face was not one capable of showing the most profound +emotion. Nevertheless, he seemed a little taken aback. + +"A list of German spies?" he repeated. "Dear me, that sounds very +interesting!" + +He took up Norgate's card and glanced at it. The action was, in its way, +significant. + +"You probably don't know who I am," Norgate continued. "I have been in +the Diplomatic Service for eight years. Until a few days ago, I was +attached to the Embassy in Berlin." + +Mr. Tyritt was somewhat impressed by the statement. + +"Have you any objection to telling me how you became possessed of this +information?" + +"None whatever," was the prompt reply. "You shall hear the whole story." + +Norgate told him, as briefly as possible, of his meeting with Selingman, +their conversation, and the subsequent happenings, including the +interview which he had overheard on the golf links at Knocke. When he had +finished, there was a brief silence. + +"Sounds rather like a page out of a novel, doesn't it, Mr. Norgate?" the +police official remarked at last. + +"It may," Norgate assented drily. "I can't help what it sounds like. It +happens to be the exact truth." + +"I do not for a moment doubt it," the other declared politely. "I +believe, indeed, that there are a large number of Germans working in this +country who are continually collecting and forwarding to Berlin +commercial and political reports. Speaking on behalf of my department, +however, Mr. Norgate," he went on, "this is briefly our position. In the +neighbourhood of our naval bases, our dockyards, our military aeroplane +sheds, and in other directions which I need not specify, we keep the most +scrupulous and exacting watch. We even, as of course you are aware, +employ decoy spies ourselves, who work in conjunction with our friends at +Whitehall. Our system is a rigorous one and our supervision of it +unceasing. But--and this is a big 'but', Mr. Norgate--in other +directions--so far as regards the country generally, that is to say--we +do not take the subject of German spies seriously. I may almost say that +we have no anxiety concerning their capacity for mischief." + +"Those are the views of your department?" Norgate asked. + +"So far as I may be said to represent it, they are," Mr. Tyritt assented. +"I will venture to say that there are many thousands of letters a year +which leave this country, addressed to Germany, purporting to contain +information of the most important nature, which might just as well be +published in the newspapers. We ought to know, because at different times +we have opened a good many of them." + +"Forgive me if I press this point," Norgate begged. "Do you consider that +because a vast amount of useless information is naturally sent, that fact +lessens the danger as a whole? If only one letter in a thousand contains +vital information, isn't that sufficient to raise the subject to a more +serious level?" + +Mr. Tyritt crossed his legs. His tone still indicated the slight +tolerance of the man convinced beforehand of the soundness of his +position. + +"For the last twelve years," he announced,--"ever since I came into +office, in fact,--this bogey of German spies has been costing the nation +something like fifty thousand a year. It is only lately that we have come +to take that broader view of the situation which I am endeavouring +to--to--may I say enunciate? Germans over in this country, especially +those in comparatively menial positions, such as barbers and waiters, are +necessary to us industrially. So long as they earn their living +reputably, conform to our laws, and pay our taxes, they are welcome here. +We do not wish to unnecessarily disturb them. We wish instead to offer +them the full protection of the country in which they have chosen to do +productive work." + +"Very interesting," Norgate remarked. "I have heard this point of view +before. Once I thought it common sense. To-day I think it academic +piffle. If we leave the Germans engaged in the inland towns alone for a +moment, do you realise, I wonder, that there isn't any seaport in England +that hasn't its sprinkling of Germans engaged in the occupations of which +you speak?" + +"And in a general way," Mr. Tyritt assented, smiling, "they are +perfectly welcome to write home to their friends and relations each week +and tell them everything they see happening about them, everything they +know about us." + +Norgate rose reluctantly to his feet. + +"I won't trouble you any longer," he decided. "I presume that if I make a +few investigations on my own account, and bring you absolute proof that +any one of these people whose names are upon my list are in traitorous +communication with Germany, you will view the matter differently?" + +"Without a doubt," Mr. Tyritt promised. "Is that your list? Will you +allow me to glance through it?" + +"I brought it here to leave in your hands," Norgate replied, passing it +over. "Your attitude, however, seems to render that course useless." + +Mr. Tyritt adjusted his eyeglasses and glanced benevolently at the +document. A sharp ejaculation broke from his lips. As his eyes wandered +downwards, his first expression of incredulity gave way to one of +suppressed amusement. + +"Why, Mr. Norgate," he exclaimed, as he laid it down, "do you mean to +seriously accuse these people of being engaged in any sort of league +against us?" + +"Most certainly I do," Norgate insisted. + +"But the thing is ridiculous!" Mr. Tyritt declared. "There are names +here of princes, of bankers, of society women, many of them wholly and +entirely English, some of them household names. You expect me to believe +that these people are all linked together in what amounts to a conspiracy +to further the cause of Germany at the expense of the country in which +they live, to which they belong?" + +Norgate picked up his hat. + +"I expect you to believe nothing, Mr. Tyritt," he said drily. "Sorry I +troubled you." + +"Not at all," Mr. Tyritt protested, the slight irritation passing from +his manner. "Such a visit as yours is an agreeable break in my routine +work. I feel as though I might be a character in a great modern romance. +The names of your amateur criminals are still tingling in my memory." + +Norgate turned back from the door. + +"Remember them, if you can, Mr. Tyritt," he advised, "You may have cause +to, some day." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + + +Norgate sat, the following afternoon, upon the leather-stuffed fender of +a fashionable mixed bridge club in the neighbourhood of Berkeley Square, +exchanging greetings with such of the members as were disposed to find +time for social amenities. A smartly-dressed woman of dark complexion and +slightly foreign appearance, who had just cut out of a rubber, came over +and seated herself by his side. She took a cigarette from her case and +accepted a match from Norgate. + +"So you are really back again!" she murmured. "It scarcely seems +possible." + +"I am just beginning to realise it myself," he replied. "You haven't +altered, Bertha." + +"My dear man," she protested, "you did not expect me to age in a month, +did you? It can scarcely be more than that since you left for Berlin. Are +you not back again sooner than you expected?" + +Norgate nodded. + +"Very much sooner," he admitted. "I came in for some unexpected +leave, which I haven't the slightest intention of spending abroad, so +here I am." + +"Not, apparently, in love with Berlin," the lady, whose name was Mrs. +Paston Benedek, remarked. + +Norgate's air of complete candour was very well assumed. + +"I shall never be a success as a diplomatist," he confessed. "When I +dislike a place or a person, every one knows it. I hated Berlin. I hate +the thought of going back again." + +The woman by his side smiled enigmatically. + +"Perhaps," she murmured, "you may get an exchange." + +"Perhaps," Norgate assented. "Meanwhile, even a month away from London +seems to have brought a fresh set of people here. Who is the tall, thin +young man with the sunburnt face? He seems familiar, somehow, but I can't +place him." + +"He is a sailor," she told him. "Captain Baring his name is." + +"Friend of yours?" + +She looked at him sidewise. + +"Why do you ask?" + +"Jealousy," Norgate sighed, "makes one observant. You were lunching with +him in the Carlton Grill. You came in with him to the club this +afternoon." + +"Sherlock Holmes!" she murmured. "There are other men in the club with +whom I lunch--even dine." + +Norgate glanced across the room. Baring was playing bridge at a table +close at hand, but his attention seemed to be abstracted. He looked often +towards where Mrs. Benedek sat. There was a restlessness about his manner +scarcely in keeping with the rest of his appearance. + +"One misses a great deal," Norgate regretted, "through being only an +occasional visitor here." + +"As, for instance?" + +"The privilege of being one of those fortunate few." + +She laughed at him. Her eyes were full of challenge. She leaned a little +closer and whispered in his ear: "There is still a vacant place." + +"For to-night or to-morrow?" he asked eagerly. + +"For to-morrow," she replied. "You may telephone--3702 Mayfair--at +ten o'clock." + +He scribbled down the number. Then he put his pocket-book away +with a sigh. + +"I'm afraid you are treating that poor sailor-man badly," he declared. + +"Sometimes," she confided, "he bores me. He is so very much in earnest. +Tell me about Berlin and your work there?" + +"I didn't take to Germany," Norgate confessed, "and Germany didn't take +to me. Between ourselves--I shouldn't like another soul in the club to +know it--I think it is very doubtful if I go back there." + +"That little _contretemps_ with the Prince," she murmured under +her breath. + +He stiffened at once. + +"But how do you know of it?" + +She bit her lip. For a moment a frown of annoyance clouded her face. She +had said more than she intended. + +"I have correspondents in Berlin," she explained. "They tell me of +everything. I have a friend, in fact, who was in the restaurant +that night." + +"What a coincidence!" he exclaimed. + +She nodded and selected a fresh cigarette. + +"Isn't it! But that table is up. I promised to cut in there. Captain +Baring likes me to play at the same table, and he is here for such a +short time that one tries to be kind. It is indeed kindness," she added, +taking up her gold purse and belongings, "for he plays so badly." + +She moved towards the table. It happened to be Baring who cut out, and he +and Norgate drifted together. They exchanged a few remarks. + +"I met you at Marseilles once," Norgate reminded him. "You were with the +Mediterranean Squadron, commanding the _Leicester_, I believe." + +"Thought I'd seen you somewhere before," was the prompt acknowledgment. +"You're in the Diplomatic Service, aren't you?" + +Norgate admitted the fact and suggested a drink. The two men settled down +to exchange confidences over a whisky and soda. Baring looked around him +with some disapprobation. + +"I can't really stick this place," he asserted. "If it weren't for--for +some of the people here, I'd never come inside the doors. It's a rotten +way of spending one's time. You play, I suppose?" + +"Oh, yes, I play," Norgate admitted, "but I rather agree with you. How +wonderfully well Mrs. Benedek is looking, isn't she!" + +Baring withdrew his admiring eyes from her vicinity. + +"Prettiest and smartest woman in London," he declared. + +"By-the-by, is she English?" Norgate asked. + +"A mixture of French, Italian, and German, I believe," Baring replied. +"Her husband is Benedek the painter, you know." + +"I've heard of him," Norgate assented. "What are you doing now?" + +"I've had a job up in town for a week or so, at the Admiralty," Baring +explained. "We are examining the plans of a new--but you wouldn't be +interested in that." + +"I'm interested in anything naval," Norgate assured him. + +"In any case, it isn't my job to talk about it," Baring continued +apologetically. "We've just got a lot of fresh regulations out. Any one +would think we were going to war to-morrow." + +"I suppose war isn't such an impossible event," Norgate remarked. "They +all say that the Germans are dying to have a go at you fellows." + +Baring grinned. + +"They wouldn't have a dog's chance," he declared. "That's the only +drawback of having so strong a navy. We don't stand any chance of +getting a fight." + +"You'll have all you can do to keep up, judging by the way they talk in +Germany," Norgate observed. + +"Are you just home from there?" + +Norgate nodded. "I am at the Embassy in Berlin, or rather I have been," +he replied. "I am just home on six months' leave." + +"And that's your real impression?" Baring enquired eagerly. "You really +think that they mean to have a go at us?" + +"I think there'll be a war soon," Norgate confessed. "It probably won't +commence at sea, but you'll have to do your little lot, without a doubt." + +Baring gazed across the room. There was a hard light in his eyes. + +"Sounds beastly, I suppose," he muttered, "but I wish to God it would +come! A war would give us all a shaking up--put us in our right places. +We all seem to go on drifting any way now. The Services are all right +when there's a bit of a scrap going sometimes, but there's a nasty sort +of feeling of dry rot about them, when year after year all your +preparations end in the smoke of a sham fight. Now I am on this beastly +land job--but there, I mustn't bother you with my grumblings." + +"I am interested," Norgate assured him. "Did you say you were considering +something new?" + +Baring nodded. + +"Plans of a new submarine," he confided. "There's no harm in telling you +as much as that." + +Mrs. Benedek, who was dummy for the moment, strolled over to them. + +"I am not sure," she murmured, "whether I like the expression you have +brought back from Germany with you, Mr. Norgate." + +Norgate smiled. "Have I really acquired the correct diplomatic air?" he +asked. "I can assure you that it is an accident--or perhaps I am +imitative." + +"You have acquired," she complained, "an air of unnatural reserve. You +seem as though you had found some problem in life so weighty that you +could not lose sight of it even for a moment. Ah!" + +The glass-topped door had been flung wide open with an unusual flourish. +A barely perceptible start escaped Norgate. It was indeed an unexpected +appearance, this! Dressed with a perfect regard to the latest London +fashion, with his hair smoothly brushed and a pearl pin in his black +satin tie, Herr Selingman stood upon the threshold, beaming upon them. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + + +Selingman had the air of a man who returns after a long absence to some +familiar spot where he expects to find friends and where his welcome is +assured. Mrs. Paston Benedek slipped from her place upon the cushioned +fender and held out both her hands. + +"Ah, it is really you!" she exclaimed. "Welcome, dear friend! For days I +have wondered what it was in this place which one missed all the time. +Now I know." + +Selingman took the little outstretched hands and raised them to his lips. + +"Dear lady," he assured her, "you repay me in one moment for all the +weariness of my exile." + +She turned towards her companion. + +"Captain Baring," she begged, "please ring the bell. Mr. Selingman and I +always drink a toast together the moment he first arrives to pay us one +of his too rare visits. Thank you! You know Captain Baring, don't you, +Mr. Selingman? This is another friend of mine whom I think that you have +not met--Mr. Francis Norgate, Mr. Selingman. Mr. Norgate has just arrived +from Berlin, too." + +For a single moment the newcomer seemed to lose his Cheeryble-like +expression. The glance which he flashed upon Norgate contained other +elements besides those of polite pleasure. He was himself again, +however, almost instantly. He grasped his new acquaintance by the hand. + +"Mr. Norgate and I are already old friends," he insisted. "We occupied +the same coupe coming from Berlin and drank a bottle of wine together in +the buffet." + +Mrs. Benedek threw back her head and laughed, a familiar gesture which +her enemies declared was in some way associated with the dazzling +whiteness of her teeth. + +"And now," she exclaimed, "you find that you belong to the same bridge +club. What a coincidence!" + +"It is rather surprising, I must admit," Norgate assented. "Mr. Selingman +and I discussed many things last night, but we did not speak of bridge. +In fact, from the tone of our conversation, I should have imagined that +cards were an amusement which scarcely entered into Mr. Selingman's +scheme of life." + +"One must have one's distractions," Selingman protested. "I confess that +auction bridge, as it is played over here, is the one game in the world +which attracts me." + +"But how about the crockery?" Norgate asked. "Doesn't that come first?" + +"First, beyond a doubt," Selingman agreed heartily. "Always, though, my +plan of campaign is the same. On the day of my arrival here, I take +things easily. I spend an hour or so at the office in the morning, and +the afternoon I take holiday. After that I settle down for one week's +hard work. London--your great London--takes always first place with me. +In the mornings I see my agents and my customers. Perhaps I lunch with +one of them. At four o'clock I close my desk, and crockery does not exist +for me any longer. I get into a taxi, and I come here. My first game of +bridge is a treat to which I look forward eagerly. See, there are three +of us and several sitting out. Let us make another table. So!" + +They found a fourth without difficulty and took possession of a table at +the far end of the room. Selingman, with a huge cigar in his mouth, +played well and had every appearance of thoroughly enjoying the game. +Towards the end of their third rubber, Mrs. Benedek, who was dummy, +leaned across towards Norgate. + +"After all, perhaps you are better off here," she murmured in German. +"There is nothing like this in Berlin." + +"One is at least nearer the things one cherishes," Norgate quoted in the +same language. + +Selingman was playing the hand and held between his fingers a card +already drawn to play. For a moment, it was suspended in the air. He +looked towards Norgate, and there was a new quality in his piercing gaze, +an instant return in his expression of the shadow which had swept the +broad good-humour from his face on his first appearance. The change came +and went like a flash. He finished playing the hand and scored his points +before he spoke. Then he turned to Norgate. + +"Your gift of acquiring languages in a short space of time is most +extraordinary, my young friend! Since yesterday you have become able to +speak German, eh? Prodigious!" + +Norgate smiled without embarrassment. The moment was a critical one, +portentous to an extent which no one at that table could possibly +have realised. + +"I am afraid," he confessed, "that when I found that I had a fellow +traveller in my coupe I felt most ungracious and unsociable. I was in +a thoroughly bad temper and indisposed for conversation. The simplest +way to escape from it seemed to be to plead ignorance of any language +save my own." + +Selingman chuckled audibly. The cloud had passed from his face. To all +appearance that momentary suspicion had been strangled. + +"So you found me a bore!" he observed. "Then I must admit that your +manners were good, for when you found that I spoke English and that you +could not escape conversation, you allowed me to talk on about my +business, and you showed few signs of weariness. You should be a +diplomatist, Mr. Norgate." + +"Mr. Norgate is, or rather he was," Mrs. Paston Benedek remarked. "He has +just left the Embassy at Berlin." + +Selingman leaned back in his chair and thrust both hands into his +trousers pockets. He indulged in a few German expletives, bombastic and +thunderous, which relieved him so much that he was able to conclude his +speech in English. + +"I am the densest blockhead in all Europe!" he announced emphatically. +"If I had realised your identity, I would willingly have left you alone. +No wonder you were feeling indisposed for idle conversation! Mr. Francis +Norgate, eh? A little affair at the Cafe de Berlin with a lady and a +hot-headed young princeling. Well, well! Young sir, you have become more +to me than an ordinary acquaintance. If I had known the cause of your +ill-humour, I would certainly have left you alone, but I would have +shaken you first by the hand." + +The fourth at the table, who was an elderly lady of somewhat austere +appearance, produced a small black cigar from what seemed to be a +harmless-looking reticule which she was carrying, and lit it. Selingman +stared at her with his mouth open. + +"Is this a bridge-table or is it not?" she enquired severely. "These +little personal reminiscences are very interesting among yourselves, I +dare say, but I cut in here with the idea of playing bridge." + +Selingman was the first to recover his manners, although his eyes seemed +still fascinated by the cigar. + +"We owe you apologies, madam," he acknowledged. "Permit me to cut." + +The rubber progressed and finished in comparative silence. At its +conclusion, Selingman glanced at the clock. It was half-past seven. + +"I am hungry," he announced. + +Mrs. Benedek laughed at him. "Hungry at half-past seven! Barbarian!" + +"I lunched at half-past twelve," he protested. "I ate less than usual, +too. I did not even leave my office, I was so anxious to finish what was +necessary and to find myself here." + +Mrs. Benedek played with the cards a moment and then rose to her feet +with a little grimace. + +"Well, I suppose I shall have to give in," she sighed. "I am taking it +for granted, you see, that you are expecting me to dine with you." + +"My dear lady," Selingman declared emphatically, "if you were to break +through our time-honoured custom and deny me the joy of your company on +my first evening in London, I think that I should send another to look +after my business in this country, and retire myself to the seclusion of +my little country home near Potsdam. The inducements of managing one's +own affairs in this country, Mr. Norgate," he added, "are, as you may +imagine, manifold and magnetic." + +"We will not grudge them to you so long as you don't come too often," +Norgate remarked, as he bade them good night. "The man who monopolised +Mrs. Benedek would soon make himself unpopular here." + + + + +CHAPTER IX + + +Norgate had chosen, for many reasons, to return to London as a visitor. +His somewhat luxurious rooms in Albemarle Street were still locked up. He +had taken a small flat in the Milan Court, solely for the purpose of +avoiding immediate association with his friends and relatives. His whole +outlook upon life was confused and disturbed. Until he received a +definite pronouncement from the head-quarters of officialdom, he felt +himself unable to settle down to any of the ordinary functions of life. +And behind all this, another and a more powerful sentiment possessed him. +He had left Berlin without seeing or hearing anything further from Anna +von Haase. No word had come from her, nor any message. And now that it +was too late, he began to feel that he had made a mistake. It seemed to +him that he had visited upon her, in some indirect way, the misfortune +which had befallen him. It was scarcely her fault that she had been the +object of attentions which nearly every one agreed were unwelcome, from +this young princeling. Norgate told himself, as he changed his clothes +that evening, that his behaviour had been the behaviour of a jealous +school-boy. Then an inspiration seized him. Half dressed as he was, he +sat down at the writing-table and wrote to her. He wrote rapidly, and +when he had finished, he sealed and addressed the envelope without +glancing once more at its contents. The letter was stamped and posted +within a few minutes, but somehow or other it seemed to have made a +difference. His depression was no longer so complete. He looked forward +to his lonely dinner, at one of the smaller clubs to which he belonged, +with less aversion. + +"Do you know where any of my people are. Hardy?" he asked his servant. + +"In Scotland, I believe, sir," the man replied. "I called round this +afternoon, although I was careful not to mention the fact that you were +in town. The house is practically in the hands of caretakers." + +"Try to keep out of the way as much as you can. Hardy," Norgate +enjoined. "For a few days, at any rate, I should like no one to know +that I am in town." + +"Very good, sir," the man replied. "Might I venture to enquire, sir, if +you are likely to be returning to Berlin?" + +"I think it is very doubtful, Hardy," Norgate observed grimly. "We are +more likely to remain here for a time." + +Hardy brushed his master's hat for a moment or two in silence. + +"You will pardon my mentioning it, sir," he said--"I imagine it is of no +importance--but one of the German waiters on this floor has been going +out of his way to enter into conversation with me this evening. He seemed +to know your name and to know that you had just come from Germany. He +hinted at some slight trouble there, sir." + +"The dickens he did!" Norgate exclaimed. "That's rather quick +work, Hardy." + +"So I thought, sir," the man continued. "A very inquisitive individual +indeed I found him. He wanted to know whether you had had any news yet as +to any further appointment. He seemed to know quite well that you had +been at the Foreign Office this morning." + +"What did you tell him?" + +"I told him that I knew nothing, sir. I explained that you had not been +back to lunch, and that I had not seen you since the morning. He tried to +make an appointment with me to give me some dinner and take me to a +music-hall to-night." + +"What did you say to that?" Norgate enquired. + +"I left the matter open, sir," the man replied. "I thought I would +enquire what your wishes might be? The person evidently desires to gain +some information about your movements. I thought that possibly it might +be advantageous for me to tell him just what you desired." + +Norgate lit a cigarette. For the moment he was puzzled. It was true that +during their journey he had mentioned to Selingman his intention of +taking a flat at the Milan Court, but if this espionage were the direct +outcome of that information, it was indeed a wonderful organisation which +Selingman controlled. + +"You have acted very discreetly, Hardy," he said. "I think you had better +tell your friend that I am expecting to leave for somewhere at a moment's +notice. For your own information," he added, "I rather think that I shall +stay here. It seems to me quite possible that we may find London, for a +few weeks, just as interesting as any city in the world." + +"I am very glad to hear you say so, sir," the man murmured. "Shall I +fetch your overcoat?" + +The telephone bell suddenly interrupted them. Hardy took up the receiver +and listened for a moment. + +"Mr. Hebblethwaite would like to speak to you, sir," he announced. + +Norgate hurried to the telephone. A cheery voice greeted him. + +"Hullo! That you, Norgate? This is Hebblethwaite. I'm just back from a +few days in the country--found your note here. I want to hear all about +this little matter at once. When can I see you?" + +"Any time you like," Norgate replied promptly. + +"Let me see," the voice continued, "what are you doing to-night?" + +"Nothing!" + +"Come straight round to the House of Commons and dine. Or no--wait a +moment--we'll go somewhere quieter. Say the club in a quarter of an +hour--the Reform Club. How will that suit you?" + +"I'll be there, with pleasure," Norgate promised. + +"Righto! We'll hear what you've been doing to these peppery Germans. I +had a line from Leveson himself this morning. A lady in the case, I hear? +Well, well! Never mind explanations now. See you in a few minutes." + +Norgate laid down the receiver. His manner, as he accepted his +well-brushed hat, had lost all its depression. There was no one in the +Cabinet with more influence than Hebblethwaite. He would have his chance, +at any rate, and his chance at other things. + +"Look here, Hardy," he ordered, as he drew on his gloves, "spend as much +time as you like with that fellow and let me know what sort of questions +he asks you. Be careful not to mention the fact that I am dining with Mr. +Hebblethwaite. For the rest, fence with him. I am not quite sure what it +all means. If by any chance he mentions a man named Selingman, let me +know. Good night!" + +"Good night, sir!" the man replied. + +Norgate descended into the Strand and walked briskly towards Pall Mall. +The last few minutes seemed to him to be fraught with promise of a new +interest in life. Yet it was not of any of these things that he was +thinking as he made his way towards his destination. He was occupied most +of the time in wondering how long it would be before he could hope to +receive a reply from Berlin to his letter. + + + + +CHAPTER X + + +The Right Honourable John Hebblethwaite, M.P., since he had become a +Cabinet Minister and had even been mentioned as the possible candidate +for supreme office, had lost a great deal of that breezy, almost +boisterous effusion of manner which in his younger days had first +endeared him to his constituents. He received Norgate, however, with +marked and hearty cordiality, and took his arm as he led him to the +little table which he had reserved in a corner of the dining-room. The +friendship between the entirely self-made politician and Norgate, who was +the nephew of a duke, and whose aristocratic connections were +multifarious and far-reaching, was in its way a genuine one. There were +times when Hebblethwaite had made use of his younger friend to further +his own undoubted social ambitions. On the other hand, since he had +become a power in politics, he had always been ready to return in kind +such offices. The note which he had received from Norgate that day was, +however, the first appeal which had ever been made to him. + +"I have been away for a week-end's golf," Hebblethwaite explained, as +they took their places at the table. "There comes a time when figures +pall, and snapping away in debate seems to stick in one's throat. I +telephoned directly I got your note. Fortunately, I wasn't doing anything +this evening. We won't play about. I know you don't want to see me to +talk about the weather, and I know something's up, or Leveson wouldn't +have written to me, and you wouldn't be back from Berlin. Let's have the +whole story with the soup and fish, and we'll try and hit upon a way to +put things right before we reach the liqueurs." + +"I've lots to say to you," Norgate admitted simply. "I'll begin with the +personal side of it. Here's just a brief narration of exactly what +happened to me in the most fashionable restaurant of Berlin last +Thursday night." + +Norgate told his story. His friend listened with the absorbed attention +of a man who possesses complete powers of concentration. + +"Rotten business," he remarked, when it was finished. "I suppose you've +told old--I mean you've told them the story at the Foreign Office?" + +"Had it all out this morning," Norgate replied. + +"I know exactly what our friend told you," Mr. Hebblethwaite continued, +with a gleam of humour in his eyes. "He reminded you that the first duty +of a diplomat--of a young diplomat especially--is to keep on friendly +terms with the governing members of the country to which he is +accredited. How's that, eh?" + +"Pretty nearly word for word," Norgate admitted. "It's the sort of +platitude I could watch framing in his mind before I was half-way through +what I had to say. What they don't seem to take sufficient account of in +that museum of mummied brains and parchment tongues--forgive me, +Hebblethwaite, but it isn't your department--is that the Prince's +behaviour to me is such as no Englishman, subscribing to any code of +honour, could possibly tolerate. I will admit, if you like, that the +Kaiser's attitude may render it advisable for me to be transferred from +Berlin. I do not admit that I am not at once eligible for a position of +similar importance in another capital." + +"No one would doubt it," John Hebblethwaite grumbled, "except those +particular fools we have to deal with. I suppose they didn't see it in +the same light." + +"They did not," Norgate admitted. + +"We've a tough proposition to tackle," Hebblethwaite confessed +cheerfully, "but I am with you, Norgate, and to my mind one of the +pleasures of being possessed of a certain amount of power is to help +one's friends when you believe in the justice of their cause. If you +leave things with me, I'll tackle them to-morrow morning." + +"That's awfully good of you, Hebblethwaite," Norgate declared gratefully, +"and just what I expected. We'll leave that matter altogether just now, +if we may. My own little grievance is there, and I wanted to explain +exactly how it came about. Apart from that altogether, there is something +far more important which I have to say to you." + +Hebblethwaite knitted his brows. He was clearly puzzled. + +"Still personal, eh?" he enquired. + +Norgate shook his head. + +"It is something of vastly more importance," he said, "than any question +affecting my welfare. I am almost afraid to begin for fear I shall miss +any chance, for fear I may not seem convincing enough." + +"We'll have the champagne opened at once, then," Mr. Hebblethwaite +declared. "Perhaps that will loosen your tongue. I can see that this is +going to be a busy meal. Charles, if that bottle of Pommery 1904 is iced +just to the degree I like it, let it be served, if you please, in the +large sized glasses. Now, Norgate." + +"What I am going to relate to you," Norgate began, leaning across the +table and speaking very earnestly, "is a little incident which happened +to me on my way back from Berlin. I had as a fellow passenger a person +whom I am convinced is high up in the German Secret Service Intelligence +Department." + +"All that!" Mr. Hebblethwaite murmured. "Go ahead, Norgate. I like the +commencement of your story. I almost feel that I am moving through the +pages of a diplomatic romance. All that I am praying is that your fellow +passenger was a foreign lady--a princess, if possible--with wonderful +eyes, fascinating manners, and of a generous disposition." + +"Then I am afraid you will be disappointed," Norgate continued drily. +"The personage in question was a man whose name was Selingman. He told me +that he was a manufacturer of crockery and that he came often to England +to see his customers. He called himself a peace-loving German, and he +professed the utmost good-will towards our country and our national +policy. At the commencement of our conversation, I managed to impress him +with the idea that I spoke no German. At one of the stations on the line +he was joined by a Belgian, his agent, as he told me, in Brussels for the +sale of his crockery. I overheard this agent, whose name was Meyer, +recount to his principal his recent operations. He offered him an exact +plan of the forts of Liege. I heard him instructed to procure a list of +the wealthy inhabitants of Ghent and the rateable value of the city, and +I heard him commissioned to purchase land in the neighbourhood of Antwerp +for a secret purpose." + +Mr. Hebblethwaite's eyebrows became slowly upraised. The twinkle in his +eyes remained, however. + +"My!" he exclaimed softly. "We're getting on with the romance all right!" + +"During the momentary absence of this fellow and his agent from the +carriage," Norgate proceeded, "I possessed myself of a slip of paper +which had become detached from the packet of documents they had been +examining. It consisted of a list of names mostly of people resident in +the United Kingdom, purporting to be Selingman's agents. I venture to +believe that this list is a precise record of the principal German spies +in this country." + +"German spies!" Mr. Hebblethwaite murmured. "Whew!" + +He sipped his champagne. + +"That list," Norgate went on, "is in my pocket. I may add that although I +was careful to keep up the fiction of not understanding German, and +although I informed Herr Selingman that I had seen the paper in question +blow out of the window, he nevertheless gave me that night a drugged +whisky and soda, and during the time I slept he must have been through +every one of my possessions. I found my few letters and papers turned +upside down, and even my pockets had been ransacked." + +"Where was the paper, then?" Mr. Hebblethwaite enquired. + +"In an inner pocket of my pyjamas," Norgate explained. "I had them made +with a sort of belt inside, at the time I was a king's messenger." + +Mr. Hebblethwaite played with his tie for a moment and drank a little +more champagne. + +"Could I have a look at the list?" he asked, as though with a sudden +inspiration. + +Norgate passed it across the table to him. Mr. Hebblethwaite adjusted his +pince-nez, gave a little start as he read the first name, leaned back in +his chair as he came to another, stared at Norgate about half-way down +the list, as though to make sure that he was in earnest, and finally +finished it in silence. He folded it up and handed it back. + +"Well, well!" he exclaimed, a little pointlessly. "Now tell me, Norgate, +you showed this list down there?"--jerking his head towards the street. + +"I did," Norgate admitted. + +"And what did they say?" + +"Just what you might expect men whose lives are spent within the four +walls of a room in Downing Street to say," Norgate replied. "You are +half inclined to make fun of me yourself, Hebblethwaite, but at any +rate I know you have a different outlook from theirs. Old Carew was +frantically polite. He even declared the list to be most interesting! He +rambled on for about a quarter of an hour on the general subject of the +spy mania. German espionage, he told me, was one of the shadowy evils +from which England had suffered for generations. So far as regards +London and the provincial towns, he went on, whether for good or evil, +we have a large German population, and if they choose to make reports to +any one in Germany as to events happening here which come under their +observation, we cannot stop it, and it would not even be worth while to +try. As regards matters of military and naval importance, there was a +special branch, he assured me, for looking after these, and it was a +branch of the Service which was remarkably well-served and remarkably +successful. Having said this, he folded the list up and returned it to +me, rang the bell, gave me a frozen hand to shake, a mumbled promise +about another appointment as soon as there should be a vacancy, and that +was the end of it." + +"About that other appointment," Mr. Hebblethwaite began, with some +animation-- + +"Damn the other appointment!" Norgate interrupted testily. "I didn't come +here to cadge, Hebblethwaite. I am never likely to make use of my friends +in that way. I came for a bigger thing. I came to try and make you see a +danger, the reality of which I have just begun to appreciate myself for +the first time in my life." + +Mr. Hebblethwaite's manner slowly changed. He pulled down his waistcoat, +finished off a glass of wine, and leaned forward. + +"Norgate," he said, "I am sorry that this is the frame of mind in which +you have come to me. I tell you frankly that you couldn't have appealed +to a man in the Cabinet less in sympathy with your fears than I myself." + +"I am sorry to hear that," Norgate replied grimly, "but go on." + +"Before I entered the Cabinet," Mr. Hebblethwaite continued, "our +relations with Foreign Powers were just the myth to me that they are to +most people who read the _Morning Post_ one day and the _Daily Mail_ the +next. However, I made the best part of half a million in business through +knowing the top and the bottom and every corner of my job, and I started +in to do the same when I began to have a share in the government of the +country. The _entente_ with France is all right in its way, but I came to +the conclusion that the greatest and broadest stroke of diplomacy +possible to Englishmen to-day was to cultivate more benevolent and more +confidential relations with Germany. That same feeling has been spreading +through the Cabinet during the last two years. I am ready to take my +share of the blame or praise, whichever in the future shall be allotted +to the inspirer of that idea. It is our hope that when the present +Government goes out of office, one of its chief claims to public approval +and to historical praise will be the improvement of our relations with +Germany. We certainly do not wish to disturb the growing confidence which +exists between the two countries by any maladroit or unnecessary +investigations. We believe, in short, that Germany's attitude towards us +is friendly, and we intend to treat her in the same spirit." + +"Tell me," Norgate asked, "is that the reason why every scheme for the +expansion of the army has been shelved? Is that the reason for all the +troubles with the Army Council?" + +"It is," Hebblethwaite admitted. "I trust you, Norgate, and I look upon +you as a friend. I tell you what the whole world of responsible men and +women might as well know, but which we naturally don't care about +shouting from the housetops. We have come to the conclusion that there is +no possible chance of the peace of Europe being disturbed. We have come +to the conclusion that civilisation has reached that pitch when the last +resource of arms is absolutely unnecessary. I do not mind telling you +that the Balkan crisis presented opportunities to any one of the Powers +to plunge into warfare, had they been so disposed. No one bade more +boldly for peace then than Germany. No one wants war. Germany has nothing +to gain by it, no animosity against France, none towards Russia. Neither +of these countries has the slightest intention, now or at any time, of +invading Germany. Why should they? The matter of Alsace and Lorraine is +finished. If these provinces ever come back to France, it will be by +political means and not by any mad-headed attempt to wrest them away." + +"Incidentally," Norgate asked, "what about the enormous armaments of +Germany? What about her navy? What about the military spirit which +practically rules the country?" + +"I have spent three months in Germany during the last year," +Hebblethwaite replied. "It is my firm belief that those armaments and +that fleet are necessary to Germany to preserve her place of dignity +among the nations. She has Russia on one side and France on the +other, allies, watching her all the time, and of late years England +has been chipping at her whenever she got a chance, and flirting with +France. What can a nation do but make herself strong enough to defend +herself against unprovoked attack? Germany, of course, is full of the +military spirit, but it is my opinion, Norgate, that it is a great +deal fuller of the great commercial spirit. It isn't war with Germany +that we have to fear. It's the ruin of our commerce by their great +assiduity and more up-to-date methods. Now you've had a statement of +policy from me for which the halfpenny Press would give me a thousand +guineas if I'd sign it." + +"I've had it," Norgate admitted, "and I tell you frankly that I hate it. +I am an unfledged young diplomat in disgrace, and I haven't your +experience or your brains, but I have a hateful idea that I can see the +truth and you can't. You're too big and too broad in this matter, +Hebblethwaite. Your head's lifted too high. You see the horrors and the +needlessness, the logical side of war, and you brush the thought away +from you." + +Mr. Hebblethwaite sighed. + +"Perhaps so," he admitted. "One can only act according to one's +convictions. You must remember, though, Norgate, that we don't carry +our pacificism to extremes. Our navy is and always will be an +irresistible defence." + +"Even with hostile naval and aeroplane bases at--say--Calais, Boulogne, +Dieppe, Ostend?" + +Mr. Hebblethwaite pushed a box of cigars towards his guest, glanced at +the clock, and rose. + +"Young fellow," he said, "I have engaged a box at the Empire. Let +us move on." + + + + +CHAPTER XI + + +"My position as a Cabinet Minister," Mr. Hebblethwaite declared, with a +sigh, "renders my presence in the Promenade undesirable. If you want to +stroll around, Norgate, don't bother about me." + +Norgate picked up his hat. "Jolly good show," he remarked. "I'll be back +before it begins again." + +He descended to the lower Promenade and sauntered along towards the +refreshment bar. Mrs. Paston Benedek, who was seated in the stalls, +leaned over and touched his arm. + +"My friend," she exclaimed, "you are _distrait_! You walk as though you +looked for everything and saw nothing. And behold, you have found me!" + +Norgate shook hands and nodded to Baring, who was her escort. + +"What have you done with our expansive friend?" he asked. "I thought you +were dining with him." + +"I compromised," she laughed. "You see what it is to be so popular. I +should have dined and have come here with Captain Baring--that was our +plan for to-night. Captain Baring, however, was generous when he saw my +predicament. He suffered me to dine with Mr. Selingman, and he fetched me +afterwards. Even then we could not quite get rid of the dear man. He came +on here with us, and he is now, I believe, greeting acquaintances +everywhere in the Promenade. I am perfectly convinced that I shall have +to look the other way when we go out." + +"I think I'll see whether I can rescue him," Norgate remarked. "Good +show, isn't it?" he added, turning to her companion. + +"Capital," replied Baring, without enthusiasm. "Too many people +here, though." + +Norgate strolled on, and Mrs. Benedek tapped her companion on the +knuckles with her fan. + +"How dared you be so rude!" she exclaimed. "You are in a very bad humour +this evening. I can see that I shall have to punish you." + +"That's all very well," Baring grumbled, "but it gets more difficult to +see you alone every day. This evening was to have been mine. Now this fat +German turns up and lays claim to you, and then, about the first moment +we've had a chance to talk, Norgate comes gassing along. You're not +nearly as nice to me, Bertha, as you used to be." + +"My dear man," she protested, "in the first place I deny it. In the +second, I ask myself whether you are quite as devoted to me as you were +when you first came." + +"In what way?" he demanded. + +She turned her wonderful eyes upon him. + +"At first when you came," she declared, "you told me everything. You +spoke of your long mornings and afternoons at the Admiralty. You told me +of the room in which you worked, the men who worked there with you. You +told me of the building of that little model, and how you were all +allowed to try your own pet ideas with regard to it. And then, all of a +sudden, nothing--not a word about what you have been doing. I am an +intelligent woman. I love to have men friends who do things, and if they +are really friends of mine, I like to enter into their life, to know of +their work, to sympathise, to take an interest in it. It was like that +with you at first. Now it has all gone. You have drawn down a curtain. I +do not believe that you go to the Admiralty at all. I do not believe that +you have any wonderful invention there over which you spend your time." + +"Bertha, dear," he remonstrated, "do be reasonable." + +She shrugged her shoulders. + +"But am I not? See how reasonably I have spoken to you. I have told you +the exact truth. I have told you why I do not take quite that same +pleasure in your company as when you first came." + +"Do consider," he begged. "I spoke to you freely at first because we had +not reached the stage in the work when secrecy was absolutely necessary. +At present we are all upon our honour. From the moment we pass inside +that little room, we are, to all effects and purposes, dead men. Nothing +that happens there is to be spoken of or hinted at, even to our wives or +our dearest friends. It is the etiquette of my profession, Bertha. Be +reasonable." + +"Pooh!" she exclaimed. "Fancy asking a woman to be reasonable! Don't you +realise, you stupid man, that if you were at liberty to tell everybody +what it is that you do there, well, then I should have no more interest +in it? It is just because you say that you will not and you may not +tell, that, womanlike, I am curious." + +"But whatever good could it be to you to know?" he protested. "I should +simply addle your head with a mass of technical detail, not a quarter of +which you would be able to understand. Besides, I have told you, Bertha, +it is a matter of honour." + +She looked intently at her programme. + +"There are men," she murmured, "who love so much that even honour counts +for little by the side of--" + +"Of what?" he whispered hoarsely. + +"Of success." + +For a moment they sat in silence. The place was not particularly hot, yet +there were little beads of perspiration upon Baring's forehead. The +fingers which held his programme twitched. He rose suddenly to his feet. + +"May I go out and have a drink?" he asked. "I won't go if you don't want +to be alone." + +"My dear friend, I do not mind in the least," she assured him. "If you +find Mr. Norgate, send him here." + +In one of the smaller refreshment rooms sat Mr. Selingman, a bottle of +champagne before him and a wondrously attired lady on either side. The +heads of all three were close together. The lady on the left was talking +in a low tone but with many gesticulations. + +"Dear friend," she exclaimed, "for one single moment you must not think +that I am ungrateful! But consider. Success costs money always, and I +have been successful--you admit that. My rooms are frequented entirely +by the class of young men you have wished me to encourage. Pauline and I +here, and Rose, whom you have met, seek our friends in no other +direction. We are never alone, and, as you very well know, not a day has +passed that I have not sent you some little word of gossip or +information--the gossip of the navy and the gossip of the army--and there +is always some truth underneath what these young men say. It is what you +desire, is it not?" + +"Without a doubt," Selingman assented. "Your work, my dear Helda, has +been excellent. I commend you. I think with fervour of the day when first +we talked together, and the scheme presented itself to me. Continue to +play Aspasia in such a fashion to the young soldiers and sailors of this +country, and your villa at Monte Carlo next year is assured." + +The woman shrugged her shoulders. + +"I will not say that you are not generous," she declared, "for that would +be untrue, but sometimes you forget that these young men have very little +money, and the chief profit from their friendship, therefore, must come +to us in other ways." + +"You want a larger allowance?" Selingman asked slowly. + +"Not at present, but I want to warn you that the time may come when I +shall need more. A salon in Pimlico, dear friend, is an expensive thing +to maintain. These young men tell their friends of our hospitality, the +music, our entertainment. We become almost too much the fashion, and it +costs money." + +Selingman held up his champagne glass, gazed at the wine for a moment, +and slowly drank it. + +"I am not of those," he announced, "who expect service for nothing, +especially good service such as yours. Watch for the postman, dear lady. +Any morning this week there may come for you a pleasant little surprise." + +She leaned over and patted his arm. + +"You are a prince," she murmured. "But tell me, who is the grave-looking +young man?" + +Selingman glanced up. Norgate, who had been standing at the bar with +Baring, was passing a few feet away. + +"The rake's progress," the former quoted solemnly. + +Selingman raised his glass. + +"Come and join us," he invited. + +Norgate shook his head slightly and passed on. Selingman leaned a little +forward, watching his departing figure. The buoyant good-nature seemed to +have faded out of his face. + +"If you could get that young man to talk, now, Helda," he muttered, "it +would be an achievement." + +She glanced after him, "To me," she declared, "he looks one of the +difficult sort." + +"He is an Englishman with a grievance," Selingman continued. "If the +grievance cuts deep enough, he may--But we gossip." + +"The other was a navy man," the girl remarked. "His name is Baring." + +Selingman nodded. + +"You need not bother about him," he said. "If it is possible for him to +be of use, that is arranged for in another quarter. So! Let us finish our +wine and separate. That letter shall surely come. Have no fear." + +Selingman strolled away, a few minutes later. Baring had returned to Mrs. +Paston Benedek, and Norgate had resumed his place in the box. Selingman, +with a gold-topped cane under his arm, a fresh cigar between his lips, +and a broad smile of good-fellowship upon his face, strolled down one of +the wings of the Promenade. Suddenly he came to a standstill. In the box +opposite to him, Norgate and Hebblethwaite were seated side by side. +Selingman regarded them for a moment steadfastly. + +"A friend of Hebblethwaite's!" he muttered. "Hebblethwaite--the one man +whom Berlin doubts!" + +He withdrew a little into the shadows, his eyes fixed upon the box. A +little way off, in the stalls, Mrs. Paston Benedek was whispering to +Baring. Further back in the Promenade, Helda was entertaining a little +party of friends. Selingman's eyes remained fixed upon Norgate. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + + +Mrs. Paston Benedek, on the following afternoon, sat in one corner of the +very comfortable lounge set with its back to the light in her charming +drawing-room. Norgate sat in the other. + +"I think it is perfectly sweet of you to come," she declared. "I do not +care how many enemies I make--I will certainly dine with you to-night. +How I shall manage it I do not yet know. You shall call for me here at +eight o'clock--or say a quarter past, then we need not hurry away too +early from the club. If Captain Baring is there, perhaps it would be +better if you did not speak of our engagement." + +Norgate sighed. + +"What is the wonderful attraction about Baring?" he asked discontentedly. + +"Really, there isn't any," she replied. "I like to be kind, that is all. +I do not like to hurt anybody's feelings, and I know that Captain Baring +would like very much to dine with me to-night himself. I was obliged to +throw him over last night because of Mr. Selingman's arrival." + +"You have not always been so considerate," he persisted. "Why this +especial care for Baring's feelings?" + +She turned her head a little towards him. She was leaning back in her +corner of the lounge, her hands clasped behind her head. There was an +elaborate carelessness about her pose which she numbered among her +best effects. + +"Perhaps," she retorted, "I, too, find your sudden attraction for me a +little remarkable. On those few occasions when you did honour us at the +club before you left for Berlin, you were agreeable enough, but I do not +remember that you once asked me to dine with you. There was no Captain +Baring then." + +"The truth is," Norgate confessed, "since I returned, I have felt rather +like hiding myself. I don't care about going to my own club or visiting +my own friends. I came to the St. James's as a sort of compromise." + +"You are not very flattering," she complained. + +"Wouldn't you rather I were truthful?" asked Norgate. "One's +friends, one's real friends, are scarcely likely to be found at a +mixed bridge club." + +"After that," she sighed, "I am going to telephone to Captain Baring. He, +at any rate, is in love with me, and I need something to restore my +self-respect." + +"In love with you, perhaps, but are you in love with him?" + +She laughed, softly at first, but with an ever more insistent note of +satire underlying her mirth. + +"The woman," she said, "who expects to get anything out of life worth +having, doesn't fall in love. She may give a good deal, she may seem to +give everything, but if she is wise, she keeps her heart." + +"Poor Baring!" + +"Are you sure," she asked, fixing her brilliant eyes upon him, "that he +needs your sympathy? He is very much in love with me, and there are times +when I could almost persuade myself that I am in love with him. At any +rate, he attracts me." + +Norgate was momentarily sententious. "The psychology of love," he +murmured, looking into the fire, "is a queer study." + +Once more she laughed at him. + +"Before you went to Berlin," she said, "you used not to talk of the +psychology of love. Your methods, so far as I remember them, were a +little different. Confess now--you fell in love in Berlin." + +Norgate stifled a sudden desire to confide in his companion. + +"At my age!" he exclaimed. + +"It is true that it is not a susceptible age," Mrs. Benedek admitted. +"You are in what I call your mid-youth. Mid-youth, as a rule, is an age +of cynicism. As you grow older, you will appreciate more the luxury of +emotion. But tell me, was it the little Baroness who fascinated you? She +is a great beauty, is she not?" + +"I took her out to dinner," Norgate observed. "Therefore I suppose it was +my duty to be in love with her." + +"Fancy sharing the same sofa," she laughed, "with a rival of princes! +Do you know that the Baroness is a friend of mine? She comes sometimes +to London." + +"I am much more interested in your love affair," he protested. + +"And I find far more interest in your future," she insisted. "Let us +talk sensibly, like good friends and companions. What are you going to +do? They will not treat this affair seriously at the Foreign Office? They +cannot think that you were to blame?" + +"In a sense, no," he replied. "Diplomatically, however, I am, from their +point of view, a heinous offender. I rather think I am going to be +shelved for six months." + +"Just what one would expect from this horrible Government!" Mrs. Benedek +exclaimed indignantly. + +"What do you know about the Government?" he asked. "Are you taking up +politics as well as the study of the higher auction?" + +She sighed, and her eyes were fixed upon him very earnestly, as she +declared: "You do not understand me, my friend. You never did. I am +not altogether frivolous; I am not altogether an artist. I have my +serious moments." + +"Is this going to be one of them?" + +"Don't make fun of me, please," she begged, "You are like so many +Englishmen. Directly a woman tries to talk seriously, you will push her +back into her place. You like to treat her as something to frivol with +and make love to. Is it your _amour propre_ which is wounded, when you +feel sometimes forced to admit that she has as clear an insight into the +more important things of life as you yourself?" + +"Do you talk like that with Baring?" he asked. + +For several seconds she was silent. Her eyes had contracted a little. She +seemed to be seeking for some double meaning in his words. + +"Captain Baring is an intelligent man," she said, "and he is a man, too, +who understands his own particular subject. Of course it is a pleasure to +talk to him about it." + +"I thought navy men, as a rule," he remarked, "were not communicative." + +"Do you call it communicative," she enquired, "to discuss the subject you +love best with your greatest friend? But let us not talk any more of +Captain Baring. It is in you just now that I am interested, you and your +future. You seem to think that your friends at the Foreign Office are not +going to find you another position--for some time, at any rate. You are +not one of those men who think of nothing but sport and amusing +themselves. What are you going to do during the next few months?" + +"At present," he confessed thoughtfully, "I have only the vaguest ideas. +Perhaps you could help me." + +"Perhaps I could," she admitted. "We will talk of that another time, if +you like." + +It was obvious that she was speaking under a certain tension. The silence +which ensued was significant. + +"Why not now?" he asked. + +"It is too soon," she answered, "and you would not understand. I might +say things to you which would perhaps end our friendship, which would +give you a wrong impression. No, let us stay just as we are for a +little time." + +"This is most tantalising," grumbled Norgate. + +She leaned over and patted his hand. + +"Have patience, my friend," she whispered. "The great things come to +those who wait." + +An interruption, commonplace enough, yet in its way startling, checked +the words which were already upon his lips. The telephone bell from the +little instrument on the table within a few feet of them, rang +insistently. For a moment Mrs. Benedek herself appeared taken by +surprise. Then she raised the receiver to her ear. + +"My friend," she said to Norgate, "you must excuse me. I told them +distinctly to disconnect the instrument so that it rang only in my +bedroom. I am disobeyed, but no matter. Who is that?" + +Norgate leaned back in his place. His companion's little interjection, +however, was irresistible. He glanced towards her. There was a slight +flush of colour in her cheeks, her head was moving slowly as though +keeping pace to the words spoken at the other end. Suddenly she laughed. + +"Do not be so foolish," she said. "Yes, of course. You keep your share of +the bargain and I mine. At eight o'clock, then. I will say no more now, +as I am engaged with a visitor. _Au revoir!_" + +She set down the receiver and turned towards Norgate, who was turning the +pages of an illustrated paper. She made a little grimace. + +"Oh, but life is very queer!" she declared. "How I love it! Now I am +going to make you look glum, if indeed you do care just that little bit +which is all you know of caring. Perhaps you will be a little +disappointed. Tell me that you are, or my vanity will be hurt. Listen and +prepare. To-night I cannot dine with you." + +He turned deliberately around. "You are going to throw me over?" he +demanded, looking at her steadfastly. + +"To throw you over, dear friend," she repeated cheerfully. "You would do +just the same, if you were in my position." + +"It is an affair of duty," he persisted, "or the triumph of a rival?" + +She made a grimace at him. "It is an affair of duty," she admitted, "but +it is certainly with a rival that I must dine." + +He moved a little nearer to her on the lounge. + +"Tell me on your honour," he said, "that you are not dining with Baring, +and I will forgive!" + +For a moment she seemed as though she were summoning all her courage to +tell the lie which he half expected. Instead she changed her mind. + +"Do not be unkind," she begged. "I am dining with Captain Baring. The +poor man is distracted. You know that I cannot bear to hurt people. Be +kind this once. You may take my engagement book, you may fill it up as +you will, but to-night I must dine with him. Consider, my friend. You may +have many months before you in London. Captain Baring finishes his work +at the Admiralty to-day, and leaves for Portsmouth to-morrow morning. He +may not be in London again for some time. I promised him long ago that I +would dine with him to-night on one condition. That condition he is +keeping. I cannot break my word." + +Norgate rose gloomily to his feet. + +"Of course," he said, "I don't want to be unreasonable, and any one can +see the poor fellow is head over ears in love with you." + +She took his arm as she led him towards the door. + +"Listen," she promised, laughing into his face, "when you are as much in +love with me as he is, I will put off every other engagement I have in +the world, and I will dine with you. You understand? We shall meet later +at the club, I hope. Until then, _au revoir!_" + +Norgate hailed a taxi outside and was driven at once to the nearest +telephone call office. There, after some search in the directory, he rang +up a number and enquired for Captain Baring. There was a delay of about +five minutes. Then Baring spoke from the other end of the telephone. + +"Who is it wants me?" he enquired, rather impatiently. + +"Are you Baring?" Norgate asked, deepening his voice a little. + +"Yes! Who are you?" + +"I am a friend," Norgate answered slowly. + +"What the devil do you mean by 'a friend'?" was the irritated reply. "I +am engaged here most particularly." + +"There can be nothing so important," Norgate declared, "as the warning I +am charged to give to you. Remember that it is a friend who speaks. There +is a train about five o'clock to Portsmouth. Your work is finished. Take +that train and stay away from London." + +Norgate set down the receiver without listening to the tangle of +exclamations from the other end, and walked quickly out of the shop. He +re-entered his taxi. + +"The St. James's Club," he ordered. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + + +Norgate found Selingman in the little drawing-room of the club, reclining +in an easy-chair, a small cup of black coffee by his side. He appeared to +be exceedingly irate at the performance of his partner in a recent +rubber, and he seized upon Norgate as a possibly sympathetic confidant. + +"Listen to me for one moment," he begged, "and tell me whether I have not +the right to be aggrieved. I go in on my own hand, no trump. I am a +careful declarer. I play here every day when I am in London, and they +know me well to be a careful declarer. My partner--I do not know his +name; I hope I shall never know his name; I hope I shall never see him +again--he takes me out. 'Into what?' you ask. Into diamonds! I am +regretful, but I recognise, as I believe, a necessity. I ask you, of what +do you suppose his hand consists? Down goes my no trump on the table--a +good, a very good no trump. He has in his hand the ace, king, queen and +five diamonds, the king of clubs guarded, the ace and two little hearts, +and he takes me out into diamonds from no trumps with a score at love +all. Two pences they had persuaded me to play, too, and it was the rubber +game. Afterwards he said to me: 'You seem annoyed'; and I replied 'I am +annoyed,' and I am. I come in here to drink coffee and cool myself. +Presently I will cut into another rubber, where that young man is not. +Perhaps our friend Mrs. Benedek will be here. You and I and Mrs. Benedek, +but not, if we can help it, the lady who smokes the small black cigars. +She is very amiable, but I cannot attend to the game while she sits there +opposite to me. She fascinates me. In Germany sometimes our women smoke +cigarettes, but cigars, and in public, never!" + +"We'll get a rubber presently, I dare say," Norgate remarked, settling +himself in an easy-chair. "How's business?" + +"Business is very good," Selingman declared. "It is so good that I must +be in London for another week or so before I set off to the provinces. It +grows and grows all the time. Soon I must find a manager to take over +some of my work here. At my time of life one likes to enjoy. I love to be +in London; I do not like these journeys to Newcastle and Liverpool and +places a long way off. In London I am happy. You should go into business, +young man. It is not well for you to do nothing." + +"Do you think I should be useful in the crockery trade?" Norgate asked. + +Herr Selingman appeared to take the enquiry quite seriously. + +"Why not?" he demanded. "You are well-educated, you have address, +you have intelligence. Mrs. Benedek has spoken very highly of you. +But you--oh, no! It would not suit you at all to plunge yourself +into commerce, nor would it suit you, I think, to push the affairs +of a prosperous German concern. You are very English, Mr. Norgate, +is that not so?" + +"Not aggressively," Norgate replied. "As a matter of fact, I am rather +fed up with my own country just now." + +Mr. Selingman sat quite still in his chair. Some signs of a change which +came to him occasionally were visible in his face. He was for that moment +no longer the huge, overgrown schoolboy bubbling over with the joy and +appetite of life. His face seemed to have resolved itself into sterner +lines. It was the face of a thinker. + +"There are other Englishmen besides you," Selingman said, "who are a +little--what you call 'fed up' with your country. You have much common +sense. You do not believe that yours is the only country in the world. +You like sometimes to hear plain speech from one who knows?" + +"Without a doubt," Norgate assented. + +Mr. Selingman stroked his knee with his fat hand. + +"You in England," he continued, "you are too prosperous. Very, very +slowly the country is drifting into the hands of the people. A country +that is governed entirely by the people goes down, down, down. Your +classes are losing their hold and their influence. You have gone from +Tory to Whig, from Whig to Liberal, from Liberal to Radical, and soon it +will be the Socialists who govern. You know what will come then? +Colonies! What do your radicals care about colonies? Institutions! What +do they care about institutions? All you who have inherited money, they +will bleed. You will become worse than a nation of shop-keepers. You will +be an illustration to all the world of the dangers of democracy. So! I +go on. I tell you why that comes about. You are in the continent of +Europe, and you will not do as Europe does. You are a nation outside. You +have believed in yourselves and believed in yourselves, till you think +that you are infallible. Before long will come the revolution. It will be +a worse revolution than the French Revolution." + +Norgate smiled. "Too much common sense about us, I think, Mr. Selingman, +for such happenings," he declared. "I grant you that the classes are +getting the worst of it so far as regards the government of the country, +but I can't quite see the future that you depict." + +"Good Englishman!" Herr Selingman murmured approvingly. "That is your +proper attitude. You do not see because you will not see. I tell you that +the best thing in all the world would be a little blood-letting. You do +not like your Government. Would it not please you to see them humiliated +just a little?" + +"In what way?" + +"Oh! there are ways," Selingman declared. "A little gentle smack like +this,"--his two hands came together with a crash which echoed through the +room--"a little smack from Germany would do the business. People would +open their eyes and begin to understand. A Radical Government may fill +your factories with orders and rob the rich to increase the prosperity of +the poor, but it will not keep you a great nation amongst the others." + +Norgate nodded. + +"You seem to have studied the question pretty closely," he remarked. + +"I study the subject closely," Selingman went on, "because my interests +are yours. My profits are made in England. I am German born, but I am +English, too, in feeling. To me the two nations are one. We are of the +same race. That is why I am sorrowful when I see England slipping back. +That is why I would like to see her have just a little lesson." + +Selingman paused. Norgate rose to his feet and stood on the hearthrug, +with his elbow upon the mantelpiece. + +"Twice we have come as far as that, Mr. Selingman," he pointed out. +"England requires a little lesson. You have something in your mind behind +that, something which you are half inclined to say to me. Isn't that so? +Why not go on?" + +"Because I am not sure of you," Selingman confessed frankly. "Because +you might misunderstand what I say, and we should be friends no +longer, and you would say silly things about me and my views. +Therefore, I like to keep you for a friend, and I go no further at +present. You say that you are a little angry with your country, but +you Englishmen are so very prejudiced, so very quick to take offence, +so very insular, if I may use the word. I do not know how angry you +are with your country. I do not know if your mind is so big and broad +that you would be willing to see her suffer a little for her greater +good. Ah, but the lady comes at last!" + +Mrs. Benedek was accompanied by a tall, middle-aged man, of fair +complexion, whom Selingman greeted with marked respect. She turned +to Norgate. + +"Let me present you," she said, "to Prince Edward of Lenemaur--Mr. +Francis Norgate." + +The two men shook hands. + +"I played golf with you once at Woking," Norgate reminded his new +acquaintance. + +"I not only remember it," Prince Edward answered, "but I remember the +result. You beat me three up, and we were to have had a return, but you +had to leave for Paris on the next day." + +"You will be able to have your return match now," Mrs. Benedek observed. +"Mr. Norgate is going to be in England for some time. Let us play bridge. +I have to leave early to-night--I am dining out--and I should like to +make a little money." + +They strolled into the bridge-room. Selingman hung behind with Norgate. + +"Soon," he suggested, "we must finish our talk, is it not so? Dine with +me to-night. Mrs. Benedek has deserted me. We will eat at the Milan +Grill. The cooking there is tolerable, and they have some Rhine wine--but +you shall taste it." + +"Thank you," Norgate assented, "I shall be very pleased." + +They played three or four rubbers. Then Mrs. Benedek glanced at +the clock. + +"I must go," she announced. "I am dining at eight o'clock." + +"Stay but for one moment," Selingman begged. "We will all take a little +mixed vermouth together. I shall tell the excellent Horton how to +prepare it. Plenty of lemon-peel, and just a dash--but I will not give +my secret away." + +He called the steward and whispered some instructions in his ear. While +they were waiting for the result, a man came in with an evening paper in +his hand. He looked across the room to a table beyond that at which +Norgate and his friends were playing. + +"Heard the news, Monty?" he asked. + +"No! What is it?" was the prompt enquiry. + +"Poor old Baring--" + +The newcomer stopped short. For the first time he noticed Mrs. Benedek. +She half rose from her chair, however, and her eyes were fixed upon him. + +"What is it?" she exclaimed. "What has happened?" + +There was a moment's awkward silence. Mrs. Benedek snatched the paper +away from the man's fingers and read the little paragraph out aloud. For +a moment she was deathly white. + +"What is it?" Selingman demanded. + +"Freddy Baring," she whispered--"Captain Baring--shot himself in his room +at the Admiralty this afternoon! Some one telephoned to him. Five minutes +later he was found--dead--a bullet wound through his temple!... Give me +my chair, please. I think that I am going to faint." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + + +Selingman and Norgate dined together that evening in a corner of a large, +popular grill-room near the Strand. They were still suffering from the +shock of the recent tragedy. They both rather avoided the topic of +Baring's sudden death. Selingman made but one direct allusion to it. + +"Only yesterday," he remarked, "I said to little Bertha--I have known her +so long that I call her always Bertha--that this bureau work was bad for +Baring. When I was over last, a few months ago, he was the picture of +health. Yesterday he looked wild and worried. He was at work with others, +they say, at the Admiralty upon some new invention. Poor fellow!" + +Norgate, conscious of a curious callousness which even he himself found +inexplicable, made some conventional reply only. Selingman began to talk +of other matters. + +"Truly," he observed, "a visit to your country is good for the patriotic +German. Behold! here in London, we are welcomed by a German _maitre +d'hotel_; we are waited on by a German waiter; we drink German wine; we +eat off what I very well know is German crockery." + +"And some day, I suppose," Norgate put in, "we are to be German subjects. +Isn't that so?" + +Selingman's denial was almost unduly emphatic. + +"Never!" he exclaimed. "There is nothing so foolish as the way many of +you English seem to regard us Germans as though we were wild beasts of +prey. Now it gives me pleasure to talk with a man like yourself, Mr. +Norgate. I like to look a little into the future and speculate as to our +two countries. Above all things, this thing I do truly know. The German +nation stands for peace. Yet in order that peace shall everywhere +prevail, a small war, a humanely-conducted war, may sometime within the +future, one must believe, take place. It would last but a short time, but +it might lead to great changes. I have sometimes thought, my young friend +Norgate, that such a war might be the greatest blessing which England +could ever experience." + +"As a discipline, you mean?" Norgate murmured. + +"As a cleansing tonic," Selingman declared. "It would sweep out your +Radical Government. It would bring the classes back to power. It would +kindle in the spirits of your coming generation the spark of that +patriotism which is, alas! just now a very feeble flame. What do you +think? You agree with me, eh?" + +"It is going a long way," Norgate said cautiously, "to approve of a form +of discipline so stringent." + +"But not too far--oh, believe me, not too far!" Selingman insisted. "If +that war should come, it would come solely with the idea of sweeping away +this Government, which is most distasteful to all German politicians. It +would come solely with the idea that with a new form of government here, +more solid and lasting terms of friendship could be arranged between +Germany and England." + +"A very interesting theory," Norgate remarked. "Do you believe in it +yourself?" + +Selingman paused to give an order to a waiter. His tone suddenly became +more serious. He pointed to the menu. + +"They have dared," he exclaimed, "to bring us _Hollandaise_ sauce with +the asparagus! A gastronomic indignity! It is such things as this which +would endanger the _entente_ between our countries." + +"I don't mind _Hollandaise_" Norgate ventured. + +"Then of eating you know very little," Herr Selingman pronounced. "There +is only one sauce to be served with asparagus, and that is finely drawn +butter. I have explained to the _maitre d'hotel_. He must bring us what I +desire. Meanwhile, we spoke, I think, of our two countries. You asked me +a question. I do indeed believe in the theories which I have been +advancing." + +"But wouldn't a war smash up your crockery business?" Norgate asked. + +"For six months, yes! And after that six months, fortunes for all of us, +trade such as the world has never known, a settled peace, a real union +between two great and friendly countries. I wish England well. I love +England. I love my holidays over here, my business trips which are +holidays in themselves, and for their sake and for my own sake, I say +that just a little wrestle, a slap on the cheek from one and a punch on +the nose from the other, and we should find ourselves." + +"War is a very dangerous conflagration," Norgate remarked. "I cannot +think of any experiment more hazardous." + +"It is no experiment," Selingman declared. "It is a certainty. All that +we do in my country, we do by what we call previously ascertained +methods. We test the ground in front of us before we plant our feet upon +it. We not only look into the future, but we stretch out our hands. We +make the doubtful places sure. Our turn of mind is scientific. Our +road-making and our bridge-building, our empire-making and our diplomacy, +they are all fashioned in the same manner. If you could trust us, Mr. +Norgate, if you could trust yourself to work for the good of both +countries, we could make very good and profitable use of you during the +next six months. Would you like to hear more?" + +"But I know nothing about crockery!" + +"Would you like to hear more?" Selingman repeated. + +"I think I should." + +"Very well, then," Selingman proceeded. "Tomorrow we will talk of it. +There are some ways in which you might be very useful, useful at the same +time to your country and to ours. Your position might be somewhat +peculiar, but that you would be prepared for a short time to tolerate." + +"Peculiar in what respect?" Norgate asked. + +Selingman held his glass of yellow wine up to the light and criticised it +for a moment. He set it down empty. + +"Peculiar," he explained, "inasmuch as you might seem to be working with +Germany, whereas you were really England's best friend. But let us leave +these details until to-morrow. We have talked enough of serious matters. +I have a box at the Gaiety, and we must not be late--also a supper party +afterwards. This is indeed a country for enjoyment. To-morrow we speak of +these things again. You have seen our little German lady at the Gaiety? +You have heard her sing and watch her dance? Well, to-night you shall +meet her." + +"Rosa Morgen?" Norgate exclaimed. + +Selingman nodded complacently. + +"She sups with us," he announced, "she and others. That is why, when they +spoke to me of going back for bridge to-night, I pretended that I did not +hear. Bridge is very good, but there are other things. To-night I am in a +frivolous vein. I have many friends amongst the young ladies of the +Gaiety. You shall see how they will welcome me." + +"You seem to have found your way about over here," Norgate remarked, as +he lit a cigar and waited while his companion paid the bill. + +"I am a citizen of the world," Selingman admitted. "I enjoy myself as I +go, but I have my eyes always fixed upon the future. I make many friends, +and I do not lose them. I set my face towards the pleasant places, and I +keep it in that direction. It is the cult of some to be miserable; it is +mine to be happy. The person who does most good in the world is the +person who reflects the greatest amount of happiness. Therefore, I am a +philanthropist. You shall learn from me, my young friend, how to banish +some of that gloom from your face. You shall learn how to find +happiness." + +They made their way across to the Gaiety, where Selingman was a very +conspicuous figure in the largest and most conspicuous box. He watched +with complacency the delivery of enormous bouquets to the principal +artistes, and received their little bow of thanks with spontaneous and +unaffected graciousness. Afterwards he dragged Norgate round to the +stage-door, installed him in a taxi, and handed over to his escort two or +three of his guests. + +"I entrust you, Mr. Norgate," he declared, "with our one German export +more wonderful, even, than my crockery--Miss Rosa Morgen. Take good care +of her and bring her to the Milan. The other young ladies are my honoured +guests, but they are also Miss Morgen's. She will tell you their names. I +have others to look after." + +Norgate's last glimpse of Selingman was on the pavement outside the +theatre, surrounded by a little group of light-hearted girls and a few +young men. + +"He is perfectly wonderful, our Mr. Selingman," Miss Morgen murmured, as +they started off. "Tell me how long you have known him, Mr. Norgate?" + +"Four days," Norgate replied. + +She screamed with laughter. + +"It is so like him," she declared. "He makes friends everywhere. A day is +sufficient. He gives such wonderful parties. I do not know why we all +like to come, but we do. I suppose that we all get half-a-dozen +invitations to supper most nights, but there is not one of us who does +not put off everything to sup with Mr. Selingman. He sits in the +middle--oh, you shall watch him to-night!--and what he says I do not +know, but we laugh, and then we laugh again, and every one is happy." + +"I think he is the most irresistible person," Norgate agreed. "I met him +two or three nights ago, coming over from Berlin, and he spoke of nothing +but crockery and politics. To-night I dine with him, and I find a +different person." + +"He is a perfect dear," one of the other girls exclaimed, "but so +curiously inquisitive! I have a great friend, a gunner, whom I brought +with me to one of his parties, and he is always asking me questions about +him and his work. I had to absolutely worry Dick so as to be able to +answer all his questions, didn't I, Rosa?" + +Miss Morgen nodded a little guardedly. + +"I should not call him really inquisitive," she said. "It is because he +likes to seem interested in the subject which interests you." + +"I am not at all sure whether that is true," the other young lady +objected. "You remember when Ellison Gray was always around with us? +Why, I know that Mr. Selingman simply worried Maud's life out of her to +get a little model of his aeroplane from him. There were no end of +things he wanted to know about cubic feet and dimensions. He is a dear, +all the same." + +"A perfect dear!" the others echoed. + +They drew up outside the Milan. Rosa Morgen turned to their escort. + +"We will meet you in the hall in five minutes," she said. "Then we can +all go together and find Mr. Selingman." + + + + +CHAPTER XV + + +Selingman's supper party was in some respects both distinctive and +unusual. Norgate, looking around him, thought that he had never in his +life been among such a motley assemblage of people. There were eight or +nine musical comedy young ladies; a couple of young soldiers, one of whom +he knew slightly, who had arrived as escorts to two of the young ladies; +Prince Edward of Lenemaur; a youthful peer, who by various misdemeanours +had placed himself outside the pale of any save the most Bohemian +society, and several other men whose faces were unfamiliar. They occupied +a round table just inside the door of the restaurant, and they sat there +till long after the lights were lowered. The conversation all the time +was of the most general and frivolous description, and Selingman, as the +hour grew later, seemed to grow larger and redder and more joyous. The +only hint at any serious conversation came from the musical comedy star +who sat at Norgate's left. + +"Do you know our host very well?" she asked Norgate once. + +"I am afraid I can't say that I know him well at all," Norgate replied. +"I met him in the train coming from Berlin, a few nights ago." + +"He is the most original person," she declared. "He entertains whenever +he has a chance; he makes new friends every hour; he eats and drinks and +seems always to be enjoying himself like an overgrown baby. And yet, all +the time there is such a very serious side to him. One feels that he has +a purpose in it all." + +"Perhaps he has," Norgate ventured. + +"Perhaps he has," she agreed, lowering her voice a little. "At least, I +believe one thing. I believe that he is a good German and yet a great +friend of England." + +"You don't find the two incompatible, then?" + +"I do not," the young lady replied firmly. "I do not understand +everything, of course, but I am half German and half English, so I can +appreciate both sides, and I do believe that Mr. Selingman, if he had not +been so immersed in his business, might have been a great politician." + +The conversation drifted into other channels. Norgate was obliged to give +some attention to the more frivolous young lady on his right. The general +exodus to the bar smoking-room only took place long after midnight. Every +one was speaking of going on to a supper club to dance, and Norgate +quietly slipped away. He took a hurried leave of his host. + +"You will excuse me, won't you?" he begged. "Enjoyed my evening +tremendously. I'd like you to come and dine with me one night." + +"We will meet at the club to-morrow afternoon," Selingman declared. "But +why not come on with us now? You are not weary? They are taking me to a +supper club, these young people. I have engaged myself to dance with +Miss Morgen--I, who weigh nineteen stone! It will be a thing to see. +Come with us." + +Norgate excused himself and left the place a moment later. It was a fine +night, and he walked slowly towards Pall Mall, deep in thought. Outside +one of the big clubs on the right-hand side, a man descended from a +taxicab just as Norgate was passing. They almost ran into one another. + +"Norgate, you reprobate!" + +"Hebblethwaite!" + +The latter passed his arm through the young man's and led him towards the +club steps. + +"Come in and have a drink," he invited. "I am just up from the House. I +do wish you could get some of your military friends to stop worrying us, +Norgate. Two hours to-night have been absolutely wasted because they +would talk National Service and heckle us about the territorials." + +"I'll have the drink, although heaven knows I don't need any!" Norgate +replied. "As for the rest, I am all on the side of the hecklers. You +ought to know that." + +They drew two easy-chairs together in a corner of the great, deserted +smoking-room, and Hebblethwaite ordered the whiskies and sodas. + +"Yes," he remarked, "I forgot. You are on the other side, aren't you? I +haven't a word to say against the navy. We spend more money than is +necessary upon it, and I stick out for economy whenever I can. But as +regards the army, my theory is that it is useless. It's only a +temptation to us to meddle in things that don't concern us. The navy is +sufficient to defend these shores, if any one were foolish enough to wish +to attack us. If we need an army at all, we should need one ten times the +size, but we don't. Nature has seen to that. Yet tonight, when I was +particularly anxious to get on with some important domestic legislation, +we had to sit and listen to hours of prosy military talk, the +possibilities of this and that. They don't realise, these brain-fogged +ex-military men, that we are living in days of common sense. Before many +years have passed, war will belong to the days of romance." + +"For a practical politician, Hebblethwaite," Norgate pronounced, "you +have some of the rottenest ideas I ever knew. You know perfectly well +that if Germany attacked France, we are almost committed to chip in. We +couldn't sit still, could we, and see Calais and Boulogne, Dieppe and +Ostend, fortified against us?" + +"If Germany should attack France!" Hebblethwaite repeated. "If Prussia +should send an expeditionary force to Cornwall, or the Siamese should +declare themselves on the side of the Ulster men! We must keep in +politics to possibilities that are reasonable." + +"Take another view of the same case, then," Norgate continued. "Supposing +Germany should violate Belgium's independence?" + +"You silly idiot!" Hebblethwaite exclaimed, as he took a long draught +of his whisky and soda, lit a cigar, and leaned back in his chair, +"the neutrality of Belgium is guaranteed by a treaty, actually signed +by Germany!" + +"Supposing she should break her treaty?" Norgate persisted. "I told you +what I heard in the train the other night. It isn't for nothing that that +sort of work is going on." + +Hebblethwaite shook his head. + +"You are incorrigible, Norgate! Germany is one of the Powers of Europe +undoubtedly possessing a high sense of honour and rectitude of conduct. +If any nation possesses a national conscience, and an appreciation of +national ethics, they do. Germany would be less likely than any nation in +the world to break a treaty." + +"Hebblethwaite," Norgate declared solemnly, "if you didn't understand the +temperament and character of your constituents better than you do the +German temperament and character, you would never have set your foot +across the threshold of Westminster. The fact of it is you're a domestic +politician of the very highest order, but as regards foreign affairs and +the greater side of international politics, well, all I can say is you've +as little grasp of them as a local mayor might have." + +"Look here, young fellow," Hebblethwaite protested, "do you know that you +are talking to a Cabinet Minister?" + +"To a very possible Prime Minister," Norgate replied, "but I am going to +tell you what I think, all the same. I'm fed up with you all. I bring you +some certain and sure information, proving conclusively that Germany is +maintaining an extraordinary system of espionage over here, and you tell +me to mind my own business. I tell you, Hebblethwaite, you and your Party +are thundering good legislators, but you'll ruin the country before +you've finished. I've had enough. It seems to me we thoroughly deserve +the shaking up we're going to get. I am going to turn German spy myself +and work for the other side." + +"You do, if there's anything in it," Hebblethwaite retorted, with a grin. +"I promise we won't arrest you. You shall hop around the country at your +own sweet will, preach Teutonic doctrines, and pave the way for the +coming of the conquerors. You'll have to keep away from our arsenals and +our flying places, because our Service men are so prejudiced. Short of +that you can do what you like." + +Norgate finished his cigar in silence. Then he threw the end into the +fireplace, finished his whisky and soda, and rose. + +"Hebblethwaite," he said, "this is the second time you've treated me like +this. I shall give you another chance. There's just one way I may be of +use, and I am going to take it on. If I get into trouble about it, it +will be your fault, but next time I come and talk with you, you'll have +to listen to me if I shove the words down your throat. Good night!" + +"Good night, Norgate," Hebblethwaite replied pleasantly. "What you want +is a week or two's change somewhere, to get this anti-Teuton fever out of +your veins. I think we'll send you to Tokyo and let you have a turn with +the geishas in the cherry groves." + +"I wouldn't go out for your Government, anyway," Norgate declared. "I've +given you fair warning. I am going in on the other side. I'm fed up with +the England you fellows represent." + +"Nice breezy sort of chap you are for a pal!" Hebblethwaite grumbled. +"Well, get along with you, then. Come and look me up when you're in a +better humour." + +"I shall probably find you in a worse one," Norgate retorted. +"Good night!" + + * * * * * + +It was one o'clock when Norgate let himself into his rooms. To his +surprise, the electric lights were burning in his sitting-room. He +entered a little abruptly and stopped short upon the threshold. A slim +figure in dark travelling clothes, with veil pushed back, was lying +curled up on his sofa. She stirred a little at his coming, opened her +eyes, and looked at him. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + + +Throughout those weeks and months of tangled, lurid sensations, of +amazing happenings which were yet to come, Norgate never once forgot that +illuminative rush of fierce yet sweet feelings which suddenly thrilled +his pulses. He understood in that moment the intolerable depression of +the last few days. He realised the absolute advent of the one experience +hitherto missing from his life. The very intensity of his feelings kept +him silent, kept him unresponsive to her impetuous but unspoken welcome. +Her arms dropped to her side, her lips for a moment quivered. Her voice, +notwithstanding her efforts to control it, shook a little. She was no +longer the brilliant young Court beauty of Vienna. She was a tired and +disappointed girl. + +"You are surprised--I should not have come here! It was such a +foolish impulse." + +She caught up her gloves feverishly, but Norgate's moment of stupefaction +had passed. He clasped her hands. + +"Forgive me," he begged. "It is really you--Anna!" + +His words were almost incoherent, but his tone was convincing. Her fears +passed away. + +"You don't wonder that I was a little surprised, do you?" he exclaimed. +"You were not only the last person whom I was thinking of, but you +were certainly the last person whom I expected to see in London or to +welcome here." + +"But why?" she asked. "I told you that I came often to this country." + +"I remember," Norgate admitted. "Yet I never ventured to hope--" + +"Of course I should not have come here," she interrupted. "It was absurd +of me, and at such an hour! And yet I am staying only a few hundred yards +away. The temptation to-night was irresistible. I felt as one sometimes +does in this queer, enormous city--lonely. I telephoned, and your +servant, who answered me, said that you were expected back at any moment. +Then I came myself." + +"You cannot imagine that I am not glad to see you," he said earnestly. + +"I want to believe that you are glad," she answered. "I have been +restless ever since you left. Tell me at once, what did they say to +you here?" + +"I am practically shelved," he told her bitterly. "In twelve months' +time, perhaps, I may be offered something in America or Asia--countries +where diplomacy languishes. In a word, your mighty autocrat has spoken +the word, and I am sacrificed." + +She moved towards the window. + +"I am stifled!" she exclaimed. "Open it wide, please." + +He threw it open. They looked out eastwards. The roar of the night was +passing. Here and there were great black spaces. On the Thames a sky-sign +or two remained. The blue, opalescent glare from the Gaiety dome still +shone. The curving lights which spanned the bridges and fringed the +Embankment still glittered. The air, even here, high up as they were on +the seventh story of the building, seemed heavy and lifeless. + +"There is a storm coming," she said. "I have felt it for days." + +She stood looking out, pale, her large eyes strained as though seeking to +read something which eluded her in the clouds or the shadows which hung +over the city. She had rather the air of a frightened but eager child. +She rested her fingers upon his arm, not exactly affectionately, but as +though she felt the need of some protection. + +"Do you know," she whispered, "the feeling of this storm has been in my +heart for days. I am afraid--afraid for all of us!" + +"Afraid of what?" he asked gently. + +"Afraid," she went on, "because it seems to me that I can hear, at +times like this, when one is alone, the sound of what one of your +writers called footsteps amongst the hills, footsteps falling upon +wool, muffled yet somehow ominous. There is trouble coming. I know it. +I am sure of it." + +"In this country they do not think so," he reminded her. "Most of our +great statesmen of today have come to the conclusion that there will be +no more war." + +"You have no great statesmen," she answered simply. "You have plenty of +men who would make very fine local administrators, but you have no +statesmen, or you would have provided for what is coming." + +There was a curious conviction in her words, a sense of one speaking who +has seen the truth. + +"Tell me," he asked, "is there anything that you know of--" + +"Ah! but that I may not tell you," she interrupted, turning away from the +window. "Of myself just now I say nothing--only of you. I am here for a +day or two. It is through me that you have suffered this humiliation. I +wanted to know just how far it went. Is there anything I can do?" + +"What could any one do?" he asked. "I am the victim of circumstances." + +"But for a whole year!" she exclaimed. "You are not like so many young +Englishmen. You do not wish to spend your time playing polo and golf, +and shooting. You must do something. What are you going to do with +that year?" + +He moved across the room and took a cigarette from a box. + +"Give me something to drink, please," she begged. + +He opened a cupboard in his sideboard and gave her some soda-water. She +had still the air of waiting for his reply. + +"What am I going to do?" he repeated. "Well, here I am with an idle +twelve months. It makes no difference to anybody what time I get up, what +time I go to bed, with whom or how I spend the day. I suppose to some +people it would sound like Paradise. To me it is hateful. Shall I be your +secretary?" + +"How do you know that I need a secretary?" she asked. + +"How should I?" he replied. "Yet you are not altogether an idler in +life, are you?" + +For a moment she did not answer. The silence in the room was almost +impressive. He looked at her over the top of the soda-water syphon whose +handle he was manipulating. + +"What do you imagine might be my occupation, then?" she asked. + +"I have heard it suggested," he said slowly, "that you have been a useful +intermediary in carrying messages of the utmost importance between the +Kaiser and the Emperor of Austria." + +"Your Intelligence Department is not so bad," she remarked. "It is true. +Why not? At the German Court I count for little, perhaps. In Austria my +father was the Emperor's only personal friend. My mother was scarcely +popular there--she was too completely English--but since my father died +the Emperor will scarcely let me stay a week away. Yes, your information +is perhaps true. I will supplement it, if you like. Since our little +affair in the Cafe de Berlin, the Kaiser, who went out of his way to +insist upon your removal from Berlin, has notified the Emperor that he +would prefer to receive his most private dispatches either through the +regular diplomatic channels or by some other messenger." + +Norgate's emphatic expletive was only half-stifled as she continued. + +"For myself," she said with a shrug, "I am not sorry. I found it very +interesting, but of late those feelings of which I have told you have +taken hold of me. I have felt as though a terrible shadow were brooding +over the world." + +"Let me ask you once more," he begged. "Why are you in London?" + +"I received a wire from the Emperor," she explained, "instructing me to +return at once to Vienna. If I go there, I know very well that I shall +not be allowed to leave the city. I have been trusted implicitly, and +they will keep me practically a prisoner. They will think that I may feel +a resentment against the Kaiser, and they will be afraid. Therefore, I +came here. I have every excuse for coming. It is according to my original +plans. You will find that by to-morrow morning I shall have a second +message from Vienna. All the same, I am not sure that I shall go." + +There was a ring at the bell. Norgate started, and Anna looked at +the clock. + +"Who is that?" she asked. "Do you see the time?" + +Norgate moved to the door and threw it open. A waiter stood there. + +"What do you want?" demanded Norgate. + +The man pointed to the indicator. + +"The bell rang, sir," he replied. "Is there anything I can get for you?" + +"I rang no bell," Norgate asserted. "Your indicator must be out of +order." + +Norgate would have closed the door, but Anna intervened. + +"Tell the waiter I wish to speak to him," she begged. + +The man advanced at once into the room and glanced interrogatively at +Anna. She addressed him suddenly in Austrian, and he replied without +hesitation. She nodded. Then she turned to Norgate and laughed softly. + +"You see how perfect the system is," she said. "I was followed here, +passed on to your floor-waiter. You are a spy, are you not?" she added, +turning to the man. "But of course you are!" + +"Madame!" the man protested. "I do not understand." + +"You can go away," she replied. "You can tell Herr Selingman in your +morning's report that I came to Mr. Norgate's rooms at an early hour in +the morning and spent an hour talking with him. You can go now." + +The man withdrew without remark. He was a quiet, inoffensive-looking +person, with sallow complexion, suave but silent manners. Norgate closed +the door behind him. + +"A victim of the system which all Europe knows of except you people," +she remarked lightly. "Well, after this I must be careful. Walk with me +to my hotel." + +"Of course," he assented. + +They made their way along the silent corridors to the lift, out into the +streets, empty of traffic now save for the watering-carts and street +scavengers. + +"Will there be trouble for you," Norgate asked at last, "because of +this?" + +"There is more trouble in my own heart," she told him quietly. "I feel +strangely disturbed, uncertain which way to move. Let me take your +arm--so. I like to walk like that. Somehow I think, Mr. Francis Norgate, +that that little fracas in the Cafe de Berlin is going to make a great +difference in both our lives. I know now what I had begun to believe. +Like all the trusted agents of sovereigns, I have become an object of +suspicion. Well, we shall see. At least I am glad to know that there is +some one whom I can trust. Perhaps to-morrow I will tell you all that is +in my heart. We might even, if you wished it, if you were willing to face +a few risks, we might even work together to hold back the thunder. So! +Good night, my friend," she added, turning suddenly around. + +He held her hand for a moment as they stood together on the pavement +outside her hotel. For a single moment he fancied that there was a change +in that curious personal aloofness which seemed so distinctive of her. It +passed, however, as she turned from him with her usual half-insolent, +half gracious little nod. + +"To-morrow," she directed, "you must ring me up. Let it be at +eleven o'clock." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + + +The Ambassador glanced at the clock as he entered his library to greet +his early morning visitor. It was barely nine o'clock. + +"Dear friend," he exclaimed, as he held out his hands, "I am distressed +to keep you waiting! Such zeal in our affairs must, however, not remain +unnoticed. I will remember it in my reports." + +Anna smiled as he stooped to kiss her fingers. + +"I had special reasons," she explained, "for my haste. I was +disappointed, indeed, that I could not see you last night." + +"I was at Windsor," her host remarked. "Now come, sit there in the +easy-chair by the side of my table. My secretaries have not yet arrived. +We shall be entirely undisturbed. I have ordered coffee here, of which we +will partake together. A compromising meal to share, dear Baroness, but +in the library of my own house it may be excused. The Princess sends her +love. She will be glad if you will go to her apartments after we have +finished our talk." + +A servant entered with a tray, spread a cloth on a small round table, +upon which he set out coffee, with rolls and butter and preserves. For a +few moments they talked lightly of the weather, of her crossing, of +mutual friends in Berlin and Vienna. Then Anna, as soon as they were +alone, leaned a little forward in her chair. + +"You know that I have a sort of mission to you," she said. "I should not +call it that, perhaps, but it comes to very nearly the same thing. The +Emperor has charged me to express to you and to Count Lanyoki his most +earnest desire that if the things should come which we know of, you both +maintain your position here at any cost. The Emperor's last words to me +were: 'If war is to come, it may be the will of God. We are ready, but +there is one country which must be kept from the ranks of our enemies. +That country is England. England must be dealt with diplomatically.' He +looks across the continent to you, Prince. This is the friendly message +which I have brought from his own lips." + +The Prince stirred his coffee thoughtfully. He was a man just passing +middle-age, with grey hair, thin in places but carefully trimmed, brushed +sedulously back from his high forehead. His moustache, too, was grey, and +his face was heavily lined, but his eyes, clear and bright, were almost +the eyes of a young man. + +"You can reassure the Emperor," he declared. "As you may imagine, my +supply of information here is plentiful. If those things should come that +we know of, it is my firm belief that with some reasonable yet nominal +considerations, this Government will never lend itself to war." + +"You really believe that?" she asked earnestly. + +"I do," her companion assured her. "I try to be fair in my judgments. +London is a pleasant city to live in, and English people are agreeable +and well-bred, but they are a people absolutely without vital impulses. +Patriotism belongs to their poetry books. Indolence has stagnated their +blood. They are like a nation under a spell, with their faces turned +towards the pleasant and desirable things. Only a few months ago, they +even further reduced the size of their ridiculous army and threw cold +water upon a scheme for raising untrained help in case of emergency. Even +their navy estimates are passed with difficulty. The Government which is +conducting the destinies of a people like this, which believes that war +belongs to a past age, is never likely to become a menace to us." + +Anna drew a little sigh and lit the cigarette which the Prince passed +her. She threw herself back in her chair with an air of contentment. + +"It is so pleasant once more to be among the big things," she declared. +"In Berlin I think they are not fond of me, and they are so pompous and +secretive. Tell me, dear Prince, will you not be kinder to me? Tell me +what is really going to happen?" + +He moved his chair a little closer to hers. + +"I see no reason," he said cautiously, "why you should not be told. +Events, then, will probably move in this direction. Provocation will be +given by Servia. That is easily arranged. Tension will be caused, Austria +will make enormous demands, Russia will remonstrate, and, before any one +has time to breathe, the clouds will part to let the lightnings through. +If anything, we are over-ready, straining with over-readiness." + +"And the plan of campaign?" + +"Austria and Italy," the Prince continued slowly, "will easily keep +Russia in check. Germany will seize Belgium and rush through to Paris. +She will either impose her terms there or leave a second-class army to +conclude the campaign. There will be plenty of time for her then to turn +back and fall in with her allies against Russia." + +"And England?" Anna asked. "Supposing?" + +The Prince tapped the table with his forefinger. + +"Here," he announced, "we conquer with diplomacy. We have imbued the +present Cabinet, even the Minister who is responsible for the army, with +the idea that we stand for peace. We shall seem to be the attacked party +in this war. We shall say to England--'Remain neutral. It is not your +quarrel, and we will be capable of a great act of self-sacrifice. We will +withhold our fleet from bombarding the French towns. England could do no +more than deal with our fleet if she were at war. She shall do the same +without raising a finger.' No country could refuse so sane and +businesslike an offer, especially a country which will at once count upon +its fingers how much it will save by not going to war." + +"And afterwards?" + +The Prince shrugged his shoulders. "Afterwards is inevitable." + +"Please go on," she insisted. + +"We shall occupy the whole of the coast from Antwerp to Havre. The +indemnity which France and Russia will pay us will make us the mightiest +nation on earth. We shall play with England as a cat with a mouse, and +when the time comes.... Well, perhaps that will do," the Prince +concluded, smiling. + +Anna was silent for several moments. + +"I am a woman, you know," she said simply, "and this sounds, in a way, +terrible. Yet for months I have felt it coming." + +"There is nothing terrible about it," the Prince replied, "if you keep +the great principles of progress always before you. If a million or so +of lives are sacrificed, the great Germany of the future, gathering +under her wings the peoples of the world, will raise them to a pitch +of culture and contentment and happiness which will more than atone +for the sacrifices of to-day. It is, after all, the future to which we +must look." + +A telephone bell rang at the Prince's elbow. He listened for a moment +and nodded. + +"An urgent visitor demands a moment of my time," he said, rising. + +"I have taken already too much," Anna declared, "but I felt it was time +that I heard the truth. They fence with me so in Berlin, and, believe me, +Prince Herschfeld, in Vienna the Emperor is almost wholly ignorant of +what is planned." + +The door was opened behind them. The Prince turned around. A young man +had ushered in Herr Selingman. For a moment the latter looked steadily at +Anna. Then he glanced at the Ambassador as though questioningly. + +"You two must have met," the Prince murmured. + +"We have met," Anna declared, smiling, as she made her way towards the +door, "but we do not know one another. It is best like that. Herr +Selingman and I work in the same army--" + +"But I, madame, am the sergeant," Selingman interrupted, with a low bow, +"whilst you are upon the staff." + +She laughed as she made her adieux and departed. The door closed heavily +behind her. Selingman came a little further into the room. + +"You have read your dispatches this morning, Prince?" he asked. + +"Not yet," the latter replied. "Is there news, then?" + +Selingman pointed to the closed door. "You have spoken for long +with her?" + +"Naturally," the Prince assented. "She is a confidential friend of the +Emperor. She has been entrusted for the last two years with all the +private dispatches between Vienna and Berlin." + +"In your letters you will find news," Selingman declared. "She is +pronounced suspect. She is under my care at this moment. A report was +brought to me half an hour ago that she was here. I came on at once +myself. I trust that I am in time?" + +The Prince stood quite silent for a moment. + +"Fortunately," he answered coolly, "I have told her nothing." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + + +As Norgate entered the premises of Selingman, Horsfal and Company a +little later on the same morning he looked around him in some surprise. +He had expected to find a deserted warehouse--probably only an office. He +saw instead all the evidences of a thriving and prosperous business. +Drays were coming and going from the busy door. Crates were piled up to +the ceiling, clerks with notebooks in their hands passed continually back +and forth. A small boy in a crowded office accepted his card and +disappeared. In a few minutes he led Norgate into a waiting-room and +handed him a paper. + +"Mr. Selingman is engaged with a buyer for a few moments, sir," he +reported. "He will see you presently." + +Norgate looked through the windows out into the warehouse. There was no +doubt whatever that this was a genuine and considerable trading concern. +Presently the door of the inner office opened, and he heard Mr. +Selingman's hearty tones. + +"You have done well for yourself and well for your firm, sir," he was +saying. "There is no one in Germany or in the world who can produce +crockery at the price we do. They will give you a confirmation of the +order in the office. Ah! my young friend," he went on, turning to +Norgate, "you have kept your word, then. You are not a customer, but you +may walk in. I shall make no money out of you, but we will talk +together." + +Norgate passed on into a comfortably furnished office, a little redolent +of cigar smoke. Selingman bit off the end of a cigar and pushed the box +towards his visitor. + +"Try one of these," he invited. "German made, but Havana +tobacco--mild as milk." + +"Thank you," Norgate answered. "I don't smoke cigars in the morning. I'll +have a cigarette, if I may." + +"As you will. What do you think of us now that you have found your +way here?" + +"Your business seems to be genuine enough, at all events," Norgate +observed. + +"Genuine? Of course it is!" Selingman declared emphatically. "Do you +think I should be fool enough to be connected with a bogus affair? My +father and my grandfather before me were manufacturers of crockery. I can +assure you that I am a very energetic and a very successful business man. +If I have interests in greater things, those interests have developed +naturally, side by side with my commercial success. When I say that I am +a German, that to me means more, much more, than if I were to declare +myself a native of any other country in the world. Sit opposite to me +there. I have a quarter of an hour to spare. I can show you, if you will, +over a thousand designs of various articles. I can show you +orders--genuine orders, mind--from some of your big wholesale houses, +which would astonish you. Or, if you prefer it, we can talk of affairs +from another point of view. What do you say?" + +"My interest in your crockery," Norgate announced, "is non-existent. I +have come to hear your offer. I have decided to retire--temporarily, at +any rate--from the Diplomatic Service. I understand that I am in +disgrace, and I resent it. I resent having had to leave Berlin except at +my own choice. I am looking for a job in some other walk of life." + +Selingman nodded approvingly. + +"Forgive me," he said, "but it is true, then, that you are in some way +dependent upon your profession?" + +"I am not a pauper outside it," Norgate replied, "but that is not the +sole question. I need work, an interest in life, something to think +about. I must either find something to do, or I shall go to Abyssinia. I +should prefer an occupation here." + +"I can help you," Selingman said slowly, "if you are a young man of +common sense. I can put you in the way of earning, if you will, a +thousand pounds a year and your travelling expenses, without interfering +very much with your present mode of life." + +"Selling crockery?" + +Selingman flicked the ash from the end of his cigar. He shook his head +good-naturedly. + +"I am a judge of character, young man," he declared. "I pride myself upon +that accomplishment. I know very well that in you we have one with +brains. Nevertheless, I do not believe that you would sell my crockery." + +"It seems easy enough," Norgate observed. + +"It may seem easy," Selingman objected, "but it is not. You have not, I +am convinced, the gifts of a salesman. You would not reason and argue +with these obstinate British shopkeepers. No! Your value to me would lie +in other directions--in your social position, your opportunities of +meeting with a class above the commercial one in which I have made my few +English friends, and in your own intelligence." + +"I scarcely see of what value these things would be to a vendor of +crockery." + +"They would be of no value at all," Selingman admitted. "It is not in the +crockery business that I propose to make use of you. I believe that we +both know that. We may dismiss it from our minds. It is only fencing with +words. I will take you a little further. You have heard, by chance, of +the Anglo-German Peace Society?" + +"The name sounds familiar," Norgate confessed. "I can't say that I know +anything about it." + +"It was I who inaugurated that body," Selingman announced. "It is I who +direct its interests." + +"Congratulate you, I'm sure. You must find it uphill work sometimes." + +"It is uphill work all the time," the German agreed. "Our great object +is, as you can guess from the title, to promote good-feeling between the +two countries, to heal up all possible breaches, to soothe and dispel +that pitiful jealousy, of which, alas! too much exists. It is not easy, +Mr. Norgate. It is not easy, my young friend. I meet with many +disappointments. Yet it is a great and worthy undertaking." + +"It sounds all right," Norgate observed. "Where do I come in?" + +"I will explain. To carry out the aims of our society, there is much +information which we are continually needing. People in Germany are often +misled by the Press here. Facts and opinions are presented to them often +from an unpalatable point of view. Furthermore, there is a section of the +Press which, so far from being on our side, seems deliberately to try to +stir up ill-feeling between the two countries. We want to get behind the +Press. For that purpose we need to know the truth about many matters; and +as the truth is a somewhat rare commodity, we are willing to pay for it. +Now we come face to face. It will be your business, if you accept my +offer, to collect such facts as may be useful to us." + +"I see," Norgate remarked dubiously, "or rather I don't see at all. Give +me an example of the sort of facts you require." + +Mr. Selingman leaned a little forward in his chair. He was warming to +his subject. + +"By all means. There is the Irish question, then." + +"The Irish question," Norgate repeated. "But of what interest can that be +to you in Germany?" + +"Listen," Selingman continued. "Just as you in London have great +newspapers which seem to devote themselves to stirring up bitter feeling +between our two countries, so we, alas! in Germany, have newspapers and +journals which seem to devote all their energies to the same object. Now +in this Irish question the action of your Government has been very much +misrepresented in that section of our Press and much condemned. I should +like to get at the truth from an authoritative source. I should like to +get it in such a form that I can present it fairly and honestly to the +public of Germany." + +"That sounds reasonable enough," Norgate admitted. "There are several +pamphlets--" + +"I do not want pamphlets," Selingman interrupted. "I want an actual +report from Ulster and Dublin of the state of feeling in the country, +and, if possible, interviews with prominent people. For this the society +would pay a bonus over and above the travelling expenses and your salary. +If you accept my offer, this is probably one of the first tasks I should +commit to you." + +"Give me a few more examples," Norgate begged. + +"Another subject," Selingman continued, "upon which there is wide +divergence of opinions in Germany, and a great deal of misrepresentation, +is the attitude of certain of your Cabinet Ministers towards the French +_entente_: how far they would support it, at what they would stop short." + +"Isn't that rather a large order?" Norgate ventured. "I don't number +many Cabinet Ministers among my personal friends." + +Selingman puffed away at his cigar for a moment. Then he withdrew it +from his mouth and expelled large volumes of smoke. + +"You are, I believe, intimately acquainted with Mr. Hebblethwaite?" + +"How the mischief did you know that?" Norgate demanded. + +"Our society," Selingman announced, smiling ponderously, "has +ramifications in every direction. It is our business to know much. We are +collectors of information of every sort and nature." + +"Seems to have been part of your business to follow me about," +observed Norgate. + +"Perhaps so. If we thought it good for us to have you followed about, we +certainly should," Selingman admitted. "You see, in Germany," he added, +leaning back in his chair, "we lay great stress upon detail and +intelligence. We get to know things: not the smattering of things, like +you over here are too often content with, but to know them thoroughly and +understand them. Nothing ever takes us by surprise. We are always +forewarned. So far as any one can, we read the future." + +"You are a very great nation, without a doubt," Norgate acknowledged, +"but my quarter of an hour is coming to an end. Tell me what else you +would expect from me if I accepted this post?" + +"For the moment, I can think of nothing," Selingman replied. "There are +many ways in which we might make use of you, but to name them now would +be to look a little too far into the future." + +"By whom should I really be employed?" + +"By the Anglo-German Peace Society," Selingman answered promptly. "Let +me say a word more about that society. I am proud of it. I am one of +those prominent business men who are responsible for its initiation. I +have given years of time and thought to it. All our efforts are directed +towards promoting a better understanding with England, towards teaching +the two countries to appreciate one another. But in the background there +is always something else. It is useless to deny that the mistrust +existing between the two countries has brought them more than once +almost to the verge of war. What we want is to be able, at critical +times, to throw oil upon the troubled waters, and if the worst should +come, if a war really should break out, then we want to be able to act +as peacemakers, to heal as soon as possible any little sores that there +may be, and to enter afterwards upon a greater friendship with a +purified England." + +"It sounds very interesting," Norgate confessed. "I had an idea that you +were proposing something quite different." + +"Please explain." + +"To be perfectly frank with you," Norgate acknowledged, "I thought you +wanted me to do the ordinary spy business--traces of fortresses, and +particulars about guns and aeroplanes--" + +"Rubbish, my dear fellow!" Selingman interrupted. "Rubbish! Those things +we leave to our military department, and pray that the question of their +use may never arise. We are concerned wholly with economic and social +questions, and our great aim is not war but peace." + +"Very well, then," Norgate decided, "I accept. When shall I start?" + +Selingman laid his hand upon the other's shoulder as he rose to his feet. + +"Young man," he said, "you have come to a wise decision. Your salary will +commence from the first of this month. Continue to live as usual. Let me +have the opportunity of seeing you at the club, and let me know each day +where you can be found. I will give you your instructions from day to +day. You will be doing a great work, and, mind you, a patriotic work. If +ever your conscience should trouble you, remember that. You are working +not for Germany but for England." + +"I will always remember that," Norgate promised, as he turned away. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + + +Norgate found Anna waiting for him in the hall of the smaller hotel, +a little further westward, to which she had moved. He looked +admiringly at her cool white muslin gown and the perfection of her +somewhat airy toilette. + +"You are five minutes late," she remonstrated. + +"I had to go into the city," he apologised. "It was rather an important +engagement. Soon I must tell you all about it." + +She looked at him a little curiously. + +"I will be patient," promised Anna, "and ask no questions." + +"You are still depressed?" + +"Horribly," she confessed. "I do not know why, but London is getting on +my nerves. It is so hatefully, stubbornly, obstinately imperturbable. I +would find another word, but it eludes me. I think you would call it +smug. And it is so noisy. Can we not go somewhere for lunch where it is +tranquil, where one can rest and get away from this roar?" + +"We could go to Ranelagh, if you liked," suggested Norgate. "There +are some polo matches on this afternoon, but it will be quiet enough +for lunch." + +"I should love it!" she exclaimed. "Let us go quickly." + +They lunched in a shady corner of the restaurant and sat afterwards +under a great oak tree in a retired spot at the further end of the +gardens. Anna was still a little thoughtful. + +"Do you know," she told her companion, "that I have received a hint to +present myself in Berlin as soon as possible?" + +"Are you going?" Norgate demanded quickly. + +"I am not sure," she answered. "I feel that I must, and yet, in a sense, +I do not like to go. I have a feeling that they do not mean to let me out +of Berlin again. They think that I know too much." + +"But why should they suddenly lose faith in you?" Norgate asked. + +"Perhaps because the end is so near," she replied. "They know that I have +strong English sympathies. Perhaps they think that they would not bear +the strain of the times which are coming." + +"You are an even greater pessimist than I myself," Norgate observed. "Do +you really believe that the position is so critical?" + +"I know it," she assured him. "I will not tell you all my reasons. There +is no need for me to break a trust without some definite object. It seems +to me that if your Secret Service Department were worth anything at all, +your country would be in a state almost of panic. What is it they are +playing down there? Polo, isn't it? There are six or eight military +teams, crowds of your young officers making holiday. And all the time +Krupps are working overtime, working night and day, and surrounded by +sentries who shoot at sight any stranger. There are parts of the country, +even now, under martial law. The streets and the plains resound to the +footsteps of armed hosts." + +"But there is no excuse for war," he reminded her. + +"An excuse is very easily found," she sighed. "German diplomacy is clumsy +enough, but I think it can manage that. Do you know that this morning I +had a letter from one of the greatest nobles of our own Court at Vienna? +He knew that I had intended to take a villa in Normandy for August and +September. He has written purposely to warn me not to do so, to warn me +not to be away from Austria or Germany after the first of August." + +"So soon!" he murmured. + +They listened to the band for a moment. In the distance, an unceasing +stream of men and women were passing back and forth under the trees and +around the polo field. + +"It will come like a thunderbolt," she said, "and when I think of it, all +that is English in me rises up in revolt. In my heart I know so well that +it is Germany and Germany alone who will provoke this war. I am terrified +for your country. I admit it, you see, frankly. The might of Germany is +only half understood here. It is to be a war of conquest, almost of +extermination." + +"That isn't the view of your friend Selingman," Norgate reminded her. +"He, too, hints at coming trouble, but he speaks of it as just a salutary +little lesson." + +"Selingman, more than any one else in the world, knows differently," she +assured him. "But come, we talk too seriously on such a wonderful +afternoon. I have made up my mind on one point, at least. I will stay +here for a few days longer. London at this time of the year is wonderful. +Besides, I have promised the Princess of Thurm that I will go to Ascot +with her. Why should we talk of serious things any longer? Let us have a +little rest. Let us promenade there with those other people, and listen +to the band, and have some tea afterwards." + +Norgate rose with alacrity, and they strolled across the lawns and down +towards the polo field. Very soon they found themselves meeting friends +in every direction. Anna extricated herself from a little group of +acquaintances who had suddenly claimed her and came over to Norgate. + +"Prince Herschfeld wants to talk to me for a few minutes," she whispered. +"I think I should like to hear what he has to say. The Princess is there, +too, whom I have scarcely seen. Will you come and be presented?" + +"Might I leave you with them for a few minutes?" Norgate suggested. +"There is a man here whom I want to talk to. I will come back for you in +half an hour." + +"You must meet the Prince first," she insisted. "He was interested when +he heard who you were." + +She turned to the little group who were awaiting her return. The +Ambassador moved a little forward. + +"Prince," she said, "may I present to you Mr. Francis Norgate? Mr. +Norgate has just come from Berlin." + +"Not with the kindliest feelings towards us, I am afraid," remarked the +Prince, holding out his hand. "I hope, however, that you will not judge +us, as a nation, too severely." + +"On the contrary, I was quite prepared to like Germany," Norgate +declared. "I was simply the victim of a rather unfortunate happening." + +"There are many others besides myself who sincerely regret it," the +Prince said courteously. "You are kind enough to leave the Baroness for a +little time in our charge. We will take the greatest care of her, and I +hope that when you return you will give me the great pleasure of +presenting you to the Princess." + +"You are very kind," Norgate murmured. + +"We shall meet again, then," the Prince declared, as he turned away with +Anna by his side. + +"In half an hour," Anna whispered, smiling at him over her shoulder. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + + +The Right Honourable John William Hebblethwaite strolled along by the +rails of the polo ground, exchanging greetings with friends, feeling very +well content with himself and the world generally. A difficult session +was drawing towards an end. The problem which had defeated so many +governments seemed at last, under his skilful treatment, capable of +solution. Furthermore, the session had been one which had added to his +reputation both as an orator and a statesman. There had been an +astonishingly flattering picture of him in an illustrated paper that +week, and he was exceedingly pleased with the effect of the white hat +which he was wearing at almost a jaunty angle. He was a great man and he +knew it. Nevertheless, he greeted Norgate with ample condescension and +engaged him at once in conversation. + +"Delighted to see you in such company, my young friend," he declared. +"I think that half an hour's conversation with Prince Herschfeld would +put some of those fire-eating ideas out of your head. That's the man +whom we have to thank for the everyday improvement of our relations +with Germany." + +"The Prince has the reputation of being a great diplomatist," +Norgate remarked. + +"Added to which," Hebblethwaite continued, "he came over here charged, +as you might say, almost with a special mission. He came over here to +make friends with England. He has done it. So long as we have him in +London, there will never be any serious fear of misunderstanding between +the two countries." + +"What a howling optimist you are!" Norgate observed. + +"My young friend," Hebblethwaite protested, "I am nothing of the sort. I +am simply a man of much common sense, enjoying, I may add, a few hours' +holiday. By-the-by, Norgate, if one might venture to enquire without +indiscretion, who was the remarkably charming foreign lady whom you were +escorting?" + +"The Baroness von Haase," Norgate replied. "She is an Austrian." + +Mr. Hebblethwaite sighed. He rather posed as an admirer of the other sex. + +"You young fellows," he declared, "who travel about the world, are much +to be envied. There is an elegance about the way these foreign women +dress, a care for detail in their clothes and jewellery, and a carriage +which one seldom finds here." + +They had reached the far end of the field, having turned their backs, in +fact, upon the polo altogether. Norgate suddenly abandoned their +conversation. + +"Look here," he said, in an altered tone, "do you feel inclined to answer +a few questions?" + +"For publication?" Hebblethwaite asked drily. "You haven't turned +journalist, by any chance, have you?" + +Norgate shook his head. "Nevertheless," he admitted, "I have changed my +profession. The fact is that I have accepted a stipend of a thousand a +year and have become a German spy." + +"Good luck to you!" exclaimed Hebblethwaite, laughing softly. "Well, fire +away, then. You shall pick the brains of a Cabinet Minister at your +leisure, so long as you'll give me a cigarette--and present me, when we +have finished, to the Baroness. The country has no secrets from you, +Norgate. Where will you begin?" + +"Well, you've been warned, any way," Norgate reminded him, as he offered +his cigarette case. "Now tell me. It is part of my job to obtain from you +a statement of your opinion as to exactly how far our _entente_ with +France is binding upon us." + +Hebblethwaite cleared his throat. + +"If this is for publication," he remarked, "could you manage a photograph +of myself at the head of the interview, in these clothes and with this +hat? I rather fancy myself to-day. A pocket kodak is, of course, part of +the equipment of a German spy." + +"Sorry," Norgate regretted, "but that's a bit out of my line. I am the +disappointed diplomatist, doing the dirty work among my late friends. +What we should like to know from Mr. Hebblethwaite, confidentially +narrated to a personal friend, is whether, in the event of a war between +Germany and Russia and France, England would feel it her duty to +intervene?" + +Hebblethwaite glanced around. The throng of people had cleared off to +watch the concluding stages of the match. + +"I have a sovereign on this," he remarked, glancing at his card. + +"Which have you backed?" Norgate enquired. + +"The Lancers." + +"Well, it's any odds on the Hussars, so you've lost your money," +Norgate told him. + +Hebblethwaite sighed resignedly. "Well," he said, "the question you +submit is a problem which has presented itself to us once or twice, +although I may tell you that there isn't a soul in the Cabinet except one +who believes in the chance of war. We are not a fire-eating lot, you +know. We are all for peace, and we believe we are going to have it. +However, to answer your questions more closely, our obligations depend +entirely upon the provocation giving cause for the war. If France and +Russia provoked it in any way, we should remain neutral. If it were a war +of sheer aggression from Germany against France, we might to a certain +extent intervene. There is not one of us, however, who believes for a +single moment that Germany would enter upon such a war." + +"When you admit that we might to a certain extent intervene," Norgate +said, "exactly how should we do it, I wonder? We are not in a +particular state of readiness to declare war upon anybody or anything, +are we?" he added, as they turned around and strolled once more towards +the polo ground. + +"We have had no money to waste upon senseless armaments," Mr. +Hebblethwaite declared severely, "and if you watch the social measures +which we have passed during the last two years, you will see that every +penny we could spare has been necessary in order to get them into working +order. It is our contention that an army is absolutely unnecessary and +would simply have the effect of provoking military reprisals. If we, by +any chance in the future, were drawn into war, our navy would be at the +service of our allies. What more could any country ask than to have +assured for them the absolute control of the sea?" + +"That's all very well," Norgate assented. "It might be our fair share on +paper, and yet it might not be enough. What about our navy if Antwerp, +Ostend, Dunkirk, Calais, Boulogne, and Havre were all German ports, as +they certainly would be in an unassisted conflict between the French and +the Germans?" + +They were within hearing now of the music of the band. Hebblethwaite +quickened his pace a little impatiently. + +"Look here," he protested, "I came down here for a holiday, I tell you +frankly that I believe in the possibility of war just as much as I +believe in the possibility of an earthquake. My own personal feeling is +that it is just as necessary to make preparations against one as the +other. There you are, my German spy, that's all I have to say to you. +Here are your friends. I must pay my respects to the Prince, and I should +like to meet your charming companion." + +Anna detached herself from a little group of men at their approach, and +Norgate at once introduced his friend. + +"I have only been able to induce Mr. Hebblethwaite to talk to me for the +last ten minutes," he declared, "by promising to present him to you." + +"A ceremony which we will take for granted," she suggested, holding out +her fingers. "Each time I have come to London, Mr. Hebblethwaite, I have +hoped that I might have this good fortune. You interest us so much on the +Continent." + +Mr. Hebblethwaite bowed and looked as though he would have liked the +interest to have been a little more personal. + +"You see," Anna explained, as she stood between the two men, "both +Austria and Germany, the two countries where I spend most of my time, are +almost military ridden. Our great statesmen, or the men who stand behind +them, are all soldiers. You represent something wholly different. Your +nation is as great and as prosperous as ours, and yet you are a pacifist, +are you not, Mr. Hebblethwaite? You scorn any preparations for war. You +do not believe in it. You give back the money that we should spend in +military or naval preparations to the people, for their betterment. It is +very wonderful." + +"We act according to our convictions," Mr. Hebblethwaite pronounced. "It +is our earnest hope that we have risen sufficiently in the scale of +civilisation to be able to devote our millions to more moral objects than +the massing of armaments." + +"And you have no fears?" she persisted earnestly. "You honestly believe +that you are justified in letting the fighting spirit of your people +lie dormant?" + +"I honestly believe it, Baroness," Mr. Hebblethwaite replied. "Life is a +battle for all of them, but the fighting which we recognise is the fight +for moral and commercial supremacy, the lifting of the people by +education and strenuous effort to a higher plane of prosperity." + +"Of course," Anna murmured, "what you say sounds frightfully convincing. +History only will tell us whether you are in the right." + +"My thirst," Mr. Hebblethwaite observed, glancing towards the little +tables set out under the trees, "suggests tea and strawberries." + +"If some one hadn't offered me tea in a moment or two," Anna declared, "I +should have gone back to the Prince, with whom I must confess I was very +bored. Shall we discuss politics or talk nonsense?" + +"Talk nonsense," Mr. Hebblethwaite decided. "This is my holiday. My brain +has stopped working. I can think of nothing beyond tea and strawberries. +We will take that table under the elm trees, and you shall tell us all +about Vienna." + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + + +Norgate, after leaving Anna at her hotel, drove on to the club, where he +arrived a few minutes before seven. Selingman was there with Prince +Edward, and half a dozen others. Selingman, who happened not to be +playing, came over at once and sat by his side on the broad fender. + +"You are late, my young friend," he remarked. + +"My new career," Norgate replied, "makes demands upon me. I can no longer +spend the whole afternoon playing bridge. I have been attending to +business." + +"It is very good," Selingman declared amiably. "That is the way I like to +hear you talk. To amuse oneself is good, but to work is better still. +Have you, by chance, any report to make?" + +"I have had a long conversation with Mr. Hebblethwaite at Ranelagh this +afternoon," Norgate announced. + +There was a sudden change in Selingman's expression, a glint of eagerness +in his eyes. + +"With Hebblethwaite! You have begun well. He is the man above all others +of whose views we wish to feel absolutely certain. We know that he is a +strong man and a pacifist, but a pacifist to what extent? That is what we +wish to be clear about. Now tell me, you spoke to him seriously?" + +"Very seriously, indeed," Norgate assented. "The subject suggested +itself naturally, and I contrived to get him to discuss the possibilities +of a European war. I posed rather as a pessimist, but he simply jeered at +me. He assured me that an earthquake was more probable. I pressed him on +the subject of the _entente_. He spoke of it as a thing of romance and +sentiment, having no place in any possible development of the +international situation. I put hypothetical cases of a European war +before him, but he only scoffed at me. On one point only was he +absolutely and entirely firm--under no circumstances whatever would the +present Cabinet declare war upon anybody. If the nation found itself face +to face with a crisis, the Government would simply choose the most +dignified and advantageous solution which embraced peace. In short, there +is one thing which you may count upon as absolutely certain. If England +goes to war at any time within the next four years, it will be under some +other government." + +Selingman was vastly interested. He had drawn very close to Norgate, his +pudgy hands stretched out upon his knees. He dropped his voice so that it +was audible only a few feet away. + +"Let me put an extreme case," he suggested. "Supposing Russia and Germany +were at war, and France, as Russia's ally, were compelled to mobilise. It +would not be a war of Germany's provocation, but Germany, in +self-defence, would be bound to attack France. She might also be +compelled by strategic considerations to invade Belgium. What do you +think your friend Hebblethwaite would say to that?" + +"I am perfectly convinced," Norgate replied, "that Hebblethwaite would +work for peace at any price. The members of our present Government are +pacifists, every one of them, with the possible exception of the +Secretary of the Admiralty." + +"Ah!" Mr. Selingman murmured. "Mr. Spencer Wyatt! He is the gentleman who +clamours so hard and fights so well for his navy estimates. Last time, +though, not all his eloquence could prevail. They were cut down almost a +half, eh?" + +"I believe that was so," Norgate admitted. + +"Mr. Spencer Wyatt, eh?" Selingman continued, his eyes fixed upon the +ceiling. "Well, well, one cannot wonder at his attitude. It is not his +role to pose as an economist. He is responsible for the navy. +Naturally he wants a big navy. I wonder what his influence in the +Cabinet really is." + +"As to that," Norgate observed, "I know no more than the man in +the street." + +"Naturally," Mr. Selingman agreed. "I was thinking to myself." + +There was a brief silence. Norgate glanced around the room. + +"I don't see Mrs. Benedek here this afternoon," he remarked. + +Selingman shook his head solemnly. + +"The inquest on the death of that poor fellow Baring is being held +to-day," he explained. "That is why she is staying away. A sad thing +that, Norgate--a very sad happening." + +"It was indeed." + +"And mysterious," Selingman went on. "The man apparently, an hour before, +was in high spirits. The special work upon which he was engaged at the +Admiralty was almost finished. He had received high praise for his share +in it. Every one who had seen him that day spoke of him as in absolutely +capital form. Suddenly he whips out a revolver from his desk and shoots +himself, and all that any one knows is that he was rung up by some one on +the telephone. There's a puzzle for you, Norgate." + +Norgate made no reply. He felt Selingman's eyes upon him. + +"A wonderful plot for the sensational novelist. To the ordinary human +being who knew Baring, there remains a substratum almost of uneasiness. +Where did that voice come from that spoke along the wires, and what was +its message? Baring, by all accounts, had no secrets in his life. What +was the message--a warning or a threat?" + +"I did not read the account of the inquest," Norgate observed. "Wasn't it +possible to trace the person who rang up, through the telephone office?" + +"In an ordinary case, yes," Selingman agreed. "In this case, no! The +person who rang up made use of a call office. But come, it is a gloomy +subject, this. I wish I had known that you were likely to see Mr. +Hebblethwaite this afternoon. Bear this in mind in case you should come +across him again. It would interest me very much to know whether any +breach of friendship has taken place at all between him and Mr. Spencer +Wyatt. Do you know Spencer Wyatt, by-the-by?" + +"Only slightly," Norgate replied, "Not well enough to talk to him +intimately, as I can do to Hebblethwaite." + +"Well, remember that last little commission," Selingman concluded. "Are +you staying on or leaving now? If you are going, we will walk together. A +little exercise is good for me sometimes. My figure requires it. It is a +very short distance, but it is better than nothing at all." + +"I am quite ready," Norgate assured him. + +They left the room and descended the stairs together. At the entrance +to the building, Selingman paused for a moment. Then he seemed suddenly +to remember. + +"It is habit," he declared. "I stand here for a taxi, but we have agreed +to walk, is it not so? Come!" + +Norgate was looking across the street to the other side of the pavement. +A man was standing there, engaged in conversation with a plainly-dressed +young woman. To Norgate there was something vaguely familiar about the +latter, who turned to glance at him as they strolled by on the other side +of the road. It was not until they reached the corner of the street, +however, that he remembered. She was the young woman at the telephone +call office near Westbourne Grove! + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + + +Mr. Hebblethwaite was undoubtedly annoyed. He found himself regretting +more than ever the good nature which had prompted him to give this +visitor an audience at a most unusual hour. He had been forced into the +uncomfortable position of listening to statements the knowledge of which +was a serious embarrassment to him. + +"Whatever made you come to me, Mr. Harrison?" he exclaimed, when at last +his caller's disclosures had been made. "It isn't my department." + +"I came to you, sir," the official replied, "because I have the privilege +of knowing you personally, and because I was quite sure that in your +hands the matter would be treated wisely." + +"You are sure of your facts, I suppose?" + +"Absolutely, sir." + +"I do not know much about navy procedure," Mr. Hebblethwaite said +thoughtfully, "but it scarcely seems to me possible for what you tell me +to have been kept secret." + +"It is not only possible, sir," the man assured him, "but it has been +done before in Lord Charles Beresford's time. You will find, if you make +enquiries, that not only are the Press excluded to-day from the +shipbuilding yards in question, but the work-people are living almost in +barracks. There are double sentries at every gate, and no one is +permitted under any circumstances to pass the outer line of offices." + +Mr. Hebblethwaite sat, for a few moments, deep in thought. + +"Well, Mr. Harrison," he said at last, "there is no doubt that you have +done what you conceived to be your duty, although I must tell you +frankly that I wish you had either kept what you know to yourself or +taken the information somewhere else. Since you have brought it to me, +let me ask you this question. Are you taking any further steps in the +matter at all?" + +"Certainly not, sir," was the quiet reply. "I consider that I have done +my duty and finished with it, when I leave this room." + +"You are content, then," Mr. Hebblethwaite observed, "to leave this +matter entirely in my hands?" + +"Entirely, sir," the official assented. "I am perfectly content, from +this moment, to forget all that I know. Whatever your judgment prompts +you to do, will, I feel sure, be satisfactory." + +Mr. Hebblethwaite rose to his feet and held out his hand. + +"Well, Mr. Harrison," he concluded, "you have performed a disagreeable +duty in a tactful manner. Personally, I am not in the least grateful to +you, for, as I dare say you know, Mr. Spencer Wyatt is a great friend of +mine. As a member of the Government, however, I think I can promise you +that your services shall not be forgotten. Good evening!" + +The official departed. Mr. Hebblethwaite thrust his hands into his +pockets, glanced at the clock impatiently, and made use of an expression +which seldom passed his lips. He was in evening dress, and due to dine +with his wife on the other side of the Park. Furthermore, he was very +hungry. The whole affair was most annoying. He rang the bell. + +"Ask Mr. Bedells to come here at once," he told the servant, "and tell +your mistress I am exceedingly sorry, but I shall be detained here for +some time. She had better go on without me and send the car back. I will +come as soon as I can. Explain that it is a matter of official business. +When you have seen Mrs. Hebblethwaite, you can bring me a glass of sherry +and a biscuit." + +The man withdrew, and Mr. Hebblethwaite opened a telephone directory. In +a few moments Mr. Bedells, who was his private secretary, appeared. + +"Richard," his chief directed, "ring up Mr. Spencer Wyatt. Tell him that +whatever his engagements may be, I wish to see him here for five minutes. +If he is out, you must find out where he is. You can begin by ringing up +at his house." + +Bedells devoted himself to the telephone. Mr. Hebblethwaite munched a +biscuit and sipped his sherry. Presently the latter laid down the +telephone and reported success. + +"Mr. Spencer Wyatt was on his way to a city dinner, sir," he announced. +"They caught him in the hall and he will call here." + +Mr. Hebblethwaite nodded. "See that he is sent up directly he comes." + +In less than five minutes Mr. Spencer Wyatt was ushered in. He was +wearing the uniform of an Admiral of the Fleet--a tall, broad-shouldered +man, fair complexioned, and with the bearing of a sailor. + +"Hullo, Hebblethwaite, what's wrong?" he asked. "Your message just caught +me. I am dining with the worshipful tanners--turtle soup and all the rest +of it. Don't let me miss more than I can help." + +Mr. Hebblethwaite walked to the door to be sure that it was closed and +came back again. + +"Look here, Wyatt," he exclaimed, "what the devil have you been up to?" + +Wyatt whistled softly. A light broke across his face. + +"What do you mean?" he demanded. + +"You know perfectly well what I mean," Hebblethwaite continued. "Five +weeks ago we had it all out at a Cabinet meeting. You asked Parliament to +lay down six battleships, four cruisers, thirty-five submarines, and +twelve torpedo boats. You remember what a devil of a row there was. +Eventually we compromised for half the number of battleships, two +cruisers, and the full amount of small craft." + +"Well?" + +"I am given to understand," Hebblethwaite said slowly, "that you have +absolutely disregarded the vote--that the whole number of battleships are +practically commenced, and the whole number of cruisers, and rather more +than the number of smaller craft." + +Wyatt threw his cocked hat upon the table. + +"Well, I am up against it a bit sooner than I expected," he remarked. +"Who's been peaching?" + +"Never mind," Hebblethwaite replied. "I am not telling you that. You've +managed the whole thing very cleverly, and you know very well, Wyatt, +that I am on your side. I was on your side in pressing the whole of your +proposals upon the Cabinet, although honestly I think they were far +larger than necessary. However, we took a fair vote, and we compromised. +You had no more right to do what you have done--" + +"I admit it, Hebblethwaite," Wyatt interrupted quickly. "Of course, if +this comes out, my resignation's ready for you, but I tell you frankly, +as man to man, I can't go on with my job, and I won't, unless I get the +ships voted that I need. We are behind our standard now. I spent +twenty-four hours making up my mind whether I should resign or take this +risk. I came to the conclusion that I should serve my country better by +taking the risk. So there you are. What are you going to do about it?" + +"What the mischief can I do about it?" Hebblethwaite demanded irritably. +"You are putting me in an impossible position. Let me ask you this, +Wyatt. Is there anything at the back of your head that the man in the +street doesn't know about?" + +"Yes!" + +"What is it, then?" + +"I have reasons to believe," Wyatt announced deliberately, "reasons +which are quite sufficient for me, although it was impossible for me to +get up in Parliament and state them, that Germany is secretly making +preparations for war either before the end of this year or the +beginning of next." + +Hebblethwaite threw himself into an easy-chair. + +"Sit down, Wyatt," he said. "Your dinner can wait for a few minutes. I +have had another man--only a youngster, and he doesn't know +anything--talking to me like that. We are fully acquainted with +everything that is going on behind the scenes. All our negotiations with +Germany are at this moment upon the most friendly footing. We haven't a +single matter in dispute. Old Busby, as you know, has been over in Berlin +himself and has come back a confirmed pacifist. If he had his way, our +army would practically cease to exist. He has been on the spot. He ought +to know, and the army's his job." + +"Busby," Wyatt declared, "is the silliest old ass who ever escaped +petticoats by the mere accident of sex. I tell you he is just the sort of +idiot the Germans have been longing to get hold of and twist round their +fingers. Before twelve months or two years have passed, you'll curse the +name of that man, when you look at the mess he has made of the army. +Peace is all very well--universal peace. The only way we can secure it is +by being a good deal stronger than we are at present." + +"That is your point of view," Hebblethwaite reminded him. "I tell you +frankly that I incline towards Busby's." + +"Then you'll eat your words," Wyatt asserted, "before many months are +out. I, too, have been in Germany lately, although I was careful to go as +a tourist, and I have picked up a little information. I tell you it +isn't for nothing that Germany has a complete list of the whole of her +rolling stock, the actual numbers in each compartment registered and +reserved for the use of certain units of her troops. I tell you that from +one end of the country to the other her state of military preparedness is +amazing. She has but to press a button, and a million men have their +rifles in their hands, their knapsacks on their backs, and each regiment +knows exactly at which station and by what train to embark. She is making +Zeppelins night and day, training her men till they drop with exhaustion. +Krupp's works are guarded by double lines of sentries. There are secrets +there which no one can penetrate. And all the time she is building ships +feverishly. Look here--you know my cousin, Lady Emily Fakenham?" + +"Of course!" + +"Only yesterday," Wyatt continued impressively, "she showed me a +letter--I read it, mind--from a cousin of Prince Hohenlowe. She met him +at Monte Carlo this year, and they had a sort of flirtation. In the +postscript he says: 'If you take my advice, don't go to Dinard this +August. Don't be further away from home than you can help at all this +summer.' What do you think that meant?" + +"It sounds queer," Hebblethwaite admitted. + +"Germany is bound to have a knock at us," Spencer Wyatt went on. "We've +talked of it so long that the words pass over our heads, as it were, but +she means it. And I tell you another thing. She means to do it while +there's a Radical Government in power here, and before Russia finishes +her reorganisation scheme. I am not a soldier, Hebblethwaite, but the +fellows we've got up at the top--not the soldiers themselves but the +chaps like old Busby and Simons--are simply out and out rotters. That's +plain speaking, isn't it, but you and I are the two men concerned in the +government of this country who do talk common sense to one another. We've +fine soldiers and fine organisers, but they've been given the go-by +simply because they know their job and would insist upon doing it +thoroughly, if at all. Russia will have another four million men ready to +be called up by the end of 1915, and not only that, but what is more +important, is that she'll have the arms and the uniforms for them. +Germany isn't going to wait for that. I've thought it all out. We are +going to get it in the neck before seven or eight months have passed, and +if you want to know the truth, Hebblethwaite, that's why I have taken a +risk and ordered these ships. The navy is my care, and it's my job to see +that we keep it up to the proper standard. Whose votes rob me of my extra +battleships? Why, just a handful of Labour men and Irishmen and cocoa +Liberals, who haven't an Imperial idea in their brains, who think war +belongs to the horrors of the past, and think they're doing their duty by +what they call 'keeping down expenses.' Hang it, Hebblethwaite, it's +worse than a man who won't pay fire insurance for his house in a +dangerous neighbourhood, so as to save a bit of money! What I've done I +stick to. Split on me, if you want to." + +"I don't think I shall do that," Hebblethwaite said, "but honestly, +Wyatt, I can't follow you in your war talk. We got over the Agadir +trouble. We've got over a much worse one--the Balkan crisis. There +isn't a single contentious question before us just now. The sky is +almost clear." + +"Believe me," Wyatt insisted earnestly, "that's just the time to look for +the thunderbolt. Can't you see that when Germany goes to war, it will be +a war of conquest, the war which she has planned for all these years? +She'll choose her own time, and she'll make a _casus belli_, right +enough, when the time comes. Of course, she'd have taken advantage of the +position last year, but she simply wasn't ready. If you ask me, I believe +she thinks herself now able to lick the whole of Europe. I am not at all +sure, thanks to Busby and our last fifteen years' military +administration, that she wouldn't have a good chance of doing it. Any +way, I am not going to have my fleet cut down." + +"The country is prosperous," Hebblethwaite acknowledged. "We can afford +the ships." + +"Then look here, old chap," Wyatt begged, "I am not pleading for my own +sake, but the country's. Keep your mouth shut. See what the next month or +two brings. If there's trouble--well, I don't suppose I shall be jumped +on then. If there isn't, and you want a victim, here I am. I disobeyed +orders flagrantly. My resignation is in my desk at any moment." + +Hebblethwaite glanced at the clock. + +"I am very hungry," he said, "and I have a long way to go for dinner. +We'll let it go at that, Wyatt. I'll try and keep things quiet for you. +If it comes out, well, you know the risk you run." + +"I know the bigger risk we are all running," Wyatt declared, as he took a +cigarette from an open box on the table by his side and turned towards +the door. "I'll manage the turtle soup now, with luck. You're a good +fellow, Hebblethwaite. I know it goes against the grain with you, but, by +Jove, you may be thankful for this some time!" + +The Right Honourable John William Hebblethwaite took the hat from his +footman, stepped into his car, and was driven rapidly away. He leaned +back among the cushions, more thoughtful than usual. There was a yellow +moon in the sky, pale as yet. The streets were a tangled vortex of +motorcars and taxies, all filled with men and women in evening dress. It +was the height of a wonderful season. Everywhere was dominant the note of +prosperity, gaiety, even splendour. The houses in Park Lane, +flower-decked, displayed through their wide-flung windows a constant +panorama of brilliantly-lit rooms. Every one was entertaining. In the +Park on the other side were the usual crowd of earnest, hard-faced men +and women, gathered in little groups around the orator of the moment. +Hebblethwaite felt a queer premonition that evening. A man of sanguine +temperament, thoroughly contented with himself and his position, he +seemed almost for the first time in his life, to have doubts, to look +into the future, to feel the rumblings of an earthquake, the great +dramatic cry of a nation in the throes of suffering. Had they been wise, +all these years, to have legislated as though the old dangers by land and +sea had passed?--to have striven to make the people fat and prosperous, +to have turned a deaf ear to every note of warning? Supposing the other +thing were true! Supposing Norgate and Spencer Wyatt had found the truth! +What would history have to say then of this Government of which he was so +proud? Would it be possible that they had brought the country to a great +prosperity by destroying the very bulwarks of its security? + +The car drew up with a jerk, and Hebblethwaite came back to earth. +Nevertheless, he promised himself, as he hastened across the pavement, +that on the morrow he would pay a long-delayed visit to the War Office. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + + +Anna was seated, a few days later, with her dearest friend, the Princess +of Thurm, in a corner of the royal enclosure at Ascot. For the first time +since their arrival they found themselves alone. From underneath her +parasol the Princess looked at her friend curiously. + +"Anna," she said, "something has happened to you." + +"Perhaps, but explain yourself," Anna replied composedly. + +"It is so simple. There you sit in a Doucet gown, perfection as ever, +from the aigrette in your hat to those delicately pointed shoes. You have +been positively hunted by all the nicest men--once or twice, indeed, I +felt myself neglected--and not a smile have I seen upon your lips. You go +about, looking just a little beyond everything. What did you see, child, +over the tops of the trees in the paddock, when Lord Wilton was trying so +hard to entertain you?" + +"An affair of moods, I imagine," Anna declared. "Somehow I don't feel +quite in the humour for Ascot to-day. To be quite frank," she went on, +turning her head slowly, "I rather wonder that you do, Mildred." + +The Princess raised her eyebrows. + +"Why not? Everything, so far as I am concerned, is _couleur de rose_. +Madame Blanche declared yesterday that my complexion would last for +twenty years. I found a dozen of the most adorable hats in Paris. The +artist who designs my frocks was positively inspired the last time I sat +to him. I am going to see Maurice in a few weeks, and meanwhile I have +several new flirtations which interest me amazingly. As for you, my +child, one would imagine that you had lost your taste for all frivolity. +You are as cold as granite. Be careful, dear. The men of to-day, in this +country, at any rate, are spoilt. Sometimes they are even uncourtier-like +enough to accept a woman's refusal." + +"Well," Anna observed, smiling faintly, "even a lifetime at Court has not +taught me to dissimulate. I am heavy-hearted, Mildred. You wondered what +I was looking at when I gazed over those green trees under which all +those happy people were walking. I was looking out across the North Sea. +I was looking through Belgium to Paris. I saw a vast curtain roll up, and +everything beyond it was a blood-stained panorama." + +A shade rested for a moment on her companion's fair face. She shrugged +her shoulders. + +"We've known for a long time, dear, that it must come." + +"But all the same, in these last moments it is terrible," Anna insisted. +"Seriously, Mildred, I wonder that I should feel it more than you. You +are absolutely English. Your father is English, your mother is English. +It is only your husband that is Austrian. You have lived in Austria only +for seven years. Has that been sufficient to destroy all your patriotism, +all your love for your own country?" + +The Princess made a little grimace. + +"My dear Anna," she said, "I am not so serious a person as you are. I am +profoundly, incomprehensibly selfish. The only human being in the whole +world for whom I have had a spark of real affection is Maurice, and I +adore him. What he has told me to do, I have done. What makes him happy +makes me happy. For his sake, even, I have forgotten and shall always +forget that I was born an Englishwoman. Circumstances, too," she went on +thoughtfully, "have made it so easy. England is such a changed country. +When I was a child, I could read of the times when our kings really +ruled, of our battles for dominion, of our fight for colonies, of our +building up a great empire, and I could feel just a little thrill. I +can't now. We have gone ahead of Napoleon. From a nation of shop-keepers +we have become a nation of general dealers--a fat, over-confident, +bourgeois people. Socialism has its hand upon the throat of the classes. +Park Lane, where our aristocracy lived, is filled with the mansions of +South African Jews, whom one must meet here or keep out of society +altogether. Our country houses have gone the same way. Our Court set is +dowdy, dull to a degree, and common in a different fashion. You are +right. I have lost my love for England, partly because of my marriage, +partly because of those things which have come to England herself." + +For the first time there was a little flush of colour in Anna's +exquisitely pale cheeks. There was even animation in her tone as she +turned towards her friend. + +"Mildred," she exclaimed, "it is splendid to hear you say what is really +in your mind! I am so glad you have spoken to me like this. I feel these +things, too. Now I am not nearly so English as you. My mother was English +and my father Austrian. Therefore, only half of me should be English. +Yet, although I am so much further removed from England than you are, I +have suddenly felt a return of all my old affection for her." + +"You are going to tell me why?" her companion begged. + +"Of course! It is because I believe--it is too ridiculous--but I believe +that I am in your position with the circumstances reversed. I am +beginning to care in the most foolish way for an unmistakable +Englishman." + +"If we had missed this little chance of conversation," the Princess +declared, "I should have been miserable for the rest of my life! There is +the Duke hanging about behind. For heaven's sake, don't turn. Thank +goodness he has gone away! Now go on, dear. Tell me about him at once. I +can't imagine who it may be. I have watched you with so many men, and I +know quite well, so long as that little curl is at the corner of your +lips, that they none of them count. Do I know him?" + +"I do not think so," Anna replied. "He is not a very important person." + +"It isn't the man you were dining with in the Cafe de Berlin when Prince +Karl came in?" + +"Yes, it is he!" + +The Princess made a little grimace. + +"But how unsuitable, my dear," she exclaimed, "if you are really in +earnest! What is the use of your thinking of an Englishman? He is quite +nice, I know. His mother and my mother were friends, and we met once or +twice. He was very kind to me in Paris, too. But for a serious affair--" + +"Well, it may not come to that," Anna interrupted, "but there it is. I +suppose that it is partly for his sake that I feel this depression." + +"I should have thought that he himself would have been a little out of +sympathy with his country just now," the Princess remarked. "They tell me +that the Foreign Office ate humble pie with the Kaiser for that affair +shockingly. They not only removed him from the Embassy, but they are +going to give him nothing in Europe. I heard for a fact that the Kaiser +requested that he should not be attached to any Court with which Germany +had diplomatic relations." + +Anna nodded. "I believe that it is true," she admitted, "but I am not +sure that he realises it himself. Even if he does, well, you know the +type. He is English to the backbone." + +"But there are Englishmen," the Princess insisted earnestly, "who are +amenable to common sense. There are Englishmen who are sorrowing over the +decline of their own country and who would not be _so_ greatly distressed +if she were punished a little." + +"I am afraid Mr. Norgate is not like that," Anna observed drily. +"However, one cannot be sure. Bother! I thought people were very kind to +leave us so long in peace. Dear Prince, how clever of you to find out +our retreat!" + +The Ambassador stood bareheaded before them. + +"Dear ladies," he declared, "you are the lode-stones which would draw one +even through these gossamer walls of lace and chiffons, of draperies as +light as the sunshine and perfumes as sweet as Heine's poetry." + +"Very pretty," Anna laughed, "but what you really mean is that you were +looking for two of your very useful slaves and have found them." + +The Ambassador glanced around. Their isolation was complete. + +"Ah! well," he murmured, "it is a wonderful thing to be so charmingly +aided towards such a wonderful end." + +"And to have such complete trust in one's friends," Anna remarked, +looking him steadfastly in the face. + +The Prince did not flinch. His smile was perfectly courteous and +acknowledging. + +"That is my happiness," he admitted. "I will tell you the reason which +directed my footsteps this way," he added, drawing a small betting book +from his pocket. "You must back Prince Charlie for the next race. I will, +if you choose, take your commissions. I have a man waiting at the rails." + +"Twenty pounds for me, please," the Princess declared. "I have the horse +marked on my card, but I had forgotten for the moment." + +"And the same for me," Anna begged. "But did you really come only to +bring us this valuable tip, Prince?" + +The Ambassador stooped down. + +"There is a dispatch on its way to me," he said softly, "which I believe +concerns you. It might be necessary for you to take a short journey +within the next few days." + +"Not back to Berlin?" Anna exclaimed. + +Their solitude had been invaded by now, and the Princess was talking to +two or three men who were grouped about her chair. The Ambassador stooped +a little lower. + +"To Rome," he whispered. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + + +Back from the dusty roads, the heat and noise of the long day, Anna was +resting on the couch in her sitting-room. A bowl of roses and a note +which she had read three or four times stood on a little table by her +side. One of the blossoms she had fastened into the bosom of her loose +gown. The blinds were drawn, the sounds of the traffic outside were +muffled and distant. Her bath had been just the right temperature, her +maid's attention was skilful and delicate as ever. She was conscious of +the drowsy sweet perfume of the flowers, the pleasant sense of powdered +cleanliness. Everything should have conduced to rest, but she lay there +with her eyes wide-open. There was so much to think about, so much that +was new finding its way into her stormy young life. + +"Madame!" + +Anna turned her head. Her maid had entered noiselessly from the inner +room and was standing by her side. + +"Madame does not sleep? There is a person outside who waits for an +interview. I have denied him, as all others. He gave me this." + +Anna almost snatched the piece of paper from her maid's fingers. She +glanced at the name, and the disappointment which shone in her eyes was +very apparent. It was succeeded by an impulse of surprise. + +"You can show him in," she directed. + +Selingman appeared a few moments later--Selingman, cool, rosy, and +confident, on the way to his beloved bridge club. He took the hand +which Anna, without moving, held out to him, and raised it gallantly +to his lips. + +"I thought it was understood, my crockery friend," she murmured, "that in +London we did not interchange visits." + +"Most true, gracious lady," he admitted, "but there are circumstances +which can alter the most immovable decisions. At this moment we are +confronted with one. I come to discuss with you the young Englishman, +Francis Norgate." + +She turned her head a little. Her eyes were full of enquiry. + +"To discuss him with me?" + +Selingman's eyes as though by accident fell upon the roses and the note. + +"Ah, well," she murmured, "go on." + +"It is wonderful," Selingman proceeded, "to be able to tell the truth. I +speak to you as one comrade to another. This young man was your companion +at the Cafe de Berlin. For the indiscretion of behaving like a +bull-headed but courageous young Englishman, he is practically dismissed +from the Service. He comes back smarting with the injustice of it. Chance +brings him in my way. I proceed to do my best to make use of this +opportunity." + +"So like you, dear Herr Selingman!" Anna murmured. + +Selingman beamed. + +"Ever gracious, dear lady. Well, to continue, then. Here I find a young +Englishman of exactly the order and position likely to be useful to us. I +approach him frankly. He has been humiliated by the country he was +willing to serve. I talk to him of that country. 'You are English, of +course,' I remind him, 'but what manner of an England is it to-day which +claims you?' It is a very telling argument, this. Upon the classes of +this country, democracy has laid a throttling hand. There is a spirit of +discontent, they say, among the working-classes, the discontent which +breeds socialism. There is a worse spirit of discontent among the upper +classes here, and it is the discontent which breeds so-called traitors." + +"I can imagine all the rest," Anna interposed coolly. "How far have you +succeeded?" + +"The young man," Selingman told her, "has accepted my proposals. He has +drawn three months' salary in advance. He furnished me yesterday with +details of a private conversation with a well-known Cabinet Minister." + +Anna turned her head. "So soon!" she murmured. + +"So soon," Selingman repeated. "And now, gracious lady, here comes my +visit to you. We have a recruit, invaluable if he is indeed a recruit at +heart, dangerous if he has the brains and wit to choose to make himself +so. I, on my way through life, judge men and women, and I judge +them--well, with few exceptions, unerringly, but at the back of my brain +there lingers something of mistrust of this young man. I have seen +others in his position accept similar proposals. I have seen the +struggles of shame, the doubts, the assertion of some part of a man's +lower nature reconciling him in the end to accepting the pay of a foreign +country. I have seen none of these things in this young man--simply a +cold and deliberate acceptance of my proposals. He conforms to no type. +He sets up before me a problem which I myself have failed wholly to +solve. I come to you, dear lady, for your aid." + +"I am to spy upon the spy," she remarked. + +"It is an easy task," Selingman declared. "This young man is your slave. +Whatever your daily business may be here, some part of your time, I +imagine, will be spent in his company. Let me know what manner of man he +is. Is this innate corruptness which brings him so easily to the bait, or +is it the stinging smart of injustice from which he may well be +suffering? Or, failing these, has he dared to set his wits against mine, +to play the double traitor? If even a suspicion of this should come to +you, there must be an end of Mr. Francis Norgate." + +Anna toyed for a moment with the rose at her bosom. Her eyes were looking +out of the room. Once again she was conscious of a curious slackening of +purpose, a confusion of issues which had once seemed to her so clear. + +"Very well," she promised. "I will send you a report in the course of a +few days." + +"I should not," Selingman continued, rising, "venture to trouble you, +Baroness, as I know the sphere of your activities is far removed from +mine, but chance has put you in the position of being able to ascertain +definitely the things which I desire to know. For our common sake you +will, I am sure, seek to discover the truth." + +"So far as I can, certainly," Anna replied, "but I must admit that I, +like you, find Mr. Norgate a little incomprehensible." + +"There are men," Selingman declared, "there have been many of the +strongest men in history, impenetrable to the world, who have yielded +their secrets readily to a woman's influence. The diplomatists in life +who have failed have been those who have underrated the powers possessed +by your wonderful sex." + +"Among whom," Anna remarked, "no one will ever number Herr Selingman." + +"Dear Baroness," Selingman concluded, as the maid whom Anna had summoned +stood ready to show him out, "it is because in my life I have been +brought into contact with so many charming examples of your power." + + * * * * * + +Once more silence and solitude. Anna moved restlessly about on her couch. +Her eyes were a little hot. That future into which she looked seemed to +become more than ever a tangled web. At half-past seven her maid +reappeared. + +"Madame will dress for dinner?" + +Anna swung herself to her feet. She glanced at the clock. + +"I suppose so," she assented. + +"I have three gowns laid out," the maid continued respectfully. "Madame +would look wonderful in the light green." + +"Anything," Anna yawned. + +The telephone bell tinkled. Anna took down the receiver herself. + +"Yes?" she asked. + +Her manner suddenly changed. It was a familiar voice speaking. Her maid, +who stood in the background, watched and wondered. + +"It is you, Baroness! I rang up to see whether there was any chance of +your being able to dine with me? I have just got back to town." + +"How dared you go away without telling me!" she exclaimed. "And how can I +dine with you? Do you not realise that it is Ascot Thursday, and I have +had many invitations to dine to-night? I am going to a very big +dinner-party at Thurm House." + +"Bad luck!" Norgate replied disconsolately. "And to-morrow?" + +"I have not finished about to-night yet," Anna continued. "I suppose you +do not, by any chance, want me to dine with you very much?" + +"Of course I do," was the prompt answer. "You see plenty of the Princess +of Thurm and nothing of me, and there is always the chance that you may +have to go abroad. I think that it is your duty--" + +"As a matter of duty," Anna interrupted, "I ought to dine at Thurm House. +As a matter of pleasure, I shall dine with you. You will very likely not +enjoy yourself. I am going to be very cross indeed. You have neglected +me shamefully. It is only these wonderful roses which have saved you." + +"So long as I am saved," he murmured, "tell me, please, where you would +like to dine?" + +"Any place on earth," she replied. "You may call for me here at half-past +eight. I shall wear a hat and I would like to go somewhere where our +people do not go." + +Anna set down the telephone. The listlessness had gone from her manner. +She glanced at the clock and ran lightly into the other room. + +"Put all that splendour away," she ordered her maid cheerfully. "To-night +we shall dazzle no one. Something perfectly quiet and a hat, please. I +dine in a restaurant. And ring the bell, Marie, for two aperitifs--not +that I need one. I am hungry, Marie. I am looking forward to my dinner +already. I think something dead black. I am looking well tonight. I can +afford to wear black." + +Marie beamed. + +"Madame has recovered her spirits," she remarked demurely. + +Anna was suddenly silent. Her light-heartedness was a revelation. She +turned to her maid. + +"Marie," she directed, "you will telephone to Thurm House. You will ask +for Lucille, the Princess's maid. You will give my love to the Princess. +You will say that a sudden headache has prostrated me. It will be enough. +You need say no more. To-morrow I lunch with the Princess, and she will +understand." + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + + +"Confess," Anna exclaimed, as she leaned back in her chair, "that my idea +was excellent! Your little restaurant was in its way perfection, but the +heat--does one feel it anywhere, I wonder, as one does in London?" + +"Here, at any rate, we have air," Norgate remarked appreciatively. + +"We are far removed," she went on, "from the clamour of diners, that +babel of voices, the smell of cooking, the meretricious music. We look +over the house-tops. Soon, just behind that tall building there, you will +see the yellow moon." + +They were taking their coffee in Anna's sitting-room, seated in +easy-chairs drawn up to the wide-flung windows. The topmost boughs of +some tall elm trees rustled almost in their faces. Away before them +spread the phantasmagoria of a wilderness of London roofs, softened and +melting into the dim blue obscurity of the falling twilight. Lights were +flashing out everywhere, and above them shone the stars. Norgate drew a +long breath of content. + +"It is wonderful, this," he murmured. + +"We are at least alone," Anna said, "and I can talk to you. I want to +talk to you. Should you be very much flattered, I wonder, if I were to +say that I have been thinking of little else for the last three or four +days than how to approach you, how to say something to you without any +fear of being misunderstood, how to convince you of my own sincerity?" + +"If I am not flattered," he answered, looking at her keenly, "I am at +least content. Please go on." + +"You are one of those, I believe," she continued earnestly, "who realise +that somewhere not far removed from the splendour of these summer days, a +storm is gathering. I am one of those who know. England has but a few +more weeks of this self-confident, self-esteeming security. Very soon the +shock will come. Oh! you sit there, my friend, and you are very +monosyllabic, but that is because you do not wholly trust me." + +He swung suddenly round upon her and there was an unaccustomed fire +in his eyes. + +"May it not be for some other reason?" he asked quickly. + +There was a moment's silence. Her own face seemed paler than ever in the +strange half light, but her eyes were wonderful. He told himself with +passionate insistence that they were the eyes of a truthful woman. + +"Tell me," she begged, "what reason?" + +He leaned towards her. + +"It is so hopeless," he said. "I am just a broken diplomat whose career +is ended almost before it is begun, and you--well, you have everything at +your feet. It is foolish of me, isn't it, but I love you." + +He took her hand, and she did not withdraw it. + +"If it is foolish," she murmured, "then I am foolish, too. Perhaps you +can guess now why I came to London." + +He drew her into his arms. She made no resistance. Her lips, even, were +seeking his. It seemed to him in those breathless moments that a greater +thing than even the destiny of nations was born into the world. There +was a new vigour in his pulses as she gently pushed him back, a new +splendour in life. + +"Dear," she exclaimed, "of course we are both very foolish, and yet, I do +not know. I have been wondering why this has not come to me long ago, and +now that it has come I am happy." + +"You care--you really care?" he insisted passionately. + +"Of course I do," she told him, quietly enough and yet very +convincingly. "If I did not care I should not be here. If I did not +care, I should not be going to say the things to you which I am going to +say now. Sit back in your chair, please, hold my hand still, smoke if +you will, but listen." + +He obeyed. A deeper seriousness crept into her tone, but her face was +still soft and wonderful. The new things were lingering there. + +"I want to tell you first," she said, "what I think you already know. The +moment for which Germany has toiled so long, from which she has never +faltered, is very close at hand. With all her marvellous resources and +that amazing war equipment of which you in this country know little, she +will soon throw down the gage to England. You are an Englishman, Francis. +You are not going to forget it, are you?" + +"Forget it?" he repeated. + +"I know," she continued slowly, "that Selingman has made advances to you. +I know that he has a devilish gift for enrolling on his list men of +honour and conscience. He has the knack of subtle argument, of twisting +facts and preying upon human weaknesses. You have been shockingly treated +by your Foreign Office. You yourself are entirely out of sympathy with +your Government. You know very well that England, as she is, is a country +which has lost her ideals, a country in which many of her sons might +indeed, without much reproach, lose their pride, Selingman knows this. He +knows how to work upon these facts. He might very easily convince you +that the truest service you could render your country was to assist her +in passing through a temporary tribulation." + +He looked at her almost in surprise. + +"You seem to know the man's methods," he observed. + +"I do," she answered, "and I detest them. Now, Francis, please tell me +the truth. Is your name, too, upon that long roll of those who are +pledged to assist his country?" + +"It is," he admitted. + +She drew a little away. + +"You admit it? You have already consented?" + +"I have drawn a quarter's salary," Norgate confessed. "I have entered +Selingman's corps of the German Secret Service." + +"You mean that you are a traitor!" she exclaimed. + +"A traitor to the false England of to-day," Norgate replied, "a friend, +I hope, of the real England." + +She sat quite still for some moments. + +"Somehow or other," she said, "I scarcely fancied that you would give in +so easily." + +"You seem disappointed," he remarked, "yet, after all, am I not on +your side?" + +"I suppose so," she answered, without enthusiasm. + +There was another and a more prolonged silence. Norgate rose at last +to his feet. He walked restlessly to the end of the room and back +again. A dark mass of clouds had rolled up; the air seemed almost +sulphurous with the presage of a coming storm. They looked out into +the gathering darkness. + +"I don't understand," he said. "You are Austrian; that is the same as +German. I tell you that I have come over on your side. You seem +disappointed." + +"Perhaps I am," she admitted, standing up, too, and linking her arm +through his. "You see, my mother was English, and they say that I am +entirely like her. I was brought up here in the English country. +Sometimes my life at Vienna and Berlin seems almost like a dream to me, +something unreal, as though I were playing at being some other woman. +When I am back here, I feel as though I had come home. Do you know really +that nothing would make me happier than to hear or think nothing about +duty, to just know that I had come back to England to stay, and that you +were English, and that we were going to live just the sort of life I +pictured to myself that two people could live so happily over here, +without too much ambition, without intrigue, simply and honestly. I am a +little weary of cities and courts, Francis. To-night more than ever +England seems to appeal to me, to remind me that I am one of her +daughters." + +"Are you trying me, Anna?" he asked hoarsely. + +"Trying you? Of course not!" she answered. "I am speaking to you just +simply and naturally, because you are the one person in the world to whom +I may speak like that." + +"Then let's drop it, both of us!" he exclaimed, holding her arm +tightly to his. "Courts and cities can do without you, and Selingman +can do without me. We'll take a cottage somewhere and live through +these evil days." + +She shook her head. + +"You and I are not like that, Francis," she declared. "When the storm +breaks, we mustn't be found hiding in our holes. You know that quite +well. It is for us to decide what part we may play. You have chosen. So, +in a measure, have I. Tomorrow I am going on a secret mission to Italy." + +"Anna!" he cried in dismay. + +"Alas, yes!" she repeated, "We may not even meet again, Francis, till the +map of Europe has been rewritten with the blood of many of our friends +and millions of our country-people. But I shall think of you, and the +kiss you will give me now shall be the last upon my lips." + +"You can go away?" he demanded. "You can leave me like this?" + +"I must," she answered simply. "I have work before me. Good-by, Francis! +Somehow I knew what was coming. I believe that I am glad, dear, but I +must think about it, and so must you." + +Norgate left the hotel and walked out amid the first mutterings of the +storm. He found a taxi and drove to his rooms. For an hour he sat before +his window, watching the lightning play, fighting the thoughts which beat +upon his brain, fighting all the time a losing battle. At midnight the +storm had ceased. He walked back through the rain-streaming streets. The +air was filled with sweet and pungent perfumes. The heaviness had passed +from the atmosphere. His own heart was lighter; he walked swiftly. +Outside her hotel he paused and looked up at the window. There was a +light still burning in her room. He even fancied that he could see the +outline of her figure leaning back in the easy-chair which he had wheeled +up close to the casement. He entered the hotel, stepped into the lift, +ascended to her floor, and made his way with tingling pulses and beating +heart along the corridor. He knocked softly at her door. There was a +little hesitation, then he heard her voice on the other side. + +"Who is that?" + +"It is I--Francis," he answered softly. "Let me in." + +There was a little exclamation. She opened the door, holding up +her finger. + +"Quietly," she whispered. "What is it, Francis? Why have you come back? +What has happened to you?" + +He drew her into the room. She herself looked weary, and there were +lines under her eyes. It seemed, even, as though she might have been +weeping. But it was a new Norgate who spoke. His words rang out with a +fierce vigour, his eyes seemed on fire. + +"Anna," he cried, "I can't fence with you. I can't lie to you. I can't +deceive you. I've tried these things, and I went away choking, I had to +come back. You shall know the truth, even though you betray me. I am no +man of Selingman's. I have taken his paltry money--it went last night to +a hospital. I am for England--God knows it!--the England of any +government, England, however misguided or mistaken. I want to do the work +for her that's easiest and that comes to me. I am on Selingman's roll. +What do you think he'll get from me? Nothing that isn't false, no +information that won't mislead him, no facts save those I shall distort +until they may seem so near the truth that he will build and count upon +them. Every minute of my time will be spent to foil his schemes. They +don't believe me in Whitehall, or Selingman would be at Bow Street +to-morrow morning. That's why I am going my own way. Tell him, if you +will. There is only one thing strong enough to bring me here, to risk +everything, and that's my love for you." + +She was in his arms, sobbing and crying, and yet laughing. She clutched +at him, drew down his face and covered his lips with kisses. + +"Oh! I am so thankful," she cried, "so thankful! Francis, I ached--my +heart ached to have you sit there and talk as you did. Now I know that +you are the man I thought you were. Francis, we will work together." + +"You mean it?" + +"I do, England was my mother's country, England shall be my husband's +country. I will tell you many things that should help. From now my work +shall be for you. If they find me out, well, I will pay the price. You +shall run your risk, Francis, for your country, and I must take mine; but +at least we'll keep our honour and our conscience and our love. Oh, this +is a better parting, dear! This is a better good night!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + + +Mrs. Benedek was the first to notice the transformation which had +certainly taken place in Norgate's appearance. She came and sat by his +side upon the cushioned fender. + +"What a metamorphosis!" she exclaimed. "Why, you look as though +Providence had been showering countless benefits upon you." + +There were several people lounging around, and Mrs. Benedek's remark +certainly had point. + +"You look like Monty, when he's had a winning week," one of them +observed. + +"It is something more than gross lucre," a young man declared, who had +just strolled up. "I believe that it is a good fat appointment. Rome, +perhaps, where every one of you fellows wants to get to, nowadays." + +"Or perhaps," the Prince intervened, with a little bow, "Mrs. Benedek has +promised to dine with you? She is generally responsible for the gloom or +happiness of us poor males in this room." + +Norgate smiled. + +"None of these wonderful things have happened--and yet, something perhaps +more wonderful," he announced. "I am engaged to be married." + +There was a mingled chorus of exclamations and congratulations. +Selingman, who had been standing on the outskirts of the group, drew a +little nearer. His face wore a somewhat puzzled expression. + +"And the lady?" he enquired. "May we not know the lady's name? That is +surely important?" + +"It is the Baroness von Haase," Norgate replied. "You probably know her +by name and repute, at least, Mr. Selingman. She is an Austrian, but she +is often at Berlin." + +Selingman stretched out his great hand. For some reason or other, the +announcement seemed to have given him real pleasure. + +"Know her? My dear young friend, while I may not claim the privilege of +intimate friendship with her, the Baroness is a young lady of the +greatest distinction and repute in Berlin. I congratulate you. I +congratulate you most heartily. The anger of our young princeling is no +longer to be wondered at. I cannot tell you how thoroughly interesting +this news is to me." + +"You are very good indeed, I am sure, all of you," Norgate declared, +answering the general murmur of kindly words. "The Baroness doesn't play +bridge, but I'd like to bring her in one afternoon, if I may." + +"I have had the honour of meeting the Baroness von Haase several times," +Prince Lenemaur said. "It will give me the utmost pleasure to renew my +acquaintance with her. These alliances are most pleasing. Since I have +taken up my residence in this country, I regard them with the utmost +favour. They do much to cement the good feeling between Germany, +Austria, and England, which is so desirable." + +"English people," Mrs. Benedek remarked, "will at least have the +opportunity of judging Austrian women from the proper standpoint. Anna is +one of the most accomplished and beautiful women in either Vienna or +Berlin. I hope so much that she will not have forgotten me altogether." + +They all drifted presently back to the bridge tables. Norgate, however, +excused himself. He had some letters to write, he declared, and +presently he withdrew to the little drawing-room. In about a quarter of +an hour, as he had expected, the door opened, and Selingman entered. He +crossed the room at once to where Norgate was writing and laid his hand +upon his shoulder. + +"Young man," he said, "I wish to talk with you. Bring your chair around. +Sit there so that the light falls upon your face. So! Now let me see. +Where does that door lead to?" + +"Into the secretary's room, but it is locked," Norgate told him. + +"So! And the outer one I myself have carefully closed. We talk here, +then, in private. This is great news which you have brought this +afternoon." + +"It is naturally of some interest to me," Norgate assented, "but I +scarcely see--" + +"It is of immense interest, also, to me," Selingman interrupted. "It may +be that you do not know this at present. It may be that I anticipate, but +if so, no matter. Between you and your fiancee there will naturally be no +secrets. You are perhaps already aware that she holds a high position +amongst those who are working for the power and development and expansion +of our great empire?" + +"I have gathered something of the sort," Norgate admitted. "I know, of +course, that she is a personal favourite of the Emperor's, and _persona +grata_ at the Court of Berlin." + +"You have no scruple, then, about marrying a woman who belongs to a +certain clique, a certain school of diplomacy which you might, from a +superficial point of view, consider inimical to your country's +interests?" + +"I have no scruple at all in marrying the Baroness von Haase," Norgate +replied firmly. "As for the rest, you and I have discussed fully the +matter of the political relations between our countries. I have shown you +practically have I not, what my own views are?" + +"That is true, my young friend," Selingman confessed. "We have spoken +together, man to man, heart to heart. I have tried to show you that even +though we should stand with sword outstretched across the seas, yet in +the hearts of our people there dwells a real affection, real good-will +towards your country. I think that I have convinced you. I have come, +indeed, to have a certain amount of confidence in you. That I have +already proved. But your news to-day alters much. There are grades of +that society which you have joined, rings within rings, as you may well +imagine. I see the prospect before me now of making much greater and more +valuable use of you. It was your brain, and a certain impatience with +the political conduct of your country, which brought you over to our +side. Why should not that become an alliance--an absolute alliance? Your +interests are drawn into ours. You have now a real and great reason for +throwing in your lot with us. Let me look at you. Let me think whether I +may not venture upon a great gamble." + +Norgate did not flinch. He appeared simply a little puzzled. Selingman's +blue, steel-like eyes seemed striving to reach the back of his brain. + +"All the things that we accomplish in my country," the latter continued, +"we do by method and order. We do them scientifically. We reach out into +the future. So far as we can, we foresee everything. We leave little to +chance. Yet there are times when one cannot deal in certainties. Young +man, the news which you have told us this afternoon has brought us to +this pitch. I am inclined to gamble--to gamble upon you." + +"Is there any question of consulting me in this?" Norgate asked coolly. + +Selingman brushed the interruption on one side. + +"I now make clear to you what I mean," he continued. "You have joined my +little army of helpers, those whom I have been able to convince of the +justice and reasonableness of Germany's ultimate aim. Now I want more +from you. I want to make of you something different. More than anything +in the world, for the furtherance of my schemes here, I need a young +Englishman of your position and with your connections, to whom I can give +my whole confidence, who will act for me with implicit obedience, +without hesitation. Will you accept that post, Francis Norgate?" + +"If you think I am capable of it," Norgate replied promptly. + +"You are capable of it," Selingman asserted. "There is only one grim +possibility to be risked. Are you entirely trustworthy? Would you flinch +at the danger moment? Before this afternoon I hesitated. It is your +alliance with the Baroness which gives me that last drop of confidence +which was necessary." + +"I am ready to do your work," Norgate said. "I can say no more. My own +country has no use for me. My own country seems to have no use for any +one at all just now who thinks a little beyond the day's eating and +drinking and growing fat." + +Selingman nodded his head. The note of bitterness in the other's tone was +to his liking. + +"Of rewards, of benefits, I shall not now speak," he proceeded. "You have +something in you of the spirit of men who aim at the greater things. +There is, indeed, in your attitude towards life something of the +idealism, the ever-stretching heavenward culture of my own people. I +recognise that spirit in you, and I will not give a lower tone to our +talk this afternoon by speaking of money. Yet what you wish for you may +have. When the time comes, what further reward you may desire, whether it +be rank or high position, you may have, but for the present let it be +sufficient that you are my man." + +He held out his hand, and all the time his eyes never left Norgate's. +Gone the florid and beaming geniality of the man, his easy good-humour, +his air of good-living and rollicking gaiety. There were lines in his +forehead. The firm contraction of his lips brought lines even across his +plump cheeks. It was the face, this, of a strong man and a thinker. He +held Norgate's fingers, and Norgate never flinched. + +"So!" he said at last, as he turned away. "Now you are indeed in the +inner circle, Mr. Francis Norgate. Good! Listen to me, then. We will +speak of war, the war that is to come, the war that is closer at hand +than even you might imagine." + +"War with England?" Norgate exclaimed. + +Selingman struck his hands together. + +"No!" he declared. "You may take it as a compliment, if you like--a +national compliment. We do not at the present moment desire war with +England. Our plan of campaign, for its speedy and successful +accomplishment, demands your neutrality. The North Sea must be free to +us. Our fleet must be in a position to meet and destroy, as it is well +able to do, the Russian and the French fleets. Now you know what has kept +Germany from war for so long." + +"You are ready for it, then?" Norgate remarked. + +"We are over-ready for it," Selingman continued. "We are spoiling for +it. We have piled up enormous stores of ordnance, ammunition, and all +the appurtenances of warfare. Our schemes have been cut and dried to the +last detail. Yet time after time we have been forced to stay our hand. +Need I tell you why? It is because, in all those small diplomatic +complications which have arisen and from which war might have followed, +England has been involved. We want to choose a time and a cause which +will give England every opportunity of standing peacefully on one side. +That time is close at hand. From all that I can hear, your country is, +at the present moment, in danger of civil war. Your Ministers who are +most in favour are Radical pacifists. Your army has never been so small +or your shipbuilding programme more curtailed. Besides, there is no +warlike spirit in your nation; you sleep peacefully. I think that our +time has come. You will not need to strain your ears, my friend. Before +many weeks have passed, the tocsin will be sounding. Does that move you? +Let me look at you." + +Norgate's face showed little emotion. Selingman nodded ponderously. + +"Surely," Norgate asked, "Germany will wait for some reasonable pretext?" + +"She will find one through Austria," Selingman replied. "That is simple. +Mind, though this may seem to you a war wholly of aggression, and though +I do not hesitate to say that we have been prepared for years for a war +of aggression, there are other factors which will come to light. Only a +few months ago, an entire Russian scheme for the invasion of Germany next +spring was discovered by one of our Secret Service agents." + +Norgate nodded. + +"One question more," he said. "Supposing Germany takes the plunge, and +then England, contrary to anticipation, decides to support France?" + +Selingman's face darkened. A sudden purposeless anger shook his voice. + +"We choose a time," he declared, "when England's hands are tied. She is +in no position to go to war with any one. I have many reports reaching me +every day. I have come to the firm conclusion that we have reached the +hour. England will not fight." + +"And what will happen to her eventually?" Norgate asked. + +Selingman smiled slowly. + +"When France is crushed," he explained, "and her northern ports +garrisoned by us, England must be taught just a little lesson, the lesson +of which you and I have spoken, the lesson which will be for her good. +That is what we have planned. That is how things will happen. Hush! There +is some one coming. It is finished, this. Come to me to-morrow morning. +There is work for you." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + + +Later on that evening, Norgate walked up and down the platform at +Charing-Cross with Anna. Her arm rested upon his; her expression was +animated and she talked almost eagerly. Norgate carried himself like a +man who has found a new thing in life. He was feeling none of the +depression of the last few days. + +"Dear," Anna begged, "you won't forget, will you, all the time that I am +away, that you must never for a single moment relax your caution? +Selingman speaks of trust. Well, he gambles, it is true, yet he protects +himself whenever he can. You will not move from early morning until you +go to bed at night, without being watched. To prove what I say--you see +the man who is reading an evening paper under the gas-lamp there? Yes? He +is one of Selingman's men. He is watching us now. More than once he has +been at our side. Scraps of conversation, or anything he can gather, will +go back to Selingman, and Selingman day by day pieces everything +together. Don't let there be a single thing which he can lay hold of." + +"I'll lead him a dance," Norgate promised, nodding a little grimly. "As +for that, Anna dear, you needn't be afraid. If ever I had any wits, +they'll be awake during the next few weeks." + +"When I come back from Rome," Anna went on, "I shall have more to tell +you. I believe that I shall be able to tell you even the date of the +great happening. I wonder what other commissions he will give you. The +one to-night is simple. Be careful, dear. Think--think hard before you +make up your mind. Remember that there is some duplicity which might +become suddenly obvious. An official statement might upset everything. +These English papers are so garrulous. You might find yourself +hard-pressed for an explanation." + +"I'll be careful, dear," Norgate assured her, as they stood at last +before the door of her compartment. "And of ourselves?" + +She lifted her veil. + +"We have so little time," she murmured. + +"But have you thought over what I suggested?" he begged. + +She laughed at him softly. + +"It sounds quite attractive," she whispered. "Shall we talk of it when I +come back from Italy? Good-by, dear! Of course, I do not really want to +kiss you, but our friend under the gas-lamp is looking--and you know our +engagement! It is so satisfactory to dear Mr. Selingman. It is the one +genuine thing about us, isn't it? So good-by!" + +The long train drew out from the platform a few minutes later. Norgate +lingered until it was out of sight. Then he took a taxi and drove to +the House of Commons. He sent in a card addressed to David Bullen, +Esq., and waited for some time. At last a young man came down the +corridor towards him. + +"I am Mr. Bullen's private secretary," he announced. "Mr. Bullen cannot +leave the House for some time. Would you care to go into the Strangers' +Gallery, or will you wait in his room?" + +"I should like to listen to the debate, if it is possible," +Norgate decided. + +A place was found for him with some difficulty. The House was crowded. +The debate concerned one of the proposed amendments to the Home Rule +Bill, not in itself important, yet interesting to Norgate on account of +the bitter feeling which seemed to underlie the speeches of the extreme +partisans on either side. The debate led nowhere. There was no division, +no master mind intervening, yet it left a certain impression on Norgate's +mind. At a little before ten, the young man who had found him his place +touched his shoulder. + +"Mr. Bullen will see you now, sir," he said. + +Norgate followed his conductor through a maze of passages into a +barely-furnished but lofty apartment. The personage whom he had come to +see was standing at the further end, talking somewhat heatedly to one or +two of his supporters. At Norgate's entrance, however, he dismissed them +and motioned his visitor to a chair. He was a tall, powerful-looking man, +with the eyes and forehead of a thinker. There was a certain laconic +quality in his speech which belied his nationality. + +"You come to me, I understand, Mr. Norgate," he began, "on behalf of some +friends in America, not directly, but representing a gentleman who in his +letter did not disclose himself. It sounds rather complicated, but +please talk to me. I am at your service." + +"I am sorry for the apparent mystery," Norgate said, as he took the seat +to which he was invited. "I will make up for it by being very brief. I +have come on behalf of a certain individual--whom we will call, if you +please, Mr. X----. Mr. X---- has powerful connections in America, +associated chiefly with German-Americans. As you know from your own +correspondence with an organisation over there, the situation in Ireland +is intensely interesting to them at the present moment." + +"I have gathered that, sir," Mr. Bullen confessed. "The help which the +Irish and Americans have sent to Dublin has scarcely been of the +magnitude which one might have expected, but one is at least assured of +their sympathy." + +"It is partly my mission to assure you of something else," Norgate +declared. "A secret meeting has been held in New York, and a sum of money +has been promised, the amount of which would, I think, surprise you. The +conditions attached to this gift, however, are peculiar. They are +inspired by a profound disbelief in the _bona fides_ of England and the +honourableness of her intentions so far as regards the administration of +the bill when passed." + +Mr. Bullen, who at first had seemed a little puzzled, was now deeply +interested. He drew his chair nearer to his visitor's. + +"What grounds have you, or those whom you represent, for saying that?" +he demanded. + +"None that I can divulge," Norgate replied. "Yet they form the motive of +the offer which I am about to make to you. I am instructed to say that +the sum of a million pounds will be paid into your funds on certain +guarantees to be given by you. It is my business here to place these +guarantees before you and to report as to your attitude concerning them." + +"One million pounds!" Mr. Bullen murmured, breathlessly. + +"There are the conditions," Norgate reminded him. + +"Well?" + +"In the first place," Norgate continued, "the subscribers to this fund, +which is by no means exhausted by the sum I mention, demand that you +accept no compromise, that at all costs you insist upon the whole bill, +and that if it is attempted at the last moment to deprive the Irish +people by trickery of the full extent of their liberty, you do not +hesitate to encourage your Nationalist party to fight for their freedom." + +Mr. Bullen's lips were a little parted, but his face was immovable. + +"Go on." + +"In the event of your doing so," Norgate continued, "more money, and arms +themselves if you require them, will be available, but the motto of those +who have the cause of Ireland entirely at heart is, 'No compromise!' They +recognise the fact that you are in a difficult position. They fear that +you have allowed yourself to be influenced, to be weakened by pressure +so easily brought upon you from high quarters." + +"I understand," Mr. Bullen remarked. "Go on." + +"There is a further condition," Norgate proceeded, "though that is less +important. The position in Europe at the present moment seems to indicate +a lasting peace, yet if anything should happen that that peace should be +broken, you are asked to pledge your word that none of your Nationalist +volunteers should take up arms on behalf of England until that bill has +become law and is in operation. Further, if that unlikely event, a war, +should take place, that you have the courage to keep your men solid and +armed, and that if the Ulster volunteers, unlike your men, decide to +fight for England, as they very well might do, that you then proceed to +take by force what it is not the intention of England to grant you by any +other means." + +Mr. Bullen leaned back in his chair. He picked up a penholder and played +with it for several moments. + +"Young man," he asked at last, "who is Mr. X----?" + +"That, in the present stage of our negotiations," Norgate answered +coolly, "I am not permitted to tell you." + +"May I guess as to his nationality?" Mr. Bullen enquired. + +"I cannot prevent your doing that." + +"The speculation is an interesting one," Mr. Bullen went on, still +fingering the penholder. "Is Mr. X---- a German?" + +Norgate was silent. + +"I cannot answer questions," he said, "until you have expressed +your views." + +"You can have them, then," Mr. Bullen declared. + +"You can go back to Mr. X---- and tell him this. Ireland needs help +sorely to-day from all her sons, whether at home or in foreign +countries. More than anything she needs money. The million pounds of +which you speak would be a splendid contribution to what I may term our +war chest. But as to my views, here they are. It is my intention, and +the intention of my Party, to fight to the last gasp for the literal +carrying out of the bill which is to grant us our liberty. We will not +have it whittled away or weakened one iota. Our lives, and the lives of +greater men, have been spent to win this measure, and now we stand at +the gates of success. We should be traitors if we consented to part with +a single one of the benefits it brings us. Therefore, you can tell Mr. +X---- that should this Government attempt any such trickery as he not +unreasonably suspects, then his conditions will be met. My men shall +fight, and their cause will be just." + +"So far," Norgate admitted, "this is very satisfactory." + +"To pass on," Mr. Bullen continued, "let me at once confess that I find +something sinister, Mr. Norgate, in this mysterious visit of yours, in +the hidden identity of Mr. X----. I suspect some underlying motive +which prompts the offering of this million pounds. I may be wrong, but +it seems to me that I can see beneath it all the hand of a foreign +enemy of England." + +"Supposing you were right, Mr. Bullen," Norgate said, "what is England +but a foreign enemy of Ireland?" + +A light flashed for a moment in Mr. Bullen's eyes. His lip curled +inwards. + +"Young man," he demanded, "are you an Englishman?" + +"I am," Norgate admitted. + +"You speak poorly, then. To proceed to the matter in point, my word is +pledged to fight. I will plunge the country I love into civil war to gain +her rights, as greater patriots than I have done before. But the thing +which I will not do is to be made the cat's-paw, or to suffer Ireland to +be made the cat's-paw, of Germany. If war should come before the +settlement of my business, this is the position I should take. I would +cross to Dublin, and I would tell every Nationalist Volunteer to shoulder +his rifle and to fight for the British Empire, and I would go on to +Belfast--I, David Bullen--to Belfast, where I think that I am the most +hated man alive, and I would stand side by side with the leader of those +men of Ulster, and I would beg them to fight side by side with my +Nationalists. And when the war was over, if my rights were not granted, +if Ireland were not set free, then I would bid my men take breathing time +and use all their skill, all the experience they had gained, and turn and +fight for their own freedom against the men with whom they had struggled +in the same ranks. Is that million pounds to be mine, Mr. Norgate?" + +Norgate shook his head. + +"Nor any part of it, sir," he answered. + +"I presume," Mr. Bullen remarked, as he rose, "that I shall never have +the pleasure of meeting Mr. X----?" + +"I most sincerely hope," Norgate declared fervently, "that you never +will. Good-day, Mr. Bullen!" + +He held out his hand. Mr. Bullen hesitated. + +"Sir," he said, "I am glad to shake hands with an Irishman. I am willing +to shake hands with an honest Englishman. Just where you come in, I don't +know, so good evening. You will find my secretary outside. He will show +you how to get away." + +For a moment Norgate faltered. A hot rejoinder trembled upon his lips. +Then he remembered himself and turned on his heel. It was his first +lesson in discipline. He left the room without protest. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + + +Mr. Hebblethwaite turned into Pall Mall, his hands behind his back, his +expression a little less indicative of bland good humour than usual. He +had forgotten to light his customary cigarette after the exigencies of a +Cabinet Council. He had even forgotten to linger for a few minutes upon +the doorstep in case any photographer should be hanging around to take a +snapshot of a famous visitor leaving an historic scene, and quite +unconsciously he ignored the salutation of several friends. It was only +by the merest chance that he happened to glance up at the corner of the +street and recognised Norgate across the way. He paused at once and +beckoned to him. + +"Well, young fellow," he exclaimed, as they shook hands, "how's the +German spy business going?" + +"Pretty well, thanks," Norgate answered coolly. "I am in it twice over +now. I'm marrying an Austrian lady shortly, very high up indeed in the +Diplomatic Secret Service of her country. Between us you may take it that +we could read, if we chose, the secrets of the Cabinet Council from which +you have just come." + +"Any fresh warnings, eh?" + +Norgate turned and walked by his friend's side. + +"It is no use warning you," he declared. "You've a hide as thick as a +rhinoceros. Your complacency is bomb-proof. You won't believe anything +until it's too late." + +"Confoundedly disagreeable companion you make, Norgate," the Cabinet +Minister remarked irritably. "You know quite as well as I do that +the German scare is all bunkum, and you only hammer it in either to +amuse yourself or because you are of a sensational turn of mind. All +the same--" + +"All the same, what?" Norgate interrupted. + +Hebblethwaite took his young friend's arm and led him into his club. + +"We will take an aperitif in the smoking-room," he said. "After that I +will look in my book and see where I am lunching. It is perhaps not +the wisest thing for a Cabinet Minister to talk in the street. Since +the Suffragette scares, I have quite an eye for a detective, and there +has been a fellow within a few yards of your elbow ever since you +spoke to me." + +"That's all right," Norgate reassured him. "Let's see, it's Tuesday, +isn't it? I call him Boko. He never leaves me. My week-end shadowers are +a trifle less assiduous, but Boko is suspicious. He has deucedly long +ears, too." + +"What the devil are you talking about?" Hebblethwaite demanded, as +they sat down. + +"The fact of it is," Norgate explained, "they don't altogether trust me +in my new profession. They give me some important jobs to look after, but +they watch me night and day. What they'd do if I turned 'em up, I can't +imagine. By-the-by, if you do hear of my being found mysteriously shot +or poisoned or something of that sort, don't you take on any theory as to +suicide. It will be murder, right enough. However," he added, raising his +glass to his lips and nodding, "they haven't found me out yet." + +"I hear," Hebblethwaite muttered, "that the bookstalls are loaded with +this sort of rubbish. You do it very well, though." + +"Oh! I am the real thing all right," Norgate declared. "By-the-by, what's +the matter with you?" + +"Nothing," Hebblethwaite replied. "When you come to think of it, sitting +here and feeling the reviving influence of this remarkably well-concocted +beverage, I can confidently answer 'Nothing.' And yet, a few minutes ago, +I must admit that I was conscious of a sensation of gloom. You know, +Norgate, you're not the only idiot in the world who goes about seeing +shadows. For the first time in my life I begin to wonder whether we +haven't got a couple of them among us. Of course, I don't take any notice +of Spencer Wyatt. It's his job. He plays the part of popular +hero--National Anthem, God Save the Empire, and all that sort of thing. +He must keep in with his admirals and the people, so of course he's +always barking for ships. But White, now. I have always looked upon White +as being absolutely the most level-headed, sensible, and peace-adoring +Minister this country ever had." + +"What's wrong with him?" Norgate asked. + +"I cannot," Hebblethwaite regretted, "talk confidentially to a +German spy." + +"Getting cautious as the years roll on, aren't you?" Norgate sighed. +"I hoped I was going to get something interesting out of you to cable +to Berlin." + +"You try cabling to Berlin, young fellow," Hebblethwaite replied grimly, +"and I'll have you up at Bow Street pretty soon! There's no doubt about +it, though, old White has got the shivers for some reason or other. To +any sane person things were never calmer and more peaceful than at the +present moment, and White isn't a believer in the German peril, either. +He is half inclined to agree with old Busby. He got us out of that Balkan +trouble in great style, and all I can say is that if any nation in Europe +wanted war then, she could have had it for the asking." + +"Well, exactly what is the matter with White at the present moment?" +Norgate demanded. + +"Got the shakes," Hebblethwaite confided. "Of course, we don't employ +well-born young Germans who are undergoing a period of rustication, as +English spies, but we do get to know a bit what goes on there, and the +reports that are coming in are just a little curious. Rolling stock is +being called into the termini of all the railways. Staff officers in +mufti have been round all the frontiers. There's an enormous amount of +drilling going on, and the ordnance factories are working at full +pressure, day and night." + +"The manoeuvres are due very soon," Norgate reminded his friend. + +"So I told White," Hebblethwaite continued, "but manoeuvres, as he +remarked, don't lead to quite so much feverish activity as there is about +Germany just now. Personally, I haven't a single second's anxiety. I only +regret the effect that this sort of feeling has upon the others. Thank +heavens we are a Government of sane, peace-believing people!" + +"A Government of fat-headed asses who go about with your ears stuffed +full of wool," Norgate declared, with a sudden bitterness. "What you've +been telling me is the truth. Germany's getting ready for war, and you'll +have it in the neck pretty soon." + +Hebblethwaite set down his empty glass. He had recovered his composure. + +"Well, I am glad I met you, any way, young fellow," he remarked. "You're +always such an optimist. You cheer one up. Sorry I can't ask you to +lunch," he went on, consulting his book, "but I find I am motoring down +for a round of golf this afternoon." + +"Yes, you would play golf!" Norgate grunted, as they strolled towards the +door. "You're the modern Nero, playing golf while the earthquake yawns +under London." + +"Play you some day, if you like," Hebblethwaite suggested, as he called +for a taxi. "They took my handicap down two last week at Walton +Heath--not before it was time, either. By-the-by, when can I meet the +young lady? My people may be out of town next week, but I'll give you +both a lunch or a dinner, if you'll say the word. Thursday night, eh?" + +"At present," Norgate replied, "the Baroness is in Italy, arranging for +the mobilisation of the Italian armies, but if she's back for Thursday, +we shall be delighted. She'll be quite interested to meet you. A keen, +bright, alert politician of your type will simply fascinate her." + +"We'll make it Thursday night, then, at the Carlton," Hebblethwaite +called out from his taxi. "Take care of Boko. So long!" + +At the top of St. James's Street, Norgate received the bow of a very +elegantly-dressed young woman who was accompanied by a well-known +soldier. A few steps further on he came face to face with Selingman. + +"A small city, London," the latter declared. "I am on my way to the +Berkeley to lunch. Will you come with me? I am alone to-day, and I hate +to eat alone. Miss Morgen has deserted me shamefully." + +"I met her a moment or two ago," Norgate remarked. "She was with +Colonel Bowden." + +Selingman nodded. "Rosa has been taking a great interest in flying +lately. Colonel Bowden is head of the Flying Section. Well, well, one +must expect to be deserted sometimes, we older men." + +"Especially in so great a cause," Norgate observed drily. + +Selingman smiled enigmatically. + +"And you, my young friend," he enquired, "what have you been doing +this morning?" + +"I have just left Hebblethwaite," Norgate answered. + +"There was a Cabinet Council this morning, wasn't there?" + +Norgate nodded. + +"An unimportant one, I should imagine. Hebblethwaite seemed thoroughly +satisfied with himself and with life generally. He has gone down to +Walton Heath to play golf." + +Selingman led the way into the restaurant. + +"Very good exercise for an English Cabinet Minister," he remarked, +"capital for the muscles!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + + +"I had no objection," Norgate remarked, a few hours later, "to lunching +with you at the Berkeley--very good lunch it was, too--but to dine with +you in Soho certainly seems to require some explanation. Why do we do it? +Is it my punishment for a day's inactivity, because if so, I beg to +protest. I did my best with Hebblethwaite this morning, and it was only +because there was nothing for him to tell me that I heard nothing." + +Selingman spread himself out at the little table and talked in voluble +German to the portly head-waiter in greasy clothes. Then he turned to +his guest. + +"My young friend," he enjoined, "you should cultivate a spirit of +optimism. I grant you that the place is small and close, that the odour +of other people's dinners is repellent, that this cloth, perhaps, is not +so clean as it once was, or the linen so fine as we are accustomed to. +But what would you have? All sides of life come into the great scheme. It +is here that we shall meet a person whom I need to meet, a person whom I +do not choose to have visit me at my home, whom I do not choose to be +seen with in any public place of great repute." + +"I should say we were safe here from knocking against any of our +friends!" Norgate observed. "Anyhow, the beer's all right." + +They were served with light-coloured beer in tall, chased tumblers. +Selingman eyed his with approval. + +"A nation," he declared, "which brews beer like this, deserves well of +the world. You did wisely, Norgate, to become ever so slightly associated +with us. Now examine carefully these _hors d'oeuvres_. I have talked with +Karl, the head-waiter. Instead of eighteen pence, we shall pay three +shillings each for our dinner. The whole resources of the establishment +are at our disposal. Fresh tins of _delicatessen_, you perceive. Do not +be afraid that you will go-away hungry." + +"I am more afraid," Norgate grumbled, "that I shall go away sick. +However!" + +"You may be interested to hear," announced Selingman, glancing up, "that +our visit is not in vain. You perceive the two men entering? The nearest +one is a Bulgarian. He is a creature of mine. The other is brought here +by him to meet us. It is good." + +The newcomers made their way along the room. One, the Bulgarian, was +short and dark. He wore a well-brushed blue serge suit with a red tie, +and a small bowler hat. He was smoking a long, brown cigarette and he +carried a bundle of newspapers. Behind him came a youth with a pale, +sensitive face and dark eyes, ill-dressed, with the grip of poverty upon +him, from his patched shoes to his frayed collar and well-worn cap. +Nevertheless, he carried himself as though indifferent to these things. +His companion stopped short as he neared the table at which the two men +were sitting, and took off his hat, greeting Selingman with respect. + +"My friend Stralhaus!" Selingman exclaimed. "It goes well, I trust? +You are a stranger. Let me introduce to you my secretary, Mr. +Francis Norgate." + +Stralhaus bowed and turned to his young companion. + +"This," he said, "is the young man with whom you desired to speak. We +will sit down if we may. Sigismund, this is the great Herr Selingman, +philanthropist and millionaire, with his secretary, Mr. Norgate. We take +dinner with him to-night." + +The youth shook hands without enthusiasm. His manner towards Selingman +was cold. At Norgate he glanced once or twice with something approaching +curiosity. Stralhaus proceeded to make conversation. + +"Our young friend," he explained, addressing Norgate, "is an exile in +London. He belongs to an unfortunate country. He is a native of Bosnia." + +The boy's lip curled. + +"It is possible," he remarked, "that Mr. Norgate has never even heard of +my country. He is very little likely to know its history." + +"On the contrary," Norgate replied, "I know it very well. You have had +the misfortune, during the last few years, to come under Austrian rule." + +"Since you put it like that," the boy declared, "we are friends. I am one +of those who cry out to Heaven in horror at the injustice which has been +done. We love liberty, we Bosnians. We love our own people and our own +institutions, and we hate Austria. May you never know, sir, what it is to +be ruled by an alien race!" + +"You have at least the sympathy of many nations who are powerless to +interfere," Selingman said quietly. "I read your pamphlet, Mr. Henriote, +with very great interest. Before we leave to-night, I shall make a +proposal to you." + +The boy seemed puzzled for a moment, but Stralhaus intervened with some +commonplace remark. + +"After dinner," he suggested, "we will talk." + +Certainly during the progress of the meal Henriote said little. He ate, +although obviously half famished, with restraint, but although Norgate +did his best to engage him in conversation, he seemed taciturn, almost +sullen. Towards the end of dinner, when every one was smoking and coffee +had been served, Selingman glanced at his watch. + +"Now," he said, "I will tell you, my young Bosnian patriot, why I sent +for you. Would you like to go back to your country, in the first place?" + +"It is impossible!" Henriote declared bitterly, "I am exile. I am +forbidden to return under pain of death." + +Selingman opened his pocket-book, and, searching among his papers, +produced a thin blue one which he opened and passed across the table. + +"Read that," he ordered shortly. + +The young man obeyed. A sudden exclamation broke from his lips. A pink +flush, which neither the wine nor the food had produced, burned in his +cheeks. He sat hunched up, leaning forward, his eyes devouring the paper. +When he had finished, he still gripped it. + +"It is my pardon!" he cried. "I may go back home--back to Bosnia!" + +"It is your free pardon," Selingman replied, "but it is granted to you +upon conditions. Those conditions, I may say, are entirely for your +country's sake and are framed by those who feel exactly as you feel--that +Austrian rule for Bosnia is an injustice." + +"Go on," the young man muttered. "What am I to do?" + +"You are a member," Selingman went on, "of the extreme revolutionary +party, a party pledged to stop at nothing, to drive your country's +enemies across her borders. Very well, listen to me. The pardon which +you have there is granted to you without any promise having been asked +for or given in return. It is I alone who dictate terms to you. Your +country's position, her wrongs, and the abuses of the present form of +government, can only be brought before the notice of Europe in one way. +You are pledged to do that. All that I require of you is that you keep +your pledge." + +The young man half rose to his feet with excitement. + +"Keep it! Who is more anxious to keep it than I? If Europe wants to know +how we feel, she shall know! We will proclaim the wrongs of our country +so that England and Russia, France and Italy, shall hear and judge for +themselves. If you need deeds to rivet the attention of the world upon +our sufferings, then there shall be deeds. There shall--" + +He stopped short. A look of despair crossed his face. + +"But we have no money!" he exclaimed. "We patriots are starving. Our +lands have been confiscated. We have nothing. I live over here Heaven +knows how--I, Sigismund Henriote, have toiled for my living with Polish +Jews and the outcasts of Europe." + +Selingman dived once more into his pocket-book. He passed a packet across +the table. + +"Young man," he said, "that sum has been collected for your funds by the +friends of your country abroad. Take it and use it as you think best. All +that I ask from you is that what you do, you do quickly. Let me suggest +an occasion for you. The Archduke of Austria will be in your capital +almost as soon as you can reach home." + +The boy's face was transfigured. His great eyes were lit with a wonderful +fire. His frame seemed to have filled out. Norgate looked at him in +wonderment. He was like a prophet; then suddenly he grew calm. He placed +his pardon, to which was attached his passport, and the notes, in his +breast-coat pocket. He rose to his feet and took the cap from the floor +by his side. + +"There is a train to-night," he announced. "I wish you farewell, +gentlemen. I know nothing of you, sir," he added, turning to Selingman, +"and I ask no questions. I only know that you have pointed towards the +light, and for that I thank you. Good night, gentlemen!" + +He left them and walked out of the restaurant like a man in a dream. +Selingman helped himself to a liqueur and passed the bottle to Norgate. + +"It is in strange places that one may start sometimes the driving wheels +of Fate," he remarked. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + + +Anna almost threw herself from the railway carriage into Norgate's arms. +She kissed him on both cheeks, held him for a moment away from her, then +passed her arm affectionately through his. + +"You dear!" she exclaimed. "Oh, how weary I am of it! Nearly a week in +the train! And how well you are looking! And I am not going to stay a +single second bothering about luggage. Marie, give the porter my +dressing-case. Here are the keys. You can see to everything." + +Norgate, carried almost off his feet by the delight of her welcome, led +her away towards a taxicab. + +"I am starving," she told him. "I would have nothing at Dover except a +cup of tea. I knew that you would meet me, and I thought that we would +have our first meal in England together. You shall take me somewhere +where we can have supper and tell me all the news. I don't look too +hideous, do I, in my travelling clothes?" + +"You look adorable," he assured her, "and I believe you know it." + +"I have done my best," she confessed demurely. "Marie took so much +trouble with my hair. We had the most delightful coupe all to +ourselves. Fancy, we are back again in London! I have been to Italy, I +have spoken to kings and prime ministers, and I am back again with you. +And queerly enough, not until to-morrow shall I see the one person who +really rules Italy." + +"Who is that?" he asked. + +"I am not sure that I shall tell you everything," she decided. "You have +not opened your mouth to me yet. I shall wait until supper-time. Have you +changed your mind since I went away?" + +"I shall never change it," he assured her eagerly. "We are in a taxicab +and I know it's most unusual and improper, but--" + +"If you hadn't kissed me," she declared a moment later as she +leaned forward to look in the glass, "I should not have eaten a +mouthful of supper." + +They drove to the Milan Grill. It was a little early for the theatre +people, and they were almost alone in the place. Anna drew a great sigh +of content as she settled down in her chair. + +"I think I must have been lonely for a long time," she whispered, "for +it is so delightful to get back and be with you. Tell me what you have +been doing?" + +"I have been promoted," Norgate announced. "My prospective alliance with +you has completed Selingman's confidence in me. I have been entrusted +with several commissions." + +He told her of his adventures. She listened breathlessly to the account +of his dinner in Soho. + +"It is queer how all this is working out," she observed. "I knew before +that the trouble was to come through Austria. The Emperor was very +anxious indeed that it should not. He wanted to have his country brought +reluctantly into the struggle. Even at this moment I believe that if he +thought there was the slightest chance of England becoming embroiled, he +would travel to Berlin himself to plead with the Kaiser. I really don't +know why, but the one thing in Austria which would be thoroughly +unpopular would be a war with England." + +"Tell me about your mission?" he asked. + +"To a certain point," she confessed, with a little grimace, "it was +unsuccessful. I have brought a reply to the personal letter I took over +to the King. I have talked with Guillamo, the Secretary of State for +Foreign Affairs, with whom, of course, everything is supposed to rest. +What I have brought with me, however, and what I heard from Guillamo, are +nothing but a repetition of the assurances given to our Ambassador. The +few private words which I was to get I have failed in obtaining, simply +because the one person who could have spoken them is here in London." + +"Who is that?" he enquired curiously. + +"The Comtesse di Strozzi," she told him. "It is she who has directed the +foreign policy of Italy through Guillamo for the last ten years. He does +nothing without her. He is like a lost child, indeed, when she is away. +And where do you think she is? Why, here in London. She is staying at the +Italian Embassy. Signor Cardina is her cousin. The great ball to-morrow +night, of which you have read, is in her honour. You shall be my escort. +At one time I knew her quite well." + +"The Comtesse di Strozzi!" he exclaimed. "Why, she spent the whole of +last season in Paris. I saw quite a great deal of her." + +"How odd!" Anna murmured. "But how delightful! We shall be able to talk +to her together, you and I." + +"It is rather a coincidence," he admitted "She had a sort of craze to +visit some of the places in Paris where it is necessary for a woman to go +incognito, and I was always her escort. I heard from her only a few weeks +ago, and she told me that she was coming to London." + +Anna shook her head at him gaily. + +"Well," she said, "I won't indulge in any ante-jealousies. I only +hope that through her we shall get to know the truth. Are things here +still quiet?" + +"Absolutely." + +"Also in Paris. Francis, I feel so helpless. On my way I thought of +staying over, of going to see the Minister of War and placing certain +facts before him. And then I realised how little use it would all be. +They won't believe us, Francis. They would simply call us alarmists. They +won't believe that the storm is gathering." + +"Don't I know it!" Norgate assented earnestly. "Why, Hebblethwaite here +has always been a great friend of mine. I have done all I can to +influence him. He simply laughs in my face. To-day, for the first time, +he admitted that there was a slight uneasiness at the Cabinet Meeting, +and that White had referred to a certain mysterious activity throughout +Germany. Nevertheless, he has gone down to Walton Heath to play golf." + +She made a little grimace. + +"Your great Drake," she reminded him, "played bowls when the Armada +sailed. Your Cabinet Ministers will be playing golf or tennis. Oh, what a +careless country you are!--a careless, haphazard, blind, pig-headed +nation to watch over the destinies of such an Empire! I'm so tired of +politics, dear. I am so tired of all the big things that concern other +people. They press upon one. Now it is finished. You and I are alone. You +are my lover, aren't you? Remind me of it. If you will, I will discuss +the subject you mentioned the other day. Of course I shall say 'No!' I am +not nearly ready to be married yet. But I should like to hear your +arguments." + +Their heads grew closer and closer together. They were almost +touching when Selingman and Rosa Morgen came in. Selingman paused +before their table. + +"Well, well, young people!" he exclaimed. "Forgive me, Baroness, if I am +somewhat failing in respect, but the doings of this young man have become +some concern of mine." + +Her greeting was tinged with a certain condescension. She had suddenly +stiffened. There was something of the _grande dame_ in the way she held +up the tips of her fingers. + +"You do not disapprove, I trust?" + +"Baroness," Selingman declared earnestly, "it is an alliance for which no +words can express my approval. It comes at the one moment. It has riveted +to us and our interests one whose services will never be forgotten. May +I venture to hope that your journey to Italy has been productive?" + +"Not entirely as we had hoped," Anna replied, "yet the position there is +not unfavourable." + +Selingman glanced towards the table at which Miss Morgen had already +seated herself. + +"I must not neglect my duties," he remarked, turning away. + +"Especially," Anna murmured, glancing across the room, "when they might +so easily be construed into pleasures." + +Selingman beamed amiably. + +"The young lady," he said, "is more than ornamental--she is extremely +useful. From the fact that I may not be privileged to present her to you, +I must be careful that she cannot consider herself neglected. And so good +night, Baroness! Good night, Norgate!" + +He passed on. The Baroness watched him as he took his place opposite his +companion. + +"Is it my fancy," Norgate asked, "or does Selingman not meet entirely +with your approval?" + +She shrugged her shoulders. + +"It is not that," she replied. "He is a great man, in his way, the +Napoleon of the bourgeoisie, but then he is one of them himself. He +collects the whole scheme of information as to the social life and +opinions--the domestic particulars, I call them--of your country. Details +of your industries are at his finger-tips. He and I do not come into +contact. I am the trusted agent of both sovereigns, but it is only in +high diplomatic affairs that I ever intervene. Selingman, it is true, +may be considered the greatest spy who ever breathed, but a spy he is. If +we could only persuade your too amiable officials to believe one-tenth of +what we could tell them, I think our friend there would breakfast in an +English fortress, if you have such a thing." + +"We should only place him under police supervision," declared Norgate, +"and let him go. It's just our way, that's all." + +She waved the subject of Selingman on one side, but almost at that moment +he stood once more before them. He held an evening paper in his hand. + +"I bring you the news," he announced. "A terrible tragedy has happened. +The Archduke of Austria and his Consort have been assassinated on their +tour through Bosnia." + +For a moment neither Anna nor Norgate moved. Norgate felt a strange sense +of sickening excitement. It was as though the curtain had been rung up! + +"Is the assassin's name there?" he asked. + +"The crime," Selingman replied, "appears to have been committed by a +young Servian student. His name is Sigismund Henriote." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + + +They paused at last, breathless, and walked out of the most wonderful +ballroom in London into the gardens, aglow with fairy lanterns whose +brilliance was already fading before the rising moon. They found a seat +under a tall elm tree, and Anna leaned back. It was a queer mixture of +sounds which came to their ears; in the near distance, the music of a +wonderful orchestra rising and falling; further away, the roar of the +great city still awake and alive outside the boundary of those grey +stone walls. + +"Of course," she murmured, "this is the one thing which completes my +subjugation. Fancy an Englishman being able to waltz! Almost in that +beautiful room I fancied myself back in Vienna, except that it was more +wonderful because it was you." + +"You are turning my head," he whispered. "This is like a night out of +Paradise. And to think that we are really in the middle of London!" + +"Ah! do not mention London," she begged, "or else I shall begin to think +of Sodom and Gomorrah. After all, why need one live for anything else +except the present?" + +"There is the Comtesse," he reminded her disconsolately. + +She sighed. + +"How horrid of you!" + +"Let us forget her, then," he begged. "We will go into the marquee there +and have supper, and afterwards dance again. We'll steal to-night out of +the calendar. We'll call it ours and play with it as we please." + +She shook her head. + +"No," she decided, "you have reminded me of our duty, and you are quite +right. You were brought here to talk to the Comtesse. I do not know why, +but she is in a curiously impenetrable frame of mind. I tried hard to get +her to talk to me, but it was useless; you must see what you can do. +Fortunately, she seems to be absolutely delighted to have met you again. +You have a dance with her, have you not?" + +He drew out his programme reluctantly. + +"The next one, too," he sighed. + +Anna rose quickly to her feet. + +"How absurd of me to forget! Take me inside, please, and go and look for +her at once." + +"It's all very well," Norgate grumbled, "but the last time I saw her she +was about three deep among the notabilities. I really don't feel that I +ought to jostle dukes and ambassadors to claim a dance." + +"You must not be so foolish," Anna insisted. "The Comtesse cares nothing +for dukes and ambassadors, but she is most ridiculously fond of +good-looking young men. Mind, you will do better with her if you speak +entirely outside all of us. She is a very peculiar woman. If one could +only read the secrets she has stored up in her brain! Sometimes she is so +lavish with them, and at other times, and with other people, it seems as +though it would take an earthquake to force a sentence from her lips. +There she is, see, in that corner. Never mind the people around her. Go +and do your duty." + +Norgate found it easier than he had expected. She no sooner saw him +coming than she rose to her feet and welcomed him. She laid her fingers +upon his arm, and they moved away towards the ballroom. + +"I am afraid," he apologised, "that I am rather an intruder. You all +seemed so interested in listening to the Duke." + +"On the contrary, I welcome you as a deliverer," she declared. "I have +heard those stories so often, and worse than having heard them is the +necessity always to smile. The Duke is a dear good person, and he has +been exceedingly kind to me during the whole of my stay, but oh, how one +sometimes does weary oneself of this London of yours! Yet I love it. Do +you know that you were almost the first person I asked for when I arrived +here? They told me that you were in Berlin." + +"I was," he admitted. "I am in the act of being transferred." + +"Fortunate person!" she murmured. "You speak the language of all +capitals, but I cannot fancy you in Berlin." + +They had reached the edge of the ballroom. He hesitated. + +"Do you care to dance or shall we go outside and talk?" + +She smiled at him. "Both, may we not? You dear, discreet person, when I +think of the strange places where I have danced with you--Perhaps it is +better not to remember!" + +They moved away to the music and later on found their way into the +garden. The Comtesse was a little thoughtful. + +"You are a great friend of Anna's, are you not?" she enquired. + +"We are engaged to be married," he answered simply. + +She made a little grimace. + +"Ah!" she sighed, "you nice men, it comes to you all. You amuse +yourselves with us for a time, and then the real feeling comes, and where +are we? But it is queer, too," she went on thoughtfully, "that Anna +should marry an Englishman, especially just now." + +"Why 'especially just now'?" + +The Comtesse evaded the question. + +"Anna seemed always," she said, "to prefer the men of her own country. +Oh, what music! Shall we have one turn more, Mr. Francis Norgate? It is +the waltz they played--but who could expect a man to remember!" + +They plunged again into the crowd of dancers. The Comtesse was breathless +yet exhilarated when at last they emerged. + +"But you dance, as ever, wonderfully!" she cried. "You make me think of +those days in Paris. You make me even sad." + +"They remain," he assured her, "one of the most pleasant memories +of my life." + +She patted his hand affectionately. Then her tone changed. + +"Almost," she declared, "you have driven all other things out of my +mind. What is it that Anna is so anxious to know from me? You are in her +confidence, she tells me." + +"Entirely." + +"That again is strange," the Comtesse continued, "when one considers your +nationality, yet Anna herself has assured me of it. Do you know that she +is a person whom I very much envy? Her life is so full of variety. She is +the special protegee of the Emperor. No woman at Vienna is more trusted." + +"I am not sure," Norgate observed, "that she was altogether satisfied +with the results of her visit to Rome." + +The Comtesse's fan fluttered slowly back and forth. She looked for a +moment or two idly upon the brilliant scene. The smooth garden paths, the +sheltered seats, the lawns themselves, were crowded with little throngs +of women in exquisite toilettes, men in uniform and Court dress. There +were well-known faces everywhere. It was the crowning triumph of a +wonderful London season. + +"Anna's was a very difficult mission," the Comtesse pointed out +confidentially. "There is really no secret about these matters. The whole +world knows of Italy's position. A few months ago, at the time of what +you call the Balkan Crisis, Germany pressed us very hard for a definite +assurance of our support, under any conditions, of the Triple Alliance. I +remember that Andrea was three hours with the King that day, and our +reply was unacceptable in Berlin. It may have helped to keep the peace. +One cannot tell. The Kaiser's present letter is simply a repetition of +his feverish attempt to probe our intentions." + +"But at present," Norgate ventured, "there is no Balkan Crisis." + +The Comtesse looked at him lazily out of the corners of her sleepy eyes. + +"Is there not?" she asked simply. "I have been away from Italy for a week +or so, and Andrea trusts nothing to letters. Yesterday I had a dispatch +begging me to return. I go to-morrow morning. I do not know whether it is +because of the pressure of affairs, or because he wearies himself a +little without me." + +"One might easily imagine the latter," Norgate remarked. "But is it +indeed any secret to you that there is a great feeling of uneasiness +throughout the Continent, an extraordinary state of animation, a bustle, +although a secret bustle, of preparation in Germany?" + +"I have heard rumours of this," the Comtesse confessed. + +"When one bears these things in mind and looks a little into the future," +Norgate continued, "one might easily believe that the reply to that still +unanswered letter of the Kaiser's might well become historical." + +"You would like me, would you not," she asked, "to tell you what that +reply will most certainly be?" + +"Very much!" + +"You are an Englishman," she remarked thoughtfully, "and intriguing with +Anna. I fear that I do not understand the position." + +"Must you understand it?" + +"Perhaps not," she admitted. "It really matters very little. I will speak +to you just in the only way I can speak, as a private individual. I tell +you that I do not believe that Andrea will ever, under any circumstances, +join in any war against England, nor any war which has for its object the +crushing of France. In his mind the Triple Alliance was the most selfish +alliance which any country has ever entered into, but so long as the +other two Powers understood the situation, it was scarcely Italy's part +to point out the fact that she gained everything by it and risked +nothing. Italy has sheltered herself for years under its provisions, but +neither at the time of signing it, nor at any other time, has she had the +slightest intention of joining in an aggressive war at the request of her +allies. You see, her Government felt themselves safe--and I think that +that was where Andrea was so clever--in promising to fulfil their +obligations in case of an attack by any other Power upon Germany or +Austria, because it was perfectly certain to Andrea, and to every person +of common sense, that no such aggressive attack would ever be made. You +read Austria's demands from Servia in the paper this morning?" + +"I did," Norgate admitted. "No one in the world could find them +reasonable." + +"They are not meant to be reasonable," the Comtesse pointed out. "They +are the foundation from which the world quarrel shall spring. Russia +must intervene to protect Servia from their hideous injustice. Germany +and Austria will throw down the gage. Germany may be right or she may be +wrong, but she believes she can count on Great Britain's neutrality. She +needs our help and believes she will get it. That is because German +diplomacy always believes that it is going to get what it wants. Now, in +a few words, I will tell you what the German Emperor would give me a +province to know. I will tell you that no matter what the temptation, +what the proffered reward may be, Italy will not join in this war on the +side of Germany and Austria." + +"You are very kind, Comtesse," Norgate said simply, "and I shall respect +your confidence." + +She rose and laid her fingers upon his arm. + +"To people whom I like," she declared, "I speak frankly. I give away no +secrets. I say what I believe. And now I must leave you for a much +subtler person and a much subtler conversation. Prince Herschfeld is +waiting to talk to me. Perhaps he, too, would like to know the answer +which will go to his master, but how can I tell?" + +The Ambassador had paused before them. The Comtesse rose and +accepted his arm. + +"I shall take away with me to-night at least two charming memories," she +assured him, as she gathered up her skirts. "My two dances, Mr. Norgate, +have been delightful. Now I am equally sure of entertainment of another +sort from Prince Herschfeld." + +The Prince bowed. + +"Ah! madame," he sighed, "it is so hard to compete with youth. I fear +that the feet of Mr. Norgate will be nimbler than my brain to-night." + +She nodded sympathetically. + +"You are immersed in affairs, of course," she murmured. "Au revoir, Mr. +Norgate! Give my love to Anna. Some day I hope that I shall welcome you +both in Rome." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII + + +Norgate pushed his way through a confused medley of crates which had just +been unloaded and made his way up the warehouse to Selingman's office. +Selingman was engaged for a few minutes but presently opened the door of +his sanctum and called his visitor in. + +"Well, my young friend," he exclaimed, "you have brought news? Sit down. +This is a busy morning. We have had large shipments from Germany. I have +appointments with buyers most of the day, yet I can talk to you for a +little time. You were at the ball last night?" + +"I was permitted to escort the Baroness von Haase," Norgate replied. + +Selingman nodded ponderously. + +"I ask you no questions," he said. "The Baroness works on a higher plane. +I know more than you would believe, though. I know why the dear lady went +to Rome; I know why she was at the ball. I know in what respect you were +probably able to help her. But I ask no questions. We work towards a +common end, but we work at opposite ends of the pole. Curiosity alone +would be gratified if you were to tell me everything that transpired." + +"You keep yourself marvellously well-informed as to most things, don't +you, Mr. Selingman?" Norgate remarked. + +"Platitudes, young man, platitudes," Selingman declared, "words of air. +What purpose have they? You know who I am. I hold in my hand a thousand +strings. Any one that I pull will bring an answering message to my brain. +Come, what is it you wish to say to me?" + +"I am doing my work for you," Norgate remarked, "and doing it +extraordinarily well. I do not object to a certain amount of +surveillance, but I am getting fed up with Boko." + +"Who the hell is Boko?" Selingman demanded. + +"I must apologise," Norgate replied. "A nickname only. He is a little +red-faced man who looks like a children's toy and changes his clothes +about seven times a day. He is with me from the moment I rise to the last +thing at night. He is getting on my nerves. I am fast drifting into the +frame of mind when one looks under the bed before one can sleep." + +"Young man," Selingman said, "a month ago you were a person of no +importance. To-day, so far as I am concerned, you are a treasure-casket. +You hold secrets. You have a great value to us. Every one in your +position is watched; it is part of our system. If the man for whom you +have found so picturesque a nickname annoys you, he shall be changed. +That is the most I can promise you." + +"You don't trust me altogether, then?" Norgate observed coolly. + +Selingman tapped on the table in front of him with his pudgy forefinger. + +"Norgate," he declared solemnly, "trust is a personal matter. I have no +personal feelings. I am a machine. All the work I do is done by +machinery, the machinery of thought, the machinery of action. These are +the only means by which sentiment can be barred and the curious +fluctuations of human temperament guarded against. If you were my son, or +if you had dropped straight down from Heaven with a letter of +introduction from the proper quarters, you would still be under my +surveillance." + +"That seems to settle the matter," Norgate confessed, "so I suppose I +mustn't grumble. Yours is rather a bloodless philosophy." + +"Perhaps," Selingman assented. "You see me as I sit here, a merchant of +crockery, and I am a kind person. If I saw suffering, I should pause to +ease it. If a wounded insect lay in my path, I should step out of my way +to avoid it. But if my dearest friend, my nearest relation, seemed likely +to me to do one fraction of harm to the great cause, I should without one +second's compunction arrange for their removal as inevitably, and with as +little hesitation, as I leave this place at one o'clock for my luncheon." + +Norgate shrugged his shoulders. + +"One apparently runs risks in serving you," he remarked. + +"What risks?" Selingman asked keenly. + +"The risk of being misunderstood, of making mistakes." + +"Pooh!" Selingman exclaimed. "I do not like the man who talks of risks. +Let us dismiss this conversation. I have work for you." + +Norgate assumed a more interested attitude. + +"I am ready," he said. "Go on, please." + +"A movement is on foot," Selingman proceeded, "to establish manufactories +in this country for the purpose of producing my crockery. A very large +company will be formed, a great part of the money towards which is +already subscribed. We have examined several sites with a view to +building factories, but I have not cared at present to open up direct +negotiations. A rumour of our enterprise is about, and the price of the +land we require would advance considerably if the prospective purchaser +were known. The land is situated, half an acre at Willesden, +three-quarters of an acre at Golder's Hill, and an acre at Highgate. I +wish you to see the agents for the sale of these properties. I have +ascertained indirectly the price, which you will find against each lot, +with the agent's name," Selingman continued, passing across a folded slip +of foolscap. "You will treat in your own name and pay the deposit +yourself. Try and secure all three plots to-day, so that the lawyers can +prepare the deeds and my builder can make some preparatory plans there +during the week." + +Norgate accepted the little bundle of papers with some surprise. Enclosed +with them was a thick wad of bank-notes. + +"There are two thousand pounds there for your deposits," Selingman +continued. "If you need more, telephone to me, but understand I want to +start to work laying the foundations within the next few days." + +"I'll do the best I can," Norgate promised, "but this is rather a change +for me, isn't it? Will Boko come along?" + +Selingman smiled for a moment, but immediately afterwards his face was +almost stern. + +"Young man," he said, "from the moment you pledged your brains to my +service, every action of your day has been recorded. From one of my +pigeonholes I could draw out a paper and tell you where you lunched +yesterday, where you dined the day before, whom you met and with whom you +talked, and so it will be until our work is finished." + +"So long as I know," Norgate sighed, rising to his feet, "I'll try to get +used to him." + +Norgate found no particular difficulty in carrying out the commissions +entrusted to him. The sale of land is not an everyday affair, and he +found the agents exceedingly polite and prompt. The man with whom he +arranged the purchase of about three quarters of an acre of building land +at Golder's Green, on the conclusion of the transaction exhibited some +little curiosity. + +"Queer thing," he remarked, "but I sold half an acre, a month or two ago, +to a man who came very much as you come to-day. Might have been a +foreigner. Said he was going to put up a factory to make boots and shoes. +He is not going to start to build until next year, but he wanted a very +solid floor to stand heavy machinery. Look here." + +The agent climbed upon a pile of bricks, and Norgate followed his +example. There was a boarded space before them, with scaffolding poles +all around, but no other signs of building, and the interior consisted +merely of a perfectly smooth concrete floor. + +"That's the queerest way of setting about building a factory I ever saw," +the man pointed out. + +Norgate, who was not greatly interested, assented. The agent escorted him +back to his taxicab. + +"Of course, it's not my business," he admitted, "and you needn't say +anything about this to your principals, but I hope they don't stop with +laying down concrete floors. Of course, money for the property is the +chief thing we want, but we do want factories and the employment of +labour, and the sooner the better. This fellow--Reynolds, he said his +name was--pays up for the property all right, has that concrete floor +prepared, and clears off." + +"Raising the money to build, perhaps," Norgate remarked. "I don't think +there's any secret about my people's intentions. They are going to build +factories for the manufacture of crockery." + +The agent brightened up. + +"Well, that's a new industry, anyway. Crockery, eh?" + +"It's a big German firm in Cannon Street," Norgate explained. "They are +going to make the stuff here. That ought to be better for our people." + +The young man nodded. + +"I expect they're afraid of tariff reform," he suggested. "Those Germans +see a long way ahead sometimes." + +"I am beginning to believe that they do," Norgate assented, as he stepped +into the taxi. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII + + +Norgate walked into the club rather late that afternoon. Selingman and +Prince Lenemaur were talking together in the little drawing-room. They +called him in, and a few minutes later the Prince took his leave. + +"Well, that's all arranged," Norgate reported. "I have bought the three +sites. There was only one thing the fellow down at Golder's Hill was +anxious about." + +"And that?" + +"He hoped you weren't just going to put down a concrete floor and then +shut the place up." + +Mr. Selingman's amiable imperturbability was for once disturbed. + +"What did the fellow mean?" he enquired. + +"Haven't an idea," Norgate replied, "but he made me stand on a pile of +bricks and look at a strip of land which some one else had bought upon a +hill close by. I suppose they want the factories built as quickly as +possible, and work-people around the place." + +"I shall have two hundred men at work to-morrow morning," Selingman +remarked. "If that agent had not been a very ignorant person, he would +have known that a concrete floor is a necessity to any factory where +heavy machinery is used." + +"Is it?" Norgate asked simply. + +"Any other question?" Selingman demanded. + +"None at all." + +"Then we will go and play bridge." + +They cut into the same rubber. Selingman, however, was not at first +entirely himself. He played his cards in silence, and he once very nearly +revoked. Mrs. Benedek took him to task. + +"Dear man," she said, "we rely upon you so much, and to-day you fail to +amuse us. What is there upon your mind? Let us console you, if we can." + +"Dear lady, it is nothing," Selingman assured her. "My company is +planning big developments in connection with our business. The details +afford me much food for thought. My attention, I fear, sometimes wanders. +Forgive me, I will make amends. When the day comes that my new factories +start work, I will give such a party as was never seen. I will invite you +all. We will have a celebration that every one shall talk of. And +meanwhile, behold! I will wander no longer. I declare no trumps." + +Selingman for a time was himself again. When he cut out, however, he +fidgeted a little restlessly around the room and watched Norgate share +the same fate with an air of relief. He laid his hand upon the +latter's arm. + +"Come into the other room, Norgate," he invited. "I have something to +say to you." + +Norgate obeyed at once, but the room was already occupied. A little blond +lady was entertaining a soldier friend at tea. She withdrew her head +from somewhat suspicious proximity to her companion's at their entrance +and greeted Selingman with innocent surprise. + +"How queer that you should come in just then, Mr. Selingman!" she +exclaimed. "We were talking about Germany, Captain Fielder and I." + +Selingman beamed upon them both. He was entirely himself again. He looked +as though the one thing in life he had desired was to find Mrs. Barlow +and her military companion in possession of the little drawing-room. + +"My country is flattered," he declared, "especially," he added, with a +twinkle in his eyes, "as the subject seemed to be proving so +interesting." + +She made a little grimace at him. + +"Seriously, Mr. Selingman," she continued, "Captain Fielder and I have +been almost quarrelling. He insists upon it that some day or other +Germany means to declare war upon us. I have been trying to point out +that before many years have passed England and France will have drifted +apart. Germany is the nearest to us of the continental nations, isn't +she, by relationship and race?" + +"Mrs. Barlow," Selingman pronounced, "yours is the most sensible allusion +to international politics which I have heard for many years. You are +right. If I may be permitted to say so," he added, "Captain Fielder is +wrong. Germany has no wish to fight with any one. The last country in the +world with whom she would care to cross swords is England." + +"If Germany does not wish for war," Captain Fielder persisted, "why does +she keep such an extraordinary army? Why does she continually add to her +navy? Why does she infest our country with spies and keep all her +preparations as secret as possible?" + +"Of these things I know little," Selingman confessed, "I am a +manufacturer, and I have few friends among the military party. But this +we all believe, and that is that the German army and navy are our +insurance against trouble from the east. They are there so that in case +of political controversy we shall have strength at our back when we seek +to make favourable terms. As to using that strength, God forbid!" + +The little lady threw a triumphant glance across at her companion. + +"There, Captain Fielder," she declared, "you have heard what a typical, +well-informed, cultivated German gentleman has to say. I rely much more +upon Mr. Selingman than upon any of the German reviews or official +statements of policy." + +Captain Fielder was bluntly unconvinced. + +"Mr. Selingman, without doubt," he agreed, "may represent popular and +cultivated German opinion. The only thing is whether the policy of the +country is dictated by that class. Do you happen to have seen the +afternoon papers?" + +"Not yet," Mr. Selingman admitted. "Is there any news?" + +"There is the full text," Captain Fielder continued, "of Austria's +demands upon Servia. I may be wrong, but I say confidently that those +demands, which are impossible of acceptance, which would reduce Servia, +in fact, to the condition of a mere vassal state, are intended to provoke +a state of war." + +Mr. Selingman shook his head. + +"I have seen the proposals," he remarked. "They were in the second +edition of the morning papers. They are onerous, without a doubt, but +remember that as you go further east, all diplomacy becomes a matter of +barter. They ask for so much first because they are prepared to take a +great deal less." + +"It is my opinion," Captain Fielder pronounced, "that these demands are +couched with the sole idea of inciting Russia's intervention. There is +already a report that Servia has appealed to St. Petersburg. It is quite +certain that Russia, as the protector of the Slav nations, can never +allow Servia to be humbled to this extent." + +"Even then," Mr. Selingman protested good-humouredly, "Austria is +not Germany." + +"There are very few people," Captain Fielder continued, "who do not +realise that Austria is acting exactly as she is bidden by Germany. +To-morrow you will find that Russia has intervened. If Vienna disregards +her, there will be mobilisation along the frontiers. It is my private and +very firm impression that Germany is mobilising to-day, and secretly." + +Mr. Selingman laughed good-humouredly. + +"Well, well," he said, "let us hope it is not quite so bad as that." + +"You are frightening me, Captain Fielder," Mrs. Barlow declared. "I am +going to take you off to play bridge." + +They left the room. Selingman looked after them a little curiously. + +"Your military friend," he remarked, "is rather a pessimist." + +"Well, we haven't many of them," Norgate replied. "Nine people out of ten +believe that a war is about as likely to come as an earthquake." + +Selingman glanced towards the closed door. + +"Supposing," he said, dropping his voice a little, "supposing I were to +tell you, young man, that I entirely agreed with your friend? Supposing I +were to tell you that, possibly by accident, he has stumbled upon the +exact truth? What would you say then?" + +Norgate shrugged his shoulders. + +"Well," he observed, "we've agreed, haven't we, that a little +lesson would be good for England? It might as well come now as at +any other time." + +"It will not come yet," Mr. Selingman went on, "but I will tell you what +is going to happen." + +His voice had fallen almost to a whisper, his manner had become +portentous. + +"Within a week or two," he said, "Germany and Austria will have declared +war upon Russia and Servia and France. Italy will join the allies--that +you yourself know. As for England, her time has not come yet. We shall +keep her neutral. All the recent information which we have collected +makes it clear that she is not in a position to fight, even if she wished +to. Nevertheless, to make a certainty of it, we shall offer her great +inducements. We shall be ready to deal with her when Calais, Ostend, +Boulogne, and Havre are held by our armies. Now listen, do you flinch?" + +The two men were still standing in the middle of the room. Selingman's +brows were lowered, his eyes were keen and hard-set. He had gripped +Norgate by the left shoulder and held him with his face to the light. + +"Speak up," he insisted. "It is now or never, if you mean to go through +with this. You're not funking it, eh?" + +"Not in the least," Norgate declared. + +For the space of almost thirty seconds Selingman did not remove his gaze. +All the time his hand was like a vice upon Norgate's shoulder. + +"Very well," he said at last, "you represent rather a gamble on my +part, but I am not afraid of the throw. Come back to our bridge now. +It was just a moment's impulse--I saw something in your face. You +realise, I suppose--but there, I won't threaten you. Come back and +we'll drink a mixed vermouth together. The next few days are going to +be rather a strain." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV + + +Norgate's expression was almost one of stupefaction. He looked at the +slim young man who had entered his sitting-room a little diffidently and +for a moment he was speechless. + +"Well, I'm hanged!" he murmured at last. "Hardy, you astonish me!" + +"The clothes are a perfect fit, sir," the man observed, "and I think that +we are exactly the same height." + +Norgate took a cigarette from an open box, tapped it against the table +and lit it. He was fascinated, however, by the appearance of the man who +stood respectfully in the background. + +"Talk about clothes making the man!" he exclaimed. "Why, Hardy, do you +realise your possibilities? You could go into my club and dine, order +jewels from my jeweller. I am not at all sure that you couldn't take my +place at a dinner-party." + +The man smiled deprecatingly. + +"Not quite that, I am sure, sir. If I may be allowed to say so, though, +when you were good enough to give me the blue serge suit a short time +ago, and a few of your old straw hats, two or three gentlemen stopped me +under the impression that I was you. I should not have mentioned it, sir, +but for the present circumstances." + +"And no wonder!" Norgate declared. "If this weren't really a serious +affair, Hardy, I should be inclined to make a little humorous use of you. +That isn't what I want now, though. Listen. Put on one of my black +overcoats and a silk hat, get the man to call you a taxi up to the door, +and drive to Smith's Hotel. You will enquire for the suite of the +Baroness von Haase. The Baroness will allow you to remain in her rooms +for half an hour. At the end of that time you will return here, change +your clothes, and await any further orders." + +"Very good, sir," the man replied. + +"Help yourself to cigarettes," Norgate invited, passing the box across. +"Do the thing properly. Sit well back in the taxicab, although I'm +hanged if I think that my friend Boko stands an earthly. Plenty of money +in your pocket?" + +"Plenty, thank you, sir." + +The man left the room, and Norgate, after a brief delay, followed his +example. A glance up and down the courtyard convinced him that Boko had +disappeared. He jumped into a taxi, gave an address in Belgrave Square, +and within a quarter of an hour was ushered into the presence of Mr. +Spencer Wyatt, who was seated at a writing-table covered with papers. + +"Mr. Norgate, isn't it?" the latter remarked briskly. "I had Mr. +Hebblethwaite's note, and I am very pleased to give you five minutes. Sit +down, won't you, and fire away." + +"Did Mr. Hebblethwaite give you any idea as to what I wanted?" +Norgate asked. + +"Better read his note," the other replied, pushing it across the table +with a little smile. + +Norgate took it up and read:-- + +"My dear Spencer Wyatt, + +"A young friend of mine, Francis Norgate, who has been in the Diplomatic +Service for some years and is home just now from Berlin under +circumstances which you may remember, has asked me to give him a line of +introduction to you which will secure him an interview during to-day. +Here is that line. Norgate is a young man for whom I have a great +friendship. I consider him possessed of unusual intelligence and many +delightful gifts, but, like many others of us, he is a crank. You can +listen with interest to anything he may have to say to you, unless he +speaks of Germany. That's his weak point. On any other subject he is as +sane as the best of us. + +"Many thanks. Certainly I am coming to the Review. We are all looking +forward to it immensely. + +"Ever yours, + +"JOHN W. HEBBLETHWAITE." + +Norgate set down the letter. + +"There are two points of view, Mr. Spencer Wyatt," he said, "as to +Germany. Mr. Hebblethwaite believes that I am an alarmist. I know that I +am not. This isn't any ordinary visit of mine. I have come to see you on +the most urgent matter which any one could possibly conceive. I have come +to give you the chance to save our country from the worst disaster that +has ever befallen her." + +Mr. Spencer Wyatt looked at his visitor steadily. His eyebrows had drawn +a little closer together. He remained silent, however. + +"I talk about the things I know of," Norgate continued. "By chance I +have been associated during the last few weeks with the head of the +German spies who infest this country. I have joined his ranks; I have +become a double traitor. I do his work, but every report I hand in is a +false one." + +"Do you realise quite what you are saying, Mr. Norgate?" + +"Realise it?" Norgate repeated. "My God! Do you think I come here to say +these things to you for dramatic effect, or from a sense of humour, or as +a lunatic? Every word I shall say to you is the truth. At the present +moment there isn't a soul who seriously believes that England is going to +be drawn into what the papers describe as a little eastern trouble. I +want to tell you that that little eastern trouble has been brought about +simply with the idea of provoking a European war. Germany is ready to +strike at last, and this is her moment. Not a fortnight ago I sat +opposite the boy Henriote in a cafe in Soho. My German friend handed him +the money to get back to his country and to buy bombs. It's all part of +the plot. Austria's insane demands are part of the plot; they are meant +to drag Russia in. Russia must protest; she must mobilise. Germany is +secretly mobilising at this moment. She will declare war against Russia, +strike at France through Belgium. She will appeal to us for our +neutrality." + +"These are wonderful things you are saying, Mr. Norgate!" + +"I am telling you the simple truth," Norgate went on, "and the +history of our country doesn't hold anything more serious or more +wonderful. Shall I come straight to the point? I promised to reach it +within five minutes." + +"Take your own time," the other replied. "My work is unimportant enough +by the side of the things you speak of. You honestly believe that Germany +is provoking a war against Russia and France?" + +"I know it," Norgate went on. "She believes--Germany believes--that +Italy will come in. She also believes, from false information that she +has gathered in this country, that under no circumstances will England +fight. It isn't about that I came to you. We've become a slothful, slack, +pleasure-loving people, but I still believe that when the time comes we +shall fight. The only thing is that we shall be taken at a big +disadvantage. We shall be open to a raid upon our fleet. Do you know that +the entire German navy is at Kiel?" + +Mr. Wyatt nodded. "Manoeuvres," he murmured. + +"Their manoeuvre," Norgate continued earnestly, "is to strike one great +blow at our scattered forces. Mr. Spencer Wyatt, I have come here to warn +you. I don't understand the workings of your department. I don't know to +whom you are responsible for any step you might take. But I have come to +warn you that possibly within a few days, probably within a week, +certainly within a fortnight, England will be at war." + +Mr. Wyatt glanced down at Hebblethwaite's letter. + +"You are rather taking my breath away, Mr. Norgate!" + +"I can't help it, sir," Norgate said simply. "I know that what I am +telling you must sound like a fairy tale. I beg you to take it from me as +the truth." + +"But," Mr. Spencer Wyatt remarked, "if you have come into all this +information, Mr. Norgate, why didn't you go to your friend Hebblethwaite? +Why haven't you communicated with the police and given this German spy of +yours into charge?" + +"I have been to Hebblethwaite, and I have been to Scotland Yard," Norgate +told him firmly, "and all that I have got for my pains has been a snub. +They won't believe in German spies. Mr. Wyatt, you are a man of a little +different temperament and calibre from those others. I tell you that all +of them in the Cabinet have their heads thrust deep down into the sand. +They won't listen to me. They wouldn't believe a word of what I am saying +to you, but it's true." + +Mr. Spencer Wyatt leaned back in his chair. He had folded his arms. He +was looking over the top of his desk across the room. His eyebrows were +knitted, his thoughts had wandered away. For several moments there was +silence. Then at last he rose to his feet, unlocked the safe which stood +by his side, and took out a solid chart dotted in many places with little +flags, each one of which bore the name of a ship. He looked at it +attentively. + +"That's the position of every ship we own, at six o'clock this evening," +he pointed out. "It's true we are scattered. We are purposely scattered +because of the Review. On Monday morning I go down to the Admiralty, and +I give the word. Every ship you see represented by those little flags, +moves in one direction." + +"In other words," Norgate remarked, "it is a mobilisation." + +"Exactly!" + +Norgate leaned forward in his chair. + +"You're coming to what I want to suggest," he proceeded. "Listen. You can +do it, if you like. Go down to the Admiralty to-night. Give that order. +Set the wireless going. Mobilise the fleet to-night." + +Mr. Wyatt looked steadfastly at his companion. His fingers were +restlessly stroking his chin, his eyes seemed to be looking through +his visitor. + +"But it would be a week too soon," he muttered. + +"Risk it," Norgate begged. "You have always the Review to fall back upon. +The mobilisation, to be effective, should be unexpected. Mobilise +to-morrow. I am telling you the truth, sir, and you'll know it before +many days are passed. Even if I have got hold of a mare's nest, you know +there's trouble brewing. England will be in none the worse position to +intervene for peace, if her fleet is ready to strike." + +Mr. Spencer Wyatt rose to his feet. He seemed somehow an altered man. + +"Look here," he announced gravely, "I am going for the gamble. If I have +been misled, there will probably be an end of my career. I tell you +frankly, I believe in you. I believe in the truth of the things you talk +about. I risked everything, only a few weeks ago, on my belief. I'll risk +my whole career now. Keep your mouth shut; don't say a word. Until +to-morrow you will be the only man in England who knows it. I am going to +mobilise the fleet to-night. Shake hands, Mr. Norgate. You're either the +best friend or the worst foe I've ever had. My coat and hat," he ordered +the servant who answered his summons. "Tell your mistress, if she +enquires, that I have gone down to the Admiralty on special business." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV + + +Anna passed her hand through Norgate's arm and led him forcibly away from +the shop window before which they had been standing. + +"My mind is absolutely made up," she declared firmly. "I adore +shopping, I love Bond Street, and I rather like you, but I will have no +more trifles, as you call them. If you do not obey, I shall gaze into +the next tobacconist's window we pass, and go in and buy you all sorts +of unsmokable and unusable things. And, oh, dear, here is the Count! I +feel like a child who has played truant from school. What will he do to +me, Francis?" + +"Don't worry, dear," Norgate laughed. "We're coming to the end of this +tutelage, you know." + +Count Lanyoki, who had stopped his motor-car, came across the street +towards them. He was, as usual, irreproachably attired. He wore white +gaiters, patent shoes, and a grey, tall hat. His black hair, a little +thin at the forehead, was brushed smoothly back. His moustache, also +black but streaked with grey, was twisted upwards. He had, as always, the +air of having just left the hands of his valet. + +"Dear Baroness," he exclaimed, as he accosted her, "London has been +searched for you! At the Embassy my staff are reduced to despair. +Telephones, notes, telegrams, and personal calls have been in vain. +Since lunch-time yesterday it seemed to us that you must have found some +other sphere in which to dwell." + +"Perhaps I have," Anna laughed. "I am so sorry to have given you all this +trouble, but yesterday--well, let me introduce, if I may, my husband, Mr. +Francis Norgate. We were married by special license yesterday afternoon." + +The Count's amazement was obvious. Diplomatist though he was, it was +several seconds before he could collect himself and rise to the +situation. He broke off at last, however, in the midst of a string of +interjections and realised his duties. + +"My dear Baroness," he said, "my dear lady, let me wish you every +happiness. And you, sir," he added, turning to Norgate, "you must have, +without a doubt, my most hearty congratulations. There! That is said. And +now to more serious matters. Baroness, have you not always considered +yourself the ward of the Emperor?" + +She nodded. + +"His Majesty has been very kind to me," she admitted. "At the same time, +I feel that I owe more to myself than I do to him. His first essay at +interfering in my affairs was scarcely a happy one, was it?" + +"Perhaps not," the Count replied. "And yet, think what you have done! You +have married an Englishman!" + +"I thought English people were quite popular in Vienna," Anna +reminded him. + +The Count hesitated. "That," he declared, "is scarcely the question. +What troubles me most is that forty-eight hours ago I brought you a +dispatch from the Emperor." + +"You brought," Anna pointed out, "what really amounted to an order to +return at once to Vienna. Well, you see, I have disobeyed it." + +They were standing at the corner of Clifford Street, and the Count, with +a little gesture, led the way into the less crowded thoroughfare. + +"Dear Baroness," he continued, as they walked slowly along, "I am placed +now in a most extraordinary position. The Emperor's telegram was of +serious import. It cannot be that you mean to disobey his summons?" + +"Well, I really couldn't put off being married, could I," Anna protested, +"especially when my husband had just got the special license. Besides, I +do not wish to return to Vienna just now." + +The Count glanced at Norgate and appeared to deliberate for a moment. + +"The state of affairs in the East," he said, "is such that it is +certainly wiser for every one just now to be within the borders of their +own country." + +"You believe that things are serious?" Anna enquired. "You believe, then, +that real trouble is at hand?" + +"I fear so," the Count acknowledged. "It appears to us that Servia has a +secret understanding with Russia, or she would not have ventured upon +such an attitude as she is now adopting towards us. If that be so, the +possibilities of trouble are immense, almost boundless. That is why, +Baroness, the Emperor has sent for you. That is why I think you should +not hesitate to at once obey his summons." + +Anna looked up at her companion, her eyes wide open, a little smile +parting her lips. + +"But, Count," she exclaimed, "you seem to forget! A few days ago, all +that you say to me was reasonable enough, but to-day there is a great +difference, is there not? I have married an Englishman. Henceforth this +is my country." + +There was a moment's silence. The Count seemed dumbfounded. He stared at +Anna as though unable to grasp the meaning of her words. + +"Forgive me, Baroness!" he begged. "I cannot for the moment realise the +significance of this thing. Do you mean me to understand that you +consider yourself now an Englishwoman?" + +"I do indeed," she assented. "There are many ties which still bind me to +Austria--ties, Count," she proceeded, looking him in the face, "of which +I shall be mindful. Yet I am not any longer the Baroness von Haase. I am +Mrs. Francis Norgate, and I have promised to obey my husband in all +manner of ridiculous things. At the same time, may I add something which +will, perhaps, help you to accept the position with more philosophy? My +husband is a friend of Herr Selingman's." + +The Count glanced quickly towards Norgate. There was some relief in his +face--a great deal of distrust, however. + +"Baroness," he said, "my advice to you, for your own good entirely, is, +with all respect to your husband, that you shorten your honeymoon and +pay your respects to the Emperor. I think that you owe it to him. I think +that you owe it to your country." + +Anna for a moment was grave again. + +"Just at present," she pronounced, "I realise one debt only, and that is +to my husband. I will come to the Embassy to-morrow and discuss these +matters with you, Count, but whether my husband accompanies me or not, I +have now no secrets from him." + +"The position, then," the Count declared, "is intolerable. May I ask +whether you altogether realise, Baroness; what this means? The Emperor is +your guardian. All your estates are subject to his jurisdiction. It is +his command that you return to Vienna." + +Anna laughed again. She passed her fingers through Norgate's arm. + +"You see," she explained, as they stood for a moment at the corner of the +street, "I have a new emperor now, and he will not let me go." + + * * * * * + +Selingman frowned a little as he recognised his visitor. Nevertheless, +he rose respectfully to his feet and himself placed a chair by the side +of his desk. + +"My dear Count!" he exclaimed. "I am very glad to see you, but this is an +unusual visit. I would have met you somewhere, or come to the Embassy. +Have we not agreed that it was well for Herr Selingman, the crockery +manufacturer--" + +"That is all very well, Selingman," the Count interrupted, "but this +morning I have had a shock. It was necessary for me to talk with you at +once. In Bond Street I met the Baroness von Haase. For twenty-four hours +London has been ransacked in vain for her. This you may not know, but I +will now tell you. She has been our trusted agent, the trusted agent of +the Emperor, in many recent instances. She has carried secrets in her +brain, messages to different countries. There is little that she does not +know. The last twenty-four hours, as I say, I have sought for her. The +Emperor requires her presence in Vienna. I meet her in Bond Street this +morning and she introduces to me her husband, an English husband, Mr. +Francis Norgate!" + +He drew back a little, with outstretched hands. Selingman's face, +however, remained expressionless. + +"Married already!" he commented. "Well, that is rather a surprise." + +"A surprise? To be frank, it terrifies me!" the Count cried. "Heaven +knows what that woman could tell an Englishman, if she chose! And her +manner--I did not like it. The only reassuring thing about it was that +she told me that her husband was one of your men." + +"Quite true," Selingman assented. "He is. It is only recently that he +came to us, but I do not mind telling you that during the last few weeks +no one has done such good work. He is the very man we needed." + +"You have trusted him?" + +"I trust or I do not trust," Selingman replied. "That you know. I have +employed this young man in very useful work. I cannot blindfold him. +He knows." + +"Then I fear treachery," the Count declared. + +"Have you any reason for saying that?" Selingman asked. + +The Count lit a cigarette with trembling fingers. + +"Listen," he said, "always, my friend, you undervalue a little the +English race. You undervalue their intelligence, their patriotism, their +poise towards the serious matters of life. I know nothing of Mr. Francis +Norgate save what I saw this morning. He is one of that type of +Englishmen, clean-bred, well-born, full of reserve, taciturn, yet, I +would swear, honourable. I know the type, and I do not believe in such a +man being your servant." + +The shadow of anxiety crossed Selingman's face. + +"Have you any reason for saying this?" he repeated. + +"No reason save the instinct which is above reason," the Count replied +quickly. "I know that if the Baroness and he put their heads together, we +may be under the shadow of catastrophe." + +Selingman sat with folded arms for several moments. + +"Count," he said at last, "I appreciate your point of view. You have, I +confess, disturbed me. Yet of this young man I have little fear. I did +not approach him by any vulgar means. I took, as they say here, the bull +by the horns. I appealed to his patriotism." + +"To what?" the Count demanded incredulously. + +"To his patriotism," Selingman repeated. "I showed him the decadence of +his country, decadence visible through all her institutions, through her +political tendencies, through her young men of all classes. I convinced +him that what the country needed was a bitter tonic, a kind but +chastening hand. I convinced him of this. He believes that he betrays his +country for her ultimate good. As I told you before, he has brought me +information which is simply invaluable. He has a position and connections +which are unique." + +The Count drew his chair a little nearer. + +"You say that he has done you great service," he said. "Well, you must +admit for yourself that the day is too near now for much more to be +expected. Could you not somehow guard against his resolution breaking +down at the last moment? Think what it may mean to him--the sound of his +national anthem at a critical moment, the clash of arms in the distance, +the call of France across the Channel. A week--even half a week's extra +preparation might make much difference." + +Selingman sat for a short time, deep in thought. Then he drew out a box +of pale-looking German cigars and lit one. + +"Count," he announced solemnly, "I take off my hat to you. Leave the +matter in my hands." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI + + +Norgate set down the telephone receiver and turned to Anna, who was +seated in an easy-chair by his side. + +"Selingman is down-stairs," he announced. "I rather expected I should see +something of him as I didn't go to the club this afternoon. You won't +mind if he comes up?" + +"The man is a nuisance," Anna declared, with a little grimace. "I was +perfectly happy, Francis, sitting here before the open window and looking +out at the lights in that cool, violet gulf of darkness. I believe that +in another minute I should have said something to you absolutely +ravishing. Then your telephone rings and back one comes to earth again!" + +Norgate smiled as he held her hand in his. + +"We will get rid of him quickly, dearest," he promised. + +There was a knock at the door, and Selingman entered, his face wreathed +in smiles. He was wearing a long dinner coat and a flowing black tie. He +held out both his hands. + +"So this is the great news that has kept you away from us!" he exclaimed. +"My congratulations, Norgate. You can never say again that the luck has +left you. Baroness, may I take advantage of my slight acquaintance to +express my sincere wishes for your happiness?" + +They wheeled up a chair for him, and Norgate produced some cigars. The +night was close. They were on the seventh story, overlooking the river, +and a pleasant breeze stole every now and then into the room. + +"You are well placed here," Selingman declared. "Myself, I too like to +be high up." + +"These are really just my bachelor rooms," Norgate explained, "but under +the circumstances we thought it wiser to wait before we settled down +anywhere. Is there any news to-night?" + +"There is great news," Selingman announced gravely. "There is news of +wonderful import. In a few minutes you will hear the shouting of the boys +in the Strand there. You shall hear it first from me. Germany has found +herself compelled to declare war against Russia." + +They were both speechless. Norgate was carried off his feet. The reality +of the thing was stupendous. + +"Russia has been mobilising night and day on the frontiers of East +Prussia," Selingman continued. "Germany has chosen to strike the first +blow. Now listen, both of you. I am going to speak in these few minutes +to Norgate here very serious words. I take it that in the matters which +lie between him and me, you, Baroness, are as one with him?" + +"It is so," Norgate admitted. + +"To be frank, then," Selingman went on, "you, Norgate, during these +momentous days have been the most useful of all my helpers here. The +information which I have dispatched to Berlin, emanating from you, has +been more than important--it has been vital. It has been so vital that I +have a long dispatch to-night, begging me to reaffirm my absolute +conviction as to the truth of the information which I have forwarded. +Let us, for a moment, recapitulate. You remember your interview with Mr. +Hebblethwaite on the subject of war?" + +"Distinctly," Norgate assented. + +"It was your impression," Selingman continued, "gathered from that +conversation, that under no possible circumstances would Mr. +Hebblethwaite himself, or the Cabinet as a whole, go to war with Germany +in support of France. Is that correct?" + +"It is correct," Norgate admitted. + +"Nothing has happened to change your opinion?" + +"Nothing." + +"To proceed, then," Selingman went on. "Some little time ago you called +upon Mr. Bullen at the House of Commons. You promised a large +contribution to the funds of the Irish Party, a sum which is to be paid +over on the first of next month, on condition that no compromise in the +Home Rule question shall be accepted by him, even in case of war. And +further, that if England should find herself in a state of war, no +Nationalists should volunteer to fight in her ranks. Is this correct?" + +"Perfectly," Norgate admitted. + +"The information was of great interest in Berlin," Selingman pointed out. +"It is realised there that it means of necessity a civil war." + +"Without a doubt." + +"You believe," Selingman persisted, "that I did not take an exaggerated +or distorted view of the situation, as discussed between you and Mr. +Bullen, when I reported that civil war in Ireland was inevitable?" + +"It is inevitable," Norgate agreed. + +Selingman sat for several moments in portentous silence. + +"We are on the threshold of great events," he announced. "The Cabinet +opinion in Berlin has been swayed by the two factors which we have +discussed. It is the wish of Germany, and her policy, to end once and for +all the eastern disquiet, to weaken Russia so that she can no longer call +herself the champion of the Slav races and uphold their barbarism against +our culture. France is to be dealt with only as the ally of Russia. We +want little more from her than we have already. But our great desire is +that England of necessity and of her own choice, should remain, for the +present, neutral. Her time is to come later. Italy, Germany, and Austria +can deal with France and Russia to a mathematical certainty. What we +desire to avoid are any unforeseen complications. I leave you to-night, +and I cable my absolute belief in the statements deduced from your work. +You have nothing more to say?" + +"Nothing," Norgate replied. + +Selingman was apparently relieved. He rose, a little later, to his feet. + +"My young friend," he concluded, "in the near future great rewards will +find their way to this country. There is no one who has deserved more +than you. There is no one who will profit more. That reminds me. There +was one little question I had to ask. A friend of mine has seen you on +your way back and forth to Camberley three or four times lately. You +lunched the other day with the colonel of one of your Lancer regiments. +How did you spend your time at Camberley?" + +For a moment Norgate made no reply. The moonlight was shining into the +room, and Anna had turned out all the lights with the exception of one +heavily-shaded lamp. Her eyes were shining as she leaned a little forward +in her chair. + +"Boko again, I suppose," Norgate grunted. + +"Certainly Boko," Selingman acknowledged. + +"I was in the Yeomanry when I was younger," Norgate explained slowly. "I +had some thought of entering the army before I took up diplomacy. Colonel +Chalmers is a friend of mine. I have been down to Camberley to see if I +could pick up a little of the new drill." + +"For what reason?" Selingman demanded. + +"Need I tell you that?" Norgate protested. "Whatever my feeling for +England may be at the present moment, however bitterly I may regret the +way she has let her opportunities slip, the slovenly political condition +of the country, yet I cannot put away from me the fact that I am an +Englishman. If trouble should come, even though I may have helped to +bring it about, even though I may believe that it is a good thing for the +country to have to meet trouble, I should still fight on her side." + +"But there will be no war," Selingman reminded him. "You yourself have +ascertained that the present Cabinet will decline war at any cost." + +"The present Government, without a doubt," Norgate assented. "I am +thinking of later on, when your first task is over." + +Selingman nodded gravely. + +"When that day comes," he said, as he rose and took up his hat, "it will +not be a war. If your people resist, it will be a butchery. Better to +find yourself in one of the Baroness' castles in Austria when that time +comes! It is never worth while to draw a sword in a lost cause. I wish +you good night, Baroness. I wish you good night, Norgate." + +He shook hands with them both firmly, but there was still something of +reserve in his manner. Norgate rang for his servant to show him out. They +took their places once more by the window. + +"War!" Norgate murmured, his eyes fixed upon the distant lights. + +Anna crept a little nearer to him. + +"Francis," she whispered, "that man has made me a little uneasy. +Supposing they should discover that you have deceived them, before they +have been obliged to leave the country!" + +"They will be much too busy," Norgate replied, "to think about me." + +Anna's face was still troubled. "I did not like that man's look," she +persisted, "when he asked you what you were doing at Camberley. Perhaps +he still believes that you have told the truth, but he might easily have +it in his mind that you knew too many of their secrets to be trusted when +the vital moment came." + +Norgate leaned over and drew her towards him. + +"Selingman has gone," he murmured. "It is only outside that war is +throbbing. Dearest, I think that my vital moments are now!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII + + +Mr. Hebblethwaite permitted himself a single moment of abstraction. He +sat at the head of the table in his own remarkably well-appointed +dining-room. His guests--there were eighteen or twenty of them in +all--represented in a single word Success--success social as well as +political. His excellently cooked dinner was being served with faultless +precision. His epigrams had never been more pungent. The very +distinguished peeress who sat upon his right, and whose name was a +household word in the enemy's camp, had listened to him with enchained +and sympathetic interest. For a single second he permitted his thoughts +to travel back to the humble beginnings of his political career. He had a +brief, flashlight recollection of the suburban parlour of his early days, +the hard fight at first for a living, then for some small place in local +politics, and then, larger and more daring schemes as the boundary of his +ambitions became each year a little further extended. Beyond him now was +only one more step to be taken. The last goal was well within his reach. + +The woman at his right recommenced their conversation, which had been for +a moment interrupted. + +"We were speaking of success," she said. "Success often comes to one +covered by the tentacles and parasites of shame, and yet, even in its +grosser forms, it has something splendid about it. But success that +carries with it no apparent drawback whatever is, of course, the most +amazing thing of all. I was reading that wonderful article of Professor +Wilson's last month. He quotes you very extensively. His analysis of your +character was, in its way, interesting. Directly I had read it, however, +I felt that it lacked one thing--simplicity. I made up my mind that the +next time we talked intimately, I would ask you to what you yourself +attributed your success?" + +Hebblethwaite smiled graciously. + +"I will not attempt to answer you in epigrams," he replied. "I will pay a +passing tribute to a wonderful constitution, an invincible sense of +humour, which I think help one to keep one's head up under many trying +conditions. But the real and final explanation of my success is that I +embraced the popular cause. I came from the people, and when I entered +into politics, I told myself and every one else that it was for the +people I should work. I have never swerved from that purpose. It is to +the people I owe whatever success I am enjoying to-day." + +The Duchess nodded thoughtfully. + +"Yes," she admitted, "you are right there. Shall I proceed with my own +train of thought quite honestly?" + +"I shall count it a compliment," he assured her earnestly, "even if your +thoughts contain criticisms." + +"You occupy so great a position in political life to-day," she continued, +"that one is forced to consider you, especially in view of the future, as +a politician from every point of view. Now, by your own showing, you +have been a specialist. You have taken up the cause of the people against +the classes. You have stripped many of us of our possessions--the Duke, +you know, hates the sound of your name--and by your legislation you have, +without a doubt, improved the welfare of many millions of human beings. +But that is not all that a great politician must achieve, is it? There is +our Empire across the seas." + +"Imperialism," he declared, "has never been in the foreground of my +programme, but I call myself an Imperialist. I have done what I could for +the colonies. I have even abandoned on their behalf some of my pet +principles of absolute freedom in trade." + +"You certainly have not been prejudiced," she admitted. "Whether your +politics have been those of an Imperialist from the broadest point of +view--well, we won't discuss that question just now. We might, perhaps, +differ. But there is just one more point. Zealously and during the whole +of your career, you have set your face steadfastly against any increase +of our military power. They say that it is chiefly due to you and Mr. +Busby that our army to-day is weaker in numbers than it has been for +years. You have set your face steadily against all schemes for national +service. You have taken up the stand that England can afford to remain +neutral, whatever combination of Powers on the Continent may fight. Now +tell me, do you see any possibility of failure, from the standpoint of a +great politician, in your attitude?" + +"I do not," he answered. "On the contrary, I am proud of all that I have +done in that direction. For the reduction of our armaments I accept the +full responsibility. It is true that I have opposed national service. I +want to see the people develop commercially. The withdrawing of a million +of young men, even for a month every year, from their regular tasks, +would not only mean a serious loss to the manufacturing community, but it +would be apt to unsettle and unsteady them. Further, it would kindle in +this country the one thing I am anxious to avoid--the military spirit. We +do not need it, Duchess. We are a peace-loving nation, civilised out of +the crude lust for conquest founded upon bloodshed. I do believe that +geographically and from every other point of view, England, with her +navy, can afford to fold her arms, and if other nations should at any +time be foolish enough to imperil their very existence by fighting for +conquest or revenge, then we, who are strong enough to remain aloof, can +only grow richer and stronger by the disasters which happen to them." + +There was a momentary silence. The Duchess leaned back in her chair, and +Mr. Hebblethwaite, always the courteous host, talked for a while to the +woman on his left. The Duchess, however, reopened the subject a few +minutes later. + +"I come, you must remember, Mr. Hebblethwaite," she observed, "from long +generations of soldiers, and you, as you have reminded me, from a long +race of yeomen and tradespeople. Therefore, without a doubt, our point +of view must be different. That, perhaps, is what makes conversation +between us so interesting. To me, a conflict in Europe, sooner or +later, appears inevitable. With England preserving a haughty and insular +neutrality, which, from her present military condition, would be almost +compulsory, the struggle would be between Russia, France, Italy, +Germany, and Austria. Russia is an unknown force, but in my mind I see +Austria and Italy, with perhaps one German army, holding her back for +many months, perhaps indefinitely. On the other hand, I see France +overrun by the Germans very much as she was in 1870. I adore the French, +and I have little sympathy with the Germans, but as a fighting race I +very reluctantly feel that I must admit the superiority of the Germans. +Very well, then. With Ostend, Calais, Boulogne, and Havre seized by +Germany, as they certainly would be, and turned into naval bases, do you +still believe that England's security would be wholly provided for by +her fleet?" + +Mr. Hebblethwaite smiled. + +"Duchess," he said, "sooner or later I felt quite sure that our +conversation would draw near to the German bogey. The picture you draw is +menacing enough. I look upon its probability as exactly on the same par +as the overrunning of Europe by the yellow races." + +"You believe in the sincerity of Germany?" she asked. + +"I do," he admitted firmly. "There is a military element in Germany which +is to be regretted, but the Germans themselves are a splendid, cultured, +and peace-loving people, who are seeking their future not at the point +of the sword but in the counting-houses of the world. If I fear the +Germans, it is commercially, and from no other point of view." + +"I wish I could feel your confidence," the Duchess sighed. + +"I have myself recently returned from Berlin," Mr. Hebblethwaite +continued. "Busby, as you know, has been many times an honoured guest +there at their universities and in their great cities. He has had every +opportunity of probing the tendencies of the people. His mind is +absolutely and finally made up. Not in all history has there ever existed +a race freer from the lust of bloodthirsty conquest than the German +people of to-day." + +Mr. Hebblethwaite concluded his sentence with some emphasis. He felt that +his words were carrying conviction. Some of the conversation at their end +of the table had been broken off to listen to his pronouncements. At that +moment his butler touched him upon the elbow. + +"Mr. Bedells has just come up from the War Office, sir," he announced. +"He is waiting outside. In the meantime, he desired me to give you this." + +The butler, who had served an archbishop, and resented often his own +presence in the establishment of a Radical Cabinet Minister, presented a +small silver salver on which reposed a hastily twisted up piece of paper. +Mr. Hebblethwaite, with a little nod, unrolled it and glanced towards the +Duchess, who bowed complacently. With the smile still upon his lips, a +confident light in his eyes, Mr. Hebblethwaite held out the crumpled +piece of paper before him and read the hurriedly scrawled pencil lines: + +"_Germany has declared war against Russia and presented an ultimatum to +France. I have other messages_." + +Mr. Hebblethwaite was a strong man. He was a man of immense self-control. +Yet in that moment the arteries of life seemed as though they had ceased +to flow. He sat at the head of his table, and his eyes never left those +pencilled words. His mind fought with them, discarded them, only to find +them still there hammering at his brain, traced in letters of scarlet +upon the distant walls. War! The great, unbelievable tragedy, the one +thousand-to-one chance in life which he had ever taken! His hand almost +fell to his side. There was a queer little silence. No one liked to ask +him a question; no one liked to speak. It was the Duchess at last who +murmured a few words, when the silence had become intolerable. + +"It is bad news?" she whispered. + +"It is very bad news indeed," Mr. Hebblethwaite answered, raising his +voice a little, so that every one at the table might hear him. "I have +just heard from the War Office that Germany has declared war against +Russia. You will perhaps, under the circumstances, excuse me." + +He rose to his feet. There was a queer singing in his ears. The feast +seemed to have turned to a sickly debauch. All that pinnacle of success +seemed to have fallen away. The faces of his guests, even, as they +looked at him, seemed to his conscience to be expressing one thing, and +one thing only--that same horrible conviction which was deadening his own +senses. He and the others--could it be true?--had they taken up lightly +the charge and care of a mighty empire and dared to gamble upon, instead +of providing for, its security? He thrust the thought away; and the +natural strength of the man began to reassert itself. If they had done +ill, they had done it for the people's sake. The people must rally to +them now. He held his head high as he left the room. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII + + +Norgate found himself in an atmosphere of strange excitement during his +two hours' waiting at the House of Commons on the following day. He was +ushered at last into Mr. Hebblethwaite's private room. Hebblethwaite had +just come in from the House and was leaning a little back in his chair, +in an attitude of repose. He glanced at Norgate with a faint smile. + +"Well, young fellow," he remarked, "come to do the usual 'I told you so' +business, I suppose?" + +"Don't be an ass!" Norgate most irreverently replied. "There are one or +two things I must tell you and tell you at once. I may have hinted at +them before, but you weren't taking things seriously then. First of all, +is Mr. Bullen in the House?" + +"Of course!" + +"Could you send for him here just for a minute?" Norgate pleaded. "I am +sure it would make what I am going to say sound more convincing to you." + +Hebblethwaite struck a bell by his side and despatched a messenger. + +"How are things going?" Norgate asked. + +"France is mobilising as fast as she can," Hebblethwaite announced. +"We have reports coming in that Germany has been at it for at least a +week, secretly. They say that Austrian troops have crossed into +Poland. There isn't anything definite yet, but it's war, without a +doubt, war just as we'd struck the right note for peace. Russia was +firm but splendid. Austria was wavering. Just at the critical moment, +like a thunderbolt, came Germany's declaration of war. Here's Mr. +Bullen. Now go ahead, Norgate." + +Mr. Bullen came into the room, recognised Norgate, and stopped short. + +"So you're here again, young man, are you?" he exclaimed. "I don't know +why you've sent for me, Hebblethwaite, but if you take my advice, you +won't let that young fellow go until you've asked him a few questions." + +"Mr. Norgate is a friend of mine," Hebblethwaite said. "I think you +will find--" + +"Friend or no friend," the Irishman interrupted, "he is a traitor, and I +tell you so to his face." + +"That is exactly what I wished you to tell Mr. Hebblethwaite," Norgate +remarked, nodding pleasantly. "I just want you to recall the +circumstances of my first visit here." + +"You came and offered me a bribe of a million pounds," Mr. Bullen +declared, "if I would provoke a civil war in Ireland in the event of +England getting into trouble. I wasn't sure whom you were acting for +then, but I am jolly certain now. That young fellow is a German spy, +Hebblethwaite." + +"Mr. Hebblethwaite knew that quite well," admitted Norgate coolly. "I +came and told him so several times. I think that he even encouraged me to +do my worst." + +"Look here, Norgate," Hebblethwaite intervened, "I'm certain you are +driving at something serious. Let's have it." + +"Quite right, I am," Norgate assented. "I just wanted to testify to you +that Mr. Bullen's reply to my offer was the patriotic reply of a loyal +Irishman. I did offer him that million pounds on behalf of Germany, and +he did indignantly refuse it, but the point of the whole thing is--my +report to Germany." + +"And that?" Mr. Hebblethwaite asked eagerly. + +"I reported Mr. Bullen's acceptance of the sum," Norgate told them. "I +reported that civil war in Ireland was imminent and inevitable and would +come only the sooner for any continental trouble in which England might +become engaged." + +Mr. Hebblethwaite's face cleared. + +"I begin to understand now, Norgate," he muttered. "Good fellow!" + +Mr. Bullen was summoned in hot haste by one of his supporters and hurried +out. Norgate drew his chair a little closer to his friend's. + +"Look here, Hebblethwaite," he said, "you wouldn't listen to me, you +know--I don't blame you--but I knew the truth of what I was saying. I +knew what was coming. The only thing I could do to help was to play the +double traitor. I did it. My chief, who reported to Berlin that this +civil war was inevitable, will get it in the neck, but there's more to +follow. The Baroness von Haase and I were associated in an absolutely +confidential mission to ascertain the likely position of Italy in the +event of this conflict. I know for a fact that Italy will not come in +with her allies." + +"Do you mean that?" Mr. Hebblethwaite asked eagerly. + +"Absolutely certain," Norgate assured him. + +Hebblethwaite half rose from his place with excitement. + +"I ought to telephone to the War Office," he declared. "It will alter the +whole mobilisation of the French troops." + +"France knows," Norgate told him quietly. "My wife has seen to that. She +passed the information on to them just in time to contract the whole line +of mobilisation." + +"You've been doing big things, young fellow!" Mr. Hebblethwaite exclaimed +excitedly. "Go on. Tell me at once, what was your report to Germany?" + +"I reported that Italy would certainly fulfil the terms of her alliance +and fight," Norgate replied. "Furthermore, I have convinced my chief over +here that under no possible circumstances would the present Cabinet +sanction any war whatsoever. I have given him plainly to understand that +you especially are determined to leave France to her fate if war should +come, and to preserve our absolute neutrality at all costs." + +"Go on," Hebblethwaite murmured. "Finish it, anyhow." + +"There is very little more," Norgate concluded. "I have a list here of +properties in the outskirts of London, all bought by Germans, and all +having secret preparations for the mounting of big guns. You might just +pass that on to the War Office, and they can destroy the places at their +leisure. There isn't anything else, Hebblethwaite. As I told you, I've +played the double traitor. It was the only way I could help. Now, if I +were you, I would arrest the master-spy for whom I have been working. +Most of the information he has picked up lately has been pretty bad, and +I fancy he'll get a warm reception if he does get back to Berlin, but if +ever there was a foreigner who abused the hospitality of this country, +Selingman's the man." + +"We'll see about that presently," Mr. Hebblethwaite declared, leaning +back. "Let me think over what you have told me. It comes to this, +Norgate. You've practically encouraged Germany to risk affronting us." + +"I can't help that," Norgate admitted. "Germany has gone into this war, +firmly believing that Italy will be on her side, and that we shall have +our hands occupied in civil war, and in any case that we should remain +neutral. I am not asking you questions, Hebblethwaite. I don't know what +the position of the Government will be if Germany attacks France in the +ordinary way. But one thing I do believe, and that is that if Germany +breaks Belgian neutrality and invades Belgium, there isn't any English +Government which has ever been responsible for the destinies of this +country, likely to take it lying down. We are shockingly unprepared, or +else, of course, there'd have been no war at all. We shall lose hundreds +of thousands of our young men, because they'll have to fight before they +are properly trained, but we must fight or perish. And we shall fight--I +am sure of that, Hebblethwaite." + +"We are all Englishmen," Hebblethwaite answered simply. + +The door was suddenly opened. Spencer Wyatt pushed his way past a +protesting doorkeeper. Hebblethwaite rose to his feet; he seemed to +forget Norgate's presence. + +"You've been down to the Admiralty?" he asked quickly. "Do you know?" + +Spencer Wyatt pointed to Norgate. His voice shook with emotion. + +"I know, Hebblethwaite," he replied, "but there's something that you +don't know. We were told to mobilise the fleet an hour ago. My God, what +chance should we have had! Germany means scrapping, and look where our +ships are, or ought to be." + +"I know it," Hebblethwaite groaned. + +"Well, they aren't there!" Spencer Wyatt announced triumphantly. "A week +ago that young fellow came to me. He told me what was impending. I half +believed it before he began. When he told me his story, I gambled upon +it. I mistook the date for the Grand Review. I signed the order for +mobilisation at the Admiralty, seven days ago. We are safe, +Hebblethwaite! I've been getting wireless messages all day yesterday and +to-day. We are at Cromarty and Rosyth. Our torpedo squadron is in +position, our submarines are off the German coast. It was just the toss +of a coin--papers and a country life for me, or our fleet safe and a +great start in the war. This is the man who has done it." + +"It's the best news I've heard this week," Hebblethwaite declared, with +glowing face. "If our fleet is safe, the country is safe for a time. If +this thing comes, we've a chance. I'll go through the country. I'll start +the day war's declared. I'll talk to the people I've slaved for. They +shall come to our help. We'll have the greatest citizen army who ever +fought for their native land. I've disbelieved in fighting all my life. +If we are driven to it, we'll show the world what peace-loving people can +do, if the weapon is forced into their hands. Norgate, the country owes +you a great debt. Another time, Wyatt, I'll tell you more than you know +now. What can we do for you, young fellow?" + +Norgate rose to his feet. + +"My work is already chosen, thanks," he said, as he shook hands. "I have +been preparing for some time." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX + + +The card-rooms at the St. James's Club were crowded, but very few people +seemed inclined to play. They were standing or sitting about in little +groups. A great many of them were gathered around the corner where +Selingman was seated. He was looking somewhat graver than usual, but +there was still a confident smile upon his lips. + +"My little friend," he said, patting the hand of the fair lady by his +side, "reassure yourself. Your husband and your husband's friends are +quite safe. For England there will come no fighting. Believe me, that is +a true word." + +"But the impossible is happening all the time," Mrs. Barlow protested. +"Who would have believed that without a single word of warning Germany +would have declared war against Russia?" + +Mr. Selingman raised his voice a little. + +"Let me make the situation clear," he begged. "Listen to me, if you will, +because I am a patriotic German but also a lover of England, a sojourner +here, and one of her greatest friends. Germany has gone to war against +Russia. Why? You will say upon a trifling pretext. My answer to you is +this. There is between the Teuton and the Slav an enmity more mighty than +anything you can conceive of. It has been at the root of all the unrest +in the Balkans. Many a time Germany has kept the peace at the imminent +loss of her own position and prestige. But one knows now that the +struggle must come. The Russians are piling up a great army with only one +intention. They mean to wrest from her keeping certain provinces of +Austria, to reduce Germany's one ally to the condition of a vassal state, +to establish the Slav people there and throughout the Balkan States, at +the expense of the Teuton. Germany must protect her own. It is a +struggle, mind you, which concerns them alone. If only there were common +sense in the world, every one else would stand by and let Germany and +Austria fight with Russia on the one great issue--Slav or Teuton." + +"But there's France," little Mrs. Barlow reminded him. "She can't keep +out of it. She is Russia's ally." + +"Alas! my dear madam," Selingman continued, "you point out the tragedy of +the whole situation. If France could see wisdom, if France could see +truth, she would fold her arms with you others, keep her country and her +youth and her dignity. But I will be reasonable. She is, as you say, +bound--bound by her alliance to Russia, and she will fight. Very well! +Germany wants no more from France than what she has. Germany will fight a +defensive campaign. She will push France back with one hand, in as +friendly a manner as is compatible with the ethics of war. On the east +she will move swiftly. She will fight Russia, and, believe me, the issue +will not be long doubtful. She will conclude an honourable peace with +France at the first opportunity." + +"Then you don't think we shall be involved at all?" some one else asked. + +"If you are," Selingman declared, "it will be your own doing, and it will +simply be the most criminal act of this generation. Germany has nothing +but friendship for England. I ask you, what British interests are +threatened by this inevitable clash between the Slav and the Teuton? It +is miserable enough for France to be dragged in. It would be lunacy for +England. Therefore, though it is true that serious matters are pending, +though, alas! I must return at once to see what help I can afford my +country, never for a moment believe, any of you, that there exists the +slightest chance of war between Germany and England." + +"Then I don't see," Mrs. Barlow sighed, "why we shouldn't have a rubber +of bridge." + +"Let us," Selingman assented. "It is a very reasonable suggestion. It +will divert our thoughts. Here is the afternoon paper. Let us first see +whether there is any further news." + +It was Mrs. Paston Benedek who opened it. She stared at the first sheet +for a moment with eyes which were almost dilated. Then she looked around. +Her voice sounded unnatural. + +"Look!" she cried. "Francis Norgate--Mr. Francis Norgate has committed +suicide in his rooms!" + +"It is not possible!" Selingman exclaimed. + +They all crowded around the paper. The announcement was contained in a +few lines only. Mr. Francis Norgate had been discovered shot through the +heart in his sitting-room at the Milan Court, with a revolver by his +side. There was a letter addressed to his wife, who had left the day +before for Paris. No further particulars could be given of the tragedy. +The little group of men and women all looked at one another in a strange, +questioning manner. For a moment the war cloud seemed to have passed even +from their memories. It was something newer and in a sense more dramatic, +this. Norgate--one of themselves! Norgate, who had played bridge with +them day after day, had been married only a week or so ago--dead, under +the most horrible of all conditions! And Baring, only a few weeks before! +There was an uneasiness about which no one could put into words, vague +suspicions, strange imaginings. + +"It's only three weeks," some one muttered, "since poor Baring shot +himself! What the devil does it mean? Norgate--why, the fellow was full +of common sense." + +"He was fearfully cut up," some one interposed, "about that Berlin +affair." + +"But he was just married," Mrs. Paston Benedek reminded them, "married to +the most charming woman in Europe,--rich, too, and noble. I saw them only +two days ago together. They were the picture of happiness. This is too +terrible. I am going into the other room to sit down. Please forgive me. +Mr. Selingman, will you give me your arm?" + +She passed into the little drawing-room, almost dragging her companion. +She closed the door behind them. Her eyes were brilliant. The words came +hot and quivering from her lips. + +"Listen!" she ordered. "Tell me the truth. Was this suicide or not?" + +"Why should it not be?" Selingman asked gravely. "Norgate was an +Englishman, after all. He must have felt that he had betrayed his +country. He has given us, as you know, very valuable information. The +thought must have preyed upon his conscience." + +"Don't lie to me!" she interrupted. "Tell me the truth now or never come +near me again, never ask me another question, don't be surprised to find +the whole circle of your friends here broken up and against you. It's +only the truth I ask for. If a thing is necessary, do I not know that it +must be done? But I will hear the truth. There was that about Baring's +death which I never understood; but this--this shall be explained." + +Selingman stood for a moment or two with folded arms. + +"Dear lady," he said soothingly, "you are not like the others. You have +earned the knowledge of the truth. You shall have it. I did not mistrust +Francis Norgate, but I knew very well that when the blow fell, he would +waver. These Englishmen are all like that. They can lose patience with +their ill-governed country. They can go abroad, write angry letters to +_The Times_, declare that they have shaken the dust of their native land +from their feet. But when the pinch comes, they fall back. Norgate has +served me well, but he knew too much. He is safer where he is." + +"He was murdered, then!" she whispered. + +Selingman nodded very slightly. + +"It is seldom," he declared, "that we go so far. Believe me, it is only +because our great Empire is making its move, stretching out for the great +world war, that I gave the word. What is one man's life when millions are +soon to perish?" + +She sank down into an easy-chair and covered her face with her hands. + +"I am answered," she murmured, "only I know now I was not made for these +things. I love scheming, but I am a woman." + + + + +CHAPTER XL + + +Mr. Selingman's influence over his fellows had never been more marked +than on that gloomiest of all afternoons. They gathered around him as he +sat on the cushioned fender, a cup of tea in one hand and a plateful of +buttered toast by his side. + +"To-day," he proclaimed, "I bring good news. Yesterday, I must admit, +things looked black, and the tragedy to poor young Norgate made us all +miserable." + +"I should have said things looked worse," one of the men declared, +throwing down an afternoon paper. "The Cabinet Council is still sitting, +and there are all sorts of rumours in the city." + +"I was told by a man in the War Office," Mrs. Barlow announced, "that +England would stand by her treaty to Belgium, and that Germany has made +all her plans to invade France through Belgium." + +"Rumours, of course, there must be," Selingman agreed, "but I bring +something more than rumour. I received to-day, by special messenger from +Berlin, a dispatch of the utmost importance. Germany is determined to +show her entire friendliness towards England. She recognises the +difficulties of your situation. She is going to make a splendid bid for +your neutrality. Much as I would like to, I cannot tell you more. This, +however, I know to be the basis of her offer. You in England could help +in the fight solely by means of your fleet. It is Germany's suggestion +that, in return for your neutrality, she should withdraw her fleet from +action and leave the French northern towns unbombarded. You will then be +in a position to fulfil your obligations to France, whatever they may be, +without moving a stroke or spending a penny. It is a triumph of +diplomacy, that--a veritable triumph." + +"It does sound all right," Mrs. Barlow admitted. + +"It has relieved my mind of a mighty burden," Selingman continued, +setting down his empty plate and brushing the crumbs from his waistcoat. +"I feel now that we can look on at this world drama with sorrowing eyes, +indeed, but free from feelings of hatred and animosity. I have had a +trying day. I should like a little bridge. Let us--" + +Selingman did not finish his sentence. The whole room, for a moment, +seemed to become a study in still life. A woman who had been crossing the +floor stood there as though transfixed. A man who was dealing paused with +an outstretched card in his hand. Every eye was turned on the threshold. +It was Norgate who stood there, Norgate metamorphosed, in khaki +uniform--an amazing spectacle! Mrs. Barlow was the first to break the +silence with a piercing shriek. Then the whole room seemed to be in a +turmoil. Selingman alone sat quite still. There was a grey shade upon his +face, and the veins were standing out at the back of his hands. + +"So sorry to startle you all," Norgate said apologetically. "Of course, +you haven't seen the afternoon papers. It was my valet who was found +dead in my rooms--a most mysterious affair," he added, his eyes meeting +Selingman's. "The inquest is to be this afternoon." + +"Your valet!" Selingman muttered. + +"A very useful fellow," Norgate continued, strolling to the fireplace and +standing there, "but with a very bad habit of wearing my clothes when I +am away. I was down in Camberley for three days and left him in charge." + +They showered congratulations upon him, but in the midst of them the +strangeness of his appearance provoked their comment. + +"What does it mean?" Mrs. Benedek asked, patting his arm. "Have you +turned soldier?" + +"In a sense I have," Norgate admitted, "but only in the sense that every +able-bodied Englishman will have to do, in the course of the next few +months. Directly I saw this coming, I arranged for a commission." + +"But there is to be no war!" Mrs. Barlow exclaimed. "Mr. Selingman +has been explaining to us this afternoon what wonderful offers +Germany is making, so that we shall be able to remain neutral and yet +keep our pledges." + +"Mr. Selingman," Norgate said quietly, "is under a delusion. Germany, it +is true, has offered us a shameless bribe. I am glad to be able to tell +you all that our Ministry, whatever their politics may be, have shown +themselves men. An English ultimatum is now on its way to Berlin. War +will be declared before midnight." + +Selingman rose slowly to his feet. His face was black with passion. +He pushed a man away who stood between them. He was face to face +with Norgate. + +"So you," he thundered, suddenly reckless of the bystanders, "are a +double traitor! You have taken pay from Germany and deceived her! You +knew, after all, that your Government would make war when the time came. +Is that so?" + +"I was always convinced of it," Norgate replied calmly. "I also had the +honour of deceiving you in the matter of Mr. Bullen. I have been the +means, owing to your kind and thoughtful information, of having the fleet +mobilised and ready to strike at the present moment, and there are +various little pieces of property I know about, Mr. Selingman, around +London, where we have taken the liberty of blowing up your foundations. +There may be a little disappointment for you, too, in the matter of +Italy. The money you were good enough to pay me for my doubtful services, +has gone towards the establishment of a Red Cross hospital. As for you, +Selingman, I denounce you now as one of those who worked in this country +for her ill, one of those pests of the world, working always in the +background, dishonourably and selfishly, against the country whose +hospitality you have abused. If I have met you on your own ground, well, +I am proud of it. You are a German spy, Selingman." + +Selingman's hand fumbled in his pocket. Scarcely a soul was surprised +when Norgate gripped him by the wrist, and they saw the little shining +revolver fall down towards the fender. + +"You shall suffer for these words," Selingman thundered. "You young +fool, you shall bite the dust, you and hundreds of thousands of your +cowardly fellows, when the German flag flies from Buckingham Palace." + +Norgate held up his hand and turned towards the door. Two men in plain +clothes entered. + +"That may be a sight," Norgate said calmly, "which you, at any rate, will +not be permitted to see. I have had some trouble in arranging for your +arrest, as we are not yet under martial law, but I think you will find +your way to the Tower of London before long, and I hope it will be with +your back to the light and a dozen rifles pointing to your heart." + +A third man had come into the room. He tapped Selingman on the shoulder +and whispered in his ear. + +"I demand to see your warrant!" the latter exclaimed. + +The officer produced it. Selingman threw it on the floor and spat upon +it. He looked around the room, in the further corner of which two men +and a woman were standing upon chairs to look over the heads of the +little crowd. + +"Take me where you will," he snarled. "You are a rotten, treacherous, +cowardly race, you English, and I hate you all. You can kill me first, if +you will, but in two months' time you shall learn what it is like to wait +hand and foot upon your conquerors." + +He strode out of the room, a guard on either side of him and the door +closed. One woman had fainted. Mrs. Paston Benedek was swaying back +and forth upon the cushioned fender, sobbing hysterically. Norgate +stood by her side. + +"I have forgotten the names," he announced pointedly, "of many of that +fellow's dupes. I am content to forget them. I am off now," he went on, +his tone becoming a little kinder. "I am telling you the truth. It's war. +You men had better look up any of the forces that suit you and get to +work. We shall all be needed. There is work, too, for the women, any +quantity of it. My wife will be leaving again for France next week with +the first Red Cross Ambulance Corps. I dare say she will be glad to hear +from any one who wants to help." + +"I shall be a nurse," Mrs. Paston Benedek decided. "I am sick of bridge +and amusing myself." + +"The costume is quite becoming," Mrs. Barlow murmured, glancing at +herself in the looking-glass, "and I adore those poor dear soldiers." + +"Well, I'll leave you to it," Norgate declared. "Good luck to you all!" + +They crowded around him, shaking him by the hand, still besieging him +with questions about Selingman. He shook his head good-humouredly and +made his way towards the door. + +"There's nothing more to tell you," he concluded. "Selingman is just one +of the most dangerous spies who has ever worked in this country, but the +war itself was inevitable. We've known that for years, only we wouldn't +believe it. We'll all meet again, perhaps, in the work later on." + +Late that night, Norgate stood hand in hand with Anna at the window of +their little sitting-room. Down in the Strand, the newsboys were +shouting the ominous words. The whole of London was stunned. The great +war had come! + +"It's wonderful, dear," Anna whispered, "that we should have had +these few days of so great happiness. I feel brave and strong now for +our task." + +Norgate held her closely to him. + +"We've been in luck," he said simply. "We were able to do something +pretty soon. I have had the greatest happiness in life a man can have. +Now I am going to offer my life to my country and pray that it may be +spared for you. But above all, whatever happens," he added, leaning a +little further from the window towards where the curving lights gleamed +across the black waters of the Thames, "above all, whatever may happen to +us, we are face to face with one splendid thing--a great country to fight +for, and a just cause. I saw Hebblethwaite as I came in. He is a changed +man. Talks about raising an immense citizen army in six months. Both his +boys have taken up commissions. Hebblethwaite himself is going around the +country, recruiting. They are his people, after all. He has given them +their prosperity at the expense, alas! of our safety. It's up to them now +to prove whether the old spirit is there or not. We shall need two +million men. Hebblethwaite believes we shall get them long before the +camps are ready to receive them. If we do, it will be his justification." + +"And if we don't?" Anna murmured. + +Norgate threw his head a little further back. + +"Most pictures," he said, "have two sides, but we need only look at one. +I am going to believe that we shall get them. I am going to remember the +only true thing that fellow Selingman ever said: that our lesson had come +before it is too late. I am going to believe that the heart and +conscience of the nation is still a live thing. If it is, dear, the end +is certain. And I am going to believe that it is!" + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DOUBLE TRAITOR *** + + +******* This file should be named 10534.txt or 10534.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/5/3/10534 + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. 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