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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of L. P. M., by J. Stewart Barney
+
+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: L. P. M.
+       The End of the Great War
+
+Author: J. Stewart Barney
+
+
+Release Date: April, 2005 [EBook #7826]
+This file was first posted on May 20, 2003
+Last Updated: May 28, 2013
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK L. P. M. ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Eric Casteleijn, Cam Venezuela, Charles M.
+Bidwell, Thomas Hutchinson, Suzanne L. Shell, Charles
+Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+L. P. M.
+
+THE END OF THE GREAT WAR
+
+
+By J. Stewart Barney
+
+
+1915
+
+
+[Illustration: "COUNT VON HEMELSTEIN," THE AMERICAN SAID LAZILY,
+"I WAS JUST THINKING WHAT A STUNNING BOOK-COVER YOU WOULD
+MAKE FOR A CHEAP NOVEL." Drawn by Clarence F. Underwood.]
+
+
+
+  _THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED_
+
+  TO MY REAL FRIENDS, WHO MAY LOVE IT.
+  WHILE THE OTHERS IT MAY BORE;
+  TO MY ENEMIES, GOD BLESS THEM,
+  THO' THEY SPLUTTER, MORE AND MORE.
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+CHAPTER
+     I.--THE MAN AND THE HOUR
+    II.--THE ONE-MAN SECRET
+   III.--CROSSING WITH ROYALTY
+    IV.--THE FIRST REBUFF
+     V.--ECHOES FROM THE WILHELMSTRASSE
+    VI.--A RUSTY OLD CANNON-BALL
+   VII.--DIPLOMACY WINS
+  VIII.--THE SPY-DRIVEN TAXI
+    IX.--BUCKINGHAM PALACE
+     X.--HE MEETS THE KING
+    XI.--THE DEIONIZER
+   XII.--FIRST SHOW OF FORCE
+  XIII.--"THE KING IS DEAD; LONG LIVE THE KING!"
+   XIV.--THE ROYAL TEA-TABLE
+    XV.--SURROUNDED BY SOLDIERS
+   XVI.--A DINNER AT THE BRITZ
+  XVII.--THE VOICE IN THE TELEPHONE
+ XVIII.--IN THE HANDS OF THE GERMANS
+   XIX.--THE GERMAN POINT OF VIEW
+    XX.--GENERAL VON LICHTENSTEIN
+   XXI.--HE INSTALLS HIS WIRELESS
+  XXII.--KAFFEE KLATSCH
+ XXIII.--THE TWO-WHEELED MYSTERY
+  XXIV.--DER KAISER
+   XXV.--THE MASQUERADER
+  XXVI.--TWO REMARKABLE MEN
+ XXVII.--ALL CARDS ON THE TABLE
+XXVIII.--WHERE IS IT?
+  XXIX.--THE DIFFERENCE OF THEIR STATIONS
+   XXX.--THEY CALL FOR ASSISTANCE
+  XXXI.--"SIT DOWN, YOU DOG!"
+ XXXII.--L. P. M.
+XXXIII.--YACHTING IN THE AIR
+ XXXIV.--THE ULTIMATUM
+  XXXV.--A LYING KING MAKES A NATION OF LIARS
+ XXXVI.--THINK OF IT! WHY NOT?
+
+
+
+
+L. P. M.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+THE MAN AND THE HOUR
+
+
+The Secretary of State, although he sought to maintain an air of
+official reserve, showed that he was deeply impressed by what he had
+just heard.
+
+"Well, young man, you are certainly offering to undertake a pretty
+large contract."
+
+He smiled, and continued in a slightly rhetorical vein--the Secretary
+was above all things first, last, and always an orator.
+
+"In my many years of public life," he said, "I have often had occasion
+to admire the dauntless spirit of our young men. But you have forced
+me to the conclusion that even I, with all my confidence in their
+power, have failed to realize how inevitably American initiative and
+independence will demand recognition. It is a quality which our form
+of government seems especially to foster and develop, and I glory
+in it as perhaps the chief factor in our national greatness and
+pre-eminence.
+
+"In what other country, I ask you," he flung out an arm across the
+great, flat-topped desk of state, "would a mere boy like yourself ever
+conceive such a scheme, or have the incentive or opportunity to bring
+it to perfection? And, having conceived and perfected it, in what
+other country would he find the very heads of his Government so
+accessible and ready to help him?"
+
+The young man leaned forward. "Then am I to understand, Mr. Secretary,
+that you are ready to help me?"
+
+"Yes." He faced about and looked at his visitor in a glow of
+enthusiasm. "Not only will I help you, but I will, so far as is
+practicable, put behind you the power of this Administration.
+
+"Doubtless the newspapers," his tone took on a tinge of ironic
+resentment, "when they learn the broad character of the credentials
+that I shall give you in order that you may meet the crowned heads of
+Europe, will say that I am again lowering the dignity of my office.
+But I consider, Mr. Edestone, that I am, in reality, giving more
+dignity to my office by bringing it closer to and by placing it at
+the services of, those from whose hands it first received its dignity,
+the sovereign people. 'The master is greater than the servant'; and
+to my mind you as a citizen are even more entitled to the aid and
+co-operation of this Department than are its accredited envoys, our
+ministers and ambassadors, who, like myself, are but your hired men."
+
+His face lighted up with the memory of the many stirring campaigns
+through which he had passed and his wonderful voice rang out,
+responding to his will like a perfect musical instrument under the
+touch of the artist.
+
+"I tell you, sir," he declared, "I would rather be instrumental in
+bringing to an end this cruel war which is now deluging the pages of
+history with the heart's blood of the people, whose voices may now be
+drowned in the roar of the 42-centimeter guns, but whose spirits will
+unite in the black stench clouds which rise from the festered fields
+of Flanders to descend upon the heads of those who by Divine Right
+have murdered them,--I would rather be instrumental in bringing about
+this result, than be President of the United States!"
+
+He had risen, as he spoke, and had stepped from behind his desk to
+give freer play to this burst of eloquence, but he now paused at the
+entrance of a secretary for whom he had sent, and changing to that
+quizzical drawl with which he had so often disarmed a hostile
+audience, added, "And they do say that I am not without ambition in
+that respect."
+
+He turned then to the waiting secretary, and letting his hand drop on
+Edestone's shoulder:
+
+"Mr. Williams," he said, "this is Mr. John Fulton Edestone, of New
+York, whose name is no doubt familiar to you. He is desirous of
+meeting and discussing quite informally with the potentates of Europe,
+a little matter which he thinks, and I more or less agree with him,
+will be of decided interest to them."
+
+He chuckled softly; then continued in a more serious tone: "Mr.
+Edestone hopes, in short, with our assistance, to bring about not only
+the end of the European war, but to realize my dream--Universal
+Peace--and his plan, as he has outlined it to me, meets with my hearty
+approval.
+
+"I wish you to furnish him with the credentials from this Department
+necessary to give him _entree_ anywhere abroad and protect him at
+all times and under all circumstances.
+
+"And, Mr. Williams," he halted the retiring subordinate, "when Mr.
+Edestone's papers have been drawn, will you kindly bring them to me?
+I wish to present them in person, and I know of no more appropriate
+occasion than this afternoon, when I am to receive a delegation of
+school children from the Southern Baptist Union and the Boy Scouts of
+the Methodist Temperance League. I will be glad to have these young
+Americans, as well as any others who may be calling to pay their
+respects--not to me but to my office--hear what I have to say on
+peace, patriotism, and grapes."
+
+With the departure of the secretary he unbent slightly. "Well," he
+smiled, "you cannot say, as did Ericsson with his monitor and Holland
+with his submarine and the Wrights with their aeroplane, that you
+could not get the support of your Government until it was too late. In
+fact, my dear fellow, when I think of the obstacles so many inventors
+have to contend with, it strikes me that you have had pretty easy
+sailing."
+
+"Perhaps," Edestone raised his eyebrows a trifle whimsically, "it has
+not been so easy as you think, Mr. Secretary."
+
+"Oh, I know, I know!" the other replied. "You still must admit that in
+comparison with most men you have been singularly fortunate. You have
+had great wealth, absolute freedom to develop your ideas as you saw
+fit, and finally the influence to command an immediate hearing for
+your claims. Do you know that perhaps you are the richest young man in
+the world today? It is this which, I must confess, at first rather
+prejudiced me against you."
+
+Edestone laughed good-naturedly. "It is lucky that my photographs were
+able to speak for me."
+
+"Yes," the Secretary assented. "As you probably have recognized, I am
+not a scientist, and all your formulae and explanations were about as
+so much Greek to me, but those photographs of yours were most
+convincing, and prove to me how simple are the greatest of
+discoveries. I fancy," he added slyly, "that they will penetrate even
+the intelligence of a monarch."
+
+"Ah!" He rubbed his hands together. "I can imagine the chagrin and
+fury of those war lords when they find themselves so unexpectedly
+called to time, while your device is held over the nations like a
+policeman's club, with America as its custodian. What a thought!
+Universal dominion for our country; Universal Peace!"
+
+Some sense of opposition on the part of his companion aroused him, and
+he levelled a quick and searching glance at the other.
+
+"That is your intention, is it not, Mr. Edestone?" he demanded. "That,
+upon the completion of your present mission, the Government shall take
+over this discovery of yours?"
+
+Edestone moved uneasily in his seat. He had naturally anticipated this
+question, and yet he was unprepared to meet it.
+
+The Secretary frowned and repeated his question. "That is your
+intention, is it not?"
+
+Hesitating no longer the inventor answered quietly:
+
+"Mr. Secretary, I yield to no man in my devotion to my country, but I
+am one of those who believe that the highest form of patriotism is to
+seek the best interest of mankind, and standing on that I tell you
+frankly that I cannot at this time answer your question. Just now I
+look no farther than the end of this brutal war. After that is
+accomplished it will be time enough for me to decide the ultimate
+disposition of my invention. Its secret is now known to no living soul
+but myself, and is so simple that it requires no written record to
+preserve it, and would die with me. It is the result, it is true, of
+many years of hard work, but the finished product I can and often do
+carry in my waistcoat pocket.
+
+"Do not misunderstand me," he lifted his hand as the Secretary
+endeavoured to break in. "I thoroughly realize the responsibility of
+my position and that my great wealth is a sacred trust. Upon the
+answer to the question you have just put to me depends the destiny of
+the world, whether it is answered by myself at this time or by others
+in the future. Exactly what I will do when the time comes I cannot
+say, but I will tell you this much, that in reaching a decision I will
+call to my assistance men like yourself and abide by whatever course
+the majority of them may dictate."
+
+"But, my dear young fellow, that will not do." The Secretary shook his
+head. "You are called upon to answer my question right here and now."
+
+He dropped his bland and diplomatic manner as he spoke, and with his
+jaw thrust forward showed himself the unyielding autocrat, who, in the
+rough and tumble of politics, had ruled his party with a rod of iron.
+This man whose wonderful talents and personality had fitted him for
+his chosen position of champion of the plain people, and whose great
+motive power, against all odds, that had forced him into the first
+place in their hearts, was his sincere and honest love of office.
+
+He had now assumed a rather boisterous and bullying tone, showing that
+perhaps his great love for the rougher elements of society was due to
+the fact that in the process of evolution he himself was not far
+removed from the very plain people.
+
+"You have been talking pretty loud about using the 'big stick' over on
+the other side," he went on sternly, "but that big-stick business you
+will find is a thing that works two ways. Suppose then I should tell
+you, 'No answer to my question, no credentials.' What would you have
+to say?"
+
+"I should say," Edestone's face was set, "simply this, Mr. Secretary,
+if I must speak in the language of the people in order that you may
+understand me: 'I should like very much to have your backing in the
+game, but if you are going to sit on the opposite side of the table, I
+hold three kings and two emperors in my hand, and I challenge you to a
+show-down.' I should further say that, credentials or no credentials,
+I am leaving tomorrow on the _Ivernia_, and that inasmuch as I
+have a taxi at the door, and a special train held for me at the Union
+Station, I must bid you good-day, and leave you to your watchful
+waiting, while I work alone."
+
+He rose from his seat, and with a bow started for the door.
+
+"Hold on there, young fellow, keep your coat on!" the Secretary
+shouted, throwing his head back and laughing loud enough to be heard
+over on the Virginia shores. "You remind me of one of those gentle
+breezes out home, which after it has dropped the cow-shed into the
+front parlour and changed your Post-Office address, seems always to
+sort of clear up the atmosphere. When one of them comes along we
+generally allow it to have its own way. It doesn't matter much whether
+we do or not, it will take it anyhow. I never play cards, but what you
+say about having a few kings in your pants' pocket seems to be pretty
+nearly true. You are made of the real stuff, and if you can do all the
+things that you say you can do, and I believe you can, nothing will
+stop you."
+
+"In that case," said Edestone, resuming his seat, "I suppose I may as
+well wait for my credentials."
+
+And in due time he got them, the presentation being made by the
+Secretary to the edification of the Baptist School children and the
+Methodist Soldiers of Temperance and a score of adoring admirers. Then
+with a hasty farewell to the officials of the State Department, this
+emissary of peace started on his hurried rush to New York.
+
+His taxi, which he had held since seven o'clock that morning, broke
+all speed regulations in getting to the station, and the man was well
+paid for his pains.
+
+Edestone found his Special coupled up and waiting for him. He always
+travelled in specials, and they always waited for him. In fact,
+everything waited for him, and he waited for no one. When he engaged a
+taxi he never discharged it until he went to bed or left the town. It
+was related of him that on one occasion he had directed the taxi to
+wait for him at Charing Cross Station, and returning from Paris three
+days later had allowed his old friend, the cabby, who knew him well, a
+shilling an hour as a _pourboire_. He claimed that his mind
+worked smoothly as long as it could run ahead without waits, but that
+as soon as it had to halt for anything--a cab, a train, or a slower
+mind to catch up--it got from under his control and it took hours to
+get it back again.
+
+To him money was only to be spent. He would say: "I spend money
+because that calls for no mental effort, and saving is not worth the
+trouble that it requires."
+
+A big husky chap, thirty-four years old, with the constitution of an
+ox, the mind of a superman, the simplicity of a child: that was John
+Fulton Edestone. He insisted that his discovery was an accident that
+might have befallen anyone, and counted as nothing the years of
+endless experiments and the millions of dollars he had spent in
+bringing it to perfection. He was a dreamer, and had used his colossal
+income and at times his principal in putting his dreams into iron and
+steel.
+
+Upon arriving in New York he was met by his automobile and was rushed
+away to what he was pleased to call his Little Place in the Country.
+It was one of his father's old plants which had contributed to the
+millions which he was now spending.
+
+It was nothing more nor less than a combination machine shop and
+shipyard, situated on the east bank of the Hudson in the neighbourhood
+of Spuyten Duyvil.
+
+It was midnight when he arrived. The night force was just leaving as
+he stepped from his automobile and the morning shift was taking its
+place. At eight o'clock the next morning this latter would in turn be
+relieved by a day shift; for night and day, Sundays and holidays,
+winter and summer, without stopping, his work went on. It got on his
+nerves, he said, to see anything stop. Speed and efficiency at any
+cost was his motto, and the result was that he had gathered about him
+men who were willing to keep running under forced draft, even if it
+did heat up the bearings.
+
+"Tell Mr. Page to come to me at once," he said, as he entered a little
+two-story brick structure apart from the other buildings. This had
+originally been used as an office, but he had changed it into a
+comfortable home, his "Little Place in the Country."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+THE ONE-MAN SECRET
+
+
+With the giving of a few orders relative to his departure in the
+morning, the brevity of which showed the character of service he
+demanded, Edestone permitted himself to relax. He dropped into an
+arm-chair, after lighting a long, black cigar, and pouring out for
+himself a comfortable drink of Scotch whisky and soda.
+
+For a few minutes he sat looking into the open fire, while blowing
+ring after ring of smoke straight up into the air. The well-trained
+servant moved so quietly about the room that his presence was only
+called to his attention by the frantic efforts of the smoke rings to
+retain their circular shape as they were caught in the current of air
+which he created and were sent whirling and twisting to dissolution,
+although to the last they clung to every object with which they came
+in contact in their futile struggle to escape destruction.
+
+Edestone loved to watch these little smoke phantoms, their first mad
+rush to assume their beautiful form and the persistency with which
+they clung to it until overtaken by another, were brushed aside, or
+else drifted on in wavering elongated outlines and so gradually
+disappeared.
+
+They suggested to his fancy the struggling nations of the world,
+battling with the currents and cross-currents near the storm-scarred
+old earth, and continually endeavouring to rise above their fellows to
+some calmer strata, where serene in their original form they could
+look down with condescension upon their harassed and broken companions
+below.
+
+The little rings were, however, more interesting to him for another
+and more practical reason. It was their toroidal movement around a
+circular axis which moved independently in any direction that first
+suggested to him the principles of his discovery.
+
+Before him the fire upon the hearth sang and crackled as it tore
+asunder the elements that had taken untold ages to assemble in their
+present form, and with the prodigality of nature was joyfully rushing
+them up the chimney to start them again upon their long and weary
+journey through the ages.
+
+The bubbles coming into existence in the bottom of his glass, rushing
+in myriads through the pale yellow liquid to the top and obliteration,
+set the thin glass to vibrating like the sound of distant bells.
+
+From his workshop came the soft purr of rapidly moving machinery,
+punctuated now and again by the roar of the heavy railroad trains that
+thundered past his little flag station.
+
+Had he seen then what the future had in store for him, had he realized
+that he was in that well-beloved environment for the last time, he
+would not have hesitated to have gone on along the road that he had
+marked out for himself. It would simply have made the wrench at
+parting a little bit more severe.
+
+His musing was interrupted by his man, who had attracted his attention
+by noiselessly rearranging on the table the objects that were already
+in perfect order.
+
+"Mr. Page is outside, sir."
+
+It was a call to action. Edestone, without changing his position,
+said: "Tell him to come in." And then taking two or three deep puffs
+at his cigar, he blew out into the clear space in front of him a large
+and perfectly formed ring. Rising he followed it slowly as it drifted
+across the room, twisting and circling upon itself. Then with a low
+laugh, which was almost a sigh, after sticking his finger through its
+shadowy form, with a sweep of his powerful hand he brushed it aside.
+
+"Good-bye, little friend," he said, "we have had many good times
+together, and whatever you may have in store for me, I promise never
+to complain. Let us hope that I shall use wisely and well the
+knowledge which you have given me."
+
+Turning quickly at some slight sound, which told him that he was no
+longer alone, he threw his shoulders back, and with his head high in
+the air there came over his clean-shaven face a look of quiet
+determination, a look before which those who were born to rule were so
+soon to quail.
+
+Then, with a complete change of manner, upon seeing his old friend and
+fellow-workman, his face lighted up, and he laughed:
+
+"Well, old 'Specs,' I'm back, you see, and the 'Dove of Peace' is
+safely caged. He came to hand with scarcely even a struggle." Then as
+he looked down into the other's worn and haggard eyes which peered up
+at him through their round, horn-rimmed spectacles, his voice softened
+and he spoke with a touch of compunction.
+
+"By Jove, old chap, you look all in. I've been driving you boys a bit
+too hard; but don't you worry. I'm off in the morning, and then you'll
+have a chance to take it easier. Soon our beautiful _Little Peace
+Maker_," he winked, "will be tucked safely away in some quiet
+corner, and you scientific fellows can devote all your attention
+to your beloved bridge, while I bid up The Hague Conference for a
+no-trump hand.
+
+"But to business now. How did the films for the moving pictures come
+out?"
+
+"Splendidly."
+
+"Good. I'll have you run them over for me presently. I don't want to
+show too much when I give my performances for Royalty, you understand;
+just enough to scare them to death. And how about the wireless? Did
+you test that out, and tune it to my instruments, as I asked you?"
+
+With a satisfactory answer to this also, he ranged off rapidly into a
+dozen other inquiries.
+
+"Does Lee understand exactly where he is to go, and what he is to do,
+if by any chance he is discovered there? He does, eh? Well, I don't
+think he need anticipate the slightest trouble in that regard; but
+we've got to be prepared for every emergency.
+
+"Now, 'Specs,' I want you to get off tomorrow night. Leave enough men
+about the plant, and have sufficient work going on, so that your
+absence may not excite comment. Go by way of Canada, and as soon as
+you are safely out of here, take your time and run no unnecessary
+risks. As soon as you are settled, communicate with me, once only
+every day at exactly twelve o'clock Greenwich time, until I answer
+you. I shall then not communicate with you again until this peace game
+is up and we are forced to show our hands."
+
+He paused a moment as if to make sure that he had overlooked nothing;
+then resumed his instructions.
+
+"Captain Lee's men all understand, I believe, that we are playing for
+a big stake, and that the work we have on hand is no child's play; but
+it will do no harm to impress it on them again. I sincerely hope that
+no rough work will be required; but they may as well realize that I
+intend to have absolute obedience, and shall not hesitate at the most
+extreme measures to obtain it. They must be drilled until every man
+is faultlessly perfect in the part he is to play. We may all be
+pronounced outlaws at any time with a price upon our heads, and
+therefore, before leaving here, I wish that none be allowed to join
+the enterprise except those who willingly volunteer for the sake of
+the cause. The men who are unwilling to volunteer, and yet know too
+much, must be taken and held _incommunicado_ in some perfectly
+safe place until such time as I notify you.
+
+"I think that is all," he reflected. Then, while the other man watched
+him curiously, he stepped to the safe, and opening it brought back a
+small, hardwood box about six inches square.
+
+"I have never explained to you, Page," he said, "the exact
+construction of the instrument that is contained in this box. As you
+know, there is but one other instrument like this in the world, and
+that you know is in a safe place. My reason for not taking anybody
+into my confidence was not from any lack of faith in you or my other
+trusted associates, but simply in order to be absolutely sure at all
+times and under all circumstances that I was the only one in
+possession of this secret."
+
+And turning to the fireplace he threw the box with its contents
+directly on to the burning logs.
+
+Page gave a slight gasp as he saw the wooden receptacle catch, and
+half stepped forward as if to rescue it, but Edestone quickly raised
+an interposing hand. Then he turned to his companion with a smile.
+
+"That was my first very clumsy model. The actual mechanical
+construction of this instrument is so simple," he said, "that I can
+at any time construct one which will answer all purposes that I may
+require of it until I see you. I intend to amuse myself on the
+_Ivernia_ during the crossing constructing a new smaller and
+more compact instrument, combining with it one of the receivers which
+you have attuned to your wireless. See that these as well as the
+following," handing "Specs" a list of electrical supplies, "are put in
+Black's steamer trunk. And now, let's have a look at those films."
+
+He followed this with a tour of inspection of the entire
+establishment, although the latter was largely perfunctory in
+character, since he knew that for days everything had been in
+readiness for his orders, waiting only for his return from Washington;
+then returning to his quarters, he tumbled into bed to catch a few
+hours of sleep before again whirling off at a sixty-mile-an-hour gait
+to board his steamer at the dock.
+
+His plans were completed. His men, down to the lowest helper, were
+fellows of tested experience and education, many of them college
+graduates, while his "commissioned officers," as he called them,
+numbering sixty, were all experts in their respective lines. They had
+been drawn from all ranks of life, from the college laboratory, the
+automobile factory, and the war college. There were among them bank
+clerks, former commanders of battle-ships, doctors, lawyers, soldiers,
+and sailors. In fact, his little world was a perfectly equipped and
+smoothly running community with all the departments of a miniature
+government, save only a diplomatic service, and that he combined with
+his own prerogatives as Executive and Commander-in-Chief.
+
+One thing he did not have in all his company, so far as he knew,--and
+that was a weakling. So thoroughly had he sifted them out, and applied
+to each of them the acid test, that he was sure he could rely on them,
+as he liked to say, "to the last ditch."
+
+For the rest, although he had taken only a few of them into his
+confidence as to his real purposes and intentions, he had assured each
+recruit that he would be required to do nothing that was contrary to
+his duty to his fellow-man, his country, or his God.
+
+And tomorrow the wheels would be set in motion. The undertaking to
+which he had dedicated his life and colossal fortune would be
+launched.
+
+It was characteristic of Edestone that no sooner had he laid his head
+upon the pillow than his eyes closed, and he slept as peacefully as a
+tired child.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+CROSSING WITH ROYALTY
+
+
+After a perfectly uneventful voyage, the _Ivernia_, with Edestone
+and his three men aboard, swung slowly to her dock. As the big vessel
+had approached the coast the few cabin passengers were at first a
+little nervous, but the contempt in which the officers held, or
+pretended to hold, the submarine menace made itself soon felt
+throughout the ship, and but for the thinness of their ranks all went
+as usual. It is true that the little group of army contract-seekers
+and returning refugees seemed to enjoy constituting themselves into
+special look-outs, and regarded it as their particular duty, as long
+as it did not interfere with their game of bridge, or might cause them
+to lose a particularly comfortable and sheltered corner of the deck,
+to notify the stewards if they happened to see anything which to them
+looked like a periscope or floating mine.
+
+Throughout the voyage Edestone kept very much to himself and in his
+quarters occupied himself constructing a new instrument, and to the
+hard-rubber case that had been provided for it he attached a wireless
+receiver. In some of this work he was assisted by Stanton and Black,
+two electricians he had brought with him, who, with James, his valet,
+made up his party.
+
+He had little time and less inclination to observe his neighbours, who
+occupied the corresponding suite just across the passageway; but his
+man James, who had been formally introduced to their servants,
+insisted upon telling him all about them. They were, James said, the
+Duchess of Windthorst and her daughter, the Princess Wilhelmina, who
+were returning from Canada, where they had been visiting the Duke of
+Connaught at Toronto.
+
+But, if Edestone was preoccupied, the Princess, on the contrary,
+being a girl of nineteen, with absolutely nothing on her mind, had
+not failed to note the handsome young man across the passage.
+Unconsciously answering to the irresistible call of youth, which is as
+loud to the princess as to the peasant, she had watched him with a
+great deal of interest, and had been fascinated by his faultless boots
+and the fact that he failed to notice her at all.
+
+Yet Edestone, it may be remarked, was not the only person on board
+favoured with the royal regard. The Duchess, with the propensity of
+her kind on visiting the States, had selected for her rare promenades
+on deck a Broadway sport of the most absurd and exaggerated type,
+known as "Diamond King John" Bradley.
+
+This vagary is explained by the fact that the social chasm separating
+them from all Americans is, to their limited vision, so infinitely
+great that it is impossible for them to see and to understand the
+niceties that the Americans draw between the butcher of New York and
+the dry-goods merchant of Denver; and since it is impossible to see
+nothing from infinity, they content themselves by selecting those who
+are, in their opinion, typical, in order that in the short time they
+can give to this study they may learn all of the characteristics of
+this most extraordinary race, who on account of the similarity of
+language have presumed to claim a relationship with them. They will
+not accept as true what much of the world believes: that Old England
+is in her decadence, and that her only hope is in those sons who have
+left her and who, away from the debilitating influence of the
+poisonous vapours arising from the ruins of her glory, are developing
+the ancient spirit of their ancestors and are returning to her
+assistance in her time of need.
+
+As to the Princess, Edestone, although he noted that she was extremely
+attractive in face and figure, did not give her a second thought. He
+was amused at the attitude of the Duchess and her class, and was
+willing to accept it, but it did not arouse any desire on his part to
+follow the lead of the gentleman from Broadway and seek their
+acquaintance. As a matter of fact, he had always found the young women
+of the upper classes of England either extremely stupid or perfectly
+willing to appear so to an American of his class.
+
+Still, as it happened, he did meet the Princess. One night after
+dinner he found her struggling with the door into the passage which
+led to their adjoining apartments. She was, or pretended to be,
+helpless in the wind that was blowing her down the deck as she clung
+to the rail, and, quietly taking her by the arm, he pulled her back to
+the door, where he held her until she was safely inside. This was all
+done in a perfectly matter-of-fact manner, and she might as well have
+been a steamer rug that was in danger of being blown overboard. Then
+before she had time to thank him, the door was blown shut, and he had
+resumed his solitary walk along the deck.
+
+The next time that the Princess saw him, although she felt sure that
+he must have known that she had looked in his direction, there was no
+indication of any desire on his part to continue the acquaintance. He
+had apparently entirely forgotten the episode or her existence, and
+the pride of a beautiful young girl was hurt, and the dignity of
+royalty offended--but the first was all that really mattered.
+
+And so the voyage ended. The passengers all seemed perfectly willing
+to go ashore, notwithstanding their assumption of indifference to the
+German blockade. Edestone, as usual, was met by the fastest form of
+locomotion, and before the trunks and bags had begun to toboggan down
+to the dock, he was whirling up to London in the powerful motor car
+belonging to his friend, the Marquis of Lindenberry. Edestone had
+notified him by wireless to meet the steamer, and they were now being
+driven directly to the Marquis's house in Grosvenor Square. Stanton
+and Black were left behind with James, who condescended with his
+superior knowledge to assist them in getting the luggage through the
+custom-house.
+
+"Well what in the name of common sense has brought you over to England
+at such a time as this?" demanded Lindenberry, after the automobile
+had swept clear of the town and with a gentle purr had settled down to
+its work. He leaned over as he spoke, to satisfy himself that the
+chauffeur, having finished adjusting his glasses with one hand while
+running at top speed, finally had both hands on the wheel, and then
+turned expectantly to his companion.
+
+"Oh, I see," Lindenberry nodded when he found that he got no
+satisfactory answer to this or the other inquiries he put; "you
+evidently do not propose to take me into your confidence. Still, I
+would not be so deucedly mysterious, if I were you. I call it beastly
+rude, you know. Here I have come all the way from Aldershot, and am
+using the greater part of my valuable leave in response to your crazy
+wire. Tell me, is it a contract to deliver a dozen dreadnoughts at the
+gates of the Tower of London before Easter Sunday?" and his eyes
+twinkled, "or have some of your young Americans enlisted and the fond
+parents sent you over to rescue them?"
+
+Edestone smiled. "Well, the first thing I want, Lindenberry, is a
+little chat with Lord Rockstone."
+
+"Oh, is that all?" with a satiric inflection. "Well, why in the name
+of common sense didn't you say so at first? I do not know, however,
+that I can positively get you an appointment today. You must not mind
+if His Lordship keeps you waiting for a few minutes if he happens to
+be talking with the Czar of Russia on the long-distance telephone. You
+know, we over here are still great sticklers on form. We are trying
+hard to be progressive, but we still consider it quite rude to tell a
+King to hold the wire while we talk to someone else who has not taken
+the trouble that he has to make an appointment. You must remember that
+he has perhaps dropped several shillings into the slot, and would
+naturally be annoyed if told by the girl that time was up and to drop
+another shilling.
+
+"Or Lord Rockstone may perhaps be just in the midst of one of his
+usual twenty-four-hour interviews with an American newspaper
+representative," he continued his chaffing. "Now if he does not invite
+Graves and Underhill and Apsworth to have tea with you, you might drop
+in at Boodles' on your way back from the city, and we will just pop on
+to Buckingham Palace and deliver to Queen Mary the ultimatum from the
+suffragette ladies of the Sioux Indians."
+
+Edestone laughed so heartily that the footman nearly turned to see if
+something had happened. "And they say that you Englishmen have no
+sense of humour. The trouble with you though, old top, is that your
+joke is so deucedly good that you don't see the point yourself."
+
+They were just passing through one of Rockstone's military camps,
+where England's recruited millions were being trained, and cutting
+short his badinage Edestone gazed at the scene with interest.
+
+"It does seem a pity that all these fine young fellows should be
+sacrificed in order to settle a question which I could settle in a
+very short time," he said, becoming more serious.
+
+"Settle it in a very short time?" repeated Lindenberry. "I would like
+to know how you propose to do it. I know you are full of splendid
+ideas, and invent all kinds of electrical contrivances to do things
+that one can do perfectly well with one's own hands. I suppose you
+would take a large magnet and with it pull all of the German warships
+out of the Kiel Canal, and hold them while you went on board and
+explained to Bernhardi and von Buelow the horrors of war, and if they
+did not listen to you, you would, like the Pied Piper of Hamelin lead
+them off with all the other disagreeable odds and ends, submarines and
+Zeppelins, to an island, way, way out in the ocean, where they would
+have to stay until they promised to be good little boys?"
+
+"Well, wouldn't that be better than killing a lot of these fine young
+fellows you have here?" demanded Edestone, although he smiled at his
+friend's fantastic idea.
+
+"You Americans are developing into a nation of foolish old women,"
+taunted Lindenberry, "and the sooner that you get into a muss like
+this one we're in, the sooner you will get back that fighting spirit
+which has made you what you are. You are fast losing the respect of
+the other nations by your present methods, always looking after your
+own pocket-books while the rest of the world is bleeding to death."
+
+Edestone was thoughtful, and appeared to have no answer for this, and
+Lindenberry reverted to his request.
+
+"If you really want to have an interview with Lord Rockstone, Jack, I
+think I can possibly arrange it. I will telephone to Colonel Wyatt,
+who is on his staff, and find out what he can do for you."
+
+And so they chatted until coming to Grosvenor Square where they got
+out of the automobile in front of an unpretentious red brick house
+with an English basement entrance, trimmed with white marble and
+spotlessly clean.
+
+Lindenberry at once telephoned to Colonel Wyatt, who said that Lord
+Rockstone was in and that if Edestone would come around at once he
+would see to it that his letters were presented. As to an appointment,
+he could promise nothing, but he did say to Lindenberry, not to be
+repeated, that the Department was not at that time very favourably
+disposed toward Americans.
+
+With his usual promptness, Edestone jumped into his automobile and
+started for Downing Street, not stopping even to wash his face and
+hands nor to brush the dust from his clothes.
+
+At the door he was met by an officer in khaki, was told that Colonel
+Wyatt was expecting him, and was asked if he would be so kind as to
+come up to the Colonel's office. There he was told that his
+credentials and letters could be presented that afternoon, but there
+was practically no chance of an interview, as Lord Rockstone was
+leaving the War Offices in a few minutes.
+
+Word was finally brought in that Lord Rockstone would see Mr. Edestone
+and receive his letters, but regretted that he would be unable to give
+him an appointment, as he was leaving for the Continent in a few days
+and affairs of state required his entire time--which translated into
+plain English meant: "Come in, but get out as soon as you can."
+
+Shown into a large room, he saw seated at a big desk the man who is
+said to have said that he did not know when the war would end, but he
+did know when it would begin, and fixed that date at about eight
+months after the actual declaration--after millions of pounds had been
+expended and hundreds of thousands of English dead.
+
+Cold, powerful, relentless, and determined, Edestone knew that it was
+useless to appeal to a sense of humanity in this man who, sitting at
+his desk early and late, directed the great machine that slowly but
+surely was drawing to itself the youth and vigour of all England,
+there to feed and fatten, flatter and amuse these poor boys from the
+country, and with music and noise destroy their sensibilities before
+sending them across the Channel to live for their few remaining days
+in holes in the ground that no self-respecting beast would with his
+own consent occupy.
+
+To appeal to a sense of duty so strong in him as applied to England,
+was one thing; but to convince him that Edestone as an American had a
+sense of duty to the nations of Europe was something quite different.
+This man of steel had no imagination, he was convinced, and to ask him
+to follow him in his flights would be as useless as to request him to
+whistle Yankee Doodle.
+
+He had a chance to decide all this while Rockstone, who had risen and
+received him with courtesy, was reading the letters he presented. The
+great soldier's face never changed once as he read them all with care.
+
+"Your credentials are satisfactory," he finally said, "but I do not
+quite understand what it is you wish. Your letters say that you do not
+want to sell anything, which is most extraordinary; I thought you
+Americans always wanted to sell something." And his face assumed the
+expression of a man who, having no sense of humour, thought that he
+had perhaps made a joke.
+
+"If you have drawings and photographs of a new instrument of war," he
+caught himself up abruptly, "I should greatly prefer that you submit
+these to the Ordnance Department; but since your Secretary of State
+has been so insistent, I will look at them tomorrow. I will give you
+an appointment from 9 to 9:15."
+
+And he rose and bowed.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+THE FIRST REBUFF
+
+
+At exactly a quarter past nine the following morning, Lord Rockstone
+with military precision rose from his desk.
+
+"I fear that my time is up, Mr. Edestone," he said, glancing at his
+watch. "I have enjoyed this opportunity of meeting you and listening
+to your presentation of your theory. Your drawings are most
+interesting; your photographs convincing, if--" he paused, his lip
+curling slightly under his long tawny moustache,--"if one did not know
+of the remarkable optical illusions capable of being produced in
+photography. Our friends, the Germans, have become particularly expert
+in the art of double exposure."
+
+Then, as if he thought he might have said too much, he added less
+crisply:
+
+"Please do not understand that I doubt either your sincerity, or that
+of the Government at Washington in this matter; you may have both
+perhaps been deceived. I hope that your stay in England may be
+pleasant, and I regret that this war will prevent you from receiving
+the attention to which your letters and your accomplishments would
+entitle you."
+
+With an expression on his face that said plainer than words: "This is
+the last minute of my most valuable time that I intend to give to this
+nonsense," he bowed formally, and reseating himself at his desk, took
+up papers.
+
+Then without looking up, "Good morning, Mr. Edestone."
+
+The American did not allow himself to show the slightest trace of
+annoyance at the brusque dismissal.
+
+"You will at least permit me to thank you for your kind intentions,
+sir," he said; and standing perfectly still until he had forced Lord
+Rockstone to look up, he added with a smile, "We may meet again,
+perhaps."
+
+There was something about his perfect ease of manner as he stood
+waiting which showed that although he would not condescend to notice
+it, he was both conscious of the War Minister's unpardonable rudeness
+and intended to make him acknowledge it.
+
+Rockstone hesitated a moment; then with a belated show of courtesy
+came from behind his desk, and stiffly extended his hand.
+
+"You Americans are the most extraordinary people," he said; "I must
+admit, I never quite understand you."
+
+"Then you must grant us a slight advantage," rejoined Edestone evenly;
+"because we believe we do understand you Englishmen. If there had been
+the same clear understanding on your side in the present instance it
+would have been more to your interest, I am satisfied; for then
+instead of merely disturbing you I should have aroused you."
+
+"It is not a question of arousing me as you call it. You are dealing
+with the Government of the Empire, and, as you know, England moves
+slowly. The suggestion that I invite His Majesty to see a lot of
+moving pictures of an impossible machine, if you will pardon me, is
+preposterous. If you really wish to sell something to the War
+Department, although I understand you to state that you do not,
+nothing is simpler. Ship one of your machines to England, give a
+demonstration, and whereas I cannot speak with authority, I am
+confident that England will pay all that any other Government will
+pay. As to our friends, the enemy, our ships will attend to it that
+nothing goes to them that can be used against us." His jaws snapped,
+and his cold greenish-grey eyes flashed, as he gave another curt bow
+of dismissal.
+
+Edestone had no alternative but to leave; but as he turned to rejoin
+Colonel Wyatt, who had stood stiffly at attention throughout the
+entire interview, he could not resist one parting shot.
+
+"Do not forget, Lord Rockstone," he said, "that England six months ago
+spoke lightly of submarines."
+
+The War Minister pretended not to hear; but no sooner had the door
+closed upon his offensive visitor than he caught up the
+telephone. "Get me the Admiralty, and present my compliments to
+Mr. Underhill," he directed sharply. "Tell him I would like to speak
+to him at once."
+
+He turned back to a tray of letters left upon his desk to sign, but
+halted, his pen held arrested in air.
+
+"Suppose," he muttered, "the fellow should actually have--? But,
+pshaw! It's simply a mammoth Yankee bluff. That Foreign Department at
+Washington is just silly enough to believe that it can frighten us
+with its manufactured photographs. They are so anxious over there to
+stop the war, that they would resort to any expedient--anything but
+fight."
+
+The telephone tinkled.
+
+"Ah! Are you there Underhill? Yes, this is Rockstone. I called you up
+to warn you against a madman who is now on his way to see you. You
+can't well refuse to give him an audience, for he has such strong
+letters from the American Government that one might imagine he was a
+special envoy sent to offer armed intervention and to end the war. But
+in my opinion he is merely a crank or an impostor, who has succeeded
+in obtaining the support and endorsement of their State Department.
+
+"What is that? Oh yes; he's an American. His name? How should I
+remember! I wasn't interested either in him, or what he had to say.
+He pretends to have discovered some new agency or force, don't you
+know, and tries to prove by a lot of double-exposed photographs that
+he has broken down the fundamental laws of physics, neutralizing the
+force of gravity, or annihilating space by the polarization of light,
+or some such rot.
+
+"Do not kick him out. He has letters not only from his Government, but
+from some of its most prominent men whom it would be unwise to offend
+at this time. Just listen to his twaddle about universal peace and
+that sort of thing, and then pass him on to Graves with a quiet
+warning such as I have given you."
+
+Meanwhile Edestone, having taken leave of Colonel Wyatt, was making
+his way out of the building, when he found himself accosted in the
+dimly lighted corridor by a man in civilian clothes whom he recognized
+as a New York acquaintance of several years' standing.
+
+"Well, look who's here!" he greeted Edestone lustily as he extended
+his hand. "What brings you into the very den of the lion? Is it that,
+like myself, you are helping dear old England get arms and ammunition
+with which to lick the barbarians on the Rhine?"
+
+Glancing around cautiously he lowered his voice. "Make her pay well
+for them, my boy; she would not hesitate to turn them on us, if we got
+in her way."
+
+Edestone laughingly disclaimed any interest in army contracts, but at
+the same time avoided divulging the actual mission upon which he was
+engaged.
+
+There was something in his companion's manner that put him rather on
+his guard; he remembered smoking after dinner not more than three or
+four months before in the house of one of the most prominent German
+bankers in New York, and listening to this man, who had expressed
+himself in a way that might have suggested somewhat pro-German
+sympathies. Edestone had at the time attributed this to a
+consideration for their host and to the fact that the German
+Ambassador was present; but he recalled that, although the speaker was
+most violent in his protestations of neutrality, someone had suggested
+at the time that he was of a German family, his father having been
+born in Hesse-Darmstadt. He was a man of wealth, with establishments
+in New York and Newport, at both of which places Edestone had been
+entertained. His loud and hearty manner stamped him as a typical
+American, but his large frame, handsome face, and military bearing
+showed his Teutonic origin.
+
+"You surprise me Rebener." Edestone's eyes twinkled slightly at these
+recollections. "I should have supposed, if you had anything of the
+kind to sell, that it would be to your friend, Count Bernstoff.
+However," he laid his hand on the other's arm, "it's an agreeable
+surprise to run across a fellow-countryman, no matter what the cause.
+Are you going my way?"
+
+"No," Rebener told him, he had an appointment on hand with one of the
+bureau chiefs in the Ordnance Department.
+
+"Well then suppose you dine with me tonight," suggested Edestone. "I
+am stopping at Claridge's and shall be awfully glad if you can come. I
+am entirely alone in London, you see; my cronies, I find, are all dead
+or at the front."
+
+"Delighted, my boy. But listen! Don't have any of your English
+swells. Let's make this a quiet little American dinner just to
+ourselves, and forget for once this ghastly war."
+
+"At eight o'clock, then," Edestone nodded.
+
+"And a strict neutrality dinner, remember. That is the only safe kind
+for us Americans to eat in London."
+
+"All right, Rebener, as neutral as you please. _A bientot_." And
+with a wave of the hand he passed on down the corridor and out of the
+building. His appointment with Underhill, Chief of the Admiralty, was
+not until 11:30, so he put in the time by sauntering rather slowly
+along the Thames Embankment.
+
+He regretted now that, in talking with Lord Rockstone, he had not made
+a little more show of force, for had he assumed a more dictatorial
+manner he would have at least aroused the fighting spirit in his stern
+antagonist, who might then have taken some interest in crushing him
+under his heel; whereas now he saw plainly that Rockstone considered
+him beneath his notice, and thereby much valuable time had been
+lost. Yet he did not wish to make any show of force until he knew
+positively that his men were all at their stations, and that the
+_Little Peace Maker_ was near at hand. He must be in a position
+to use force before playing his last card, and he had not as yet heard
+from "Specs." Although he knew that their instruments were perfectly
+attuned, he had not, up to twelve o'clock of the day before, received
+a single vibration.
+
+At this point he was interrupted by encountering another American who
+also insisted upon stopping and shaking hands. This was a young
+architect from New York, who had from time to time done work for his
+father's estate and who had also made some alterations at the Little
+Place in the Country for Edestone himself. He was a tall, lank young
+man of about twenty-seven, with little rat-like eyes, placed so close
+to his hawk-like nose that one felt Nature would have been kinder to
+him had she given him only one eye and frankly placed it in the middle
+of his receding forehead. His small blonde moustache did not cover his
+rabbit mouth, which was so filled with teeth that he could with
+difficulty close his lips.
+
+"What has brought you to London, Schmidt? Aren't you afraid that these
+Englishmen will capture you and shoot you as a spy?"
+
+"Sh! Not quite so loud please, Mr. Edestone; these English are such
+fools. They think that because a man has a German name he must be a
+fighting German, when you know that I am a perfectly good naturalized
+American citizen. My passport is made out in the name of Schmidt, and
+that's my name all right, but I call myself Smith over here to keep
+from rubbing these fellows the wrong way."
+
+"Well, Mr. 'Smith,' you have not told me what you are doing in
+London."
+
+"I have been sent over by a New York architectural paper to make a
+report upon the condition of the cathedral at Rheims. I stopped over
+in London to get my papers vised by the Royal Institute of
+Architects." Then, lowering his voice, and keeping his eyes on a
+policeman who was apparently watching them with interest: "I am sorry
+to see you here, Mr. Edestone. This is no place for us Americans, and
+my advice to you is to get out of here as soon as you can, and don't
+come back again until the war is over."
+
+Edestone felt that he would have said more but they were interrupted
+by the policeman who said: "Excuse me, gentlemen, but these be war
+times, and me ordhers are to keep the Imbankment moving."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+ECHOES FROM THE WILHELMSTRASSE
+
+
+After leaving the War Offices, Rebener went directly to the nearest
+public telephone.
+
+"Hello, Karlbeck," he called, after satisfying himself by mumbling a
+jumble of unintelligible words and numbers that he had the man he
+wanted on the wire. "Is Smith there? What? Thames Embankment? What did
+you say is the number of that officer? Oh, my old butler, Pat! That's
+all right. Now listen; if I should miss Smith and he comes in, tell
+him to call me at my hotel at once. I have made an engagement for
+dinner with our man for eight o'clock tonight, but you and H. R. H.
+need not be at my rooms until half-past eight. You understand, eh?
+Good-bye."
+
+He strolled out, following Edestone's course with the air of a man
+wishing to enjoy this beautiful spring morning, and approaching the
+officer who had interrupted the interview between Edestone and Smith,
+he said, with a little twinkle in his eye: "Will you tell me which of
+these bridges is called the London Bridge?"
+
+The blue-coated Pat, with Hibernian readiness, caught the humour of
+the situation. "Shure, I would gladly, but 'tis a strhanger I am here
+mesilf," he grinned as he smothered the entire lower part of his face
+with his huge paw of a hand, and significantly closed one eye.
+
+"Pat, your fondness for joking will get you into trouble yet. Did
+Smith turn Edestone over to you?"
+
+"He did, and I mesilf took him up to the Admiralty where he is
+now. 4782, I think they called him, takes him up from there, and will
+keep him until he hears from either you or Smith."
+
+"Where has Smith gone?"
+
+"Shure he's up at Claridge's, bein' shaved by Count von Hottenroth."
+
+"Now, now, Pat, if you don't stop that joking of yours I'll certainly
+report you to the Wilhelmstrasse."
+
+"And they said I was to be the first King of dear old Ireland!" as
+with a broad grin on his face he raised his hand as if drinking. "Der
+Tag!" he cried, thereby causing several passers-by to laugh at the
+idea of a London bobby giving the sacred German toast.
+
+Rebener, leaving him, went directly to his rooms at The Britz where he
+was received with the greatest consideration by everybody about the
+place. He was shown to the royal suite by the proprietor himself, who
+after he had carefully closed the door upon them stood as if waiting
+for orders.
+
+"Call Claridge's on the 'phone, and tell Smith who is being shaved,"
+he smiled at the recollection of Pat's jest, "to meet me here at
+once. I do not want him seen in the hotel, so tell him to come in by
+the servants' entrance, and you bring him up on the service elevator
+and in here through my pantry and dining-room."
+
+The proprietor retired to attend to this, but was soon back, and
+Rebener continued his instructions.
+
+"Luckily Edestone invited me to dine with him tonight before I had a
+chance to invite him," he said, "but I will persuade him to come here
+and dine with me."
+
+"So, Mr. Bombiadi," he turned to the proprietor, "I shall want dinner
+here for four at 8:30. See to it yourself, will you, that my guests
+are brought through my private entrance, and one especially--you know
+who--who will be incognito, must not be recognized. Not that there
+could be any objection to these men dining with me here--a common rich
+American, who loves to spend his money on princes and things--but by
+tonight this man Edestone will be watched by at least twenty men from
+Scotland Yard, and they suspect anyone of being a German spy, be he
+prince or pauper."
+
+Their conversation was interrupted at this point by the arrival of
+Smith, who came in very much excited. Sniffling and rubbing his nose
+with the back of his forefinger, like a nervous cocaine fiend, he
+broke out agitatedly:
+
+"Mr. Rebener, I'm getting sick of this job. When I undertook to find
+out for you what was going on at the Little Place in the Country, I
+was working for Germany as against the world, and anything that I can
+do for her I am glad and proud to do, but that Hottenroth talks like a
+damn fool. Excuse me, Mr. Rebener, but he don't want to stop at
+anything. He says that if he pulls off this thing the Emperor, when he
+gets to London, will make him Duke of Westminster, or something, and
+six months from now he will appoint me Governor-General of North
+America. I tell you, Mr. Rebener, that fellow is plumb nutty."
+
+"Pardon me, Mr. Rebener," interposed the proprietor, "it is true that
+Hottenroth is excitable, but he is faithful to the Fatherland and an
+humble servant to His Imperial Majesty. He has been in charge of a
+fixed post in London for fifteen years. He was one of the very first
+to be sent here, and he was in Paris before that. He would die
+willingly for the Fatherland, as would I, and if this Schmidt, I mean
+Smith, thinks there is any sin too great to be committed for the
+Fatherland, he is not worthy of a place among us, and the sooner we
+get rid of him the better." And he looked at the unfortunate Smith in
+a way that showed he was willing to do this at any moment.
+
+But Rebener, who had lived all his life in America, and like Smith did
+not thoroughly agree with the philosophy of German militarism--before
+which everything must bow--hurriedly raised his hand.
+
+"Come, come, you are both getting unnecessarily excited. Don't let us
+try to cross our bridges until we get to them. What did von Hottenroth
+have to report?"
+
+"It was not very satisfactory, to tell you the truth, Mr. Rebener,"
+said Smith; "they searched through all of his things and they found
+nothing but a drawing of a Zeppelin of our 29-M type, with some slight
+changes, which Hottenroth said don't amount to anything, and some
+photographs of Mr. Edestone himself, doing some juggling tricks with
+heavy dumb-bells and weights, but we learned afterwards from the
+porter that an expressman had left two large and heavy trunks marked,
+'A. M. Black and P. S. Stanton,' at No. 4141 Grosvenor Square East."
+
+"Well what is the report," demanded Bombiadi, "on No. 4141 Grosvenor
+Square?"
+
+Smith read from a memorandum book: "Lord Lindenberry, who is a
+widower, lives there with his mother, the Dowager. The old lady is now
+up at their country place, in Yorkshire, and the Marquis went on to
+Aldershot last night after having dined with Edestone at Brooks's and
+dropping him at Claridge's at 12:15 A.M. The house is only partially
+opened; there are only a few of the old servants there."
+
+"And do you think these trunks contain the instrument which you
+reported to us from America was always kept in the safe at the Little
+Place in the Country?" snapped the hotel proprietor.
+
+"I don't know," whined Smith. "Mr. Edestone probably has it with him."
+
+"Well, we must get hold of it before he shows it to Underhill,"
+frowned the proprietor, "that is, if it has not been shown already,
+and in that case we must get hold of Edestone himself."
+
+"Now that is exactly what is troubling me," Smith's voice rose
+hysterically. "I'm not going to stand for any of that rough stuff,
+Mr. Rebener. Mr. Edestone and his father have both been mighty good to
+me, and if anything happens to him I'll blow on the whole lot of you."
+
+"So?" The proprietor's pale fat face was convulsed with a look of
+hatred and contempt. "Then we are to understand, Smith, that if we
+find it necessary to do away with Edestone you wish to go first? You
+dirty little half-breed," he growled in an undertone. "Your mother
+must have been an English woman."
+
+"Here, here, you two fools!" Rebener broke in with sharp authority,
+"there is no question of 'doing away' with Edestone, as you call
+it. What we're after is the invention and not the man himself, and
+we'll not get it by 'doing away' with him. I am, like Smith here,
+opposed to murder, even for the Fatherland."
+
+"But it is not murder, Mr. Rebener," interrupted the proprietor, "if
+thereby we are instrumental in saving thousands of the sons of the
+Fatherland."
+
+"That would not only not save the sons of the Fatherland, but would
+put an end to our usefulness, both here in London and in America,
+especially if Edestone has already turned the whole thing over to
+England. The very first thing for us to do is to find out how the
+matter stands. If the Ministry knows nothing, we must work to get him
+to Berlin, and then even you fire-eaters may safely trust it to the
+Wilhelmstrasse. If it should happen, however, that the British
+Government has the invention, His Royal Highness tonight will try to
+get enough out of Edestone to enlighten Berlin, and in that way we
+shall at least get an even break. That is, always provided that
+Edestone has not a lot of the completed articles, whatever they may
+be, at the Little Place in the Country. That would put us in bad
+again, and it will be up to Count Bernstoff to attend to it from the
+New York end."
+
+"Of course, Mr. Rebener," said the proprietor, "we can do nothing
+until we hear from His Royal Highness, but I am satisfied that he will
+say Edestone must not be allowed to go to Downing Street tomorrow to
+continue his negotiations, unless in some way we can get hold of this
+secret tonight."
+
+"Well, I'll be damned if I'll--!" started Rebener angrily, when he was
+interrupted by the proprietor, who holding his finger to his lip,
+said:
+
+"Please, Mr. Rebener, please! Always remember that the service on
+which we are engaged has no soul and a very long arm." Then dropping
+into the persuasive and servile tone of the _maitre d'hotel_: "I
+propose, Mr. Rebener, that you allow me to send you up a nice little
+lunch, some melon, say, a _salmon mayonnaise_ or a _filet du
+sole au vin blanc_ and a _noisette d'agneau_ and a nice little
+sweet, and you must try a bottle of our Steinberger Auslese '84.
+
+"And Smith," he turned to the humbler agent, "you had better get in
+touch with 4782, who is reporting to His Royal Highness every hour.
+His last message was that Edestone is still with Underhill, so you get
+down to the Admiralty and report to me here as often as you can.
+Edestone will probably lunch quietly alone somewhere, as I know that
+all of his friends are at the front, but don't lose him until you turn
+him over to Mr. Rebener tonight at 8 o'clock." His eyes narrowed as
+they followed the skulking figure of the architect out of the room.
+
+"That fellow needs watching," he muttered to Rebener. "He has lost his
+nerve. He is not a true German anyhow. But if he makes a false step,
+4782 knows what to do and you can depend upon him to do it. We do not
+know who he is, but he is a gentleman, if not a nobleman, and he will
+kill or die for his Emperor."
+
+Smith, in the meantime, had gone down the service stairs and out at
+the rear of the hotel. He was thoughtful, and when he was settled in
+his taxi, after having directed the chauffeur where to drive, he said
+to himself:
+
+"They are going to kill him tonight unless they get that machine, or
+else can fix it so that Rockstone doesn't get it tomorrow, that is if
+Underhill hasn't got it already. I wish I'd never started this
+business; I never thought it would go so far, and what do I get out of
+it? A German decoration which I can't wear in America, and God knows I
+don't want to live in Germany, and seventeen dollars a week. I'm not
+going to stand for it, and that's settled."
+
+Arriving in front of a little restaurant he entered and sat down at a
+table near a window looking out on Whitehall Place. The proprietor,
+who was another German, came over to him, and while ostensibly
+arranging the cloth spoke to him in an undertone in his own language.
+
+"Edestone is still with Underhill," he said. "The taxi driver on the
+stand opposite, the one who looks as if he were asleep, is 4782. In
+that way he keeps the head of the line, you see, and when Edestone
+comes out, if he doesn't take that cab, 4782 can follow him until he
+alights again, and then he is to telephone His Royal Highness. So you
+sit here and have lunch, where you can see what is going on."
+
+Then, turning to a group of his regular customers at another table,
+the jovial host in a loud voice and in perfect English took a violent
+pro-Ally part in the war discussion that was going on.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+A RUSTY OLD CANNON-BALL
+
+
+Edestone had met the Honorable Herbert Underhill before, both in
+America and in the country houses of England. The two were about the
+same age, and as Underhill's mother was an American, Edestone had
+hoped that he would not have quite so much trouble in getting him to
+look at the matter from an American point of view.
+
+Underhill, however, was just on that account a little bit more formal
+with the cousins from across the sea than were most of the men of high
+position in Europe. He was undoubtedly taken aback and thrown off his
+guard when he found that Edestone was the dangerous American lunatic
+of whom he had been warned. In the first place, he knew that there was
+not the slightest chance of his being an impostor, and he also knew
+exactly how much of a lunatic he was. He knew, in fact, that he was a
+hard-riding, clear-thinking, high-minded Anglo-Saxon of the very best
+type to be found A Rusty Old Cannon-Ball anywhere, and he smiled as he
+thought of Rockstone's advice not to kick him out of the Admiralty.
+
+With considerable show of cordiality, he invited his visitor into a
+small room adjoining his large office, and sat him down at the
+opposite side of a wide table.
+
+"Lord Rockstone told me you were coming, but did not mention your
+name. He is quite a chap, that Rockstone. Not what you Americans would
+call a very chatty party, however. Now what can I do for you? Lord
+Rockstone tells me that you have some new invention, or something of
+the sort, that will help us to finish up this little scrimmage without
+the loss of a single Tommy. Well, that is exactly what we are looking
+for, and you American chaps are clever at thinking out new ideas. He
+tells me, however, that you do not wish to sell it. Now I can
+understand better than he why that part would be of no especial
+interest to you; but can't we deal with a Syndicate, or a Board of
+Underwriters, a Holding Company, or some of those wonderful business
+combinations that you Americans devise in order to do business without
+going to jail? Is the poor starving inventor some billionaire like
+yourself, who works only for honour and glory? In that case we might
+get an Iron Cross for him. In fact, we might get one blessed by the
+Emperor himself, by Jove!"
+
+Edestone laughed. "Well, Mr. Underhill, you cannot deny inheriting a
+certain amount of American wit. I have so often heard the older
+members of the Union Club tell stories of Billy Travers's witty
+sayings. He must have gone the pace that kills. One of the old
+servants used to tell that whenever Travers and Larry Jerome and that
+set came in for supper, they expected the waiters to drink every fifth
+bottle; it made things more cheerful-like--but _revenons a nos
+moutons_. Lord Rockstone is right, I do not want to sell my
+discovery, for mine it is. I am the penniless inventor. I only want an
+opportunity of showing it to the heads of the Powers that are now at
+war, and of demonstrating to them the stupendous and overwhelming
+force that is now practically in the hands of the greatest of the
+neutral governments, and thus try, if possible, to convince them of
+the uselessness of continuing this loss of life and treasure.
+
+"If I could demonstrate to you, Mr. Underhill, that I could, sitting
+here in your office, give an order that would set London on fire and
+send every ship in the English navy to the bottom in the course of a
+few weeks, would you not advocate opening negotiations for peace? And
+were I to show the Emperor of Germany that his great army could be
+destroyed in even less time, would he not be more receptive than we
+now understand him to be?"
+
+"Why, Mr. Edestone, I most certainly should," the First Lord of the
+Admiralty granted with a smile, "and I think that perhaps the German
+Emperor would be amenable under the circumstances, but as they say in
+your great country, 'I am from Missouri, you must show me.'"
+
+He changed his position and glanced at Edestone as if he were
+beginning to think that possibly Rockstone might be right in his
+estimate after all.
+
+"Very well, Mr. Underhill; it is now five minutes to noon, and I think
+that I will be able to show you in exactly five minutes."
+
+He took from his pocket a leather case, such as a woodsman might use
+to carry a large pocket compass, and removing the cover set out upon
+the table an instrument that was entirely enclosed in vulcanized
+rubber. On the top, under glass, was a dial, with a little needle
+which vibrated violently, but came to a standstill soon after being
+placed on the table. Two small platinum wires, about twelve inches
+long and carefully insulated, issued from opposite sides of the hard
+rubber casing.
+
+Underhill's face at first bore only an expression of mild amusement,
+but as Edestone evidenced such a deadly earnestness, he showed more
+interest and said with a rather nervous laugh: "Look here, old chap,
+don't blow the entire English navy out of the water while you're
+closeted here with me. I must have some witness to prove that I didn't
+do it or I might have to explain to the House of Commons."
+
+Edestone, a hard and drawn look about his mouth, paid no heed, but
+taking his watch out of his pocket fixed his eye on the little needle
+of the instrument and waited as the last few seconds of the hour
+ticked off. As the second hand made its last round, and the minute
+hand swung into position exactly at twelve, he leaned over the table
+as if trying by mental suggestion to make the instrument respond to
+his will. But it remained perfectly quiescent, and with a half sigh
+and a tightening of the lines about his mouth, he closed his
+watch. Could it be possible, he thought, that "Specs" had forgotten
+his instructions always to use Greenwich time?
+
+He was about to replace the instrument in its case, when he was
+startled by a clock on the mantel, which began to strike the hour of
+twelve. Involuntarily he counted the strokes as they chimed slowly,
+and as the vibrations of the last stroke faded away the little needle
+swung an entire circuit of the dial, returning to its original
+position. This was repeated three times.
+
+Underhill, although still interested in what was going on, seemed a
+bit relieved when nothing more startling happened.
+
+"Oh, I say, you know, you gave me quite a start," he jested. "I
+thought that you were going to set London on fire, and you simply seem
+to be taking your blood-pressure."
+
+Edestone still paid not the slightest attention to him, but after
+glancing about the room walked over to the mantelpiece where he picked
+up an old twelve-inch cannon-ball, which with considerable difficulty
+he brought back and placed on the table by the side of his
+instrument. His eyes once more roved about the room as if he were
+seeking something, and stepping deliberately to a passe-partout
+photograph of King George V., he ripped off the binding with his
+pocket-knife and tore from it the glass.
+
+"Oh, I say, now, Mr. Edestone, those cow-boy methods don't go here in
+London, and if you cannot behave a bit more like a gentleman, I'll
+have you shown to the street."
+
+"We have more important matters on our hands just now, Mr. Underhill,
+than whether or not I am a gentleman," snapped the American, his face
+set and serious as he with nervous fingers laid the glass on the
+table.
+
+Rolling the cannon-ball to him, he lifted it very gently on to the
+glass plate, and then taking a key from his pocket he appeared to wind
+up on the inside of the instrument some mechanism which gave off a
+buzzing sound. Next he drew on a pair of rubber gloves with vulcanized
+rubber finger tips, and moistening with his lips the ends of the two
+platinum wires, pressed them to either side of the ball, first the one
+and then the other. A spark was given off when the second contact was
+made, and the room was filled with a pungent odour as of overheated
+metal which caused both men to cough violently.
+
+Following this, with great care, and using only the tips of his
+fingers, he lifted the glass plate with the ball on it. When he had
+raised it his arm's length above the table, like a plum pudding on a
+platter, he took the glass away, leaving the ball hanging unsupported
+in the air.
+
+He sat down and smiled across the table into the astonished, almost
+incredulous, face of his companion.
+
+"And now, Mr. Underhill, I hope you will pardon my rudeness," he
+apologized lightly; "but I get so interested in these little tricks of
+mine that sometimes I forget myself. If you will permit me, I shall,
+when I go to Paris, order from Cartiers's a more befitting frame for
+His Majesty, and shall beg you to accept it from me as a little
+souvenir of our meeting today."
+
+Underhill made no reply. His whole attention was riveted on that
+amazing ball, and Edestone, a trifle mischievously, added: "If you
+have a perfectly good heart, and think you can stand a bit of a shock,
+touch that ball lightly with your finger."
+
+"My heart's all right, and I am prepared for anything," Underhill
+surrendered, as he reached up and touched the innocent looking rusty
+old cannon-ball, whose only peculiarity seemed to be its willingness
+to remain where it was without any visible means of support.
+
+The room was suddenly filled with a greenish light, as if someone had
+just taken a flash-light photograph. Underhill was thrown violently
+back into his chair, and the ball crashed down on the table, splitting
+it from end to end.
+
+Without moving a muscle of his face, and taking no notice of the
+gestures of pain made by Underhill as he sat rubbing his arm and
+shoulder, Edestone resumed:
+
+"Mr. Underhill, I will not take any more of your valuable time to show
+you my drawings and photographs, but I beg you to say to Sir Egbert
+Graves that you do not think with Lord Rockstone that the American
+Secretary of State has been deceived, and that you hope he will, when
+he sees me tomorrow, try to forget for a while that he is an
+Englishman and be a little bit human. You know, Underhill, confidence
+and pigheadedness are not even connected by marriage; much less are
+they blood relations. By Jove," he grinned, "you can tell him I'll
+stick him up against the ceiling if he insists upon handling me with
+the ice tongs and leave him there until you take him down; that is, if
+you care to take another little shock."
+
+Underhill, although he might have thought at another time that it was
+his duty to resent such light and frivolous reference to the heads of
+His Majesty's Government, was now, however, occupied with more serious
+reflections, and overlooked the offence.
+
+"I am sure," he said, rousing himself, "that if Sir Egbert is
+convinced that you are working for the sake of humanity he will be
+most happy to make use of your talents."
+
+"That is exactly what I want him to do," returned Edestone, "but not
+in the way in which you mean. I wish to be given authority to open
+negotiations for peace with the Emperor of Germany. Now,
+Mr. Underhill, do we understand one another?"
+
+He rose to leave with this, but Underhill, stepping quickly forward,
+laid a hand upon his arm.
+
+"You don't suppose for a moment, Mr. Edestone, that we will allow you
+to leave England and go to Germany to sell them your invention and
+have it used against us?"
+
+"You have my word, Mr. Underhill, and that of the American Secretary
+of State, that it is not my intention to sell to any government. With
+that assurance, unless your Ministry wishes to risk the chances of war
+with the United States, I think it will allow me to leave England and
+go anywhere I please. Good-morning, Mr. Underhill. I am sorry to have
+taken up so much of your valuable time, even more sorry to have broken
+His Majesty's beautiful old oak table."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+DIPLOMACY WINS
+
+
+Underhill, left alone, sat for some moments looking from the broken
+table to the cannonball and then back again. Finally he picked up a
+fragment of glass, for the Royal face protector had likewise been
+broken, when the good old English oak had met its defeat at the hands
+of this Hun of the world of science, and with it, very gingerly, he
+tapped the iron ball--this rusty old barbarian which had set at naught
+the force of gravity, had violated all the established laws of nature,
+and had like the Germans in Belgium smashed through.
+
+Finding that nothing happened, he hesitated for a moment, and, then,
+bracing himself against the shock, he touched his finger gently to
+this rude old paradox. There was no shock, and, reassured, he leaned
+across the table and tried with both hands to lift the cannon-ball.
+
+"That part is genuine there is no doubt," he granted. "That old
+cannon-ball must have been here since--?" He gave a start as his eyes
+caught the inscription pasted upon it, which was:
+
+    "A freak cannon-ball, made at the Forge
+    and Manor of Greenwood, Virginia, 1778.
+    Presented in 1889 to Lord Roberts by
+    General George Bolling Anderson, Governor
+    of the State of Virginia."
+
+"How extraordinary!" he exclaimed. "These Americans are popping up at
+every turn."
+
+He passed out into the large outer office, and, glancing at his watch,
+summoned an undersecretary.
+
+"It is now just a quarter after twelve," he said, "and the Cabinet
+lunches at Buckingham Palace at two. Present my compliments to Lord
+Rockstone and Sir Egbert Graves, and say that I should like to see
+them both here for a few minutes on a matter of the greatest
+importance, and that much as I regret to trouble them it is absolutely
+necessary that this meeting be held in my office and before they go on
+to the Palace."
+
+To another attendant who, moved by curiosity, was going in the
+direction of the smaller room, he said: "Place a sentry at that door
+when I leave. No one is to be allowed to enter that room until I give
+further orders."
+
+A telephone orderly came in a few minutes later to say that his
+message had found Lord Rockstone and Sir Egbert Graves together, and
+that they both would be with him within the half-hour.
+
+Underhill was now fully convinced that Edestone possessed some
+wonderful invention or discovery which the United States intended to
+use as a final argument for peace, and, with the aid of this
+discovery, render untenable any position in opposition to its will
+taken by England or any of the other Powers. Had he dreamed that the
+United States was as ignorant as to the nature of this invention as he
+himself was, the history of the world might have been changed.
+
+When Graves and Rockstone arrived, he greeted them with serious face
+and at once drew them into private conference.
+
+"Gentlemen," he said, "I am sorry to have to trouble you to come to
+me, but I am confident that you will forgive me when you understand my
+reasons for insisting upon a meeting here." Keeping both men still
+standing he continued: "I have a strange story to tell, so strange in
+fact, that you gentlemen would be justified in doubting not only my
+word but my sanity, had I nothing to show you in corroboration."
+
+Both men stood like graven images; one like a soldier at attention;
+the other, his hat and cane in his right hand and the tips of his two
+first fingers resting lightly on the table behind which Underhill was
+standing, his thin, clean-shaven, mask-like face as expressionless as
+if it belonged to a head that had been stuck on the end of a pike and
+shoved out across the table for Underhill to look at, instead of to
+one well placed on his broad athletic shoulders. They both knew that
+Underhill was young and had inherited from his beautiful American
+mother a nervous and temperamental disposition. They also knew that
+this was tempered by the crafty cleverness of the blood of the hero of
+Blenheim. They had come prepared for one of his excitable outbursts,
+although they knew he would not have been so insistent had there not
+been good cause.
+
+"Will you be so kind as to walk into this room with me?" He pointed
+toward the door of the small room.
+
+Still with that show of utter imperturbability the two complied,
+continuing to gaze stolidly as their associate, closing the door
+behind them, called their attention to the cannon-ball and broken
+table.
+
+"Exhibits A and B"; he waved his hand toward the two objects. "I
+wanted you to see these in order to convince you that I have neither
+been dreaming, nor am I the victim of an aberration."
+
+Then with great care and endeavouring to maintain a semblance of
+self-possession, he described his recent experience, omitting no
+single detail that he could recall. He showed them exactly where and
+how he had been sitting, and followed every movement made by Edestone,
+even to the ripping of the glass from the portrait of the King, until
+finally, as if overcome by the strain that he had put upon himself to
+appear perfectly calm, he ended with a nervous little laugh.
+
+"Will you look at the inscription on that blooming old cannon-ball? It
+really seems quite spooky."
+
+Graves moved forward and thoughtfully examined the split table and the
+rusty old relic of Valley Forge, but Rockstone did not offer to stir.
+With what was almost a sneer on his face he met the challenging glance
+of his younger confrere.
+
+"I would not have believed, Underhill," he said impatiently, "that you
+with your experience with the fakirs of India could have been taken in
+by so old a trick." He half-closed his eyes as if to indicate that for
+him at least the incident was closed.
+
+Underhill frowned. "You are wrong, Rockstone," he exclaimed
+impulsively. "This man is no faker, nor am I so easily imposed upon as
+you seem to think. I tell you that we are called upon to deal with a
+new agency that can neither be disputed nor sneered away, and unless
+we can contrive some way to oppose it, the United States will step in
+and force a peace upon us--a peace that will leave Europe exactly
+where it was before the war--and keep it so, while she herself can go
+ahead unchecked and take possession of the whole Western
+Hemisphere. Don't you see the scheme?"
+
+"Where is this extraordinary individual?" inquired the Foreign
+Minister, completing his inspection of the table. "What has become of
+him?" His thin voice was as evenly modulated as if he were asking
+where he had put his other glove.
+
+"Oh, probably at Boodle's or Brookes's lunching with some of his
+friends," Underhill answered indifferently. "He left here only a short
+time ago. And you need not be afraid, Sir Egbert," with a significant
+glance. "A very careful eye is being kept upon his movements. We can
+get him at any moment if we want him."
+
+Graves nodded, and then went on meditatively.
+
+"It is of course entirely irregular," he said, "but from what both of
+you gentlemen tell me as to the nature of his credentials, there can
+be little doubt that the man is here with the approval of his
+Government, if not as an authorized representative. The sole question,
+therefore, is whether or not he does possess such an invention or
+discovery as he claims----"
+
+"But can you doubt that?" demanded Underhill hotly.
+
+"And whether," proceeded Sir Egbert without change of tone, "granting
+that the contrivance is of value, the United States will permit its
+purchase for use in the present war.
+
+"On the first proposition, I can only say that if he has this
+invention, as my young friend of the Navy stands so firmly convinced,
+it is tantamount to admitting that the United States has a new and
+terrible instrument of war, in which case it would be most unwise to
+offend her. If he has not, there certainly can be no objection to
+allowing him the opportunity of offering to our enemies something that
+is of no value. Therefore, that seems to settle the question as to the
+advisability of detaining him, as has been suggested. I should
+strongly favour letting him go when and where he pleases.
+
+"Assuming that he has in his possession facts or mechanisms that would
+give to one nation such stupendous advantages over the others as he
+claims, we must not forget that the United States has had these facts
+and mechanisms for some time. Therefore, it would be ill-advised to
+detain him forcibly, for the United States' answer to this would be a
+declaration of war in which the superiority of her position would be
+overwhelming.
+
+"I'm inclined to believe that the reason he does not wish to sell his
+discovery is because he has not obtained permission from his
+Government to do so. They intend to dispose of it to the country with
+whom they can make the most favourable bargain. I think indeed that
+under all circumstances the best policy for this Government is to
+treat this man with the greatest possible consideration. If he has the
+power to do us harm, we must put him in such a position that he will
+not wish to do it; and if he has not, our treatment of him will have a
+tendency to draw the United States nearer to us than she is at
+present. We must, at least, pretend to take the American Secretary of
+State at his word. Whereas I do not think that there is any doubt that
+America is influenced entirely by selfish motives, she is now our
+friend, and as long as this war goes on it is to the interest of Great
+Britain to keep her so."
+
+"A very good idea, Sir Egbert," agreed Underhill. "That is absolutely
+the only way to deal with this man. He says that he is almost a pure
+Anglo-Saxon, you know, and he is as proud of it as if he were an
+Englishman. He is the ninth in direct line from the original old chap,
+or rather young chap, who went from England to Virginia in 1642. Think
+of it! Say what you may, blood is thicker than water. That fellow is
+at heart an Englishman; he has been away from home nearly three
+hundred years."
+
+Graves gave a little bow of comprehension. "When Mr. Edestone calls on
+me tomorrow," he said, "I shall not even touch on the question of the
+purchasing of this alleged invention, but shall offer to facilitate in
+every way his mission as peacemaker. I shall take him at his word that
+he does not intend to sell to any one, and try to persuade him that,
+if he is bent on coercing any people, the English are not the ones
+that require this, as they are in perfect accord with him, and that he
+would accomplish his purpose much more quickly if he would bring force
+to bear upon the German Emperor."
+
+"But, Sir Egbert," broke in Underhill excitedly, "he says that he
+wants us to authorize him to open peace negotiations with the Kaiser,
+and I think he rather intimated that if we should refuse he would use
+force, which of course means the United States."
+
+"Well upon my word!" Rockstone's eyes flashed, and an indignant
+expression took the place of the rather bored look with which he had
+been listening. "That is pretty strong language to use to His Imperial
+Majesty's Government, and for my part I think that this young
+gentleman and his little trick box should be shipped back home with a
+very polite but emphatic note to the effect that when England wishes
+the good offices of the United States in bringing this war to a close,
+she will call for them. As to the young man himself, I should say to
+him that if he were caught trying to get into Germany he would be
+looked upon as a spy endeavouring to render assistance to the enemy,
+and would be treated accordingly."
+
+"But wait a moment, Rockstone," said Sir Egbert. "You are forgetting
+that this Mr. Edestone is in some measure at least the representative
+of his country. We cannot afford to offend the United States of
+America, even though his manners are bad."
+
+"To the contrary," muttered Underhill, "his manners are surprisingly
+good."
+
+Sir Egbert slightly inclined his head in acknowledgment of the
+correction. "There is the point too," he went on, "as to whether or
+not he is an impostor. If he is, why should we allow the American
+comic papers to put us in the same category with their own Secretary
+of State, at whom they have been poking fun for years, when they
+discover that this exceedingly clever young man has taken us in also?
+
+"No, no, to me the matter seems very simple. Uncle Sam has got
+something he wants to sell. Good or bad it makes no difference; he
+wants to sell, and sell it he will to the highest bidder. Why refuse
+to consider his offer on the one hand, or why appear to be too anxious
+to close with him on the other? Let him offer it to the enemy; he will
+certainly come back for our bid before closing with them."
+
+"Do you know, Sir Egbert," Lord Rockstone somewhat reluctantly allowed
+himself to be won over, "since you put it that way I think that
+perhaps you are right. Diplomacy is probably the strongest weapon with
+which to deal with this young man. He did not impress me as one to be
+easily bluffed by show of force."
+
+"Nor should I be bluffed, even by you, Rockstone," said Underhill
+somewhat ruefully, rubbing his arm, "if I had the power that this chap
+has locked up in that little rubber box and stored away in that long
+head of his."
+
+"Well, let us make a decision: does His Majesty go to Washington or
+shall the Chautauqua lecturer extend his professional tours to include
+London?" Graves gave his sly secretive laugh. Then as if ashamed of
+his momentary levity, and changing his entire manner, he said: "Well,
+gentlemen, what do you propose?"
+
+"I rather think we are unanimous," said Underhill, "in considering
+that Mr. Edestone should be given a fair hearing. The final answer to
+his proposition can be given, of course, only after it has been
+discussed in full cabinet."
+
+"That would perhaps be the best way to leave the matter," approved
+Rockstone.
+
+"We are agreed then, it seems," said Graves, and they left together
+for Buckingham Palace.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+THE SPY-DRIVEN TAXI
+
+
+On coming out of the Admiralty, Edestone, a trifle preoccupied, was
+about to take the taxi with the rather sleepy driver which stood at
+the head of the line. But the thought came to him, where shall I go?
+As he had told Rebener, none of his pals were in town and he had
+absolutely nothing to do until dinner at eight o'clock. Why not take
+lunch at some quiet little place in the neighbourhood?
+
+"I say, cabby, is there any sort of a decent restaurant around here
+where one can get a very nice little lunch?"
+
+"Yes, sir, thank you, sir"; the chauffeur rather abruptly came into
+full possession of his faculties. "There is a very neat little place
+right across the road, sir, thank you, sir," and he pointed in the
+direction of the window at which Schmidt was sitting.
+
+"Ah, thank you, cabby," said Edestone in his usual kind manner with
+people of that class. He was rather struck by the handsome face of the
+man, although it was covered over with grease and grime. "Here is a
+shilling. Don't you think I might be able to walk that far this
+beautiful day?"
+
+"Yes, sir, thank you, sir." The man showed no appreciation of the
+humour. "Would you be wanting a cab later on, sir? If so I'll just
+hang about, sir. Times is hard in these war times, sir."
+
+"Certainly, wait by all means," said Edestone with a jolly laugh. "Set
+your clock. Now open your door and drive me to that restaurant over
+there, and then wait for me till I have had my lunch. By the time that
+I get through with you I think you will find that you have done a good
+day's work."
+
+"I am sure of it, sir." The chauffeur hid a surreptitious chuckle with
+his very dirty hand.
+
+On entering the restaurant the first person Edestone saw was Schmidt,
+and he gave a little nod of recognition.
+
+"Well, Mr. Schmidt, we seem to be meeting quite often this morning. I
+hope that I am to infer from your presence that I will be able to get
+some of your delightfully greasy German dishes."
+
+But at this point he was interrupted by the proprietor, who came
+bustling up, trying to force him to take a seat at a table in another
+part of the room.
+
+"German dishes?" stammered the restaurant keeper. "Not at all. That
+was when the place was run by Munchinger, but he went back to Germany
+last July, and this place is run by me, and I am a Swiss. Still, sir,
+if you are fond of the German dishes I think I might be able to
+accommodate you, sir."
+
+"Well, suppose I leave that entirely to you. I can't by any chance get
+a large stein of Muenchener beer?"
+
+"No, sir, I am sorry. I can get you some French beer though, which we
+think is much better. You know that Admiral Fisher has got those
+Dutchmen bottled up so tight that they tell me the beer won't froth
+any more in Germany." And he burst into a roar of laughter in which he
+was joined by a chorus of adoring customers sitting about at the
+different tables.
+
+Edestone sat down while the proprietor in person took his order to the
+kitchen. In a very short time, the man returned and put down before
+him a _gemuese suppe_, following this with _schweine fleisch,
+sauerkraut_, and _gherkins_--a luncheon which might have been
+cooked in a German's own kitchen--and set before him a glass of beer
+which Edestone would have sworn had not been brewed outside of the
+city of Munich.
+
+The proprietor bustled about, laughing and cracking clumsy jokes with
+everyone who would listen to him, and his jokes seemed to Edestone to
+be almost as German as his beer. In this way he finally worked over to
+where Smith was sitting, and as he pretended to arrange something on
+the table whispered sharply: "Go to the lavatory."
+
+Smith, unable to eat, sat toying with his food. He gulped his beer as
+if it choked him. He turned around several times to look at Edestone,
+but the latter after his perfunctory greeting took no further notice
+of him. At last, paying his check, the man walked to the rear of the
+restaurant and into a small, dark, badly ventilated room under the
+stairs. The place was so dimly lighted that he could scarcely see in
+front of him a wash basin, but as he was wondering what he was
+expected to do next he heard a voice that seemed to come from a little
+partially opened window that looked out into a dark ventilating shaft
+to the left of the basin. "Pretend to wash your hands," the voice
+whispered cautiously. Smith did as he was directed and found that he
+thus brought his left ear close to the window opening.
+
+"Now listen," said the voice, speaking rapidly in German. "God is with
+the Fatherland today! 4782 has been engaged to wait. Hottenroth has
+telephoned that our man undoubtedly has his instrument with him. The
+order is for you and 4782 to get it from him this afternoon at any
+cost. 4782 knows what he is to do." And the window closed softly.
+
+Smith broke out into a cold perspiration. He knew that he was looking
+death straight in the face, and in a twinkling his mind carried him
+back over his entire life. He clutched at his throat as he realized
+his horrible situation. His present position in the grip of this
+relentless but invisible master had come about so gradually that he
+had not realized how firmly he was caught until now it was too
+late. Not being borne up by the hysterical exaltation of the true-born
+Prussian, he resented that he should be the one selected to do this
+ghastly thing.
+
+He staggered back into the restaurant where the proprietor, laying a
+hand upon his arm, and laughing loudly and winking as if he were
+telling a risque story, muttered some further directions into his ear.
+
+"He is preparing to go now. Join him and don't leave him until--" he
+broke off and rushed over to Edestone who had risen from the table and
+was taking his hat and cane from the waiter.
+
+"I hope, sir, you found everything perfectly satisfactory?" he bowed.
+
+"Very nice indeed," said Edestone, handing him a half-crown. "I am
+glad to have discovered your place and I shall come again."
+
+At the door he encountered Smith, who was lingering about as if
+waiting for him.
+
+"Oh, Mr. Edestone," he forced himself to say, swallowing and fumbling
+with his mouth. "I remember when I was fixing up your Little Place in
+the Country for you that you took a great deal of interest in old
+English prints. Well, I have just found an old print shop over in the
+Whitechapel district with some of the most wonderful old prints, and
+if you have the time to spare I would like to take you over and have
+the old man show them to you."
+
+"I should like to very much," said Edestone. "I have just been
+wondering what I should do with myself this afternoon."
+
+"The Kaiser and God will bless you for this," the restaurant keeper
+whispered into Smith's ear, after he had bowed Edestone out to the
+sidewalk.
+
+"Mr. Smith, will you please give the address to the driver," said
+Edestone as he stepped into the taxi. Smith leaned over and gave some
+mumbled instructions to the chauffeur, who had remained upon his box;
+then he took his place at the side of his friend and patron.
+
+But no sooner had the motor started than he turned to
+Edestone. "Mr. Edestone,"--his voice trembled so violently that he
+could scarcely speak,--"please do not move or seem surprised at what I
+am going to say."
+
+Edestone drew back slightly and looked at him. He thought at first
+that the man had suddenly lost his reason. Smith was perfectly livid
+and his little eyes were starting from his head. His mouth was open
+and he seemed to be vainly trying to draw his blue lips over his great
+dry yellow teeth on which they seemed to catch, giving him the
+appearance of a snarling dog as he cringed in the corner of the
+cab. One hand was pulling at his collar while with the other he
+clutched at the seat in a vain effort to restrain the tremors which
+were shaking him from head to foot. "Don't speak. I must talk and talk
+fast," he said.
+
+Edestone leaned forward as if to halt the car, but the fellow caught
+him by the knee in a grip almost of desperation.
+
+"For God's sake don't do that!" he pleaded. "He will kill both of
+us. Oh, don't you understand? He is a German spy. I am German, Rebener
+is German, we are all Germans--all spies. We have been watching you
+for the past six months. This man is now driving you to a place where
+they will certainly kill you unless you turn over that instrument
+which you have in your pocket."
+
+At this Edestone started. Although he could scarcely control himself
+and felt like strangling the chicken-hearted wretch, he recovered
+himself in time to say with a look of disgust, "You poor miserable
+creature."
+
+"I know, Mr. Edestone, but please keep quiet. I may save you if you
+will do as I say. I don't know about myself. I am a dead man for
+certain, though, if you let him once suspect," and he motioned in the
+direction of the chauffeur. Then continuing he gasped out: "Stop the
+taxi anywhere along here: get out and go into some shop. When you come
+out again say to me that you have decided you will look at the prints
+some other day, and that you will walk to the hotel. Discharge and pay
+him. I will re-engage him and as soon as we get out of sight you take
+another taxi and drive straight to your hotel. But you must be
+careful; he knows that you have the instrument with you. They are
+desperate enough to do anything. Your life is in danger."
+
+Edestone, thoroughly enjoying the excitement of the situation, had
+absolutely no fear either for himself or for the instrument, since as
+a matter of fact he knew that he could destroy that at any moment. He
+felt sorry for Smith, however. He pitied him for his weakness but
+realized that he was risking his life to save him, so he did as he was
+urged.
+
+While he was in the shop 4782 got off the box, and, looking into the
+cab, said sternly to Smith in German: "If you are playing me any of
+your American tricks, you half-breed, you will never see the sun set
+again."
+
+Also, when Edestone returned and discharged him with a very handsome
+tip, he did not seem especially gratified, and when poor Smith in a
+trembling voice re-engaged the taxi, the driver almost lost control of
+himself. Had he done so, Edestone, who was watching him closely, would
+have been delighted, since he would have liked nothing better than to
+have forced the fellow to show his hand then and there. He was again
+struck with the chauffeur's appearance as he stood talking to Smith
+for he had the air of a gentleman and even through his dirt looked
+above his position. Leaving them there, the American strolled along,
+and, after a block or two, hailed another cab and ordered it to drive
+to Claridge's. He really did not think to look about him, but had he
+done so he might have discovered that he was being followed by the
+first taxi with its woebegone passenger and its handsome chauffeur.
+
+Arriving at the hotel he was interested to see standing in front of
+the door a carriage with men in the royal livery, and he was met at
+the entrance by the proprietor himself in a frightful state of
+excitement.
+
+"Mr. Edestone, one of the King's equerries is waiting in the reception
+room to see you. I have been calling you up at every club and hotel in
+London."
+
+Edestone went into the reception room where he was met by an officer
+in the uniform of the Royal Horse Guards, who after going through the
+formality of introducing himself delivered his message:
+
+"His Majesty, the King, instructs me to say that he will receive you
+and inspect your drawings, photographs, etc., at Buckingham Palace
+this afternoon at half-past four o'clock."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+BUCKINGHAM PALACE
+
+
+To nearly every man, especially if he happened to be an Englishman,
+the fact that he had received a Royal Command would have been
+sufficient to make him, if not nervous, at least thoughtful. Edestone
+was, however, so incensed at Rebener and so disgusted with Schmidt and
+so angry with the entire German Secret Service, that it came to him as
+a relief, like an invitation, from a gentleman older and more
+distinguished than himself, to dine, or to see some recently acquired
+painting or bit of porcelain, after he had been all day at a Board
+meeting of avaricious business men. It was no affectation with him
+that he felt he was going into an atmosphere in which he belonged. "I
+always assume that Royalties are gentlemen," he would say, "until I
+find that they are not; and as long as they conduct themselves as such
+I am perfectly at ease, but as soon as they begin to behave like
+bounders I am uncomfortable."
+
+He was not one of those Americans who insist at all times and under
+all circumstances that he is as good as any man, simply because in his
+heart of hearts he knows that he is not, but hopes by this bluster to
+deceive the world. On the contrary, he was a firm advocate of an
+aristocratic form of government, and did not hesitate to say that he
+considered the Declaration of Independence, wherein it refers to the
+absolute equality of man, as a joke.
+
+He was a most thorough believer in class and class distinction and
+said that he hoped to see the day when the world would be ruled by an
+upper class who would see that the lower classes had all that was good
+for them, but would not be allowed to turn the world upside down with
+their clumsy illogical reforms and new religions, Saint-Simonianism,
+humanitarianism, or as a matter of fact with any of the old
+established _isms_. They already have several hundred forms to
+choose from, he would say; they should not be allowed to make any more
+new ones until one single one of these has been universally
+accepted. The glamour of royalty had no effect upon him. Its solidity,
+dignity, and gentility did.
+
+When he saw the royal livery standing before the hotel, he had rather
+surmised that it was being used by some Indianapolis heiress who had
+married a title which carried the privilege of using it and was
+getting her money's worth. He therefore took no interest in looking
+into the carriage, but he would have been glad to have gone up to the
+men and said: "A nice pair of horses you have there. How well they are
+turned out, and how very smartly you wear your livery."
+
+The equerry, Colonel Stewart, was very simple and direct. He treated
+Edestone with consideration, but did not forget to let him understand
+that the King was showing great condescension in inviting him so
+informally.
+
+"A carriage will be sent for you at four o'clock, and if there is any
+apparatus and you have men to install it they will be looked after by
+an officer of the Royal Household who will call in about an hour."
+
+He said that the King wished to have it understood that he was not
+receiving Edestone in any way as representing the United States of
+America, since no credentials of any kind had been presented, but
+simply as a gentleman of science whose achievements warranted the
+honour.
+
+In the course of their conversation, Edestone referred to his recent
+unpleasant experience in the spy-driven taxi, and he was assured by
+Colonel Stewart that he need entertain no further apprehensions on
+that score as thorough protection would be given him and every single
+one of these men would be and already were under espionage. Bowing
+then, the equerry left as quietly as he had come.
+
+Edestone went up to his apartment and issued his instructions to
+James, his valet.
+
+"Send Mr. Black and Mr. Stanton to me at once. Then fix my bath, send
+for the barber, and lay out my clothes. I am going out to tea"--he
+paused--"with His Majesty, King George V. of England," while he
+enjoyed the effect on his snobbish English servant.
+
+"Mr. Black," he said when his electrician and operating man came in,
+"will you and Mr. Stanton go to Grosvenor Square and bring over the
+boxes with the apparatus and films. They will have to be back here by
+3:15, as there will be an officer of the Royal Household here at that
+time. Go with him to Buckingham Palace and install the instrument and
+screen where he directs you; then wait there until you hear from me."
+
+While he was dressing and being shaved he ran over in his mind what he
+should say to the King. He knew that either Rockstone or Underhill had
+engineered this audience, and he wondered whether it foreboded good or
+evil. At any rate it was progress, and that was all-important.
+
+Colonel Stewart had certainly been most cordial, and the fact that he
+was to meet the King without the delay of presenting credentials
+through the American Embassy, rather argued that England felt the
+necessity for prompt action.
+
+The barber almost cut his ear off when James came to announce the fact
+than an officer of the Royal Household was downstairs and that Mr.
+Black and Mr. Stanton had returned from Grosvenor Square with the
+apparatus and films, and when Edestone stopped him long enough to say
+through the lather: "Tell Mr. Black that I will be at the Palace and
+shall want everything in readiness by 4:30 at the latest," the man
+gave such a start that he almost dropped the shaving mug. He set it
+down with a bang on the marble washbasin.
+
+"I go," he said. "My nose bleeds. I will send you another barber." And
+he rushed out of the room.
+
+"What is the matter, James?" exclaimed Edestone indignantly. "Why
+didn't you insist on their sending up the head barber instead of that
+fool? Come finish this thing up yourself, I can't wait." Recovering
+his equanimity he added: "Time flies and the King waits."
+
+James, who in his time had valeted princes, after he had finished
+shaving him and had turned him out as only a well-trained English
+valet can, glanced with satisfaction at his work. "I think, sir, when
+His Majesty sees you, sir, he will ask, sir, who is your tailor,
+sir. A buttonhole, sir?"
+
+And so with a light step and buoyant spirit the American went down,
+when word came up that Colonel Stewart had called for him.
+
+"Mr. Edestone," said the Colonel, "I am glad to tell you that your
+apparatus has arrived safely and has been installed in the Green
+Drawing Room. The King is deeply interested, and judging from a
+mysterious pair of curtains in the gallery I think that other members
+of the Royal Family intend to see this wonderful American with his
+wonderful invention. As to your friends, the German spies, I made due
+report of the matter and shall probably have something to tell you
+later."
+
+It was a beautiful spring day and as Edestone was driven through
+Berkeley Square, up Piccadilly, and down Grosvenor Place he saw London
+at its best. Then, as he crossed the park with its beautiful old trees
+and lake and flower-beds, approaching Buckingham Palace from an
+entirely different angle than he had ever seen it before, he realized
+for the first time that it was in the midst of a beautiful sylvan
+setting. The Buckingham Palace that he knew had always suggested to
+him one of the Department Buildings in Washington in their efforts to
+look as much like a royal palace as possible.
+
+When he stopped under a porte-cochere simple little entrance, he felt
+that he might be making a call at some rich American's country home
+rather than on the King of England in the middle of London. There were
+no soldiers and no extraordinary number of servants. He had seen as
+many and more at some of the houses at Newport. He was shown into a
+long, low, and rather dark room on the ground floor, where a lot of
+young officers were lounging about. Colonel Stewart introduced him to
+several of them and a smarter lot of young fellows Edestone had seldom
+seen.
+
+He had not been waiting more than fifteen or twenty minutes when he
+heard Colonel Stewart's name called. His pulse quickened for he knew
+that this was a signal for him. Colonel Stewart, bowing to the other
+officers, said to him: "Will you please come with me, Mr. Edestone?"
+
+Passing out of the room and up a short flight of stairs they came to a
+broad corridor about twenty feet wide which ran around three sides of
+a court, opening out upon the gardens to the west. They were conducted
+around two sides of the square and taken into a large reception room
+in the opposite corner where there were perhaps a dozen officers of
+high rank, ministers and statesmen, standing about in groups. They
+spoke in voices scarcely above a whisper and when the door on the
+left, which evidently led into a still larger room, was opened there
+was absolute silence.
+
+Colonel Stewart, who up to this time had been quite affable, now
+seemed suddenly to be caught by the solemnity of the place, and stood
+like a man at the funeral of his friend.
+
+In one of the groups, Edestone saw Colonel Wyatt, who gave him a
+little nod of recognition. In a few minutes the door to the larger
+room opened and Lord Rockstone coming out walked straight up to where
+he and Colonel Stewart stood.
+
+"His Majesty wishes to waive all form and ceremony, and has ordered me
+to present you to him at once," he said. But when he saw the cool and
+matter-of-fact way in which Edestone received this extraordinary
+announcement his expression said as plainly as words: "These Americans
+are certainly a remarkable people." He merely bowed to Colonel
+Stewart, however, and continued: "Will you please come with me," and
+leading the way to the door, spoke to an attendant who went inside. In
+about five minutes the man returned, and announced to Lord Rockstone:
+"His Majesty will receive you."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+HE MEETS THE KING
+
+
+The room into which they were shown was large and well-proportioned,
+but was furnished and decorated in the style of the middle of the
+nineteenth century--that atrocious period often referred to as the
+Early Victorian, a term which always calls forth a smile at any
+assembly of true lovers of art and carries with it the idea of all
+that is heavy and vulgarly inartistic. But on the whole the room had
+an air of comfort, flooded as it was with warm sunlight that streamed
+through the four great windows on the right and those on each side of
+the fireplace at the opposite end.
+
+Around the large table, sat a gathering of the most distinguished men
+of the Empire drawn from the Privy Council. They had evidently
+finished the work of the day, as was shown by the absence of all
+papers on the table and the precise manner in which the different
+cabinet ministers had their portfolios neatly closed in front of them.
+One would say that they had settled down to be amused or bored as the
+case might be. They looked like a company of well-bred people whose
+host has just announced that "Professor Bug" will relate some of his
+experiences among the poisonous orchids of South America, or like a
+lot of polite though perfectly deaf persons waiting for the music to
+begin. Some were talking quietly, while others sat perfectly still.
+The servants were removing writing materials, maps, etc., and a cloud
+of clerks and undersecretaries were being swallowed up by a door in a
+corner of the room.
+
+At the end of the table opposite the door through which Edestone had
+entered, sat the King. He looked very small as he sat perfectly still,
+his hands resting listlessly on the arms of his great carved chair of
+black walnut picked out with gold. His face with its reddish beard,
+now growing grey, bore an expression of deep sadness, almost of
+melancholia. His expression became more animated, however, when
+Edestone entered, and he sat up and looked straight at the American as
+he stood at the other end of the table.
+
+"Your Majesty," Lord Rockstone bowed, "I beg to be allowed to present
+to you Mr. John Fulton Edestone of New York of the United States of
+America."
+
+The King rose and, as his great chair was drawn back, walked to the
+nearest window and stood while Rockstone brought Edestone up to him.
+Extending his hand he said:
+
+"Mr. Edestone, Mr. Underhill tells me that you are from New York. It
+has been a source of great regret to me that I have never been able to
+visit your wonderful country. I recall very distinctly, though, a stay
+of several weeks that I made in Bermuda, and of the many charming
+Americans whom I met there at that time. I was, then, the Duke of
+York," he sighed.
+
+His manner was cordial and he seemed to wish to put Edestone at ease,
+assuming with him an air rather less formal than he would have shown
+toward one of his own subjects of the middle class--the one great
+class to which the nobility, gentry, and servants of England assign
+all Americans, although the first two often try hard to conceal this
+while the last seem to fear that the Americans may forget it.
+
+"I am rather surprised to find you so young a man after hearing of
+your wonderful achievements in science," the King went on, adding with
+rather a sad smile: "It seems a pity to take you from some charming
+English girl with whom you might be having tea this beautiful spring
+afternoon and bring you to this old barracks to discuss instruments of
+death and destruction." And his face seemed very old.
+
+After a pause he turned to Rockstone and directing him to introduce
+Edestone he went back to his seat and with a slight gesture ordered
+the rest to resume their places. He fixed his eyes on Edestone, who
+had been taken back to the other end of the table where he stood
+perfectly still. Not once had the American spoken since coming into
+the room. He had acknowledged the King's great kindness with a bow
+which showed plainer than words in what deep respect he held the head
+of the great English-speaking race. This seemed to have made a good
+impression on some of the older men, who up to this time had not
+deigned to look in his direction. One of the younger men murmured in
+an undertone: "Young-looking chap to have kicked up such a rumpus,
+isn't he? He has deuced good manners for an American."
+
+Meanwhile Lord Rockstone, bowing to the King and then to the rest of
+the company, was proceeding with the introduction, briefly explaining
+that Mr. Edestone had requested to be allowed to appear before His
+Majesty and explain certain inventions which he claimed to have made.
+
+The King, however, seeming determined to make it as easy as possible
+for the American, chose to supplement this formality.
+
+"Mr. Edestone," he said with a smile, "since this meeting is to be, as
+you say in America, 'just a gentlemen's meeting,' you may sit down
+while you tell us about your wonderful discovery."
+
+Edestone acknowledged the courtesy with a slight bow but declined.
+"Your Majesty, with your kind permission, I should prefer to stand,"
+and, then, without the slightest sign of embarrassment, he continued:
+
+"I thank Your Majesty for your kindness. I will as briefly as I can
+explain that to which you have so graciously referred as my wonderful
+discovery, but before doing this, I beg to be allowed to set forth to
+you my position relative to Your Majesty and Your Majesty's subjects.
+Should I in my enthusiasm at any time violate any of the established
+rules of court etiquette, please always remember that it is due to my
+ignorance and not to any lack of deep and sincere respect or that
+affection which I and all true Anglo-Saxons have for your person as
+representing the head of that great people and the King of 'Old
+England.'"
+
+A thrill went through the room. The King was evidently affected. One
+old gentleman, who up to this time had taken absolutely no notice of
+Edestone, turned quickly and looking sharply at him through his large
+eyeglasses, said: "Hear! Hear!"
+
+The speaker acknowledged this and then proceeded. "I am an American
+and I am proud of it. Not because of the great power and wealth of my
+country, nor of its hundred and odd millions of people made up of the
+nations of the earth, the sweepings of Europe, the overflow of Asia,
+and the bag of the slave-hunter of Africa, which centuries will
+amalgamate into a _cafe au lait_ conglomerate, but because I am
+proud of that small group of Anglo-Saxons who, under the influence of
+the free air of our great country, have developed such strength that
+they have up to this time put the stamp of England upon all who have
+come in contact with them. And while it is not my intention to sell my
+invention to England, I will give you my word that it shall never be
+used except for the benefit of the English-speaking people."
+
+He then raised his right hand as he added very slowly and distinctly:
+"In your presence and that of Almighty God, I dedicate my life to my
+people, the Anglo-Saxons!"
+
+This was received with a general murmur of applause, although there
+were a few dark-skinned gentlemen with curly beards and large noses
+who seemed uncomfortable. Edestone had caught that group of
+unemotional men and against their will had swept them along with him,
+and it was only with an effort that some of the younger men could
+refrain from giving him three cheers.
+
+Underhill, who was smiling and gesticulating at Rockstone and Graves,
+applauded violently, while the King made no effort to hide his
+pleasure. There was something about this man that left in no one's
+mind any doubt of his sincerity, and on looking at him they felt that
+he was not the kind of a man who would so solemnly and in the presence
+of the King and all of the greatest men of England dedicate his life
+to a purpose if he did not know that therein lay a real gift to
+mankind. His sublime confidence was as convincing as his simplicity
+was reassuring.
+
+Seeing that the ice was broken he turned now to the serious business
+of the afternoon.
+
+"Mr. President," he commenced, "now that I have shown you how I stand
+on international politics, I shall proceed----"
+
+He was astonished to see the King put his head back and laugh, while
+the rest, made bold by the royal example, joined in heartily.
+
+The King seeing that Edestone was innocent of any mistake and was
+blankly searching for an explanation of their mirth leaned forward and
+not altogether lightly said:
+
+"The King of England accepts the Presidency of the Anglo-Saxon
+people!"
+
+"I beg Your Majesty's pardon. I am sorry. I have forgotten myself so
+soon: what shall I do when I get into the intricacies of mathematics,
+physics, and mechanics to explain to you my invention?"
+
+"Mr. Edestone," said the King, "we understand perfectly. Go on."
+
+Recovering himself quickly and assuming a thoroughly businesslike air,
+snapping out his facts with precision, speaking rapidly without notes
+or memoranda, he said:
+
+"The physical properties of electrons form the basis of my invention,
+and it cannot be understood except by those who have studied the
+electron theory of matter, according to which theory the electron or
+corpuscle is the smallest particle of matter that had, up to my
+discovery, been isolated. They are present in a free condition in
+metallic conductors. Each electron carries an electric charge of
+electrostatic units and produces a magnetic field in a plane
+perpendicular to the direction of its motion. This brings us to the
+atom, which may be described as a number of electrons positive and
+negative in stable equilibrium, this condition being brought about by
+the mutual repulsion of the like and attraction for the opposite
+electrification so arranged as to nullify each other. Having thus
+established the law of the equilibrium of electrons, corpuscles,
+atoms, and molecules, I found that the same law applies to the
+equilibrium of our solar system, and, in fact, of the universe, and,
+by the elimination of either the positive or the negative electron,
+this equilibrium is altered or destroyed.
+
+"I then sought to nullify the attraction of gravity by changing the
+electrical condition of the electrons of an object, which until that
+time was attracted by the earth, as is shown by the formula,
+_V equals the square root of (s times 2g)_ for falling bodies,
+and by using the formula _Y equals the square root of mx divided by
+(pi times g)_ I found----"
+
+But at this point he was interrupted by the King, who said, with a
+gesture of supplication: "Please! Please! Mr. Edestone do not go so
+deeply into science, for, for my part, I regret to say that it would
+be entirely lost on me. Save that for my men of science," and he waved
+his hand in the direction of his rough and rugged old Sea Lord, Admiral
+Sir Wm. Brown. "Just tell us what you have accomplished and then show
+us some of these marvellous things that Mr. Underhill has told us you
+can do. Besides, I understand that you are to show us moving pictures
+of the actual working of your machine, boat, or whatever it is."
+
+The inventor was disappointed; for he had wished to set all minds at
+rest and to establish the fact that he was no trickster but a
+scientist. With a deprecating smile he said: "As Your Majesty
+pleases."
+
+Then, without the slightest sign of condescension, and selecting with
+the greatest care only words that the man in the street could
+understand, he proceeded with his exposition.
+
+"I have discovered that gravitation is due to the attraction that two
+bodies in different electrical condition have for each other, and that
+by changing the condition of one of these bodies so that they are both
+in the same electrical condition this attraction no longer exists. I
+have also discovered that the earth is, so to speak, as far as the
+laws of gravity are concerned, in a state of what we might call for
+lack of a better name, 'positive electrical condition,' and that all
+objects on the earth, as long as they are not in contact with it, are
+in what we may call 'negative electrical condition.' These remain in
+this condition so long as they are not in actual electrical contact
+with the earth and are separated from it by a non-conducting medium
+such as the atmosphere, glass, hard rubber, etc., and are attracted by
+it, as is shown by the formulae which I will gladly explain to your
+gentlemen of science." And he turned with a bow to Admiral Sir William
+Brown, who was leaning across the table frowning at him and who with
+his scrubbing-brush hair, long upper lip, and heavy brows looked more
+like a Rocky Mountain goat than ever.
+
+"I have invented an instrument," continued Edestone, "which I call a
+_Deionizer._ With this, so far as regards any phenomena of which
+we are conscious, I am able to change the electrical condition of an
+object, provided this object is insulated from electrical contact with
+the earth. That is, I can change it from the so-called minus
+condition, which is attracted by the earth, to the plus condition,
+which being the same condition as the earth, is therefore not
+attracted by it. The object in that state can be said to have no
+weight, although frankly for some reason which I have not yet
+discovered it does not lose its inertia against motion in any
+direction relative to the earth."
+
+He then took from his pocket the leather case which Underhill readily
+recognized, and, turning to Lord Rockstone, he said with a slightly
+quizzical expression:
+
+"If your Lordship will be so kind as to stand on a glass plate or
+block of hard rubber I can with this little instrument which I have in
+my hand alter your electrical condition from its present minus to that
+of plus. I can then place you anywhere in this room and keep you there
+as long as you do not come in contact with any object that,
+electrically speaking, is in contact with the earth."
+
+This caused Lord Rockstone to give a grim but thoroughly good-natured
+smile, and Edestone, feeling as if he had somewhat settled scores with
+the "Hero of the Nile," continued: "As a less valuable object than one
+of the most brilliant stars in Great Britain's crown will answer my
+purpose just as well, may I ask that one of the servants fetch the
+glass plate that was brought to the Palace this afternoon with my
+apparatus."
+
+The glass plate having been brought in by a flunkey, he repeated the
+experiment with which he had so astonished Underhill at the Admiralty,
+using the flunkey however in place of the cannon ball, and leaving the
+poor unfortunate creature suspended in mid-air while he himself
+replied to the many questions that were put to him.
+
+Finally he touched the man's hand, and taking the shock through his
+own body let him drop to the floor. The fellow remained there in an
+almost fainting condition, but, recovering and finding that he had
+sustained no injuries except to his dignity, which in his state of
+great excitement had fallen away from him, he rushed out of the room
+without asking for or receiving permission to do so. His
+panic-stricken exit would at any other time have been most amusing,
+but the audience just then was in no humour for levity.
+
+Edestone next repeated the same experiment, utilizing different small
+objects that were handed to him by the gentlemen about the table, and
+soon had suspended above the glass plate an assortment of
+pocket-knives, watches, and a glass of water, while he chatted with
+those who were nearest to him, and handed to the scientific members of
+the council diagrams and mathematical formulae which he hastily
+scribbled on bits of paper.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+THE DEIONIZER
+
+
+After the different objects had been returned to their respective
+owners, the King by a slight gesture called the meeting to order, for
+all had left their seats and were crowding around Edestone in what,
+for Englishmen, was a state of violent excitement. Even the more
+self-contained were unable to conceal the fact that they were
+impressed by these experiments as well as by the quiet dignity of this
+young man. They seemed to realize that he had them figuratively if not
+literally in the palm of his hand. The dullest and least imaginative
+saw the endless possibilities in the application of his discovery to
+the arts and sciences. During all of this time the young American had
+kept himself under perfect control and had answered all questions in
+the most deferential and respectful manner; and now, having received
+from the King permission to continue, he went on:
+
+"The secret of my discovery lies in this little instrument, the
+construction of which is known only to myself. The application of this
+newly-discovered principle can be best understood by viewing my moving
+pictures, which show it in actual operation. Now, with your most kind
+permission I should like to inspect my apparatus to see that
+everything is all right."
+
+And then, as if some sudden impulse which pleased him had flashed
+across his mind, like the big healthy-minded boy that he was, and with
+an irresistible smile on his face, he dropped into a more familiar
+tone than he had allowed himself up to this time.
+
+"And to show you what I think of Englishmen," he said, "I will leave
+this Deionizer in your keeping until I return. A gentle tap or two on
+that hard-rubber shell and you will know its secret." He laid the
+instrument with its little case beside it on the table in front of the
+King and left the room escorted by a member of the Royal Family, young
+Prince George of Windthorst, who insisted upon acting as his guide to
+the Green Drawing Room.
+
+As the door closed upon them, the King rose, saying as he did so,
+"Please remain seated." He walked into one of the windows and stood
+for some minutes looking out over the park. Whatever it was that was
+passing through his mind, it was not a pleasant thought, as was shown
+by his hands, which were clasped behind his back so tightly that the
+fingers were perfectly white; and the veins of his neck swelled, while
+the muscles of his jaws were firmly set. No one dared to move. The
+silence in the room was so intense that the men about the table, as if
+caught by a spell, sat with unfinished gestures, like the figures in a
+moving picture when the film catches. The clock on the mantel seemed
+suddenly to have waked up and to be trying by its loud ticking to fool
+itself into thinking that it had been ticking all the time. When the
+time came for it to strike five o'clock, it went at it with such
+resounding vim that Admiral Sir William Brown, who had served his
+apprenticeship in the turrets, seemed to think that he had better open
+his mouth to save his ear-drums.
+
+"War is war! All is fair! War is war! All is fair!" it seemed to say.
+
+The King finally turned, and walking back to the table picked up the
+innocent-looking instrument. He turned it over and over in his hand
+and then slowly and carefully wound the platinum wires about it as a
+boy winds a top and placed it back into its leather case. As he put it
+down on the table, he said, almost as if to himself:
+
+"We have come today to one of the turning points in the history of the
+world. This is a remarkable man."
+
+After a moment, he turned to Underhill: "I think you have done your
+country a great service today in averting what might have been an
+appalling catastrophe. Do you not agree with me, Sir Egbert?" he
+glanced toward the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
+
+"I do, Sire," the minister acquiesced thoughtfully. "If this man
+represents the United States of America, it will not be long before
+she will insist that this war be brought to an end upon her own terms,
+and it would have been almost suicidal on our part to antagonize him.
+She doubtless controls this instrument whose practical application
+will probably be shown us by his pictures."
+
+"But what this man has just said to you, Sire," suggested Underhill,
+"does not seem to bear out the idea that he is acting under
+instructions from the present State Department at Washington."
+
+"If it please Your Majesty," interposed one of the statesmen of the
+old school, "should we not make some formal representation to the
+United States of America before this man be allowed to go to Berlin?"
+
+"I should not approve of that," dissented the King. "In the first
+place, as far as we know, Mr. Edestone may have already communicated
+with Berlin, Paris, and Petrograd. I do not think he would put himself
+so completely in our power if he thought he was risking the
+destruction of his entire scheme."
+
+"I believe, Your Majesty," said another sneeringly, "that this
+melodramatic exit is just another Yankee bluff. You will probably find
+in looking into it that the fellow has palmed the real instrument and
+has forced this one on us by clever sleight of hand."
+
+"I disagree with you entirely," said the King, frowning and bringing
+his hand down on the table as if to put an end to the discussion. "I
+believe this man to be a gentleman and a thoroughly good sportsman."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+FIRST SHOW OF FORCE
+
+
+On entering the room, when he returned, Edestone, although he was
+aware that the King had been notified and the attendants been given
+orders to admit him, did not advance, but took his stand near the
+door, looking neither to the right nor to the left. He permitted the
+young Prince, his escort, who had discovered that they had many
+friends in common, and whose sister it was that had been his
+fellow-passenger on the _Ivernia_, to inform His Majesty that
+everything was in readiness for the exhibition of the moving pictures.
+
+The King immediately beckoned the inventor forward and, picking up the
+little instrument from the table, thrust it into Edestone's hands,
+almost with an air of relief.
+
+"We appreciate the compliment you have paid us in believing that we
+still play fair." There was in both his tone and action a touch of the
+bluff heartiness of the naval officer, which was natural to him, and
+showed that he had thrown off all restraint. "But do not, I beg of
+you, do this again, even in England. These are desperate times; and
+nations, like men, when fighting for their very existence, are quite
+apt to forget their finer scruples.
+
+"My cousin in Berlin, I am convinced," and there was perhaps a hint of
+warning in his smile, "would give the souls of half his people to know
+what that little box contains; and, in his realm, it is the religion
+of some of his benighted subjects to give him what he wants."
+
+Bowing slightly, Edestone took the little case, and, without even
+looking at it, slipped it carelessly into the inside pocket of his
+coat.
+
+"I knew that Your Majesty would understand me," he said in a tone
+intended for the Royal ear alone, and with more emotion than he had
+yet displayed. As he spoke, too, he lifted his hand in obedience to an
+involuntary and apparently irresistible impulse.
+
+The King met him more than half-way. Reaching out, he grasped the
+extended hand in his own, and standing thus the two men looked
+straight into each other's eyes.
+
+The suppressed excitement which the scene created was so intense that
+some of the spectators seemed to be suffering actual pain; and when,
+after a fraction of a moment which seemed an age, the King released
+the American's hand and spoke, there was an audible sigh of relief
+that pervaded the entire room.
+
+"We will now look at the pictures," said His Majesty simply, and,
+leading the way, he set out in the direction of the Green Drawing
+Room.
+
+Edestone fell back and bowed respectfully in acknowledgment of the
+pleasant glances which were thrown in his direction, as the Lords,
+Generals, Admirals, and Ministers of State took their places in line,
+clinging with an almost frantic tenacity, in response to the teachings
+of the Catechism of the English Church, to their position "in that
+state of life unto which it had pleased God to call" them.
+
+Thoroughly amused at the situation which compelled him to bring up the
+rear of the procession like the piano-tuner or the gas-man, Edestone
+marched along at the side of an attendant in livery, who evidently
+looked upon him as a clever vaudeville artist that had been brought in
+to entertain the company. He told the visitor, with a broad grin, that
+he had frightened the other flunkey almost out of his wits with his
+magic tricks. Edestone, his sense of humour aroused, thereupon gravely
+offered to give a show in the servants' hall at two shillings a head,
+half the receipts to be donated to the Red Cross, provided he was
+given a guarantee of ten pounds; and when the fellow promised to
+consider the proposal, pretended carefully to take down his name.
+
+The King, who, in the meantime, seemed to be in a sort of brown-study,
+passed down the corridor with the long file of dignitaries following
+him in order of precedence. But when His Majesty reached the Green
+Drawing Room and, looking around, saw nothing of the American, he gave
+a slight frown of annoyance. Immediately he directed that Edestone be
+brought up and placed in a chair near himself, while the attendants
+drew the curtains and extinguished the lights.
+
+After the room had been made perfectly dark, and the buzzing of the
+cinematograph in its temporary cabinet indicated that everything was
+in readiness, Edestone's operator, in response to a word from his
+employer, threw upon the screen two or three portraits of the King and
+various members of the Royal Family. This was not only by way of
+compliment, but also to give assurance that the machine was in proper
+working order. Edestone proposed to run no chances of a bungling or
+incomplete presentation of his pictures.
+
+Satisfied at length, he rose and faced about toward his audience.
+
+"Ladies and Gentlemen," he said, after addressing the King,--for from
+the gallery had come sounds which showed that, as Colonel Stewart had
+suggested, some of the ladies of the Court were taking an interest in
+the exhibition,--"I shall not trouble you to listen to a long,
+scientific discourse on the theory of my discovery, nor how I have
+made practical application of it. I shall simply throw the pictures on
+the screen, letting them speak for themselves; and then, with His
+Majesty's kind permission, shall be glad to answer any questions that
+may be put to me. The first picture I shall show you is one of my
+workshop in New York."
+
+There appeared on the screen a dark, somewhat indistinct interior,
+which seemed to have been photographed from high up and looking down
+through a long, shed-like building lighted from the roof. The immense
+height of this roof was not at first apparent until it was compared
+with the pigmy-like figures of the workmen who were busily engaged
+about a great, black, cigar-shaped object, which had the general
+appearance of a Zeppelin. In the dim light, there was nothing about
+its aspect to distinguish it from the latest models of the German
+air-ship, save that it seemed to be of heavier construction, as shown
+by the great difficulty with which the men were moving it toward the
+farther end of the shed, which was entirely open.
+
+"I would especially call your attention to the track upon which moves
+the cradle that carries the large black object in the centre of the
+picture," said Edestone. "The tires are made of hard rubber, and the
+rails which are of steel rest on glass plates attached to each of the
+tires. Thus, any object placed in the cradle becomes absolutely
+insulated, and has no electrical connection with the earth, which, as
+I have explained, are the requisite conditions to permit of
+'Deionizing' by the use of an instrument similar to the one I have in
+my pocket. Of course, though in actual operation we use a much larger
+'Deionizer' than the little model I have shown you, and run it with a
+hundred horse-power motor, instead of with a small spring and
+watchworks. This track and cradle at which you are looking, although
+they weigh many tons, can be easily taken apart and transported in
+sections, as I stand ready to demonstrate."
+
+The film ended as he finished, and for a moment the screen was blank;
+then with a little splutter from the cabinet, another picture
+appeared.
+
+This was of a great open space, the most desolate and lonely stretch
+of country that could well be imagined, a broad, open plain that
+stretched on for miles and miles, perfectly flat, treeless and
+uninhabited. The wind apparently was blowing violently, judging from
+the way it tossed Edestone's hair about as, hatless, he walked back
+and forth in the near foreground, shading his eyes from the sun with
+his hand while he looked into the lens and called his directions to
+the man who was working the camera.
+
+"That disreputable-looking individual is myself," he confessed. "My
+hat had blown away, a circumstance quite inconvenient at the time, but
+not without a certain element of present interest, as showing that a
+high wind was blowing at that time."
+
+Behind him in the middle distance was a track and cradle similar to
+the one shown in the first picture. The machine in the cabinet buzzed,
+and clicked, and made a noise like that of a small boy rattling a
+stick along a picket fence. A draught from some open window blowing
+against the linen screen caused the flat, deserted plain to undulate
+like the waves of the sea. The horizon bobbed up and down, showing
+first a great expanse of sky, and then the foreground ran up to
+infinity. The cradle was seen first at the right, and then at the left
+of the picture. The clouds in the sky kept jumping about, as if the
+operator was trying to follow some object aloft, but was unable to get
+it into the field of his camera.
+
+The audience began to grow impatient. Had the apparatus got out of
+order, they wondered, and were they to be cheated of the promised
+sensation? But just then the screen steadied, and there appeared in
+the upper left-hand corner of the picture a faint, far-away dot which
+gradually assumed the form of a dirigible. Across the desolate
+landscape it sailed, growing more and more distinct as it drew nearer.
+It circled, turning first to the right and then to the left, rising
+and descending, as if responding willingly to the touch of its unseen
+pilot, until with a majestic swoop it hovered like a great bird
+exactly over the cradle, and came to a standstill.
+
+To those among the spectators who had witnessed the evolutions of the
+great battleships of the air over Lake Constance, there was nothing
+notable about either the vessel or its performance, except that it
+seemed larger, more solid, and had four great smoke stacks. In the
+gale which was blowing, the volumes of inky smoke which poured from
+the four great funnels were tossed about and flung away like long,
+streaming ribbons; yet the ship itself was as steady as a great ocean
+liner on a summer sea.
+
+On closer inspection, too, it was seen that on the upper side of the
+craft there was a platform or deck running its full length, where men
+were working away like sailors on a man-of-war, and from portholes and
+turrets protruded great black things which looked like the muzzles of
+guns.
+
+All at once, as if acting under an order from within, these were
+trained on the spectators and simultaneously discharged, belching out
+great rings of smoke. There was a stifled scream from the gallery at
+this, but immediately the room grew quiet again, and the audience sat
+as if spellbound awaiting further developments. A small door in the
+starboard side now opened, and the figure of a man came running down a
+gangway to a platform suspended under the ship, where, silhouetted
+against the sky, he occupied himself in signalling to some one on the
+ground. He was joined from time to time by others of the crew as the
+vessel settled slowly toward the earth.
+
+When it was about one hundred and fifty feet above the cradle,
+Edestone was seen to walk out with a megaphone in his hand, and
+through it communicate instructions to the man on the bridge, in
+evident obedience to which the airship settled still lower, until it
+was not more than twenty feet above the top of the cradle.
+
+A ladder having then been lowered to Edestone, he climbed up it,
+ascended the gangway, and disappeared into the interior of the great
+cigar-shaped object, it all the time remaining absolutely stationary.
+But he was not long lost to view. In a few minutes he re-appeared on
+the top deck and a man by his side energetically waved a large flag.
+
+And as the two stood there, the airship began to move.
+
+Slowly at first, but gradually gaining momentum, it soared away across
+the wastes, and soon was lost to sight.
+
+There was a moment after that when the room was dark, while horizontal
+streaks of light chased each other from bottom to top across the
+screen, and disappeared into the darkness from which they had come.
+
+Another picture followed, taken from the same viewpoint as the last.
+
+"Here she comes!" cried Edestone, seeming to forget for the moment
+where he was, as a small speck which represented the approaching
+airship disclosed itself. "This time in the upper right-hand corner of
+the picture. See! I am on board, and I am driving her at one hundred
+and ten miles." And he followed with his pointer the swift course of
+the vessel, as it shot down the screen like a great comet, leaving a
+long tail of smoke behind it. To the overwrought nerves of the
+audience, the buzz and splutter of the moving-picture machine seemed
+to increase in volume, and thus lend a semblance of reality to the
+monster as it swept nearer and nearer.
+
+Straight for the camera it was headed, grim, threatening,
+irresistible, as if it were preparing to rush out of the screen and
+destroy Buckingham Palace. The spectators with difficulty kept their
+seats, and when the formidable thing dashed by and disappeared at the
+side of the picture, they settled back in their chairs with an
+unmistakable sigh of relief.
+
+It appeared again, after making a great circle, returning slowly now,
+and dropping lightly as a feather to the cradle, where it remained
+perfectly still, while the black smoke enveloped it in a veil of
+mystery.
+
+The machine in the cabinet stopped, and some one was heard to say in a
+loud whisper, "Lights!" Admiral Brown was the first of the assembly to
+recover. He sprang to his feet and like a wounded old lion at bay
+stood glaring at Edestone. His rugged weather-beaten face convulsed
+with suppressed rage, which but for the presence of the King would
+have exploded upon Edestone after the manner of the old-fashioned
+sea-dog that he was, but holding himself in check he said loudly and
+challengingly:
+
+"If there is no objection I will ask the young man to repeat the last
+picture, and I would also like to inquire with what material the
+framework of this ship is covered, and what is the calibre of those
+large guns--if they are guns?"
+
+"Will you please be so kind as to answer the Admiral's questions, Mr.
+Edestone?" said the King.
+
+"The material which I used through her entire length of 907 feet, both
+top and bottom, is Harveyized steel, six feet thick; and the largest
+gun is sixteen inches," replied Edestone slowly, enjoying the look of
+blank amazement which spread over the Admiral's face as he dropped
+back into his chair gasping and mopping his brow.
+
+"This is the end of everything. I wish I had never lived to see the
+day!" The old sailor sat like a man who had seen a vision so appalling
+that it robbed him of his reason.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+"THE KING IS DEAD; LONG LIVE THE KING!"
+
+
+The King, of all the company, seemed to be the only one who had
+remained perfectly cool. He was like a man who realizing the gravity
+of the situation yet had nerved himself to meet it.
+
+"Mr. Edestone," he said, as if speaking to one of his own naval
+officers, "you will please show the last two pictures again, and for
+the benefit of Admiral Brown you might give us some further details in
+regard to the ship's equipment and armament. May I also ask you where
+these pictures were taken?"
+
+"On the flat plains in the centre of the island of Newfoundland,"
+Edestone informed him, "between the White Bear River and the east
+branch of the Salmon, and from fifty to seventy-five miles from the
+seacoast on the south. If Your Majesty will look into the middle
+distance when the second picture is again thrown on the screen you
+will see some small, dark objects; these are one of those immense
+herds of caribou, which happen to be moving south over this vast
+barren at the time of year that these pictures were taken--that is, in
+October."
+
+He observed that the face of the King took on an expression blended
+partly of astonishment and partly of resentment when he mentioned the
+name of one of the Colonial possessions of the Empire, and hastened to
+add:
+
+"You will find, Sire, if you inquire of the Governor of that Province
+that I was there with the full knowledge and consent of Your Majesty's
+Government to carry on certain scientific experiments. I selected this
+deserted spot, so far removed from all human habitation, because there
+I should not be disturbed. Until I showed these pictures here today no
+one outside of my own men knew the nature of these experiments. The
+guns were loaded with nothing more harmful than several hundred pounds
+of black powder to produce the display of force which you have just
+seen. I will admit," he granted with a smile, "that if the newspapers
+had got word of what was going on there they might have made some
+excitement; I can assure you, however, that no act of mine could be
+construed even by our most susceptible and timid State Department as a
+violation of neutrality."
+
+"But where is your ship now?" asked the King, while the rest of the
+company held their breath, awaiting the answer.
+
+"That, Your Majesty, for reasons of state, I regret I cannot at this
+time tell you, but you have my word and that of our Secretary that
+wherever she may be, her mission is one of peace."
+
+"Peace!" snorted Admiral Brown. "With a six-foot armour-belt and
+sixteen-inch guns! It is a ship of war, Your Majesty. We have the
+right to demand whether or not it is now on or over British soil, and
+if it is, to make such representations to the United States Government
+as will cause her to withdraw it at once and apologize for having
+violated the dignity of Great Britain."
+
+"And if they should refuse, Sir William," asked the King, with a weary
+smile, "would you undertake to drive it off?
+
+"No, Admiral," he continued, "up to this time we have no official
+knowledge of this airship's existence. Until we have, we will take Mr.
+Edestone's assurance that his own and his country's intentions to us
+are friendly."
+
+A wave of hot indignation had swept over the entire assembly, and it
+was with some difficulty that the King was able to restore order.
+
+"Please continue with your pictures, Mr. Edestone," he said in a tone
+of authority.
+
+The lights again went out, the machine in the cabinet began to turn,
+and as the dramatic scene was re-enacted before them his audience sat
+in perfect silence while Edestone, as though he were recounting the
+simplest and most ordinary facts, gave out the following information:
+
+"This ship has a length over all of 907 feet. Its beam is 90 feet. Its
+greatest circular dimension is described with a radius of 48 feet. She
+would weigh, loaded with ammunition, fuel, provisions, and crew, if
+brought in contact with the earth, 40,000 tons. Her weight as she
+travels, after making allowance for the air displacement is generally
+kept at about 3000 tons, which automatically adjusts itself to the
+density of the surrounding atmosphere, but can be reduced to nothing
+at pleasure. Its full speed has never been reached. This is simply a
+matter of oil consumption; I have had her up to 180 miles. Her
+steaming radius is about 50,000 miles, depending upon the speed. She
+carries twelve 16-inch guns, twenty-two 6-inch guns, sixteen 4-inch
+anti-aircraft guns, eight 3-pounders, four rapid-fire guns, six aerial
+torpedo tubes, and six bomb droppers, which can simultaneously
+discharge tons of explosives. She has a complement of 1400 officers
+and men. She required three years and eight months to build at a cost
+of $10,000,000. In action her entire ship's company is protected by at
+least six feet of steel, and there is no gun known that can pierce her
+protection around the vital parts. As you have seen, she can approach
+to within a few feet of the surface and remain perfectly stationary in
+that position as long as she is not brought in electrical contact with
+the earth."
+
+The machine in the cabinet had stopped. As the lights were again
+turned on, Edestone, glancing in the direction of the gallery and
+seeing that there was no one there, bowed merely to the company before
+him. "I thank Your Majesty, Lords, and Gentlemen for your very kind
+attention," he said. He then stood quietly, waiting respectfully for
+the King to speak.
+
+"Mr. Edestone," said the King as he rose, "you have certainly given us
+a most instructive afternoon, and you must be exhausted after your
+efforts." He turned to Colonel Stewart, "Please insist upon Mr.
+Edestone taking some refreshments before he leaves Buckingham Palace."
+
+He grasped the inventor firmly by the hand. "Good-bye, Mr. Edestone. I
+shall probably not see you again," and bowing to the rest of the
+company he left the room deep in conversation with Sir Egbert Graves.
+
+Edestone immediately became the centre of attraction.
+
+"The King is dead; long live the King!" expresses the eagerness with
+which man adapts himself to a new order of things. The older men were
+stunned and seemed unable to throw off the gloom that had settled upon
+them. They bowed to the inevitable fall of the old and its replacement
+by the new. They were not buoyed up by the elasticity and confidence
+of youth; they seemed to realize that their race was run and that it
+were better that they step aside and give to younger men the task of
+solving a new problem in a new way. They sat perfectly still with
+dejected faces that seemed to see only dissolution.
+
+The younger men were quicker to recover, and as they felt the old
+foundations crumbling under their feet, saw visions of a new and
+greater edifice. They gloried in the development of the age as they
+did in their own strength to keep abreast of it, and rushed to meet
+progress, to join it, and to become one with it. They did not stop to
+think what the future might have in store for them, but seemed to be
+intoxicated by its possibilities.
+
+Crowding around Edestone they probed him with questions which he
+answered with the greatest patience and in the most modest, quiet, and
+dignified manner. When asked a question almost childish in its
+simplicity, he appeared to acknowledge the compliment in the
+assumption that he knew the answer, and gave it with the same
+precision as one which called for the most complicated mathematical
+calculation and reference to the most intricate formulae of the laws
+of mechanics and physics. He was rescued and borne away by Colonel
+Stewart who announced that, acting under His Majesty's order, he was
+obliged to give him some refreshments, whether he wanted them or not,
+and if he did not come at once to his quarters and have a drink he
+would be forced to order out the Guards. Drawing him aside the Colonel
+whispered, "I must see you alone before you leave the Palace."
+
+Edestone turned and slowly left the room, bowing to each of the
+separate groups.
+
+"Now," said Colonel Stewart, "come to my quarters first, as I have
+something rather confidential to tell you. You can come back and join
+the others afterward, if you care to."
+
+When they were comfortably seated in the Colonel's private apartments,
+and had provided themselves with drinks and cigars, the equerry leaned
+toward his charge a trifle impressively.
+
+"Mr. Edestone," he said, "you do not look like a chap who would lose
+his nerve if he suddenly found himself in a position that was more or
+less dangerous. Indeed I rather gather that you are like one of your
+distinguished Admirals--ready at all times for a fight or a frolic."
+
+Edestone smiled.
+
+"The facts are, Mr. Edestone, that you are in a pretty ticklish
+position, and had not Mr. Underhill notified Scotland Yard when he
+did, I do not know what might have happened. These German spies who
+have been following you all day are well known to them, and when our
+men picked you up, which was when you left the Admiralty and were
+talking to the taxi-chauffeur, they were convinced that you were in
+real danger. Then when you were directed to the German restaurant and
+afterward left it in the taxicab with this man Smith they had your cab
+followed, at the same time notifying Mr. Underhill, and covering your
+hotel."
+
+"This is most interesting," said Edestone; "but if the business of
+these men is known why are they not arrested?"
+
+"Mr. Edestone," said Colonel Stewart, "we Englishmen are not credited
+with any sense by our friends the enemy, and relying upon our supposed
+stupidity their work, which they take so much pride in, is by no means
+as secret as they suppose it to be. There have been in London
+thousands of what the Germans term 'fixed posts.' These are men who
+have established places of business and have lived in the community
+from ten to fifteen years. They receive a salary from the German
+Government running from two pounds to four pounds a month and all
+incurred expenses. The 'fixed post' men report to men higher up, who,
+in turn, report to the Diplomatic Service. Under them, too, are all of
+the patriotic emigrants from Germany, who act as spies without being
+conscious of the fact that they are doing so. These receive no pay for
+bringing in the bits of scandal or other information which is all
+carefully noted and kept on file in Berlin under a system of card
+indexes.
+
+"That man Munchinger who keeps the restaurant where you lunched, and
+the barber Hottenroth at your hotel, are both of them 'fixed post'
+men. This American architect was new and had not been quite placed as
+yet. The chauffeur also seems to be one of them, although he is
+entirely unknown to Scotland Yard.
+
+"When you discharged your first taxi and took another, Smith and the
+chauffeur spy followed you until they were frightened off by seeing my
+carriage with the royal livery in front of your hotel. They drove off
+then with such a rush that the chauffeur must have lost control of his
+car, for it plunged into the Thames with Smith inside it, and before
+he could be reached and rescued he was drowned. The chauffeur was
+either drowned or ran away, as nothing has been seen of him since."
+
+Edestone rose, his face stern as he learned the news of Smith's fate.
+"Colonel Stewart," he declared sharply, "that poor devil was
+murdered." And to support his accusation he told briefly of Smith's
+confession and behaviour in the cab.
+
+The Colonel bowed. "I shall see that these facts are turned over to
+the authorities," he said, "but at present I am more concerned in
+regard to you. These men are fanatics, you must understand, whose
+faith teaches them to do anything that is for the benefit of the
+Fatherland. We know most of them. We do not arrest them because they
+are more useful to us as they are. As soon as one is arrested he is
+immediately replaced by another, and it takes some little time before
+we can pick up the new one. We have received reports to the effect
+that a small army of them have been around Buckingham Palace all
+afternoon, as well as at your hotel; so it is evident that Smith's
+story was no fancy and that these men are after you in desperate
+earnest. Would you mind telling me, Mr. Edestone, what are your plans
+for the future?"
+
+"Not at all. My movements are extremely simple. I shall return to my
+hotel, where I expect to remain until I retire. A friend of mine, an
+American, Mr. Rebener, whom I have known for a great many years, will
+dine with me there this evening."
+
+"An old friend of yours you say?" The Colonel's eyes narrowed
+slightly.
+
+"Yes," replied Edestone. "I have known him for fifteen years." For
+reasons of his own he had made it a point not to include Rebener's
+name among those mentioned by Smith in his confession, nor did he
+refer to it now.
+
+Colonel Stewart hesitated a moment. "Of course, Mr. Edestone," he said
+finally, "you Americans are neutrals and are at liberty to select your
+friends where you please, but my advice to you would be not to take
+London as the place to entertain people with German names. You will
+probably understand that we cannot take any chances."
+
+"I have known Mr. Rebener," repeated Edestone, "for years. He is one
+of our most prominent men, and I am confident that he would not lend
+himself to any of these Middle-Age methods."
+
+"You can never tell," said Colonel Stewart darkly. "Germany holds out
+to the faithful the promise of great rewards at the end of this war,
+which she has convinced them cannot fail to end successfully for her."
+
+"No," the American insisted stubbornly. "Mr. Rebener might readily
+sell to Germany a few million dollars' worth of munitions of war, and
+likewise tell his friend, Count Bernstoff, anything that he might
+hear. I will even go so far as to say that he might make an especial
+effort to pick up bits of gossip here in London; and he will almost
+certainly endeavour to use his influence with me in favour of Germany.
+But that he would take part in a plot to kill, kidnap, or rob me is
+incredible."
+
+"I see you are determined to have your own way, Mr. Edestone," the
+Colonel smiled, "so I come now to the most difficult part of my
+mission. What do you propose to do with that instrument which you now
+carry so carelessly in your coat pocket? You can readily understand
+that it is not safe in your hotel, or, in fact, at hardly any other
+place in London outside of the vaults of the Bank of England. We are
+put in the delicate position of having to protect it without having
+the privilege of asking that it be put in our charge."
+
+"I appreciate all that you say and have considered destroying it, but
+have now come to the conclusion to keep it always with me, for, after
+all that you tell me, I think that I am in pretty safe hands in
+London."
+
+"But think, my dear fellow," cried the Colonel jumping up, "what might
+happen if this thing falls into the hands of the Germans! To prevent
+that it would be my duty to shoot you on the spot."
+
+"Good work! Right-o!" laughed Edestone. "You have my permission to
+shoot whenever it goes to the Germans. Don't worry. They'll not murder
+and rob me in the middle of dear old London with all your fellows
+about, and I do not expect to leave the hotel tonight."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+THE ROYAL TEA-TABLE
+
+
+As Edestone and Colonel Stewart were leaving the Palace, they were met
+by the young Prince of the Blood, who seemed bent upon renewing his
+acquaintance with his American friend.
+
+"I say, Edestone," he greeted him, "you really must not leave before
+giving me an opportunity of presenting you to some of the ladies of
+the Court. You are the lion of the day and they are anxious to meet
+you. My sister, Princess Billy, is almost in tears and hysterical. She
+insisted upon seeing your pictures because she said that you were an
+old friend of hers she had met on the steamer coming over from
+America."
+
+Accepting, Edestone smiled as he thought of the undignified manner of
+their meeting, and was taken in charge by the young man.
+
+Colonel Stewart made his excuses when the invitation was extended to
+him, saying: "Mr. Edestone, I shall wait for you in the Guards' Room,"
+and, turning to the young man, he added: "I deliver him into your
+hands, and I hold you responsible for his valuable person which must
+be delivered to me there."
+
+Edestone was then taken in charge by the young Prince, who proudly
+bore him off to deliver him into the hands of the ladies. He was
+rather bored with the idea, and would have preferred to have gone
+directly to his hotel, as he had had an eventful day and he did not
+feel in the humour for the small talk of the tea-table.
+
+He was taken into one of the smaller rooms where several ladies and
+young officers in khaki were just finishing their tea. The atmosphere
+of the room was offensively heavy with the strong odour of iodoform.
+His pity was aroused when he suddenly realized that almost every man
+in the room bore the unmistakable mark of service in the trenches. It
+was the first time that he had been brought violently into contact
+with the far-reaching and horrible devastation of this cruel war. One
+pitiful figure, a young man of about twenty-two who sat apart from the
+rest, so affected him that he scarcely recovered himself in time to
+acknowledge the great kindness of the Duchess of Windthorst, who was
+receiving him in the most gracious manner. This boy was totally blind.
+Edestone was filled with admiration for these descendants of the
+Norman conquerors, who in their gallantry and patriotism responded so
+quickly to the call of their country, while the miserable swine whose
+homes and families were being protected by these noble men were
+instigating strikes and riots under the leadership of a band of
+traitors who hid their cowardice behind labour organizations, or
+attempted to mislead the disgusted world by windy speeches on the
+subject of humanitarism into which position they were not followed by
+the very women that they were giving as their excuse for their
+treasonable acts.
+
+The Duchess presented him to Princess Wilhelmina and the others. In
+the soft and rich voice of the Englishwoman of culture and refinement,
+which always charmed him, she said:
+
+"Mr. Edestone, my daughter tells me that you came over on the
+_Ivernia_ with us."
+
+"No, no, mamma!" interrupted the Princess, with a frown and nervous
+little laugh. "I said that Mrs. Brown said that she thought that Mr.
+Edestone was on board."
+
+The Duchess acknowledged this correction, and with the cool effrontery
+that only a woman can carry off to her entire satisfaction, she then
+pretended that this was the first time that she had ever laid eyes on
+him, when as a matter of fact she and the Princess had discussed this
+remarkable, independent individual, who had so quietly and alone
+occupied the large suite adjoining theirs.
+
+"Do sit down, Mr. Edestone," she smiled, "and tell us about your
+wonderful electrical gun or ship. I really know so little about
+electricity that I could not understand what my daughter has just been
+telling me." And then, as if to save him from the great embarrassment
+of speaking, which she felt that he must have in her presence, she
+hastened to continue: "I am really so sorry that I did not know you
+were a fellow-passenger or I should most certainly have had you
+presented. I am very fond of you Americans, I find them most charming
+and so original, you know."
+
+Edestone bowed.
+
+"I really became quite attached to your Mr. Bradley, who was on board.
+I think you call him 'Diamond King John.' He was most attractive,"
+and, with a charming smile, "he showed me his diamond suspender
+buttons; and he dances beautifully, my daughter tells me. I understand
+that Mr. Bradley is one of your oldest Arizona families--or was it
+Virginia?--I am so stupid about the names of your different counties.
+But I agree with him that family is not everything, and that clothes
+make the gentleman. He tells me that he gets all of his clothes from
+the same tailor as the Duke. Do you get your clothes in London, Mr.
+Edestone?" And then, seeing an expression on Edestone's face which
+indicated to her that he was going to be bold enough to attempt to
+enter into the conversation, hastily added: "No, of course not, you
+would naturally get yours in New York, where Mr. Bradley tells me that
+the finish of the buttonholes is much better on account of the
+enormous salaries that you very rich Americans are able to pay your
+tailors. No tea, Mr. Edestone? How foolish of me to ask! You would
+like to have one of those American drinks; what is it you call them?
+Cockplumes? My son could make one for you. Madame La Princesse de
+Blanc taught him how to make one."
+
+Edestone smilingly declined.
+
+The Duchess, who by this time was beginning to feel that perhaps Mr.
+Edestone would not insist upon taking off his coat or squatting Indian
+fashion on the floor, continued:
+
+"My son tells me that it was at her house in Paris that he had the
+pleasure of making your acquaintance."
+
+"Yes, Duchess," nodded Edestone.
+
+"She is a most delightful little American," continued the Duchess. "So
+bright, natural, unconventional, and original. And she chews tobacco
+in the most fascinating manner."
+
+Edestone all this time had been debating in his mind whether this
+silly prattle was the result of real ignorance, snobbishness, or
+kindness of heart. He gave her the benefit of the doubt, however, and,
+wishing to show her that she might put her mind at rest as to his
+ability to overcome any embarrassment that he might have had, said
+with a perfectly solemn face:
+
+"You should have asked your friend, Mr. Bradley, to show you his
+suspenders themselves, Duchess. They are, I am told, set with rubies,
+sapphires, and diamonds, and cost, I understand, $10,000."
+
+"How very odd," said the Duchess.
+
+"And I am sure," he continued, "that he feels as proud of having
+danced with the Princess as she could have been at having been the
+recipient of so much attention at the hands of 'King John,' who
+apparently is also a Prince Charming."
+
+And then ignoring their pretence of having just seen him for the first
+time, in a most natural manner Edestone referred to the episodes of
+the crossing.
+
+Turning to the Princess, who all this time had vainly endeavoured to
+check her mother, and changing his manner out of deference for her
+youth and inexperience, and assuming a more humble demeanour, he
+continued:
+
+"I sincerely hope, Princess, that I did not hurt you when I was forced
+to handle you so roughly, but it was blowing almost a hurricane."
+
+"I forgive you, Mr. Edestone," she said with a charming smile, "for
+hurting my arm; but," with a little pout, "I don't think I can forgive
+you for hurting my feelings. Why did you not ask Mr. Bradley to
+present you? He said that he knew you very well."
+
+"Oh, I was rather afraid," laughed Edestone, "to suggest this to him.
+You know we do not move in exactly the same set, and I did not wish to
+give him an opportunity to snub me. Now that he does speak so
+familiarly of his royal friends, I thought that he might consider me a
+bit presumptuous."
+
+"You don't mean to say," snorted the Duchess, "that that creature
+would dare to speak of me as a friend?"
+
+"Well," said Edestone, "I shall do him the justice of saying that I am
+quite certain he would not if he did not believe that you were, and
+did not think that it was perfectly natural that you should be."
+
+The Princess, who was looking at Edestone with an intense look, of
+which however she was absolutely unconscious, broke in impatiently:
+
+"Oh, mamma, do stop talking about that dreadful man and ask Mr.
+Edestone to tell us something about his wonderful work." A light came
+into her eyes which would have alarmed an American mother had she seen
+it in the eyes of her daughter at a mixed summer resort.
+
+Edestone was anxious to get away as he took absolutely no interest in
+this particular phase of life; yet he did not wish to appear
+unappreciative of the great honour that had been conferred upon him by
+these ladies of such high rank. However, an opportunity soon presented
+itself which permitted him to retire, and he bowed himself out of the
+room, but not, it must be admitted, until he had answered a number of
+questions which the Princess insisted on putting to him. He did this
+with perfect deference, yet in such a businesslike way that she was
+convinced, should a year elapse before he next saw her, he would
+probably not recognize her.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+SURROUNDED BY SOLDIERS
+
+
+As Edestone left the Palace in company with Colonel Stewart, and the
+two took their seats in the waiting carriage, he was amused to see a
+troop of cavalry, which had been drawn up before the entrance, fall in
+about them as an escort. The men were all dressed in khaki, and,
+judging from their equipment, they were fixed for business more than a
+mere guard of honour. A smart, young officer rode up and, saluting the
+Colonel, asked: "Where to, sir?"
+
+"To Claridge's." The Colonel saluted in return.
+
+The carriage started, and the troopers, clattering out of the
+courtyard, closed up about it in a fashion which showed that they were
+going to take no chances with their valuable charge.
+
+Edestone laughed at himself with his high hat and frock-coat as a
+centre for all this military panoply. It recalled to him an
+old-fashioned print he had seen when a boy, representing Abraham
+Lincoln at the front.
+
+"You don't mean to tell me that you really consider this necessary?"
+he chaffed his companion.
+
+Colonel Stewart nodded gravely. "They will make no attempt on your
+life, Mr. Edestone," he added reassuringly, "except as a last resort;
+but they are determined to have your secret. They prefer to get it
+with your co-operation and assent. If not, they want it anyhow.
+Finally, they stand ready to accomplish its destruction and your own
+rather than permit England to obtain it."
+
+Arriving at the hotel, the soldiers were drawn up in line while he
+entered the door. To his surprise, moreover, the Colonel and two of
+the cavalry-men accompanied him to the door of his apartment.
+
+"Mr. Edestone," said the Royal Equerry, "I am sorry, but my orders are
+to place a sentry at your door. You are not of course to consider
+yourself in any sense a prisoner, but an honoured guest whose safety
+is of paramount importance. Should you at any time wish to leave your
+apartment, notify Captain Bright by telephone at the hotel office
+where he will be stationed, and he will act as your escort. My advice,
+however, is that you remain in the hotel." Giving a military salute,
+he retired, leaving the two soldiers posted in the corridor.
+
+A moment later, Edestone was summoned to the door to find that the
+sentries had halted Black and Stanton whom he had directed to report
+to him immediately on his return to the hotel.
+
+A word from him proved sufficient to secure the admission of his
+moving-picture experts; nevertheless, the three gazed at one another
+uneasily as they stood within the room.
+
+"What is it, Mr. Edestone?" Black's eyes rounded up. "They haven't
+placed you under arrest, have they?"
+
+Edestone shook his head. "Apparently not. At least they tell me I am
+under no restraint, and, as they might say to a little boy about to be
+spanked, that this is all for my own good. Whether or not this is
+merely a polite subterfuge, and they intend to postpone my departure
+from London from time to time in a way that can give no offence to our
+Government, yet would spoil all my plans, I am still uncertain."
+
+"By Jove, it might be worth while trying to find out," flared up
+Stanton, bristling at the very suggestion of an indignity to his
+adored chief. "If they've got anything of that kind up their sleeves,
+we could soon show them that----"
+
+"No." Edestone spoke up a trifle sharply. "I have decided to let the
+situation develop itself."
+
+His manner indicated that he wished the subject dropped; but, after he
+had given the two men the orders for which he had summoned them, and
+dismissed them, he fell into a rather perturbed reverie.
+
+After all, might it not be well, as Stanton had urged, to assure
+himself in regard to John Bull's honourable intentions? His mind
+reverted to an expedient which he had already considered and cast
+aside. It was to communicate with the American Ambassador, get his
+passports, and start for Paris at once. Then, if he were halted, the
+purpose of the British Government would be made plain and its
+hypocrisy exposed.
+
+But, to tell the truth, he rather shrank from such a revelation.
+Suppose he forced their hand in this way, and they should retaliate,
+either by attempting to detain him in England, or insisting upon his
+return to his own country? Was he prepared to----?
+
+As Underhill had said, blood is thicker than water; and there were in
+his nature many ties that bound him to the mother-country.
+
+No, he concluded; if there was cause to worry, he would meet the
+emergency when it arose. Anyhow, he was not of the worrying kind. He
+threw himself down upon the sofa, since even for him it had been a
+rather strenuous day, and soon was fast asleep.
+
+He was awakened by James. "It is 7:30, sir, and you are dining at 8
+o'clock." Then with a perfectly stolid face: "I beg pardon, sir, what
+clothes will you take to the Tower, sir? The hall porter says, sir,
+that with all these soldiers around, they are certainly going to stand
+you up before a firing squad. And Hottenroth, the barber, says as how
+every American that comes to London is more or less a German spy. But
+he is a kind of a foreigner himself, sir. A Welshman, he says he is,
+and he talks in a very funny way."
+
+"No, they are not going to stand me up before a firing squad,"
+Edestone halted this flood of intelligence, as he sprang up from the
+sofa; "but I shall turn myself into one, and fire the whole lot of
+you, if you don't stop talking so much. Now hurry up, and get me
+dressed. I don't want to keep Mr. Rebener waiting."
+
+Yet even with James's adept assistance, he found the time scant for
+the careful toilet upon which he always insisted; and it was almost on
+the stroke of the hour when at last he was ready.
+
+Snatching his hat and cane from James, he started hurriedly out of the
+door, but found himself abruptly challenged by the sentry just outside
+whose presence he had for the moment completely forgotten.
+
+"Excuse me, sir," the soldier saluted, "but my orders are to notify
+Captain Bright, if you wish to leave your rooms."
+
+He blew a whistle, summoning a comrade who suddenly appeared from
+nowhere.
+
+"Notify Captain Bright," he directed; then, in response to Edestone's
+good-humoured but slightly sarcastic protests: "I'm sorry, sir, but
+those are my orders."
+
+"Has England declared war on the United States?" said Edestone.
+
+"I don't know, sir," the sentry grinned. "We seem to be taking on all
+comers." Then standing at attention, he waited until the soldier, who
+had returned from telephoning, came forward to announce that the
+Captain presented his apologies and would be right up.
+
+A moment later Captain Bright himself came panting down the corridor.
+He expressed profound regret that any inconvenience should have been
+caused, but explained, as Colonel Stewart had already done, that he
+was held personally responsible for Edestone's safety, and had
+instructions to accompany him wherever he might go.
+
+"Very well, Captain; I bow to the inevitable. May I trouble you to
+conduct me to the dining-room?" And he strolled toward the lift at the
+side of the tall cavalryman.
+
+But in the office they encountered Rebener himself writing a note on
+the back of his card.
+
+"Oh, there you are, Jack?" he hailed Edestone. "I was just sending you
+a note asking you if you wouldn't come and dine with me at the Britz
+instead of here. It is too damn stupid here. Not that it's very bright
+anywhere in London at present, but at least there's a little bit more
+life at the Britz."
+
+"Who is stopping here anyhow? Royalty?" he interrupted himself. "There
+are soldiers all over the place."
+
+"Yes; I am the recipient of that little attention," laughed the young
+American. "Let me introduce Captain Bright here, who is acting as my
+especial chaperon."
+
+"What? You surely haven't run afoul of the War Department?" Rebener
+rolled his eyes. "That sounds more like our friends, the barbarians,
+than Englishmen. But, say, you are joking of course; you're not really
+in trouble? Seriously is there anything you want me to do for you? I
+have quite a little pull over at the War Offices, you know."
+
+"No, thank you; I am leaving for Paris tomorrow." He looked straight
+into Rebener's eyes, without giving the slightest hint in his
+expression of the disclosure which had been made to him by the
+unfortunate Smith. "It is simply that Captain Bright thinks there are
+some people who might do something to me. I don't know exactly what it
+is, but he insists on preventing them anyhow; so there you are. How
+about it, Captain? Am I permitted to dine with Mr. Rebener at the
+Britz? I think the Britz is a perfectly safe place for two American
+business men."
+
+"As you please, Mr. Edestone." The Captain drew himself up. "My orders
+are to escort you, though, wherever you go." He raised his hand toward
+a sergeant who was standing just inside the door.
+
+"What! You are not going to take all the 'Tommies' along too?"
+expostulated Rebener. "Oh, I say; you come along yourself, Captain,
+and dine with us, but leave the men behind. I will see that Edestone
+doesn't come to any grief."
+
+"Sorry." The officer's tone ended any further argument. "I shall keep
+my men as much out of sight as possible; but it will be necessary for
+them to accompany us."
+
+"You see." Edestone smiled somewhat ruefully. "I can't even go out to
+buy a paper, without turning it into a sort of Fourth of July parade."
+
+On going to the door they found that one of the royal carriages was
+waiting for them, and after the two men were seated, and the Captain
+had given the directions to the coachman, they dashed off in the midst
+of a cavalcade.
+
+"By the way," Rebener vouchsafed as they drove along, "I have taken
+the liberty of inviting Lord Denton and Mr. Karlbeck, two friends of
+mine, to dine with us tonight, and as Lord Denton is in mourning, he
+has asked that I have dinner in my apartment. I hope that is all
+right?"
+
+"Certainly," assented Edestone. "Lord Denton, you say? I don't think I
+have ever met him, have I? And isn't he just a little supersensitive
+to raise a scruple of that sort? It seems to me that practically
+everybody over here is in mourning. Fact is, I don't feel like going
+to a ball myself." His face saddened, as he thought of the many good
+fellows he had met on former visits to London who now lay underneath
+the sod of Northern France and Belgium.
+
+But by this time they were at the Britz and the proprietor was bowing
+them inside, apparently so accustomed to receiving men of distinction
+with military escort that he did not even notice the lines of trim
+cavalrymen which drew themselves up on either side of his entrance.
+
+"Will you gentlemen dine in the public restaurant?" asked Captain
+Bright, stepping up to Edestone.
+
+"No," Rebener took it upon himself to answer. "We are going to have a
+little _partie carree_ in my apartment."
+
+"In that case," said the Captain, "I regret that I shall have to
+station men on that floor."
+
+Rebener frowned as if he were about to voice a protest, but at that
+moment the proprietor called him over to consult with him in regard to
+the menu.
+
+For a moment or two they discussed it calmly enough; then as the
+proprietor began to gesticulate and wax vehement, Rebener spoke over
+his shoulder to his guest.
+
+"Excuse me, Jack," he said, "but M. Bombiadi insists that I hold a
+council of war with him over the selection of the wines. He declines
+to accept the responsibility with such a distinguished personage as
+you seem to have become." Then lowering his voice, he added with a
+wink: "He is evidently impressed with that military escort of yours,
+for all that he pretended not to notice it. I won't be away a minute."
+
+He was hurried by the proprietor through the office and into one of
+the small duplex apartments on the main floor. Passing through the
+pantry and dining-room of the apartment out into the little private
+hall with its street door on Piccadilly, and up a short flight of
+marble steps with an iron railing, he was ushered into a handsomely
+furnished little parlour.
+
+There, standing in front of the mantelpiece was a man who did not look
+like an Englishman, but more like a German Jew. He was perfectly bald
+and had a black beard which was rather long and trimmed to a point.
+His nose was unmistakable, and taken with his thick, red lips showed
+pretty well what he was and whence he came. Talking to him very
+earnestly was another man, who was much smaller, and who was also
+German to the finger-tips.
+
+Pausing on the threshold, M. Bombiadi with the servile and cringing
+tone always assumed by those frock-coated criminals, European hotel
+proprietors, asked humbly: "May we come in, Your Royal Highness?"
+
+But Rebener, with the air of a man who was not accustomed to, or else
+declined to consider, such formalities, unhesitatingly brushed the
+proprietor aside, and walked up to the two men.
+
+"I am sorry to be late," he said in a thoroughly businesslike manner,
+"but Bombiadi here has doubtless explained the reason for it." Then,
+as if he purposely refused to acknowledge the high rank of either of
+the two men by waiting for them to speak, he said brusquely, even with
+a slight touch of contempt: "Bombiadi tells me that you want to speak
+with me, before we meet at the table."
+
+"Yes, Mr. Rebener," said the smaller man, bowing with exaggerated
+ceremony. "If it is not asking too much of you, I am sure that His
+Royal Highness will appreciate your kindness."
+
+The silky smoothness of his manner seemed to disgust Rebener.
+
+"Now, look here, Karlbeck, don't try to get friendly with me," he drew
+back as the other attempted to lay a hand upon his arm. "I am not in
+love with this business, anyhow. I am German, and I am proud of the
+Fatherland, as she stands with her back against the wall, fighting the
+entire civilized world--and some of the barbaric;--but you two fellows
+are Englishmen, and----"
+
+"Pardon me, Mr. Rebener," the man with the beard broke in angrily.
+"You seem to forget to whom you are speaking."
+
+"No, that is just the trouble," cried Rebener with a loud laugh. "I
+can't seem to forget it. And if Your Royal Highness insists upon
+keeping on your crown, you had better let Mr. Edestone and myself dine
+alone."
+
+"Please, Mr. Rebener. Please not so loud," cautioned the proprietor,
+pale with terror. "One never knows who may be listening."
+
+"I have a word for you too." Rebener turned, and shook a threatening
+finger in his face. "If I find that you cut-throats have murdered
+Schmidt, I will turn you over to the London police, and let you be
+hanged as common murderers without having any of the glory of dying
+for your country. I distinctly told you, that I would not stand for
+that sort of thing. He was a miserable creature, but he was an
+American, and we Americans, even if we have got German blood, are not
+traitors to the country of our adoption." And he looked with a sneer
+at the two Englishmen. "Now, if any of you are planning to indulge in
+any of your pretty little tricks with Mr. Edestone tonight, I give you
+fair warning. I will call Captain Bright in, and turn the whole lot of
+you over to him. I think he would be rather surprised to find His
+Royal Highness in such company."
+
+The man with the beard was literally white with rage. The thick veins
+swelled along his neck, and his lower lip was trembling. But he
+controlled himself with an effort, and endeavoured to speak calmly.
+
+"Now, now, Mr. Rebener," he said, "you are unnecessarily excited, and
+I therefore overlook your disrespect toward me. There is no intention
+whatever of doing any violence to Mr. Edestone. We hope merely to
+prevail on him to talk."
+
+"What good will his talking do?" cried the smaller man before his
+associate could silence him. "We know all that he said today at
+Buckingham Palace. What we want is his instrument, and if we're not
+going after that, what use is this dinner, I would like to know?"
+
+"I can't tell you," rejoined Rebener, "unless His Royal Highness would
+be willing to show his hand, and try to persuade Edestone to take our
+view of the matter."
+
+A sharp retort trembled on the lips of the Jewish-looking man, but
+just then he caught sight of Bombiadi out of the corner of his eyes
+gesticulating and making signs to him from behind Rebener's back.
+
+"I suppose that is the only chance left us," he pretended to consider.
+"We can try it at any rate. I suppose, too, we had better come to your
+apartment immediately. Remember, though, we are to remain incognito
+until I give the word. In the meantime, we are simply 'Lord Denton'
+and 'Mr. Karlbeck.'"
+
+On that agreement, Rebener left; but the proprietor, after following
+him far enough to make sure that he was out of earshot, returned to
+the little parlour where the other men waited.
+
+"We will have to leave him out of our calculations," he shook his
+head. "He is not heart and soul in the cause as is your Royal
+Highness. However, it can be managed without Rebener.
+
+"Hottenroth has telephoned me that he thinks Edestone has the
+instrument on his person, but cannot make sure, as his rooms at
+Claridge's are too closely guarded to permit of a search. We must go
+upon the assumption that he has it with him, however, and get it away
+from him. That plan of Your Royal Highness's will work perfectly, I am
+sure. I will call Edestone to the telephone while you are at dinner,
+and since the rest of you will all remain at the table, how can
+Rebener suspect either of you gentlemen any more than he would suspect
+himself.
+
+"Now, I will return in a few minutes, and take you up to Mr. Rebener's
+apartment. No one knows of your presence in the house so far, I can
+assure you, and the servants on that floor may be thoroughly depended
+upon."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+A DINNER AT THE BRITZ
+
+
+When Rebener got back to the entrance hall he found Edestone standing
+talking with an American newspaper correspondent, and as he came up
+heard the inventor say: "Well you can say that if I sell my discovery
+to anyone it will be to the United States, and that rather than sell
+to any other nation I would hand it over to my own country as a free
+gift."
+
+"Here, here," Rebener joined in laughingly as he came up, "don't you
+offer to give away anything. Just because your father left you
+comfortably well off is no reason that you shouldn't sell things if
+people want to buy. Sell and sell while you've got the market, and
+sell to the highest bidder. Look at me, I am selling to both sides;
+that is my way of stopping this war." He turned to the young newspaper
+man. "Is there anything new, Ralph?"
+
+"Nothing, Mr. Rebener, except that there is a story out in New York
+that Mr. Edestone here has been sent over to act as a sort of
+unofficial go-between to bring England and Germany to terms; but he
+denies this. Then there is another story that he is trying to sell
+this new invention of his to England and that the German agents are
+trying to get it away from him before he does. You've just heard what
+he has to say on that subject, so I seem to have landed on a 'Flivver'
+all around.
+
+"Say, Mr. Edestone, you'll give me the dope on this lay-out won't you,
+before the other boys get to it?" he wheedled. "We all know that
+something is going on, and she's going to be a big story when she
+breaks, and it would be the making of me with the 'old man' if I could
+put it over first.
+
+"I saw you, sir, this afternoon coming home from the Palace," he
+chuckled, "and the President, going out to the first ball game of the
+season, surrounded by the Washington Blues, to toss the pill into the
+diamond, certainly had nothing on you."
+
+"You've struck it," said Edestone, with a good-humoured laugh at
+himself. "I have been trying all day to think what I looked like, and
+that's it."
+
+Rebener laid his hand upon his arm. "Well, Jack," he said, "hadn't we
+better be getting up to my place? I don't want to keep the other
+gentlemen waiting, and these Europeans have an awful habit of coming
+at the hour they are invited, and do not, as we do in America, in
+imitation of the 'Snark,' 'dine on the following day.'
+
+"Good-night, Ralph," he waved his hand to the correspondent. "Drop
+around tomorrow; I may have something for you."
+
+Then as they were going up in the elevator he confided to Edestone: "I
+am not so crazy about these two chaps that are coming to dinner
+tonight, but you know most of the good sort are at the front, or, if
+they happen to be in London, are too busy to waste their time on us
+Americans. Do you know, Jack, there is at this time quite a bit of
+feeling against us in England? Exactly what it is they resent it is
+hard to say. I certainly do not understand how they can expect us to
+take any part in this war with our population composed of people from
+every one of the countries that are engaged."
+
+They had scarcely had time to take off their coats when Lord Denton
+and Mr. Karlbeck came in through the private entrance. Edestone was
+introduced, and after the two Americans had had their cocktails, both
+Englishmen having declined to indulge in this distinctly American
+custom, the four sat down to dinner. Rebener put "Lord Denton" on his
+right, Edestone on his left, while "Mr. Karlbeck" took the only
+remaining seat. The conversation was general, and Edestone found that
+both the Englishmen were evidently making an effort to be agreeable.
+
+"You are quite like an Englishman," said "Lord Denton" addressing him.
+"I have known so few really nice Americans that I must say it is a
+most delightful surprise. When I was told that you were a great
+American inventor, I was prepared to see a fellow with the back of his
+neck shaved, who, while chewing gum, would seize my lapel and hold on
+to it while he insisted on explaining how I could save time and money
+by using his electrical self-starting dishwasher or some such beastly
+machine. When I visited New York two years ago, a committee had me in
+charge for three days. Their one idea seemed to be to force large
+cigars and mixed drinks on me at all hours of the day and night. One
+of these charming gentlemen, a particularly objectionable fellow,
+although he seemed to be very rich, was covered with diamonds and wore
+the most ridiculous evening clothes topped off with a yachting cap
+fronted with the insignia of some rowing club of which he had been
+admiral. He always referred to his one-thousand-ton yacht as his
+'little canoe,' and took delight in telling exactly what it cost him
+by the hour to run, invariably adding that this amount did not include
+his own food, wines, liquors, and cigars. 'We always charge that up to
+profit-and-loss account,' he would say with a roar of laughter, in
+which he was joined by a group of his satellites."
+
+"I'll bet I can call the turn, eh, Jack?" Rebener glanced across the
+table to Edestone, with a twinkle in his eye. "Didn't the chap also
+tell you with great seriousness, 'Lord Denton,' that he had pulled off
+more good deals in his 'little canoe' than in all the hotel corridors
+put together?"
+
+"Well, I sincerely hope it's the same," said 'Lord Denton'. "You can't
+have two such creatures in your country?"
+
+"Was that the chap, 'Denton,'" broke in "Karlbeck," "who said to you,
+the day that he slapped you on the back, that he was not so strong for
+making all this fuss over Princes and things, as in his opinion it
+wasn't democratic?"
+
+"Yes, that was when I was on board his yacht, but he said I was all
+right and he didn't mind spending money on me. 'This is my pleasure
+today,' he said, 'although the Boss did say he wanted you treated
+right, and his word goes both ways with me. See!'"
+
+"Tell them about your experience with the New York newspaper men,"
+suggested "Karlbeck."
+
+"Oh, that was very amusing! The whole committee would stand around and
+laugh while the 'boys,' as they called them, had a chance, which
+consisted in my being asked the most impertinent questions by a lot of
+objectionable little bounders whom they constantly referred to as 'the
+greatest institution of our glorious country,' at times allowing also
+that the country was 'God's own.'
+
+"When I objected, some of your most powerful men would say: 'You had
+better tell the reporters something or they'll get sore on you and
+print a lot of lies about your women-folk.'
+
+"The particularly offensive gentleman of whom I have spoken, after
+telling me what he thought of the British aristocracy, which was not
+always flattering, though I seemed to be exempt, said as he bade me
+good-bye: 'By the way, don't forget that my wife and two daughters
+will be stopping in London next spring.'"
+
+"Well," inquired Edestone with a faint smile, "you did forget that his
+wife and two daughters were stopping in London in the spring, I am
+quite sure, and sure that he is convinced you got the best of it."
+
+"Oh, I say, Mr. Edestone, that was a nasty one! You really would not
+have expected me to introduce that fellow at my clubs, would you?"
+"No," said Edestone, toying with something on the table to hide the
+smile that played across his lips. "No, no, not at all. The Lord Mayor
+of London would have satisfied him."
+
+He would have dropped the subject there, but pressed by the other man
+he continued rather seriously: "Since you ask me, 'Lord Denton,' I do
+think that you should not have accepted that man's hospitality unless
+you were prepared to return it to a certain extent."
+
+"Well, what would you have expected His Royal Highness to do--I mean
+'Lord Denton?'" "Karlbeck" corrected himself hastily. Edestone set his
+glass down, and looked at the man for a moment. When he finally spoke
+it was with a touch of asperity. With a sarcastic smile he said:
+
+"The quiet way in which you Europeans accept everything from us and
+return nothing, is being resented, not by the lower classes for they
+read in our papers how the King shook hands with Jack Johnson; not by
+the _nouveaux riches_, for they are perfectly satisfied with the
+notoriety they get at the hands of your broken-down aristocracy who
+spend their money,--no not by these classes, but by our ladies and
+gentlemen."
+
+"Then why do you entertain our Princes so lavishly?" sneered
+"Karlbeck."
+
+"It is our sense of humour, which allows us to be imposed upon. That
+sense of humour is often mistaken for hysterical hospitality by the
+distinguished stranger. We--and when I say we I mean people of
+breeding which does not include the vulgarian who knows nothing and
+may be the son of your father's ninth gardener--we know that the more
+ridiculous we appear to you, the better you like it. Not to appear
+ridiculous offends you, as it arouses a feeling of rivalry to which
+you object, but with your lack of that same sense of humour, this you
+deny."
+
+Again he would have willingly dropped the subject, but "Lord Denton"
+once more insisted upon keeping up the discussion.
+
+"You must remember," said he, "Prince Henry's visit to America. You
+don't mean to tell me the Americans were not complimented and pleased
+at a visit from a Royal Prince?"
+
+Edestone laughed. "You mean when Prince Henry of Prussia came over to
+bridge the chasm which had formed between the German and American
+nations over the Manila episode, by the interchange of courtesies
+between the two ruling families, the Hohenzollerns and the Roosevelts?
+
+"I was surprised that the Kaiser was so poorly informed as not to know
+our attitude toward him and his Divine Right and mailed fist. Why,
+everybody laughed except the Kaiser and the President--they were the
+only ones who were fooled: the Kaiser, because he could not help
+himself, it was in his blood; and Roosevelt, because he was at that
+time in a most septic condition and was suffering from auto-intoxication
+at the hands of that particular form of microbe."
+
+"Edestone entertained Prince Henry himself at his Little Place in the
+Country," said Rebener, who saw that "Lord Denton" was losing his
+temper.
+
+"Yes, I did," said Edestone. "Not that I thought he would enjoy it,
+but somebody--and now when I come to think of it, you were the man,
+Rebener--insisted that he would like to visit my machine shops. And he
+did seem to enjoy seeing them very much, and Admiral Tirpitz and his
+staff took all kinds of notes while asking all kinds of questions."
+The reminiscence seemed to make the three other men a trifle
+uncomfortable.
+
+"Oh! what difference does it make after all?" said Rebener. "Let's get
+down to business.
+
+"Now, Edestone," he turned to the inventor, "you know me, and I'm not
+much for beating about the bush. When I want something, my motto is,
+'Go to it.' My object in inviting you here to meet these gentlemen
+tonight was to see if we can't get together. As I understand the
+situation, Jack, you have something that you think is pretty good. You
+have lots of money, and you don't want to sell it. You don't have to,
+but you want to get England to use it, and if she won't, you will try
+Germany. Now is not that just about the size of it?"
+
+"To a certain extent, yes," replied Edestone.
+
+"Then why in the name of common sense don't you let 'Lord Denton' and
+me have it and we will guarantee to have it used where it will do the
+most good. He has more pull with the Government than any man in
+England. I think you know pretty well now who he is," he added with a
+wink. "If it is the war you want stopped, he is the best man outside
+of the King or Kaiser."
+
+"Well, yes, Mr. Rebener," said Edestone, "I do know who 'Lord Denton'
+is and had the pleasure of seeing him this afternoon at Buckingham
+Palace, but I thought perhaps he would prefer that I should preserve
+his incognito and, following the example of his most charming Duchess,
+permitted myself to forget. I shall be most happy to----"
+
+He halted and turned as a waiter stepped up behind his chair to
+interrupt him.
+
+"I beg pardon, sir, but the Marquis of Lindenberry wishes to speak to
+you on the telephone.
+
+"I am sorry, sir, but you will have to go to the booth in the room
+behind the stairs. Mr. Rebener's telephone is out of order."
+
+"What do you mean, 'my telephone is out of order'?" Rebener glanced up
+sharply. "I used it not twenty minutes ago." And going into the
+adjoining room he tried to speak to the floor switchboard.
+
+"The fellow's right," he admitted on returning to the table. "You'll
+have to use the booth, Jack. Waiter, show Mr. Edestone where to go."
+
+"This way, sir," said the waiter, and he conducted Edestone down the
+long corridor, passing one of Captain Bright's cavalrymen at almost
+every turn. Just around the foot of the stairs the waiter showed him a
+door.
+
+"There it is, sir," he pointed.
+
+Edestone went in and found himself in a room that was almost dark. It
+was lighted only by a shaded electric bulb used by the man at the
+switchboard, who sat facing the door but hidden from anyone entering
+by the high instrument in front of him. Edestone walked over to him,
+finding him almost obscured by the huge green shade pulled down over
+his eyes, and seemingly very much occupied with both incoming and
+outgoing calls.
+
+"Is there a call for Mr. Edestone?" he asked.
+
+"Yes, sir," said the man without looking up from his plugs. "The
+second booth from this end, No. 2."
+
+Edestone, turning, saw in the dim light a row of booths against the
+wall over beyond the door. It was quite dark in that corner, but he
+could see that the door of the second booth was open. He went inside,
+muttering as he did so, "I think they might give a fellow a little
+more light."
+
+As he sat down and took up the receiver, he put out his hand to stop
+the door from slowly closing, apparently by itself. It was one of
+those double-walled, sound-proof, stuffy boxes, and he did not want
+the door shut tight, so he put out his foot to hold it open. But he
+was just a moment too late. The door shut with a little bang, and when
+he tried to open it again, he found that it seemed to have jammed.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+THE VOICE IN THE TELEPHONE
+
+
+Edestone waited. He thought he heard, or rather he felt, a vibration
+as if someone were moving in the next booth. He tried the door again,
+but found that it held fast.
+
+He was about to signal the switchboard operator and tell him to come
+and open up the booth, when an, "Are you there, Mr. Edestone?" came to
+him from across the wire, and caused him for the moment to forget the
+refractory door.
+
+"Hello!" he answered. "Yes; I am Mr. Edestone. Who is this?"
+
+The voice, instead of replying directly, spoke as if to another person
+with an aside. "Mr. Edestone is on the wire."
+
+A moment, and then a second voice spoke. "Are you there, Mr.
+Edestone?"
+
+It was not the voice of his friend, and he answered a trifle
+impatiently: "Yes. Who are you? Are you speaking for the Marquis of
+Lindenberry?"
+
+"No, I am not," came the reply. "And I must apologize for having used
+his name."
+
+The voice bore the unmistakable intonation of an English gentleman.
+
+"I am the Count Kurtz von Hemelstein. I regret that circumstances
+compel me to force myself upon you in this caddish manner. But my duty
+as a soldier in the service of His Majesty, the Emperor of Germany,
+demands it. I shall not delay you long, however, if you will only do
+what I ask."
+
+There was a moment's pause. Involuntarily Edestone drew back slightly
+from the instrument.
+
+"Count Kurtz von Hemelstein, did you say?" He spoke with a touch of
+sternness. "I do not think that I have ever had the pleasure of
+meeting you, sir. I did meet a Count Heinrich von Hemelstein last
+summer."
+
+"Yes; that was my brother. He has often spoken of you, Mr. Edestone.
+If I am not mistaken, you were rivals for the attention of a pretty,
+young matron with a good-natured husband?"
+
+"Not rivals, Count von Hemelstein." Edestone laughed, but under the
+laugh he was doing some rapid thinking. "Your brother was the favoured
+one, and when the war broke out, and he had to leave for the front,
+the lady was almost inconsolable.
+
+"But, Count von Hemelstein," he continued, "what can I do for you? We
+Americans, you know, do not always insist upon a formal introduction.
+As we say, 'Any friend of a friend of mine.'"
+
+"Also, you are wrong on one point," said the Count, with a little
+chuckle. "I have had the pleasure of meeting you. It was a trifle
+informal, I must admit, but you were just as charming as you are now,
+and I think I am indebted to you to the amount of several shillings.
+In the end, you did leave me rather abruptly, and seemed offended at
+something I had done; but I trust you have recovered from that by this
+time." Edestone could hear him laughing heartily.
+
+"You have met me?" repeated Edestone, completely mystified. "When and
+where?"
+
+"Today; in London. Indeed, I am in London now."
+
+"In London, Count von Hemelstein?" Involuntarily Edestone lowered his
+voice. "But I say, isn't that taking a bit of a chance for a German
+officer? Where are you speaking from now, may I ask?"
+
+The Count was laughing so, that just at first he could not answer; but
+after a moment he managed to control his amusement.
+
+"I am in the next booth to you," he said.
+
+When he spoke again, his tone had lost all trace of levity and become
+hard and direct like that of a man charged with a distasteful duty,
+yet with which he was determined not to let his feelings interfere.
+
+"In regard to our meeting today," he said; "I was in disguise. In
+short, I was the taxi-driver whom you gave the slip this afternoon by
+the aid of that cur, Schmidt. And now, Mr. Edestone, you must realize
+what it is I want." In a more conciliatory tone, he added: "I can see
+no reason, however, why we should not settle this matter as between
+gentlemen."
+
+"Please be more explicit," returned Edestone, quietly.
+
+"In brief, then, I am authorized by my Government to meet, and even
+double or quadruple any offer for your invention made by the English
+Government. I will take your word of honour. All that you have to do
+is to say now, on your word as a gentleman, that you will sell it to
+my Government, and you can return to your friends. My Government will
+then communicate with you, and close with you at your own price."
+
+"And if I decline the proposition?" said Edestone.
+
+"Then I fear I shall be compelled to use force; and much as I may
+regret to do so, I will tell you that I am prepared to stop at
+nothing.
+
+"You are now," he went on, "locked in that solid oak booth, with its
+strong double doors, perfectly sound-proof. The operator at the
+switchboard is my man. He can by pulling a wire uncork a bottle which
+is concealed in your booth and asphyxiate you in one half minute."
+
+But if he had expected the American to show any trepidation as a
+result of his threats, he soon found out his mistake. Edestone's reply
+was as insouciant as if he had been merely commenting on the weather.
+
+"Really, this is quite interesting, Count von Hemelstein," he said. "I
+might almost call you a man after my own heart. That bottle trick is
+so simple and yet effective that I, as an inventor, cannot help but
+compliment you. I am wondering just what chemical you have employed.
+There are of course a dozen or more that would answer your purpose;
+but as their action varies greatly in the effect upon the victim, I am
+naturally curious."
+
+"Does that mean that you are about to decline my offer?" demanded the
+Count sharply. "Have a care, Mr. Edestone. I am not merely trying to
+frighten you, as you may suppose. The facts are just as I have stated
+them, and I shall not hesitate to----"
+
+"Assuredly, my dear Count," Edestone broke in. "I have never doubted
+that for a moment. Nor am I going to refuse your proposition--that is,
+not definitely. Instead, I have been so pleased by the charming manner
+in which you have presented this little matter that I desire to submit
+a counter-proposition. Only, I must beg you to urge your modest friend
+with the weak eyes out there at the switchboard to be a little careful
+with that wire. Judging from the atmosphere in this booth, his bottle
+has been leaking for some time."
+
+"Come, come, Mr. Edestone." The Count's voice rose nervously, showing
+the strain under which he was labouring. "I have already told you that
+this is no joke. If it is your game to play for time, in the hope that
+some one may come to release you, or that you may discover the manner
+in which the bottle is secreted, you are going to be disappointed. I
+must do my work quickly. If I do not have your answer at once, I will
+give the signal and take your instrument away from you by force."
+
+"It is not time I want, but air." Edestone gave a little gasp. "You
+yourself have spent more time than I, with your kind explanations as
+to how I may avoid what would be to me a most distressing accident.
+However, since celerity is what you want, I hasten to say that I have
+not my instrument, nor indeed any instrument with me."
+
+"Not with you?" snapped the Prussian angrily. "Where is it, then?"
+
+"Ah! That is my counter-proposition. Count von Hemelstein, if I
+promise to tell you, on my word of honour, where you may find this
+instrument of mine that contains the entire secret of my
+invention--and it is near at hand where, if you are a brave man, you
+can easily get it,--if I do this, will you, on your side, give me your
+word as a gentleman, that you will immediately open this booth?
+
+"I may add," he went on, as von Hemelstein seemed to hesitate, "that
+this is my last and only proposition, and you can take that or
+nothing. I will die here in this box before I will sell my invention
+to any European Government; but you may have it as a free gift, Count,
+if you have the nerve to go after it. There is a challenge to your
+boasted Prussian valour! Are you a sport, Count von Hemelstein, or are
+you not?"
+
+Von Hemelstein wavered no longer. From what Edestone told him, he
+argued that the inventor must have left his instrument with some of
+his subordinates, probably Black and Stanton, and relied upon them to
+protect it; and it stung him to think that the American should believe
+a German officer would falter at such odds--a couple of electricians,
+mere Yankee artisans.
+
+"Yes," he growled hoarsely. "I accept your terms. It is a bargain."
+
+"On your honour?"
+
+"On my word of honour as a Prussian officer and a gentleman."
+
+"Well, then, hurry up and open this door. It is getting stifling in
+here; and, besides, Rebener will be growing anxious about me."
+
+"But, first, your information. Where is the instrument?"
+
+"Oh, the instrument?" It was now Edestone's turn to laugh. "Why, that
+is lying on the floor under the table in Mr. Rebener's dining-room. I
+dropped it there, when I came out to answer your telephone call, and I
+also gave instructions to the sentries on guard at the door of the
+apartment to shoot any one who attempted to pass in or out during my
+absence. You are doubtless a brave man, but I do not think you are
+prepared to tackle a whole company of British cavalry.
+
+"And now," he concluded, "I have kept to my bargain. Will you kindly
+open the door?"
+
+A muttered German imprecation, like a snarl of baffled chagrin, was
+his only answer. But a moment later the door to his booth swung open,
+and he was free.
+
+As he stepped out, he found the lights in the room turned on, and the
+man at the switchboard gone. He also noticed that the door to the
+adjoining booth was shaking, as if someone had just jerked it open and
+had passed out hurriedly, and, as he came out into the corridor, he
+thought he glimpsed the figure of a man hastily disappearing down the
+staircase. So far as any other evidence went, except for his wilted
+collar and heaving lungs, the whole experience might have been a
+dream.
+
+He returned quietly to the dinner table, and stooping over, as if to
+pick up his napkin, recovered the instrument and slipped it into his
+trousers pocket.
+
+"Lord Denton" and "Karlbeck" kept staring at him with puzzled, almost
+incredulous faces.
+
+"Did you find your friend on the wire?" finally ventured "Lord
+Denton," leaning across the table toward him.
+
+"No; it was another gentleman speaking for him," smiled Edestone, "a
+mere visitor to England like myself. I took the liberty of asking him
+to join us, but he declined. He is, I fancy, leaving the country very
+shortly--probably going to Berlin."
+
+A little gasp from behind him caused him to turn in his seat. It came
+from the hotel proprietor who, entering the room by the rear door,
+stood rooted in amazement at the sight of Edestone, his jaw dropping,
+his eyes as big as saucers.
+
+Edestone regarded him a moment; then turned to his host.
+
+"What silly-looking waiters you have in this hotel, Rebener," he said.
+"That fellow yonder doesn't appear to have brains enough to be even a
+German spy."
+
+The real waiter, overhearing this compliment to his employer, clapped
+his hand over his mouth and dived for the pantry, just managing to get
+through the swinging door before he exploded.
+
+The self-satisfied Bombiadi also overheard, and although he
+endeavoured to appear unconscious, a dull red flush crept up over his
+cheeks, and after shifting for a moment from one foot to the other, he
+left the room.
+
+"Lord Denton" and "Karlbeck" exchanged glances out of the corners of
+their eyes; and Rebener, although he made out to grin at the speech,
+shifted a little uneasily in his chair.
+
+But Edestone, who, under his quiet exterior, possessed a rather
+mischievous spirit, was not yet through with them.
+
+"As I was saying when I was called to the telephone," he leaned across
+the table toward the _incognito_ Royal Duke, "the desire of Your Royal
+Highness--pardon me, I mean, of 'Lord Denton'--is of course to see
+England victorious in this contest; but that may mean years of
+fighting and an appalling loss of men and money. Such true patriots as
+yourself and 'Mr. Karlbeck' must see that it would be far better to
+end the war now, provided that a lasting peace can be ensured, and
+that I think I can guarantee with my discovery. I should be delighted,
+therefore, to co-operate with you gentlemen to that end, and if you
+would advocate the proposition that England allow me to go to Berlin
+with something to show that she is willing to enter into _pour
+parlers_, I shall bring pressure to bear on Germany to make some
+liberal answer."
+
+"Lord Denton," however, seemed no longer interested in the matter, and
+was unable to concentrate his attention; while "Mr. Karlbeck" made no
+attempt to hide the fact that he was disgusted gusted with the
+evening, and wished to see it end as soon as possible.
+
+Rebener, seeing his dinner a failure, although not quite understanding
+the cause, like many a nervous host compelled to face a tableful of
+distinguished guests who do not hesitate to show that they are bored,
+did the silliest thing possible under the circumstances, and drank
+more than he should.
+
+Presently he began to talk in such unrestrained fashion that "Mr.
+Karlbeck" looked as if he would faint with apprehension, while His
+Royal Highness sought by every possible means to divert Edestone's
+attention from the broad hints and imprudent revelations that were
+thrown out.
+
+They were still engaged at this, when suddenly the door was thrown
+open, and some one announced in a loud voice, "The King's Messenger!"
+
+"Karlbeck" and "Lord Denton" sprang to their feet, their faces ashy
+pale, as they stood grasping the backs of their chairs. When, a moment
+later, Colonel Stewart, the Equerry, appeared on the threshold, they
+both crumpled up, and dropped into their chairs, fit subjects for the
+starch-pot.
+
+The Colonel stared at them in undisguised surprise, a slow frown
+gathering between his eyes.
+
+"Your Royal Highness did not mention to me this afternoon that he was
+dining with Mr. Edestone tonight," he drew himself up stiffly. And it
+was in his mind that, on the contrary, His Royal Highness had
+inveighed against the American inventor as a fraud and a fakir, and
+had loudly urged that no attention be paid to him or his claims.
+
+Neither did Colonel Stewart forget that certain ugly whispers had been
+in circulation regarding the loyalty of these two high-born Englishmen
+with the Teutonic names. What did it mean, then, when he found them
+here in the apartment of a man practically known as a German agent,
+and in conference with the possessor of the secret which Germany was
+seeking so eagerly to obtain?
+
+Whatever his suspicions, though, he said nothing further at the time,
+but turned to Edestone.
+
+"I am sorry to disturb you, Mr. Edestone, but His Majesty, the King,
+has ordered that certain messages be delivered to you without delay,
+and I should appreciate it, if you would give me a few minutes of your
+time."
+
+Then, when Edestone, after requesting Rebener's permission, had
+withdrawn with him into the salon, he explained that the King had
+instructed Sir Egbert Graves to call the following morning at nine
+o'clock and to state the decision of the Government in answer to the
+inventor's proposition.
+
+"Will that hour be convenient to you?" asked the Colonel.
+
+"Perfectly," Edestone assented. Then on an impulse, he added: "I do
+not leave for the Continent until eleven."
+
+The Equerry extended his hand. "In that case, I shall probably not see
+you again. Good-bye, Mr. Edestone; I trust you will have a pleasant
+journey and good luck when you reach Berlin."
+
+It was evident that he was not to be detained. He was in no sense a
+prisoner, but free to go or stay as he chose. With a smile of
+gratification, he responded to Colonel Stewart's parting salute, and
+returned to the dining-room.
+
+There he found the two discomfited members of the nobility just taking
+their leave; while Rebener, his earlier ill-humour put aside, was
+playing the rather too strenuous host, and with his flushed face and
+over-loud manner urging them to stay and "have another." Wouldn't they
+try one of his wonderful cigars? Just one pony of his marvellous
+brandy?
+
+But His Royal Highness, pale as death, was bent on getting away, and
+turned a deaf ear to all these hospitable suggestions; and although
+"Mr. Karlbeck" did consent to gulp down a large glass of Rebener's
+very fine brandy, he immediately hurried off in the wake of his royal
+associate.
+
+Edestone left almost immediately, and his "guard of honour," to which
+he was getting quite accustomed by this time, having been duly
+assembled, he was escorted back to the hotel and a sleepy-eyed James.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII
+
+IN THE HANDS OF THE GERMANS
+
+
+The next morning Sir Egbert Graves called. He touched first upon the
+occurrences of the evening before at Rebener's dinner, and Edestone
+was surprised to learn how fully the Government was informed
+concerning all that had transpired.
+
+"His Majesty begs that you will, if possible, forget the whole
+distasteful episode," Sir Egbert said, with a stern face, and a flash
+of contempt in his eye. "His Royal Highness has been relieved of his
+commission and is in retirement, and the Duchess of Windthorst
+together with Princess Wilhelmina is leaving to join the Princess
+Adolph, in Berlin. By these means, and of course with your silence,
+upon which he counts, His Majesty hopes to keep England in ignorance
+of the fact that such rottenness exists in his immediate household."
+
+"And so that pretty young girl who crossed with me on the
+_Ivernia_ is in the mire too," thought Edestone; for it seemed to
+him that the King's order of exile against the Duchess and herself
+could mean nothing else. Yet somehow his feeling of disdain and
+aversion for the traitor did not extend to the feminine members of the
+family. For them he had only sorrow and sympathy.
+
+Meanwhile, Sir Egbert, as if glad to be rid of so disagreeable a
+subject, had taken up the direct purpose of his call.
+
+He said that, whereas the King was unwilling to offer any terms of
+settlement that Germany in her present mood would be apt to consider,
+His Majesty thought that after she understood the position of the
+United States, and after her spies had reported the nature of
+Edestone's reception in London, and especially after the inventor
+should have had an interview with the Emperor, the Berlin Government
+might suggest something which could serve as a basis upon which to
+open negotiations. In such a case, His Majesty was of the opinion that
+Edestone, if he were willing to undertake the delicate task, would be
+the most suitable person to act as a go-between.
+
+The Foreign Minister made it plain that England could promise nothing
+at that time; but that he had her friendly interest upon his mission,
+and that she would listen in the most conciliatory spirit to any
+proposition he might bring back.
+
+He brought letters to the President of France, General French, General
+Joffre, and others, which would guarantee Edestone's safety up to the
+German line; but suggested that it would be well not to show the
+French too much, since they were such a volatile nation that they
+might readily decide to retire from the field and allow the United
+States and England to settle the matter. On account of the long and
+sincere friendship which had existed between the French people and
+those of the United States, France might feel that she could depend
+upon the United States to recover her lost territory, together with
+Alsace and Lorraine, and that was all she wanted.
+
+In leaving, Sir Egbert, upon behalf of the King, insisted on placing a
+torpedo boat at Edestone's disposal. Then, with the assurance that
+anything he might have to communicate to the British Government would
+be given most careful consideration, the Foreign Minister bowed
+himself out.
+
+Edestone could not but compare this interview with the one he had held
+with Lord Rockstone--the opening gun of his campaign. Verily,
+twenty-four hours had made a vast change in the attitude of the
+British Cabinet.
+
+His journey to Paris was uneventful except for one incident.
+
+In the middle of the Channel, as he leaned against the rail, gazing
+back toward the white cliffs of Dover, he drew the Deionizer from his
+pocket and quietly dropped it overboard. With scarcely a splash the
+little instrument, for which the warring nations were willing to
+barter millions and commit almost any crime, disappeared beneath the
+waves.
+
+He did not, however, intend giving any further demonstration until his
+arrival in Berlin, and there he thought he might have a larger and
+better one; while, in the meantime, and especially since his encounter
+with Count von Hemelstein had shown him how far the Germans were
+prepared to go, he did not feel like taking any unnecessary chances.
+
+At Calais, he was received by the representative of the President and
+other high officials, and when they had seen some of his photographs,
+and had heard an outline of his plans, they readily followed the lead
+of England in accrediting him as a sort of unofficial peacemaker.
+Indeed, the Frenchmen looked upon Edestone as someone almost
+superhuman--a being who had come to establish on earth the dream of
+their philosophers, "Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite"--and they gloried
+in the good fortune of their sister Republic in having produced and
+sent to their rescue such a son.
+
+When he left for Berlin, he was conducted to the Swiss frontier like a
+conquering hero, and, with prayers that he would be careful while in
+the land of the Huns, was turned over to the Swiss Government. The
+latter also accorded him every consideration and courtesy; but when he
+finally left their outposts behind and arrived on German soil, he
+found a different story.
+
+Here, he was immediately taken in charge by the frontier military
+authorities, and practically held a prisoner for three days under the
+excuse that instructions in regard to him had to be asked for from
+Berlin.
+
+He was incensed at the petty annoyances to which he was subjected by
+his jailer, a fat old German martinet.
+
+Under one pretext or another he and his men were constantly being
+interrogated, and his baggage, which they insisted upon opening, was
+thoroughly and repeatedly searched.
+
+When they discovered among other things something that suggested a
+miniature wireless plant, they would not let him or any of his men out
+of their sight. His letters were so strong, however, that they would
+not dare to do anything with him without instructions.
+
+He let it be known that he had absolutely nothing hidden on his person
+by taking off all of his clothes and going to bed, and would
+apparently sleep while watching the spies go through them. They seemed
+to enjoy this little game so much that he would sometimes play it once
+or twice a day, varying it by taking a bath or having James give him
+massage.
+
+They never seemed to suspect that he was playing with them, but would
+stand around and pounce down on his clothes, each time searching them
+thoroughly as if they had discovered something entirely new, when they
+had just turned the same things inside out within an hour.
+
+While waiting here, too, he came to learn how intensely bitter was the
+feeling against Americans among Germans of all classes. They regarded
+themselves as superior beings, he found, and when they first noted his
+splendid physique, would not believe but that he must have German
+blood in his veins. When he convinced them, however, that he was of
+pure Anglo-Saxon stock, Virginia bred--a thorough-paced "Yankee," as
+they called it--even the peasants treated him as the dirt beneath
+their feet.
+
+But at last word came from the German General Staff. He was "sealed,
+stamped, and marked, 'not to be opened until after delivery in
+Berlin.'" He was shown greater consideration now; but it was a
+consideration which rather unpleasantly reminded him of that shown by
+the keeper to a condemned prisoner in presenting him with his new
+clothes in which to be executed.
+
+He and his men and all his belongings--the latter carefully listed in
+triplicate--were put into a private car, and locked in, like a rich
+American with the smallpox whom they were sending out of the country;
+while, to add to his comfort, he was told that Count von Hemelstein
+was to act as his escort.
+
+As they started on the journey, Edestone had an opportunity of seeing
+in his true character for the first time the man whom he had so
+cleverly outwitted in the telephone booth, and he found it hard work
+to identify the smart cavalry officer as the grimy London taxi-driver
+of a few days before.
+
+The Count was a big, splendid-looking fellow, who rather affected an
+American manner in order to hide the fact that he had been educated
+both at school and college in England. Without his uniform, he would
+have been taken anywhere for an Englishman, blond, blue-eyed giant
+that he was, with as beautiful a moustache and as winning a smile as
+was ever given to the hero of a love story. He wore the uniform of a
+Colonel of Uhlans, which well set off his handsome figure. In fact, he
+was as noble-looking an Uhlan as ever, either before or after
+marriage, broke the heart of a rich brewer's daughter.
+
+"Delighted to meet you again, Mr. Edestone," he grasped the American's
+hand, with a hearty laugh. "Ever since our last encounter, I have been
+wanting the opportunity of asking how you knew that I would keep my
+word and release you, when you divulged to me the whereabouts of your
+instrument there in the telephone booth? Didn't you realize that, by
+'putting you out,' and then having the switchboard man raise an alarm,
+I could in the resultant confusion, easily have secured the
+instrument?"
+
+"But I also realized that I was dealing with a soldier, not a burglar;
+and I took a chance," said Edestone with a smile.
+
+"Well," said the Colonel, "now that you are safe in Germany what
+difference does it make? We mean to keep you here."
+
+"The United States might have something to say to that," suggested
+Edestone.
+
+"The United States? Bah! One more country to fight; what difference
+would it make to Germany, especially one that could make so little
+showing? You have no army. Your navy could do no more than England is
+already doing. We are at present cut off from your supplies as much as
+if we were at war with you. Finally, the German-Americans would put
+the brakes on you, now that another Presidential election is
+approaching.
+
+"No, Mr. Edestone," he shook his head triumphantly; "you are making a
+bad mistake, if you are relying on the protection of the United
+States, now that you have stuck your head into the tiger's mouth."
+
+"Do I understand, Count von Hemelstein, that Germany proposes to hold
+me a prisoner? Are you telling me that she would dare do such a
+thing?"
+
+"Ah, do not put it so crudely." The Count raised his hand a trifle
+mockingly. "Let us say, rather, that we expect you to become so
+convinced of the righteousness of our cause that you will gladly turn
+over your instrument and render us any other aid you can toward the
+crushing of our enemies."
+
+The smile faded from his lips, and for a moment he, "showed his
+teeth."
+
+"Take my advice, my friend," he said sharply. "Don't try to frighten
+the Wilhelmstrasse with your moving pictures and your covert threats
+of intervention by the United States as you did at Buckingham Palace.
+We are made of sterner stuff here. We know the nature of your
+invention, and just what you can accomplish with it; and our gifted
+men of science are now hard at work in the effort to duplicate your
+achievement.
+
+"My brother brought back word a year ago," he disclosed, "that you
+were building a super-dreadnought 907 feet long, 90 feet beam, 35 feet
+draught, 40,000 tons displacement. We also know that you are now
+working full blast night and day at your 'Little Place in the
+Country.' We know about the tricks you played with that flunkey in
+your audience with the King. A hint to us Germans is all that is
+needed.
+
+"We know further," he went on in a sterner voice, "the sentiments of
+love and devotion toward England that you expressed to the English
+King, and we know the tenor of the answer that was returned to your
+proposition.
+
+"But do you imagine that you can come here, sir, and dictate terms to
+our Emperor, or arrange a peace for us, which would mean anything less
+than the absolute humbling of England? Do you think we would run the
+slightest risk of letting this invention of yours fall into England's
+hands?
+
+"Your question was expressed very undiplomatically, Mr. Edestone, for
+one who is arrogating to himself the prerogatives of an envoy and
+ambassador. Nations in speaking to one another use language that is
+lighter than fairy's thought, and sweeter than a baby's dream, but
+more deadly than a pestilence. But I will answer you on this occasion
+just as bluntly and baldly.
+
+"We do propose to hold you virtually a prisoner on German soil until
+such time as our men of science have completed their labours. If they
+succeed in solving the secret of your discovery, we shall be ready to
+try conclusions with the United States, and shall deal with you
+personally as may seem most advisable, dragging you by force from the
+very Embassy itself, if you attempt to take refuge there. If, on the
+other hand, our men of science fail, your position will be in no way
+preferable. We will simply compel you to disclose your secret to us,
+and, as I told you once before, we stop at nothing to gain our ends.
+Your best plan, therefore, and I believe I am your sincere friend when
+I tell you this, is to sell to my Government at once."
+
+A slightly amused smile flitted over Edestone's lips from time to time
+as he listened; but when he spoke it was quite seriously.
+
+"I have no doubt," he said, "that everything you tell me is absolutely
+true. Germany is undoubtedly thorough, whether her thoroughness take
+the form of the destruction of Louvain, or of sewing two buttons where
+only one is needed on the trousers of her soldiers. But I pity her for
+not finding a larger way to gain her ends in the first place, and for
+her conceit in thinking that a lot of little thoughts and extra
+buttons when added together make a great nation. Germany may know
+exactly how many gold and how many amalgam fillings there are in the
+teeth of the German army, but she does not know that thousands of men
+leave Germany and come to the United States simply because they do not
+want their teeth counted. Germany may know what I have done and am
+doing at my place on the Hudson, but she does not know that she has so
+incensed me by her methods of obtaining this information that it were
+better for her if she had never known, or you so boastful as to have
+told me of it.
+
+"Yes," and he spoke almost with the fervour of an inspired prophet;
+"Germany may know her alphabet of war from end to end, forward and
+backward, but she does not know that she and it are doomed to
+destruction, because she thinks that she can drive the intelligent
+modern world with a spear, as her forefathers did the wild beasts of
+the Black Forest."
+
+Von Hemelstein started and laid his hand indignantly to the hilt of
+his sword. His instructions to bring Edestone safely to Berlin alone
+prevented him from punishing then and there such insult to his country
+and his Emperor.
+
+"My orders prevent me from killing you!" he said hoarsely, as he
+straightened up and, drawing his heels together with a click, turned
+and stalked away.
+
+He took a seat at the other side of the car, and as if utterly
+oblivious that such a creature as Edestone existed, produced and
+deliberately adjusted the two parts of a very long and handsome
+cigarette holder, and with much straining of his very tight uniform
+restored the case to the place provided by law for its concealment on
+his glittering person. He then took out his cigarette case, and after
+selecting a cigarette, he gently tapped it on the gold cover, glaring
+all the time quite through and beyond the unspeakable American. With
+more absurd contortions the cigarette case was disposed of, and
+matches produced. Then, stretching out his beautiful patent-leather
+boots, he finally lighted his cigarette.
+
+He took a deep inhalation, and blew from the very bottom of his lungs
+a thin cloud of smoke in Edestone's direction, while with much
+rattling he unfolded a newspaper, and pretended to read it.
+
+Edestone, who was with difficulty keeping a straight face, sat all
+this time solemnly watching him with the expression of a schoolgirl
+looking at her matinee idol at about the juncture in the last act when
+that hero puts on his kingly robes which have been hidden for a
+hundred years in the moth closet of his twenty-story apartment house
+on upper Riverside Drive.
+
+When the Count finally peeped cautiously over the top of his paper to
+see what effect he was producing, he felt almost tempted to applaud
+and blow him a kiss.
+
+"Count von Hemelstein," he said lazily, when finally the Prussian had
+put down his paper, and was sitting glaring in front of him, "I was
+just thinking what a stunning book-cover you would make for a cheap
+novel, or how many thousands of bottles of beer your picture would
+sell in Hoboken. Hoboken, you know, is the headquarters of the
+German-American standing army, and your second largest naval base. Or
+you might serve as----"
+
+He halted in some anxiety, for it seemed as if the Count were about to
+choke to death.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX
+
+THE GERMAN POINT OF VIEW
+
+
+They sat this way for some time, Edestone looking thoughtfully out of
+the car window and rather disgusted with himself for having lessened
+his dignity in the eyes of the other man.
+
+He was broad enough to be able to put himself in von Hemelstein's
+place. He knew that by birth, education, and example the man's attitude
+to him, in fact to the rest of the world, was that of a superior being
+looking down upon those immeasurably beneath him. For him, a Prussian
+nobleman, to be spoken to in this way by one of a lower sphere was bad
+enough, but when that one was of the very lowest of spheres, an
+American, it was acute pain. He looked upon Edestone as a low comedian
+rather than as a gentleman in the hands of a chivalrous enemy, which
+the officer considered himself to be.
+
+Edestone himself felt no resentment but the sort of pity that he would
+feel for one who was born with an hereditary weakness that he could no
+more control than the colour of his eyes. He was as sorry as he would
+have been, had he been guilty of laughing at the irregularity of
+another man's teeth which were not so perfect as his own.
+
+He got up and walked slowly over toward his travelling companion. The
+handsome warrior quickly let his hand fall to his loaded automatic as
+if he expected to be attacked, but when he saw Edestone standing
+quietly before him, and with a rather sad smile on his face, he turned
+back to his reading and refused to look up, even after Edestone had
+begun to speak.
+
+"I am sorry, Count von Hemelstein," said the inventor, "to have
+offended you, and I beg that you will accept my most humble apology. We
+Americans, I fear, are too much inclined to let our sense of humour run
+away with us."
+
+The soldier raised his eyes with a threatening look, not knowing but
+that Edestone was still poking fun at him, or else, fearing the
+consequences of his rashness, was trying to ingratiate himself with his
+jailer. But after that glance at Edestone's face he felt confident that
+his apology was sincere. The Prussian's pride was too deeply wounded,
+however, for him to give in at once.
+
+"I am glad, Mr. Edestone," he replied stiffly, "that you realize that
+it is not customary to speak lightly of Germany in the presence of one
+of her officers."
+
+"I know," exclaimed Edestone, "it was extremely bad taste for me to
+criticize a civilization so much older than my own, but you will," he
+smiled, "forgive the cowboy I am sure when he tells you he is sorry."
+Then seeing by the expression of the officer's face that he had won the
+day: "Come now, Count von Hemelstein, let's be friends. I would not
+have liked you had you not resented my remarks, and I was a cad to take
+advantage of your absolutely defenceless position."
+
+The Count broke out into a hearty laugh, and jumping up took Edestone's
+extended hand.
+
+"You Americans," he vowed, all traces of his ill-feeling gone, "are the
+most remarkable chaps. I never saw a cowboy, but if they are anything
+like you they must be descended from some branch of the Hohenzollern
+family."
+
+"No, I cannot claim that distinction," laughed Edestone; "but I think
+perhaps there are many cowboys who if they knew and knowing cared to
+could boast of as distinguished a lineage. Did you ever breed dogs,
+Count? Well, if you have, you would know that the good points of the
+champion do not always appear in the oldest son of the oldest son, but
+spring up where we least expect to find them. And so it is I think with
+men; the good points are in the blood and will appear long after the
+man has lost his family tree. Sometimes they appear in individuals who
+show so strongly the traits of the champion that they scorn the
+existence of musty documents to tell them who they are."
+
+"Then, Mr. Edestone, you do not believe in our method of keeping our
+best blood where it belongs--at the top?"
+
+"Yes, I do most thoroughly approve of some of your methods. They are
+perhaps the best that have yet been devised, but you have not yet found
+the true method of following the centre of the stream. You sometimes
+dip from an eddy, simply because you believe that at some time it might
+have been in the middle, and you allow the deep dark red torrent to
+carry its saturated solution by you."
+
+"Well, Mr. Edestone," the Count smiled, "whether you are descended from
+a cowboy king or a business baron, you are deuced good company. I am
+glad that if I am to be cooped up here for two days it is with you
+instead of some conceited English duke, whose English grandfather was a
+fool and whose American grandfather was a knave--oh, I beg pardon. I am
+like poor little Alice in Wonderland when she was talking with the
+mouse. I seem always to insist upon talking about cats."
+
+Edestone laughed.
+
+"And now, Mr. Edestone, that you have been such a brick and apologized
+to me, I shall have to admit that I was rather rude in what I said to
+you. I think that the German Government has every intention of treating
+you fairly, and if you will only listen to reason, you will find that
+they are as anxious to bring this war to a close as is the United
+States. I know, however, that Germany intends to have her fair share of
+the earth; we are righting for our national existence, and we will not,
+and in fact we cannot afford to, stop at anything. If you really do not
+intend to sell your invention to any of the countries of Europe, you
+can at least use your influence with the United States to keep out of
+this muss, and let us settle our little difficulties in our own way."
+
+Edestone became serious. "My sole object, Count von Hemelstein," he
+said, "is to stop this war and settle these 'little difficulties,' as
+you call them, without further loss of life. If your Government will
+allow me to take back to England some assurance that it is now willing
+to discuss a settlement, I know that my Government will keep out of the
+discussion."
+
+The conversation was interrupted at this point by the stopping of the
+train at a station where the Count said he expected to take on the
+lunch baskets. With a comfortable lunch between them, and a bottle of
+wine to divide, they soon forgot their differences and laughed and
+joked like old friends.
+
+"It is a great pity, Mr. Edestone," said the Uhlan, "that you are not a
+German. I am sure the Kaiser would like you. He might even make you a
+Count, and then you could marry some woman of rank and with all your
+money you could be one of the greatest swells in Europe. He might make
+you an officer, too, so that you could wear a uniform and carry the
+decorations which he would confer upon you. Then when Americans came
+over to Kiel in their big yachts, you could tell the Emperor which were
+the real cowboy families and which were the Knickerbocker noblemen."
+
+"Well, that is exactly what I was thinking about you, Count von
+Hemelstein," Edestone chuckled. "If you would only come over to America
+I would get you a nice position in one of our large department stores,
+where your knowledge of German would be of the greatest assistance to
+you and soon put you at the top. Your German-Jew boss would invite you
+to his palace at Long Branch to dinner some night before a holiday and
+you would meet his beautiful daughter. She would take you into the big
+parlour, which would be open that night, and say to all her friends: 'I
+want you to shake hands with Count von Hemelstein, who is head salesman
+in Pa's M. & D. Department.' And she would be corrected by Ma, who
+would say: 'No, dearie, you mean the M. & W. Department.'
+
+"With your military training you would, by this time, have undoubtedly
+become a second lieutenant in one of our exclusive National Guard
+regiments, and after marrying 'Dearie,' you would come over to Germany
+and visit me at one of my castles on the Rhine. I would now have
+gambled away my entire fortune, and my son, the Baron von Edestone,
+would marry 'Dearie's' daughter."
+
+So they passed the time with good-humoured chaffing, carefully avoiding
+more serious subjects, and when they reached Berlin they had become
+fast friends.
+
+But as the train pulled into the German capital the Count leaned forward
+a trifle persuasively. "Now, Mr. Edestone," he said, "we have had a
+deuced good time together, and to tell the truth I am sorry to turn you
+over because I do not believe these old fellows on the General Staff will
+understand you as I do, but don't be an ass, I beg of you, and stand up
+against these wise old chaps. Do what they want you to do--they know
+better than you how to handle this complicated European situation. You
+will get no thanks for your trouble if you do not, and you may get your
+fingers rapped or even pretty severely pinched. My orders are to see you
+to some comfortable hotel, any that you may select. I would suggest the
+Hotel Adlon as perhaps the most comfortable.
+
+"After that I am to take you to call on General von Lichtenstein, who
+will hear what you have to say, and if in his judgment you should go
+higher he will pass you on."
+
+"I am to see nothing more of you?" asked Edestone.
+
+"My duty finishes when General von Lichtenstein takes you up. You will,
+of course, be watched and your every movement will be recorded, but
+that will not be my duty, nor here in Berlin will you be at all annoyed
+by it. Now that you are in Germany, you will be looked upon as a friend
+and treated accordingly, unless you are found not to be. I have given
+you my card, and I will take great pleasure in introducing you at the
+clubs or helping you in any way so long as it is consistent with my
+duty."
+
+"You are extremely kind, and I appreciate it very much, Count von
+Hemelstein."
+
+"Now above all things," warned the Count, and his tone was very
+impressive, "if by any chance you should be ordered to appear before
+His Imperial Majesty, please be careful what you say. You have said
+things to me in the last two days which, understanding you as I do, I
+could overlook, but I would no more think of repeating them while you
+are in Germany than I would think of flying. They were not of a nature
+that would make it my duty to report them, but they might get you into
+no end of trouble. For instance, you would not be so foolish as to
+intimate that the Hohenzollern family is not in the middle of the 'big
+stream.'" He smiled in spite of himself.
+
+Then as the train rolled into the station he took Edestone's hand and
+said: "_Auf wiedersehen_, my friend. I must now assume my other role of
+your escort of honour. Speak German," he suggested quickly as the
+guards came into the car; "you will be less apt to be annoyed."
+
+Edestone was conducted hastily through the station, where automobiles
+waited to whisk him and his entire party off to the hotel. At his
+request, the trunks containing all his apparatus were sent to the
+American Embassy. He was not as familiar with Berlin as he was with the
+other capitals of Europe, but if he had not known that Germany was
+engaged in a most desperate war, and millions of her sons were being
+sacrificed, there was nothing that he saw as he rushed through the city
+that would have suggested it.
+
+He was received at the hotel with extreme politeness, but it was the
+politeness that was insulting. The proprietor, waiters, and even the
+bell-boys treated him with poorly concealed contempt, and though he
+spoke to them in perfect German, would always answer in English, as if
+to show him that they knew he was of that despised race.
+
+Count von Hemelstein left him with the understanding that he would call
+for him in the morning and conduct him to General von Lichtenstein.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX
+
+GENERAL VON LICHTENSTEIN
+
+
+That afternoon, Edestone took occasion to call at the American Embassy,
+where he found that Ambassador Gerard, broken down by the strain of the
+first few months of the war, during which he had accomplished such
+wonderful work, had been forced to go to Wiesbaden for a rest.
+
+The Ambassador had left in charge Mr. William Jones, First Secretary of
+Legation, who with his wife was occupying the Embassy and representing
+the United States. The doctors had warned the Secretary that the
+Ambassador's condition was such that he must have absolute quiet, and
+that he should under no circumstances be troubled or even communicated
+with in regard to affairs of state. Jones was, therefore, to all
+intents and purposes the Ambassador.
+
+This suited Edestone's plans perfectly, for Jones was only a few years
+older than himself and he had known him intimately since boyhood.
+
+His friend received him with almost the delight of a man who has been
+marooned on a desert island and was pining for the sight of a friendly
+face.
+
+"Well, well, Jack," he said, "what foolish thing is this that you are
+up to now? We have received the most extraordinary instructions from
+the State Department--I gather that the Secretary of State has either
+lost his mind or that you have got him under a spell, and then with
+your hypnotic power have suggested that he order us to do things which
+we could not do in peace times and which are simply out of the question
+now. Don't you people over home understand that these Germans, from the
+Kaiser to the lowest peasant, are all in such an exalted state of
+Anglophobia that they regard everyone with distrust, and are especially
+suspicious of us. My advice to you, as Lawrence would say,"--referring
+to one of his under-secretaries, a college mate and intimate friend of
+Edestone's,--"is to 'can that high-brow stuff' and come down to earth."
+
+"Now, speaking for myself as your friend, I advise you to go and see
+General von Lichtenstein, whom you will find a delightful old gentleman
+but as wise as Solomon's aunt. Talk to him like a sweet little boy, and
+then come back to the Legation and stop with us while you see something
+of the war. I can take you to within one hundred and fifty miles of the
+firing line and show you the crack regiments of Germany looking as
+happy and sleek as if they were merely out for one of the yearly
+manoeuvres. I would have difficulty, though, in showing you any of the
+wounded, as they are very careful to see that we are not offended by
+any of the horrors that one reads of in the American papers."
+
+"Berlin is being forced to fiddle, eh, while Germany is burning?"
+
+"Yes, she suggests the hysterical condition of Paris just before the
+Reign of Terror, while I, like Benjamin Franklin, in 'undertaker's
+clothes' in the midst of barbaric splendour, wait for the inevitable."
+
+"Is your face, like his, 'as well known as that of the moon'?" asked
+Edestone.
+
+"Yes, but a thing to be insulted, not like his to be painted on the
+lids of snuff-boxes, as souvenirs for kings.
+
+"Or if that does not amuse you, Mrs. Jones can introduce you to some of
+the prettiest girls you ever saw."
+
+"Big, strong, fat, and healthy, I suppose, with red faces looking as if
+they had just been washed with soap and water."
+
+"Well, then we might have some golf, and if you will give me half a
+stroke, I will play you $5 a hole and $50 on the game. Or if that is
+too rich for your blood, I will play you dollar Nassau. In fact, Jack,
+I will do anything to get this foolish idea out of your head. These
+people can't see a joke at any time, but to try one now might put you
+into a very serious if not dangerous position. Now you go along and see
+Lawrence, as I have to look after some American refugees who are
+waiting in the outer office. You will dine with us tonight, of course."
+
+Lawrence Stuyvesant, to whom the Secretary had referred, appeared at
+the door at that moment and beckoned to Edestone. He was one of those
+irrepressible Americans, born with an absolute lack of respect for
+anything that suggested convention, at home in any company and showing
+absolutely no preference. He would be found joking with the stokers in
+the engine room when he might be walking with the Admiral on the
+quarter-deck, flirting with a deaf old Duchess when he might be supping
+with the leader of the ballet. With a sense of humour that would have
+made his fortune on the stage, he spoke half-a-dozen languages and a
+dozen dialects. He could imitate the Kaiser or give a Yiddish dialect
+to a Chinaman. Light-hearted to a fault, he would make a joke at
+anyone's expense, preferably his own. An entertaining chap, but a
+rolling stone that could roll up hill or skip lightly over the surface
+of a placid lake with equal facility. He had already run through two
+considerable fortunes, and had been almost everything from a camel
+driver to a yacht's captain. Now he imagined himself to be a diplomat.
+
+"Behold the dreamer cometh," he said in Yiddish dialect as Edestone
+approached, and grasping the inventor by both hands, dragged him into
+the other room, and began to ask questions so fast that a Chicago
+reporter, had he heard, would have died of sheer mortification.
+
+After he had gotten all the information that he could pump, pull, and
+squeeze out of Edestone, he shook his head discouragingly.
+
+"I am darn glad to see you, old chap," he said, "but I am sorry to hear
+that you have come over to try and reason with this bunch of nuts.
+Don't you know they are so damn conceited that if you were to tell them
+that every time you look at a German you see two men, they would
+believe you; and then as if they hated to lie to themselves, they would
+say perhaps it was an optical illusion. Tell them that God did not
+create anyone but the Germans and that he left the rest of the world to
+the students in his office, and they will give you a smile of assent."
+Edestone smiled indulgently. "Tell them that when the Kaiser frowns
+every wheel in the United States stops and refuses to move until
+reassured by the German papers that it is but the frown of an indulgent
+father and not the thunder of their future War Lord, and they will give
+a knowing look. Tell them that only German is taught in our public
+schools, and that any child who does not double-cross himself at the
+mention of the name of any of the North German Lloyd steamers is taken
+out and shot, and they will say, 'Ach so?'
+
+"But just you pull something about what a hit Brother Henry made in the
+United States, especially with the navy, and what a swell chance he
+would have of being elected Admiral when Dewey resigns, then look out!
+Get under your umbrella and sit perfectly still until the storm passes.
+Keep well down in the trenches and don't expose anything that you do
+not want sent to the cleaners. For when one of these Dutchmen begins to
+splutter, there is nothing short of the U-29 that can stand the tidal
+wave of beer and sauerkraut which has been lying in wait for some
+unsuspecting neutral in their flabby jowls like nuts in a squirrel's
+cheek. They back-fire, skip, short-circuit, and finally blow up, and if
+you don't throw on a bucket or two of flattery quick, you've got a duel
+on your hands, which for an American in this country means that you get
+it going and coming."
+
+Edestone, knowing Lawrence well, took what he said largely as a joke;
+but from his own observations and from what Jones had told him he felt
+convinced that there did not exist the kindest feeling for Americans in
+Berlin. Brushing all this aside, he turned to Lawrence with a
+businesslike air:
+
+"Where are the trunks that I sent to the Embassy?" he asked. "Have they
+got here yet?"
+
+"Down in the basement," Lawrence nodded.
+
+"I'd like to get something out of them."
+
+"Well, why look at me?" inquired Lawrence. "I'm no baggage smasher."
+
+"It's a pity you're not," rejoined Edestone. "You would be better at
+that than you are at diplomacy. However, all I want is for you to have
+someone show me where they are."
+
+"Fred, show the King of America where his royal impedimenta await his
+royal pleasure," Lawrence directed a young man with the manners of a
+Bowery boy, who appeared in answer to his summons.
+
+With him Edestone went down to the trunks and took from one of them a
+small receiving instrument with a dial attachment similar to the one on
+top of the Deionizer, which he had dropped into the Channel. Then after
+a few words with his other friends in the Embassy, he went back to the
+hotel.
+
+The next morning Count von Hemelstein called, and it was quite like
+meeting an old friend. Edestone was really sorry when, the Count
+leaving him at the door of General Headquarters said: "This is where I
+turn you over to my superiors. These are times that try men's souls,
+and you are now dealing with men who must win."
+
+They had arrived on the stroke of the hour, and Edestone was quickly
+taken in charge and shown without a moment's delay into the presence of
+General von Lichtenstein. The General was a man whose age was
+impossible to tell. He was over sixty, but how much over one found it
+hard to estimate. He was erect and rather thin, and he wore his uniform
+with the care of a much younger man. The lines about his mouth and
+chin, which are such a sure index, were hidden by a full beard, white
+as snow and rather long. His high forehead was half covered by a huge
+shock of hair, also perfectly white, which was parted neatly on the
+side. His steel-blue eyes, looking out through a pair of gold-rimmed
+spectacles, were bright, but were set so far back under his heavy brows
+that they looked very old, very wise, and almost mysterious.
+
+When Edestone was brought into the room without any form of
+introduction, the General rose and greeted him in the most kind and
+fatherly manner.
+
+"Good-morning, Mr. Edestone," he said in English with a marked accent.
+"I am very glad to see you," and, putting out his hand with an air of
+simple kindness as if to lead him to a chair, he said: "Won't you sit
+down, sir?
+
+"You must not mind if I treat you like a boy," he went on with a gentle
+smile; "you are about the age of my own son who was killed at Ypres. I
+am too old to fight any more, so they keep me here to entertain
+distinguished strangers like yourself," and he laughed quietly to
+himself, looking at Edestone as he might at a little boy whom he had
+just told that he had on a very pretty suit of clothes.
+
+He picked up from his desk, a box of very large cigars, selected two,
+and, after looking very carefully at one to see that it was absolutely
+perfect, handed it without a word to Edestone. After he had watched
+with great interest to see that Edestone had lighted his cigar
+properly, he lighted his own.
+
+"I see by the way you smoke that you are a good judge of tobacco. I
+have always understood that you Americans like very fresh cigars and
+smoke them immediately after they are made. I like them old myself."
+
+"You are thinking of Cuba, perhaps," suggested Edestone.
+
+"Oh, that is true," admitted the old gentleman. "The Americans live in
+the United States and you do not allow the other inhabitants of the
+hemisphere to the north or to the south of you to use that name. You
+are perfectly right; you are--what do you call it?--the boss," and
+again he smiled his gentle smile.
+
+"I get all my cigars from England," he continued. "The English and I
+have very similar tastes--in cigars. I have a very old friend,
+Professor Weibezhal, who lives in England, and he sends them over to
+me. I just received these a few days ago. He is not having a very good
+time over there now, he writes me. He can't get what he wants to eat,
+and he says he misses his German beer."
+
+Edestone could scarcely realize that he was sitting in General
+Headquarters, the very heart of German militarism, talking to General
+von Lichtenstein, the most powerful and astute man in all Europe. But
+for the German accent and magnificent uniform it might have been in the
+Union Club in New York, and he himself talking to a very nice, rather
+simple-minded old gentleman, who was flattered by the attention of a
+younger man.
+
+After the General had inquired about a friend of his who lived in
+America--he said he did not know exactly where, not in New York, but
+some town near there, Cincinnati or perhaps St. Louis. This struck
+Edestone as strange when he thought of the springs on his father's old
+place which were marked on a German map that he had seen, although he
+himself did not know of their existence, and he had spent his entire
+childhood roaming all over it.
+
+Finally, when he had told him one or two stories about an American
+woman whom he had been quite fond of when he was a young man, the
+General said in a most apologetic manner:
+
+"Now I must not keep you. I suppose you would like to go out with some
+of the younger officers and see something of this war, now that you are
+over here. Or, by the way, it was about some discovery or invention you
+have made that you called to see me, was it not? What is this
+invention, tell me, and exactly what is it that you want the German
+Government to do? If you will explain to me and I can understand, I
+will be glad to help you in any way I can. Of course you know that I am
+a very small part of the German Empire. I am, however, in a position to
+bring your wishes to those who are above me and are all-powerful."
+
+Then, while Edestone explained to him everything in regard to his
+mission except the actual construction of the Deionizer, the old
+General sat quietly smoking, smiling occasionally and listening with
+the attention that a man might show who was being told of an
+improvement in some machine in which he had no personal interest but
+was glad to be enlightened, although up to that time the matter had
+been something he had never thought much about.
+
+He would now and then say, "How very interesting!" "Can that be
+possible?" "Is that so?" Not even when Edestone described the pictures
+shown to the King of England did he manifest any feeling except that of
+kindly interest in a most charming young man, who was taking a great
+deal of trouble to explain his youthful hopes to a rather slow-thinking
+old one.
+
+He allowed Edestone to talk on, not even interrupting him, to ask a
+single question, and when the visitor had finished by expressing the
+hope that he might be instrumental in bringing the war to a close,
+General von Lichtenstein replied with apparent sincerity:
+
+"I really see no reason why you should not. You are a brilliant
+inventor, apparently a hard worker, and above all you seem willing to
+give your talents to the world for the benefit of your fellow-men. The
+only thing that you lack is age and experience. I am not an inventor, I
+cannot work hard any more, and I am not known as a philanthropist, but
+I have age and I have experience, so I think that you and I might make
+a good combination. Leave this to me, and I think I can show you how
+all that you wish to accomplish can be accomplished, if not exactly in
+your way, in a way which I think you will agree with me is a better
+way. Whereas I should not dare to speak for His Imperial Majesty, the
+Kaiser, I believe I am perfectly safe in saying that he will see you
+and inspect your photographs, drawings, and anything else that you may
+wish to show him. I will see him and let you know when and where."
+
+He laid his hand on Edestone's shoulder and walked with him as far as
+the door.
+
+"You are a fine young fellow," he said with a hearty grasp of the hand
+as he bade him goodbye, "and all you want is an old head on your broad
+young shoulders. Let the old man help you, and everything will be all
+right."
+
+When Edestone was on the outside and thought over all that the General
+had said, he would have been delighted with the turn things had taken
+had he not been warned by Jones and did he not recall what Count von
+Hemelstein had said.
+
+Being so straightforward himself, he could not understand deceit in
+others, and when he recalled the almost inspired expression on the kind
+old gentleman's face when he spoke of his son so recently killed in
+battle, he could not bring himself to believe that this was the trained
+diplomat of iron who covered with that gentle exterior a determination
+to crush and kill anything that came between him and the accomplishment
+of the great purpose, the great cause to which he had gladly sacrificed
+his first-born and the heir to his name and title.
+
+It was nearly noon, Greenwich time, now, so Edestone hurried back to
+his hotel to receive from "Specs" the daily signal: "Awaiting orders.
+All is well."
+
+With the forethought of a good general he wished to be prepared for any
+emergency, and when the needle of the receiver, which he had taken from
+the trunk at the Embassy, recorded the reassuring message, Edestone
+thoroughly satisfied with the work of the morning returned to the
+Embassy to keep his appointment with Lawrence.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI
+
+HE INSTALLS HIS WIRELESS
+
+
+Lawrence was on the lookout for him when he arrived at the Embassy, and
+conducted him at once to his own private quarters, where they could be
+absolutely alone.
+
+"Now, Lawrence," said Edestone, when they had made themselves
+comfortable, "I want your assistance. Are you game?"
+
+"Well I ask you, you old simp! Did you not initiate me, in my freshman
+year, in the Ki Ki Ki, and do you think that I have forgotten the oath
+that I took while sitting with my naked back within a foot of a red-hot
+stove, my fingers in a bucket of red ink, and you branding me with a
+lump of ice?" He went through with some ridiculous gesticulations to
+prove the honours that had been bestowed upon him.
+
+"I know, old man, but this is no college boy performance. Before you
+commit yourself I want you to understand that you are running great
+danger. Besides, I don't think that the Acting Ambassador would exactly
+approve, as it might involve the United States. Desperate situations,
+though, have to be met sometimes with desperate measures."
+
+"Yours is a noble heart, Lord Reginald Bolingbroke, and the child is
+safe in the hands of Jack Hathaway, the Boy Scout. Go on, I listen.
+Your story interests me strangely," said Lawrence.
+
+Edestone paid no attention to this, but went on in the same manner: "I
+can assure you that, except as a last resort, you will not be called on
+to do anything that will be an actual violation of our neutrality, and
+not even then until I have obtained the permission of the Secretary of
+the Embassy. But from now on, Lawrence, you will be looked upon with
+great suspicion, and you may have trouble explaining yourself out of a
+German prison, if not from in front of a firing squad." He eyed the
+younger man keenly as if questioning whether or not he could rely upon
+him, and upon seeing this, Lawrence altered his light tone and for once
+spoke soberly.
+
+"Jack Edestone, you know perfectly well that you can depend upon me,
+while I know that you will not do anything that is not strictly on the
+level, so what's the use of saying anything more. I'm with you. What is
+it you want?"
+
+"Well, take me up on the roof," said Edestone.
+
+"Say, Bo, is that all?"
+
+"Now be quiet, Lawrence; do what you are told. You will get a good run
+for your money, so for Heaven's sake do be serious."
+
+The roof, which was reached by elevator, was flat, covered with cement,
+and but for the chimneys, a few skylights, and the penthouse over the
+elevator shaft, was unencumbered.
+
+Edestone first went over and examined this penthouse with great care.
+He found as he expected a small free space over the machinery which was
+entirely hidden from view and could be reached only from the roof of
+the car when it was run to the top of the elevator shaft, and then by
+climbing over the big drum around which the cable ran. It was perfectly
+dark inside and one could remain there for days without being
+discovered.
+
+After thoroughly inspecting this, the inventor went over and examined
+the tall flag-pole, first saluting the stars and stripes which were
+waving from it. Finally, appearing satisfied, he led Lawrence to the
+edge of the roof and stood for a moment looking over the coping wall at
+the city below. He seemed to be establishing his bearings, but seeing
+one of the soldiers who was stationed in the street near the Embassy,
+he stepped back quickly.
+
+"Come below," he drew Lawrence back. "We must not be seen."
+
+Lawrence, who by this time was satisfied that there was going to be
+some real excitement, led the way back to his apartments.
+
+"Little did I think," said Edestone with a smile when they were once
+more settled, "when I used to chase you out of the wireless room on
+board the _Storm Queen_, Lawrence, that I would some day make use of
+the information which you got there, and which cost me a new instrument
+and one of the best operators I ever had, but that is the reason I am
+calling on you now."
+
+"Good," cried Lawrence. "I am the best little sparker that ever sent an
+S. O. S. over the blue between drinks of salt water, while swimming on
+my back around the wireless room chased by a man-eating shark. And as
+for a catcher, why, my boy, I can receive while eating a piece of
+toast."
+
+"All right," said Edestone with a laugh; "as your references from your
+last place are so good you shall have the job. You took charge of my
+trunks, did you not?"
+
+"Yes," replied Lawrence.
+
+"Well, in the one marked 'Black,' there is a small wireless instrument.
+The Germans know that I have it, and I realize that they let it get
+through in the hope of picking up any messages I may send out. They do
+not know, however, that I intend to send but two, and these will be
+both of but one word each. If they can make head or tail of these, they
+are welcome. Still, on Jones's account, I want them not to know that I
+am sending from here, nor do I care to have Jones know that this
+instrument is in the Embassy. I want you to install it in the penthouse
+above the drum, and I will assure you that if I ask you to send out my
+two messages, it will not be until after Jones has given his consent.
+Do you think that you can do this?"
+
+Lawrence pondered for some moments. "Of course I can send the messages,
+and I can install the instrument too, but how to do it without letting
+the Secretary know or keeping the damn German servants from catching on
+I don't quite see."
+
+"I have thought of all that. The elevator is an electric one and any
+person can run it by pushing the button. All you have to do then is to
+unpack the wireless instrument here in your room, and after you have
+adjusted it you can certainly arrange in some way to get it on top of
+the elevator car?"
+
+"Yes," Lawrence nodded.
+
+"Now my Mr. Black, who is at the hotel, is one of the best electricians
+in America. He can install the instrument easily, and I will tell you
+how. In the other trunk I sent up is a moving-picture machine----"
+
+"Oh, I say, come now!" said Lawrence. "I suppose you are going to tell
+me next that you've got a setting hen in another trunk and that you are
+going to bribe Fritz and Karl with fresh eggs. And that's no merry
+jest; we haven't seen a fresh egg in Berlin in six months."
+
+"No, Lawrence, I'm not joking. I mean exactly what I say. I have a
+moving-picture machine with me and lots of films, interesting ones too,
+and I propose to give a show right here in the Embassy. I will ask the
+Secretary to allow every servant in the house to come in and see it. I
+can keep them quiet for an hour, and during that time you can get
+Black, who will be acting as my helper, into the elevator shaft and run
+him up to the top of the penthouse. You can depend upon him to do the
+rest, and all you will have to do after that is to see that he gets
+down before I turn up the lights, when your absence might be remarked.
+Isn't that simple enough?"
+
+"But how am I to get up there to send the messages when the time
+comes?" asked Lawrence.
+
+"I have not thought of that yet. You may not have to send any messages
+at all, and if you do, it will not be for some little time, so perhaps
+it's just as well that you can't get up there without my assistance."
+
+Then with a jolly laugh, which showed that although he was pitting his
+strength and wits against the great General Staff, the most wonderful
+machine on earth, he was as light-hearted as a boy, he said:
+
+"You might, as you did on the yacht, want to see the wheels go 'round,
+or else you'd be sending messages off to a lot of girls.
+
+"Now, make haste," he directed, "send for the trunk marked 'Black.'"
+
+With the arrival of the trunk the machine was soon adjusted, and
+Edestone having tested Lawrence's knowledge, and explained to him again
+exactly what he was to do, gave him orally all that was necessary for
+him to know about the code that was to be used.
+
+A little later, when they rejoined Jones, the Acting Ambassador, he
+wanted to know what they had been up to. "Has Lawrence been giving you
+the telephone numbers of some of these prospective war brides," he
+asked, "or does he want you to take tea with some Royal Princess? You
+know, Jack, Lawrence seems to be quite a favourite in the very smart
+army set. It appears that they have heard that his grandfather was the
+military governor of New York. That makes him eligible. And besides, he
+is teaching the entire royal family the latest American dances."
+
+"Well, if you care to know what we have been up to," said Edestone,
+"I don't mind telling you that we have been arranging for a little
+moving-picture entertainment here at the Embassy. Have we your
+permission to go ahead with it? It would be a little treat for
+the people here in the house."
+
+"Certainly," consented Jones. "Go as far as you like. I myself will be
+glad to see something beside battles and dead men. But why in the name
+of common sense have you lugged a moving-picture machine all the way
+over from America when you might have brought us some potatoes? I
+suppose, of course, it has something to do with your fool scheme. Well,
+as long as it doesn't get us into trouble, and helps to take our minds
+off this war, I haven't any objection. When do you propose to have your
+show?"
+
+"I can't exactly say as to that," Edestone answered. "It all depends
+upon Lawrence, who is to be my trap-man. He had better fix the date."
+He looked at the other conspirator with a questioning glance.
+
+"We'll have it tonight then," said Lawrence. "I think I can get up my
+part by that time." He made significant faces at Edestone behind the
+Secretary's back.
+
+"Tonight's the night, eh?" said Jones with a smile. "Very well, we'll
+all be on hand."
+
+Edestone, after his experiences on the frontier, and his two days'
+journey shut up in the railroad car, greatly enjoyed these evenings
+with his old friends, the Joneses; and found pleasure in meeting some
+of Mrs. Jones's young friends, who were delighted when they heard of
+the moving-picture show.
+
+Later, while the Secretary of Legation and Edestone were alone,
+Lawrence having insisted upon helping Black install the moving-picture
+machine, Jones turned to his guest.
+
+"I saw General von Lichtenstein at the club this afternoon," he said.
+"He seemed to be delighted with you, Jack. Said you were a fine young
+man, and will not believe that you are not of German descent. He hopes
+to present you when the Emperor returns to Berlin, which he says will
+be in a few days. When I told him that you had not told me what your
+invention was he merely laughed. I know he did not believe me. He seems
+to think that the United States has something to do with sending you
+over here. He is a sly old fox and I tell you to look out for him."
+
+He might have added more but Lawrence appeared just then and, imitating
+a barker in a sideshow, announced that everything was ready for the
+performance.
+
+The entertainment proved a brilliant success. Edestone showed some
+scenes from America which he had brought over to amuse the
+distinguished audiences he had expected to meet in Europe. The pictures
+showing him tossing great weights and men about the room delighted the
+servants, but the Secretary only looked bored and Mrs. Jones did not
+hesitate to say that she thought Edestone must be losing his mind,
+travelling all around the world with such silly things.
+
+But it answered his purposes. Lawrence soon came in and whispered to
+him that Mr. Black and the wireless machine were safely up in the
+penthouse, and if Edestone could hold his audience for a half-an-hour
+longer the work would be finished.
+
+Edestone then threw on the screen all the crowned heads of Europe,
+taking tea, playing tennis, and laying corner-stones. He had some
+especially fine pictures of the German Emperor. He was getting a little
+nervous though as he found his supply of films running short, but at
+that moment he spied Lawrence entering the door, who gave the signal
+"All is well."
+
+The Secretary, after the entertainment, pressed Edestone to tell him
+something more about his invention, but Edestone shook his head.
+
+"I am purposely keeping you out of this, William," he said, "for if I
+get into trouble I don't want to drag you and the Missus in with me."
+
+Then with the promise that he would move around to the Embassy in the
+morning, he left for his hotel.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII
+
+KAFFEE KLATSCH
+
+
+Edestone had now been at the Embassy for about a week and was wondering
+what would be the next move on the part of the German General Staff.
+
+He knew that General von Lichtenstein was not waiting for the return of
+the Emperor, for he was in Berlin. In fact he had seen him driving past
+the Embassy in his big automobile with the General. Edestone was just
+coming out, and although he was not certain, he thought that the
+General had recognized him, for he leaned over and spoke to the
+Emperor, who looked straight at the American.
+
+He had heard nothing, but from what the different officers at the clubs
+had dropped, he was confident that he had not been forgotten. These had
+all received him with great show of cordiality, and among Count von
+Hemelstein's friends there had sprung up a certain friendliness, which
+he knew was due to the Count's influence. The Count himself, on the
+other hand, seemed now to be a little bit ill at ease when in his
+presence. He said to Edestone one night after he had been drinking
+quite heavily:
+
+"Mr. Edestone, it is a great pity that you have come over here and
+mixed up in our troubles. It is too late now, however; you could not
+get out if you tried," and then with a sneer, "not even if you called
+to your assistance Princess Wilhelmina, who seems to take so much
+interest in you."
+
+Edestone decided that the German General Staff were preparing their
+answer to the new condition that had been brought about by his
+invention, and that they were waiting for additional information before
+delivering it. He knew that they must realize that some action must be
+taken, but with the forethought for which they were so celebrated they
+were preparing the way. When they had satisfied themselves that they
+were in possession of all of the facts that could be gotten without his
+assistance, and had looked at these from every possible standpoint, he
+would be sent for, and not until then.
+
+Several days after his sight of the Emperor, Edestone, in passing
+through the halls of the Embassy, was approached by one of the German
+servants, who in a rather mysterious manner handed him a note, which
+read as follows:
+
+  "Dear Mr. Edestone: Please have Mr. Stuyvesant bring you to tea
+  on Tuesday afternoon. It is a matter of the greatest importance.
+  I must see you.
+
+                            "PRINCESS WILHELMINA."
+
+He knew that Princess Wilhelmina was in Berlin. Lawrence had seen her
+at the house of Princess Adolph, and in his joking way had said that
+she had inquired very particularly after the American inventor, and
+that Count von Hemelstein, who thought he was the "candy kid," was very
+jealous.
+
+But why had she sent for him? he thought. When he spoke to
+Lawrence, he in his usual jocular manner exclaimed: "Ah, so now you are
+to have Kaffee Klatsch with the Princess. I told you so. The lady is in
+love with you, and the Emperor is going to offer you her hand in
+marriage after he has bestowed on you an Iron Cross in return for one
+of your quack medicines."
+
+Edestone, who declined to take any notice of this, thoughtfully said:
+"Can it be possible that she also is a traitor? She cannot imagine for
+one moment that she will be able to accomplish what her father was
+unable to do, but God gives women confidence in themselves to
+compensate them for the fact that nobody else has." With an impatient
+gesture, "No, no, Lawrence, that is impossible! That sweet little
+child!"
+
+"Ah!" said Lawrence, "so little Willie Westinghouse has fallen for the
+baby stare?"
+
+"You are absurd, Lawrence," said Edestone with a rather embarrassed
+expression. "It is perfectly clear. She feels deeply her father's
+disgrace, and perhaps she thinks that I might do something to help her
+to exonerate him."
+
+"Well," said Lawrence, "I don't think there is any satisfaction in
+being a hero in Berlin while being locked up in the Tower in London
+like her father, but you are the limit. You talk as quietly of using
+your influence for a Prince of the Royal Blood with the King of England
+as if she were asking you to get her brother a position on the New York
+police force. God certainly gave you confidence in yourself."
+
+"There is nothing very strange about that," replied Edestone. "As I
+understand it, the only thing that they have against the Duke of
+Windthorst is that he was dining with Rebener and myself, and were I to
+state that at no time during the dinner had he shown any disloyalty to
+his King and country, it might do a little good. But whatever it is, we
+will go and see this afternoon."
+
+About half-past five they were driven to the handsome residence
+occupied by Princess Adolph when in Berlin.
+
+They were immediately shown into a large and beautiful room in the
+style of Louis XVI., which had evidently been designed and executed by
+a French artist. It was free from the brutal touch which the Germans
+show in their attempt at the refinement of the French Renaissance of
+that period.
+
+They were received by Princess Adolph, a very striking young woman, who
+shocked all of Berlin by affecting French clothes, French language, and
+a French mode of life. She was surrounded by some of the dashing young
+officers of the very exclusive army set. These glared through their
+monocles when the Americans were announced and did not try to hide
+their annoyance.
+
+Lawrence, without taking the slightest notice of these "Knights of the
+Butchered Face," as he called them, with his usual careless and
+frivolous manner, went over to the Princess and immediately began to
+shower upon her in the most effusive manner compliment after
+compliment, which she received with laughter. She rather prided herself
+on shocking Berlin by pretending to be tremendously interested in this
+wild young American.
+
+The Princess turned to Edestone and extended her hand. He had
+hesitated; he resented the manner of her young gallants, and feared
+that they might, with their usual rudeness to Americans in the presence
+of women, put him into an embarrassing position. Smiling she said:
+
+"I welcome you, Mr. Edestone, as the greatest lion of them all in this
+den of lions," and with a reproving frown she waved her hand at the
+officers who were so poorly hiding their annoyance.
+
+She then turned to Princess Wilhelmina, who was seated behind a large
+table and was pouring out a cup of coffee, which she continued to do
+when she saw Edestone until it was called to her attention that the cup
+was full as well as the saucer.
+
+"Billy," she nodded, "you and Mr. Edestone are old friends. Give him a
+cup of tea; I know he does not like _Kaffee und Schlagsahne_."
+
+The little Princess, who was very much embarrassed, extended her hand,
+which Edestone took and seated himself beside her.
+
+This scene might have been enacted in an English country house if it
+had not been so entirely different. The Germans, in their effort to
+affect certain charming English customs and Germanize them, in the
+process lose the charm. Tea time for the Englishman is the hour of
+relaxation after a day in the open, when he can in his easy clothes
+receive the homage of the ladies in their beautiful tea-gowns. Whereas
+here, these men in their tight-fitting and uncomfortable uniforms, were
+attitudinizing and indulging in that military form of gallantry, which
+may be picturesque but certainly looks most uncomfortable.
+
+The entrance of the Americans had thrown a chill upon the entire
+company. The officers simply refused to open their mouths, and sat
+glaring at the two intruders.
+
+Edestone, after having made several attempts to relieve the situation,
+relapsed into silence. The feeble efforts of the Princess Wilhelmina
+but added to the atmosphere of restraint which she was unable to
+dispel.
+
+Princess Adolph up to this time had been entirely monopolized by
+Lawrence, but catching an appealing look from her English cousin, came
+to the rescue at last. She was apparently in the secret, and in a most
+natural manner called upon Princess Wilhelmina to show Mr. Edestone her
+new French garden, which she said had been laid out by a young American
+studying at the Ecole des Beaux Arts.
+
+Princess Billy, who by this time was in such a state of excitement that
+she could scarcely get up from where she was sitting, and as if to
+postpone as long as possible the meeting which she had brought upon
+herself, managed to say:
+
+"I don't think that Mr. Edestone is interested in such simple things as
+flowers," but catching the glance that was thrown at her by Princess
+Adolph she continued with a nervous little laugh: "Come, Mr. Edestone,
+I hope I shall be able to explain everything to you properly."
+
+When the timid little figure led the way and was followed by that of
+the big man with his dignified bearing, one might almost imagine that
+it was an indulgent father taking his very frightened little daughter
+out to give her a lecture.
+
+When they were on the outside and alone, as she stopped and grasped the
+balcony to support herself she said, looking up into his face with eyes
+in which tears were gathering:
+
+"Oh, Mr. Edestone, I don't know what to say! I don't know what you will
+think of me. I know you hate all of us and especially me."
+
+"Oh, don't say that, Princess!" interrupted Edestone, moved to pity for
+the poor little child who seemed to him, as he looked down into her
+sweet little face, almost young enough to have been his own daughter.
+
+"Oh yes you do; I know you do! But I am not what you think I am," and
+in a very hurried manner, looking about her, she continued, lowering
+her voice: "I am no traitor to my country, and I know that what my
+father did he did because he believed it was his duty."
+
+"Oh, Princess Wilhelmina!" said Edestone, as if to stop her on this
+most disagreeable subject.
+
+"Please do not call me Princess in that sarcastic manner. I hate being
+a Princess! I know you hate all of our class, and believe that we are
+all as heartless as we are sometimes forced to appear. But it is not of
+that that I wish to speak. My sole object in sending for you is to tell
+you that I know you are in great danger, and to beg--I mean advise--you
+to leave Berlin at once. I know that you believe I am working for them,
+and in fact I could not have arranged this interview unless I had left
+them under the impression that I was, but I don't care. Please go
+before it is too late."
+
+Edestone, who at first thought that she might have been playing a part,
+was now convinced of her sincerity. "My dear little Princess Billy," he
+said, leaning over and with great effort resisting his inclination to
+take her hand, "is that why you sent for me?"
+
+"Yes," she blushed and smiled when he used the familiar form of
+address, "I have heard that you were going to be killed, and I was
+determined to warn you, so I pretended to be working for them. Now
+please go before it is too late."
+
+"But, Princess, why did you take all of this risk for me?"
+
+"Oh, I don't know; but I must show you the garden. I hope that you
+won't think I am very forward."
+
+She then hurriedly passed into the garden and gave him in a very rapid
+and disconnected manner a description of the different plants,
+fountains, statues, etc. She hurried back into the drawing-room, but
+just before reaching the other group, she said in an undertone:
+
+"Now, won't you promise me that you will leave Berlin at once?"
+
+Before he had time to answer they were joined by Princess Adolph.
+
+The Americans remained for a few moments and then took their leave. The
+little Princess, as she put her icy cold hand in his, gave him an
+appealing look.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII
+
+THE TWO-WHEELED MYSTERY
+
+
+The Secretary came in with a very grave face one morning after having
+had a long talk with the German Chancellor.
+
+"Do you know, Jack," he said, "I think the German Government intends
+to declare war on us, and I would not be a bit surprised if she
+proposes to strike first and declare afterwards. Their newspapers,
+and they are all inspired by the Government, you know, are working
+up a strong anti-American feeling, and this I think is done in order
+that when they do strike the Government may have the entire country
+back of it. Have you noticed, too, that they are constantly increasing
+the guard around the Embassy, which is either to save us or to catch
+us? Is it possible that your nonsense has got anything to do with all
+this? By Jove, Jack, I think it is about time that you told me what
+you are up to."
+
+Edestone considered for a moment. "When you tell me that you are
+absolutely certain that they are going to strike, I will tell you,
+William, and not before. You know enough now, however, to realize that
+those soldiers outside are to catch and not protect. It is me that they
+want, though, and not you. Your position is perfectly safe and
+unassailable so long as you do not know too much."
+
+That ended the discussion for the time, but Lawrence came in one night
+in a state of great excitement. He had just seen some woman who, he
+rather intimated, was a little bit fond of him, and who was also very
+closely connected with certain high officials. She had told him, he
+said, apparently joking although he knew she was in earnest, that she
+hoped her pretty boy would not mix up with this man Edestone, or he
+might get into trouble too.
+
+"'They are only allowing us to stay in Berlin,' she said, 'until they
+get you, Jack,'" declared Lawrence, "and then we will have to go, the
+whole lot of us."
+
+In the meantime things were going from bad to worse. The Secretary was
+getting more and more anxious. Reports of all kinds kept coming in from
+all sides. Americans were being insulted in the street. The officers at
+the clubs were a little more arrogant in their studied politeness
+toward Edestone and his associates, the younger officers even taunting
+Lawrence with having to leave his girl in Berlin and go back to
+cow-punching.
+
+Finally one of the papers reported that the entire American fleet was
+collecting at Hampton Roads, that all the German boats in New York had
+been dismantled by force, and broadly suggested that the Yankees were
+about to strike first and apologize afterward.
+
+However, there came a slight rift in the clouds. Coming back one
+morning after a conference with the Chancellor, Jones was all smiles.
+
+"Well, we are all right for a little while at least," he announced.
+"The Chancellor has just informed me that the Emperor has decided to
+see you, Edestone, and he wishes to inspect here, at the Embassy,
+anything that you may like to show him. The Chancellor intimated that
+it would depend entirely upon your attitude on this occasion whether or
+not your mission to Europe was a failure or a brilliant success."
+
+"And when is he coming?" asked Edestone quickly.
+
+Jones grinned. "With his usual impetuosity, he has selected tonight,
+and will pay the Embassy a formal call at nine o'clock, after the
+celebration at the Palace in honour of the birthday of one of the Royal
+princes."
+
+Edestone was delighted with the prospect of some action at last, but he
+had long since lost all hope of an amicable settlement. They had waited
+too long. He felt that they were preparing to strike, and should they
+do so it made him sick to think of the awful consequences. He was
+almost tempted to tell Jones of the wireless instrument in the
+penthouse and his daily communications with "Specs," but he remembered
+that he had no right to involve him as a representative of the United
+States, and that, as the matter stood, he and Lawrence were the only
+culprits.
+
+He did not care to destroy the roseate hopes of the Secretary after his
+conference with the Chancellor, and contented himself with saying:
+"William, I hope that you are right, but I have an impression that we
+are in for it. I am prepared to meet any game that they may play, but I
+do sincerely hope that I shall not be forced to it."
+
+By seven o'clock that evening the streets for blocks around the Embassy
+were filled with soldiers, and Edestone smiled when looking from the
+window he noticed that the Germans were bringing up anti-aircraft guns.
+
+"They are taking no chances," he thought to himself, his curiosity
+aroused as he noticed several large mortars being brought up and
+so placed that each battery of four could throw their shells in
+parallel lines over the Embassy to the north, south, east, and west.
+This struck him as very strange, but he became even more interested
+when he perceived that besides the ordinary ammunition wagon each gun
+was provided with a trailer that looked like a big wheel or drum on a
+two-wheeled carriage, although it was so carefully covered over that
+he could not make out exactly what it was.
+
+"I have got to find out what those things are," said Edestone to
+himself, and taking his hat and cane, he left the Embassy as if for a
+short stroll before dinner.
+
+The soldiers took no notice of him as he sauntered along, and allowed him
+to inspect everything at his will until he approached the strange-looking
+mortars. Then he was stopped by a young officer, who told him in a very
+polite but firm tone that he would have to pass on and could not go by
+that way, at the same time showing him where he could walk around the
+block.
+
+"I would give a good deal to know what those things are," muttered
+Edestone to himself. "In fact, I must know before the night is over."
+
+He went back into the house, after strolling about for a quarter of an
+hour, and for the first time since he had left the Little Place in the
+Country, he became really anxious.
+
+"These are wonderful people. They evidently are satisfied now that they
+have the answer, and who knows but they may have. All may yet be lost."
+
+He sat down and drove his brain as he had never driven it before. He
+wondered if he could get the Secretary to demand what all this
+preparation meant, and what these new death-dealing instruments might
+be that were threatening the Embassy of the United States; but that was
+useless, he knew. They would reply that it was to protect the Emperor,
+or would simply refuse to answer, or answering would lie.
+
+After waiting until it was time to dress for dinner, in a fit of
+desperation he sent for Lawrence.
+
+"Lawrence," he said, "have you seen those mortars out there?"
+
+"Yes," replied Lawrence, "I did. They take no chances with the 'Big
+Noise.'"
+
+"Don't joke, Lawrence. This is serious; very serious. Did you notice
+those two-wheeled wagons that are so carefully covered with canvas just
+behind each of the mortars?"
+
+"No, to tell you the truth, I did not. They have so many travelling
+soup wagons and ice plants that I don't pay any attention to those
+things any more."
+
+"Well, Lawrence, I've got to know what they are tonight in order that I
+may be prepared; otherwise we may find ourselves in a very serious
+situation, and what is much more important, my whole life's work may be
+absolutely lost."
+
+"Now, since you put it that way," said Lawrence with a broad grin, "I
+will step out and in my most polite Deutsch inquire."
+
+"They will not let you get within a block of them. Do you think it will
+be possible to persuade one of the German servants to find out from the
+soldiers? I would pay any price."
+
+"Well, I will dress myself like the cook and go out and flirt with one
+of the soldiers for $2. I'm a little badly off for money myself just
+about this time."
+
+"Lawrence, you must stop joking. I tell you, something must be done."
+
+"Leave me think, leave me think," said the irrepressible.
+"_Donnerwetter_, I have it! What time does the Hohenzollern Glee Club
+arrive?"
+
+"At nine o'clock."
+
+"And you come on immediately after the 'First Part,' succeeding which I
+suppose Lohengrin will sing his Duck Ditty, while the Boy Scout,
+dressed as Uncle Tom's Cabin, after biting the triggers off all the
+guns, and pulling his wig well down over his eyes"--imitating the
+action--"will sally forth into the limpid limelights, and after he has
+been shot once in the face by a 16-inch howitzer and has been played
+upon in the rear by a battery of machine guns, he will limp on with the
+regular limp of the old Virginia servant and die at your feet, but not
+until I have whispered their secret into the heel of your boot."
+
+Edestone had known Lawrence long enough to understand that all of this
+nonsense meant that his really bright mind was working, and that he had
+some definite plan in view. The best way to handle him, he had found
+out, was to let his exuberance of spirit have free swing, so he replied
+in the same melodramatic manner: "Good, my faithful District Messenger
+Boy. Now in what way can I assist you in your wonderful scheme?"
+
+"Leave all to me, Lord Reginald Bolingbroke, and before the clock on
+yon 'back drop' strikes eight bells, you will know what is hidden
+beneath these veils of mystery."
+
+"I can depend upon you," Edestone eyed him searchingly, "and no
+mistake?"
+
+"On the life of me mother who lies dead beneath the sacred soil of dear
+old Idaho!" With a wave of an imaginary sword, and jumping astride an
+imaginary stick horse, he saluted and galloped from the room, singing
+"It's a Long Way to Tipperary."
+
+"I wonder what that dare-devil is up to," thought Edestone.
+Nevertheless he believed that Lawrence would accomplish his purpose.
+
+Presently his attention was attracted by the beams of a searchlight
+crossing the window, and looking out he saw those great white arms
+stretching up from every part of the city.
+
+"They expect me to show my teeth tonight," he said.
+
+The distant tapping of drums showed that troops were moving in all
+parts of Berlin, and they were beginning to form in the streets below.
+It was easy to see by which route the Emperor was coming, or at least
+by which route he wished the people to think he was going to arrive.
+
+Edestone dressed hurriedly, although James seemed to think that
+something extra should be done.
+
+"Beg pardon, sir," he pleaded in an accent which would have meant
+imprisonment for him if heard on the streets outside, "but these here
+barbarians likes a bit of colour, sir. I understands as how the Emperor
+calls the Ambassador the 'undertaker,' sir, and it's all on account,
+sir, of his not a-having any lace on his coat, sir. Don't you think you
+might wear some of your Colonial Society medals and decorations, sir?"
+and he tried hard to hide his contempt for these American signs of
+alleged aristocracy. "There is some as is bright in colour, sir, and he
+wouldn't know, sir, but as how you is a duke in America, sir."
+
+"None of that nonsense, James, unless," he said with a quizzical look,
+"you give me the copy of the Golden Fleece, which shows that I am a
+member in good standing of the South Chicago Aero Club."
+
+"Not that one, sir," protested James, "if you will pardon me, sir, I
+think it is a bit large, sir, for the waistcoat opening, sir. I think,
+sir, that the Order of the Cincinnati is very neat, sir. It is very
+much like one of the Greek Orders, I don't recall which, sir, but Lord
+Knott wore it once, I recall, sir, when the King of Greece was in
+London, sir."
+
+"No, James," Edestone shook his head. "My father was a blacksmith, and
+I would not like to deceive the Emperor."
+
+"How you do like your little joke, sir," said James, putting his hand
+to his mouth. "Won't you just use that button, sir, instead of a
+buttonhole? It ain't so frivolous like, sir, begging your pardon, sir."
+
+"Oh well, yes; just to keep you quiet."
+
+"Thank you, sir."
+
+And Edestone left the room.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV
+
+DER KAISER
+
+
+Downstairs, the household was in a state of suppressed excitement. The
+German men servants, without the usual protection of a brilliant
+uniform, looked as if they would like to drop everything and hide
+themselves in the coal cellar. The maids were almost on the verge of
+tears. Mrs. Jones, with all the jewelry on that she possessed, was
+moving about with a flushed face seeing that everything was in order.
+
+"For Heaven's sake, hurry up, Jack," she said. "We must have a short
+dinner and be ready when the Emperor arrives. As for myself, I never
+can touch anything for hours before I meet him. He scares me almost out
+of my wits."
+
+Her husband was walking up and down with the expression of a man who is
+the speaker of the evening, watching the waiters serving coffee and
+passing cigars. The only persons who seemed perfectly at their ease
+were Lawrence and his Bowery boy valet, Fred, who were holding a very
+serious conversation in the corner of the hall.
+
+Dinner, it must be confessed, was very like the gathering of the
+distant relatives the night before the funeral of the rich old maid of
+the family. Lawrence's jokes were either not heard or were received
+with sad-eyed contortions of the face that were less like a smile than
+the premonition of a sneeze. The strain was so great that as they were
+having their coffee a sudden clatter in the street came as an immense
+relief.
+
+The air was instantly filled with the subdued noise of the different
+members of the household taking their various places. The Acting
+Ambassador and Mrs. Jones went out of the dining-room and took a
+position near the door of the large reception room, leaving Edestone
+and Lawrence alone. They had previously explained to Edestone what he
+must do when they notified him that it was time for him to come in and
+be presented.
+
+"Lawrence," he said when the servants had all gone, "won't you tell me
+what you have decided on? I am rather curious to know your plan."
+
+Lawrence, who had grown quite serious for him, came around from his
+place and lighting a cigarette sat down close to him.
+
+"You know Prince Fritz Funk?" he leaned over to whisper.
+
+"Of course," said Edestone.
+
+"Well," continued Lawrence, "I'm supposed to look something like him. I
+am just his height. He has, as you know, certain striking mannerisms,
+which when he is drinking are accentuated. I have all last year been
+amusing the officers at the clubs by giving imitations of him, and they
+do say I am better than he is himself.
+
+"Now all the soldiers stationed in and about Berlin know Fritzie's
+peculiarities, so I propose to impersonate him tonight while he is in
+here drinking the Ambassador's champagne. My man is to get his helmet,
+'_avec le grand panache_,' and his long gray-blue military cape, and
+with my riding boots and spurs and a sword, I shall be able to fool
+those boobs out there; that is, if they don't throw on me one of those
+damned spot lights. If they do, G-o-o-d-n-i-g-h-t! Then I can only say
+that I am doing it on a bet. But I hardly think that would save me in
+these times. The least I could expect would be a term in prison for
+insulting the uniform. I will go down in history as 'Little Boy Blue up
+in the air.'"
+
+"It's a big risk you're taking," frowned Edestone, "and were there any
+other way I would not allow you to do this. But if you do succeed, you
+will go down in history in a way you could never dream. Lawrence, if
+you get back safely with this information, I will make you a present of
+$1,000,000."
+
+Lawrence looked at his friend as if he thought that he had lost his
+mind, but when he saw the look of determination on Edestone's strong
+face, which seemed to have aged within the hour, and when he felt the
+grip of his powerful hand, he knew that he meant every word he said.
+
+"By God, old man," he said with a little break in his voice, "you
+should be the Emperor instead of his nibs out there."
+
+"I may be yet," said Edestone smiling, and a look came on his face that
+Lawrence had never seen there before.
+
+The servants were moving quietly about the room, but it was plain to
+see that they felt the presence of the Lord's Anointed. Through the
+house could be heard the clatter of many swords and the tramping of
+booted heels along the marble hall. It sent a thrill through Edestone
+that he would have had difficulty to explain. It was like the echo of
+some far distant past seeming to recall to life a sleeping spirit,
+which with great exultation was throwing off the fetters of its long
+slumbers. He seemed to be impelled by an almost irresistible force to
+rush into their midst and take his rightful position at their head.
+
+He was recalled to himself by the sudden silence that had fallen on the
+entire house, as though some great army had been halted and was
+standing at rigid attention. Then he heard the silvery tinkle and
+metallic clink of sabre and spurs as of a single figure striding with
+military precision over the softest of carpets, and he could picture
+that majestic form advancing well in front of his glittering escort as
+they stood in breathless silence while he made his dramatic entrance.
+
+Then the silence was broken by a voice which said slowly and
+distinctly: "His Imperial Majesty." An almost simultaneous click
+followed as if all had come to a salute and were waiting for the sign
+to relax and from automatons become human beings again.
+
+Edestone was all alone in the dining-room.
+
+The servants had left the room after removing the table decorations,
+covering it with a dark cloth and setting a large bowl of flowers in
+the centre; and Lawrence had gone out quietly on hearing the noise in
+the hall.
+
+And so he sat, this young man in a strange land, thousands of miles
+away from his home, waiting to be called to a death struggle, without
+help from anyone, with the most powerful, arrogant, and relentless man
+on the face of the earth, an adversary surrounded by the most perfect
+fighting machine yet devised by man, with all the confidence, that
+tradition, success, and a brilliant mind could give. An Emperor with
+the sublime dignity of his position which he sincerely believed he held
+by Divine Right, and who had always lived surrounded by an atmosphere
+of absolute submission to his will.
+
+Yet Edestone was not afraid. He was not even nervous. He was merely
+anxious to be up and doing. This show of force, those mysterious
+two-wheeled wagons, had roused his fighting blood. So assured was
+he of his own sincerity in his efforts for the good of all that he
+resented the attitude which they had taken. He knew they would try
+to get his invention peaceably, if possible, but would stop at nothing
+if they failed, and he expected some overt act of violence tonight that
+would mean war with the United States.
+
+So when he was called by one of the under-secretaries of the Embassy he
+went with little charity in his heart, but with head erect and
+determination shown in his every movement, bearing on his face, which
+seemed to have grown very hard, a look that left no doubt of the
+fearlessness of the spirit that was behind it.
+
+He was taken in at one end of the large room that vibrated with light
+and colour. Around three sides of it was banked the most brilliant
+array of uniforms that he had ever seen. There were white-headed
+generals ablaze with decorations and medals; there were young princes
+with simple uniforms and with but one handsome decoration to show their
+distinguished rank. There were Cuirassiers and Uhlans, and now and then
+he could pick out the sombre black and silver uniforms of the
+celebrated Death's-Head Hussars.
+
+But the one figure which dominated all and held his attention was that
+of the Emperor.
+
+He stood in the centre of the room with the Secretary and General von
+Lichtenstein, Mrs. Jones having retired as soon as she had received her
+distinguished guest.
+
+He was a man of medium height but with a bearing which made him appear
+larger than he really was. He was dressed in the wonderful white
+uniform of the Garde du Corps, which carried with it the celebrated
+silver eagle helmet.
+
+As this figure dominated and held the centre of this brilliant picture,
+so his face drew the attention from his magnificent uniform and held it
+as with a magnetic power. It was handsome, intelligent, strong, but
+above all it was commanding. There was little kindness but there was a
+merry twinkle in his sharp blue eyes which showed a human side and was
+most attractive.
+
+These eyes could change, however, and when he saw Edestone and they
+were met by his perfectly fearless but respectful glance, they seemed
+to try by force to penetrate his very soul.
+
+Edestone advanced alone until he came to within a few paces of the
+central group, and then stopped, standing with one knee slightly bent,
+his right hand held lightly in front of his body, which was inclined in
+a graceful and easy attitude of reverence, while his other hand hung
+naturally at his side.
+
+After his first quick glance, Edestone dropped his eyes to about the
+Emperor's knees and held them there until the Secretary, with a slight
+gesture, called him to his side. The young man then straightened up and
+went slowly to the Ambassador's left, and there stood perfectly erect
+looking straight at the Emperor, while Jones with some show of
+embarrassment was saying:
+
+"Your Majesty, may I present Mr. John Fulton Edestone, of New York."
+
+The Emperor, with the hearty and easy manner which he always assumes
+with those he has been told are distinguished Americans and with that
+quizzical expression in his sharp eyes which, though attractive, is
+described as most disconcerting, replied.
+
+"Mr. Edestone," he said, in a loud voice, "your fame has gone before
+you, and we are always glad to welcome distinguished men of science in
+Berlin, which we think is the centre of science and culture. Your name,
+that of a great lighthouse and suggesting the greatest of your
+inventions, electric lights, convinces me that you were born to blaze
+the way for us," and he laughed, in which he was joined heartily by his
+well-trained courtiers, who knew that nothing pleased him more than to
+appreciate his little jokes of which he was so fond.
+
+With his quick eye for detail he had caught the Cincinnati button worn
+by Edestone, and said:
+
+"I see that you are the descendant of a soldier, which gives you a
+greater claim upon my imperial favour. What was your ancestor's rank?"
+
+"He was a general, Your Majesty," replied Edestone with a firmness that
+seemed to attract and slightly offend him.
+
+He scowled. He was so accustomed to seeing strong men quail before him
+that the coolness of the other man shocked his sense of propriety.
+"General von Lichtenstein tells me," his face brightening up again,
+"that you have made a very interesting invention, which may be of great
+service to me in bringing to a successful end sooner than I had
+expected this cruel war, which has been forced upon me by those
+grasping English. He tells me that you have motion pictures of this
+invention in actual war practice, which the representative of the
+American Ambassador has so kindly invited me here to see."
+
+Turning to Jones, he said with great show of condescension: "I thank
+you, Mr. Secretary." Then looking at Edestone sharply, and with rather
+a sarcastic turn in his voice, he continued: "I will gladly see your
+pictures, and what is perhaps of more interest to you, no doubt, I
+will, if I like it, buy your invention at a good price."
+
+And then, as if addressing the entire company, who stood waiting to
+applaud his every sentiment, he said: "Germany expects and is able to
+pay large prices for American goods now." And then, as if to cut short
+any possible protest that Edestone might presume to make, he turned his
+back upon him and said very abruptly to the Secretary: "Where are these
+pictures?"
+
+"In the next room," replied the Secretary, "and if you please, Mr.
+Edestone will show them to Your Majesty at once. Edestone," he said,
+"has everything been arranged?"
+
+"Yes," nodded Edestone. Though boiling with rage he kept a perfectly
+calm exterior.
+
+The entire company led by the Emperor and the Secretary moved into
+another room where Black had installed the apparatus.
+
+Edestone, with his usual modesty, had obliterated himself, and bringing
+up the rear was about to go around through the other rooms to reach his
+place in front of the screen when his attention was called by General
+von Lichtenstein, who had fallen back apparently with the intention of
+speaking to him apart from the others.
+
+"Mr. Edestone," he said, drawing him aside, "one would think that you
+had spent your entire life among us," and with a quizzical smile he
+added: "I think you rather astonished the Kaiser by your _sang-froid_.
+I have seen men of the highest rank stand speechless in his presence,
+while you are as finished as a courtier of the Grand Monarque and as
+cool as the Iron Chancellor.
+
+"I admit," he said in his fatherly manner, "I had no authority from you
+to do so, but thought it best to leave upon the Emperor the impression
+that you would sell your invention. Had I not done so he certainly
+would have demanded the reasons for your presence in Berlin, and had I
+dared to suggest that you had been sent by the United States to coerce
+him he would have been thrown into such a rage that he might have
+declared war on your country, which I understand is the last thing that
+you want."
+
+"I regret that you did this, General von Lichtenstein, if I may be
+pardoned for seeming to criticize a statesman of your experience and
+distinction; for I do not intend to sell and my country has not sent me
+to coerce. I have come instead to appeal to your reason, after showing
+you the uselessness of continuing this loss of life in the face of the
+great power in the hands of those who know the secret of my invention
+and intend to put a stop to it."
+
+A cloud seemed to pass over the General's face, but he soon recovered
+his bland, almost Oriental smile.
+
+"But, Mr. Edestone, you seem to forget that whereas others _may_ have
+the secret, we know that you certainly have it, and you are still our
+most honoured guest in Berlin."
+
+"Where I am also the guest of my own country, so long as the Acting
+Ambassador is so kind as to allow me to remain under his roof and our
+flag," replied Edestone pointedly, intending if possible to force the
+General's hand.
+
+In this he failed as the old man only smiled through his glasses.
+
+"A great statesman was lost when you turned inventor, Mr. Edestone," he
+said in a most complimentary tone. "But come, I fear His Majesty
+waits." And then changing his manner, he said with a knowing wink:
+
+"Here is a note which Princess Wilhelmina asked me to deliver to you.
+She seems to be very much interested. Can it be possible that you are
+raising your eyes to a Princess of the Blood?
+
+"Still, stranger things than that have happened," he half mused, "and
+His Imperial Majesty is always glad to recognize talent and reward it
+in a befitting manner."
+
+They went into the other room where the Emperor sat waiting. Evidently
+impatient that Edestone was not at his position of parlour entertainer
+in front of the screen with his pointer in hand as soon as the Imperial
+eye should deign to be cast in that direction, he rose with exaggerated
+politeness when the American appeared and said in a most sarcastic
+manner: "Must the whole world wait while inventors dream?"
+
+Then sitting down he added in a harsh and irritable tone: "With your
+very kind assistance, Mr. Edestone, we will now inspect these much
+talked of pictures."
+
+There was a silence in the room that was like a gasp of horror, and
+the company all standing looked as if they expected to see Edestone
+sink to the floor with mortification; that is, all except Jones, who
+slow-moving had only gotten half-way to his feet when the Kaiser sat
+down, and who now dropped back into his chair with a quizzical little
+smile playing about the corners of his mouth.
+
+But Edestone, with the respectful manner of a grown man answering his
+father, who still looked upon him as a boy, and who had reproved him
+unjustly, said with an indulgent smile that bore no trace of
+resentment:
+
+"I beg that Your Majesty will forgive me, but I was held prisoner by
+General von Lichtenstein, and not until I waved the Stars and Stripes
+would he let me go."
+
+The General hurried over to the Emperor. "Pardon me, Sire," he said,
+for he saw that the Emperor would fly into one of his fits of rage and
+might upset all of their well-laid plans if something was not quickly
+done to quiet him. "Pardon me, Sire, it was my fault. I did not know
+that I was keeping Your Majesty waiting."
+
+"Go on with the pictures," said the Emperor, with an impatient gesture
+of his enormous right hand, and he sat glaring at the screen as the
+lights went out.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV
+
+THE MASQUERADER
+
+
+Lawrence waited until the room was dark and then slipped out unnoticed.
+He would have liked to remain and see the rest of Edestone's most
+interesting pictures which had started off with those taken in
+Newfoundland and included a series not shown at Buckingham Palace. But
+he had an exciting task before him. The idea of posing as a Royal
+Prince in the magnificent uniform of the Imperial Hussars with nodding
+plumes and flowing military cape, his coat-of-arms emblazoned on his
+left shoulder, appealed to his dramatic instincts, as did the danger to
+his passion for adventure.
+
+He was brave, but unlike Edestone his was the bravery of an unthinking
+recklessness rather than that of a perfectly balanced mind which,
+contemptuous of the body that carries it, forces that body to do its
+bidding.
+
+The fact that Edestone had offered him an unheard of reward had made
+little impression, going in one ear and out of the other. He would
+accept it as lightly as it had been offered because he himself would
+have made exactly the same offer under the same circumstances. Whenever
+he wanted anything he paid the price, even if it took his last cent. It
+was no incentive to action now, as he would have gladly paid for the
+privilege of playing this big part in this wonderful melodrama--a
+melodrama which he was prepared at any time to see change into a
+tragedy, with him the dead hero.
+
+He found that his Bowery boy Fred, under the pretext that it was
+customary in the best New York "high society," had bullied the German
+flunkeys into bringing all of the officers' helmets and cloaks upstairs
+and laying them out on a bed in one of the chambers on the second
+floor, from which place it was easy for him to smuggle all he wanted
+into Lawrence's room. Lawrence found him there waiting to help him
+"make up."
+
+Turning up the collar of his dress coat so as to hide his white shirt
+front, the masquerader buckled on the sabre that Fred handed to him.
+Without changing his trousers he put on his riding boots and spurs,
+which with the busby and cloak, a pair of white kid gloves, and a small
+blond moustache completed his disguise. Standing thus in the middle of
+the room with the door open, he waited until Fred signalled that the
+coast was clear. He then stepped quickly across the hall and into the
+elevator, closely followed by Fred, who closed the door. When they were
+perfectly safe from interruption, he adjusted his costume and his false
+moustache to his entire satisfaction, pinning the cloak securely
+together with large safety pins to prevent it from flying open. Then as
+the elevator passed the main floor on its way to the basement, he made
+a gesture of derision.
+
+Fred got out of the car and again carefully reconnoitred. Finding that
+the passage leading to the garden was clear and that there was no one
+in the billiard room, which was between the elevator and the outside
+door, he signalled and Lawrence walked out into the garden at the side
+of the Embassy.
+
+It was quite dark there, but not dark enough to prevent the soldiers,
+who were stationed about to watch this door, from seeing him as he
+stood perfectly still as if hesitating which way to turn.
+
+Observing that he was an officer, they saluted and stood at attention.
+Then as he moved forward and they saw the insignia on his cloak they
+signalled in some mysterious manner to the next post, who in turn
+passed it down the line that Royalty was at large and that they must be
+careful not to be caught napping.
+
+Accordingly, as Lawrence emerged from the semi-darkness and came around
+to the front of the Embassy, every soldier was standing at attention
+and the different officers, after looking searchingly but most
+respectfully at him to satisfy themselves who he was, stepped back and
+allowed him to pass, while they stood like pieces of stone.
+
+Lawrence did not deign even to notice them, but, reeling unsteadily in
+his gait, passed them without even acknowledging their salute.
+
+His presence having been reported to the Captain who had charge of the
+company that was stationed in the street immediately in front of the
+Embassy, this officer hastened up to him.
+
+"Is there anything that you require, Your Royal Highness?" he saluted.
+Lawrence, carrying out his pretence of intoxication, gave a perfect
+imitation of the Prince when in that condition.
+
+"I am making a tour of inspection to see that everything is all right,"
+he said thickly.
+
+The Captain saw his condition and showed an inclination to follow him,
+but Lawrence waved his hand with what was intended to be a regal
+gesture, although in fact it seemed to throw him almost off his
+balance.
+
+The Captain stepped back most respectfully and saluted, but smiled as
+he followed with his eyes the young Prince.
+
+Lawrence strutted quickly but unsteadily until he came to within about
+a hundred yards of the mortars, where a sentry challenged him.
+
+"Pardon me, Your Royal Highness, but my orders are to permit no one to
+pass. If you will allow me, I will call the Corporal of the Guard, who
+will send for the Captain."
+
+Lawrence interrupted him by bellowing:
+
+"Get out of my way, you stupid blockhead, or I'll kick you out of my
+way! I have not time to wait for the lot of fools that you all are."
+
+Then as the man did not move he gave him a tremendous upper-cut,
+catching his chin with the base of his open hand and sending his head
+back and lifting him off his feet. He fell sprawling about ten feet
+away against an iron railing, where he lay perfectly still with a nasty
+cut in the back of his head.
+
+The Captain, who had been slowly following to see that nothing happened
+to his Royal charge, ran up quickly and, ordering another soldier to
+take the place of the fallen sentry, had the wounded man hurried
+quickly out of sight.
+
+In the meantime Lawrence was strolling along, without even looking back
+at the poor fellow where he lay.
+
+"I caught him just right," he muttered with a touch of compunction. "I
+hope I did not hurt him badly."
+
+When he finally came to the mortars with the mysterious two-wheeled
+wagons attached to them, he walked around from one to the other, as if
+he were making a careful inspection to see that everything was all
+right. It was impossible for him even now to make out what was hidden
+under the canvas covers. One thing he could see, however, and that was,
+that from under each there ran a carefully insulated electric cable to
+the nearest fire hydrant where it was carefully attached.
+
+After inspecting all four, Lawrence turned around and went back to the
+second wagon, the cover of which he had noticed was not on exactly
+straight. He hoped to be able to see what was underneath, but he found
+that the cover was strapped down so tightly that he could get no
+inkling.
+
+During all this time the officers and men were standing at attention in
+their proper places, although they followed him with their eyes, an
+amused expression on their faces.
+
+Finding that it was impossible for him to discover anything while the
+covers remained on the wagons, he bellowed in a loud and commanding
+voice, not forgetting to imitate Royalty in its cups:
+
+"Lieutenant!"
+
+And to the young officer who ran up to him he said:
+
+"Why is not that cover on straight? Did you not receive orders that
+these--" and as Lawrence had not the slightest idea what "these" were,
+he substituted a loud hiccough for the unknown name, and contented
+himself with pointing with an unsteady hand. "Did you not understand
+these had to be perfectly concealed? Now that one is not perfectly
+concealed, for I can see perfectly what it is, so take that cover off
+and put it on straight. And be quick about it or I will report you for
+untidiness."
+
+The Lieutenant, who was one of the very young recruits now officering
+the German Army, feeling overpowered by the presence of Royalty, had
+given the order, and the men were unstrapping the cover when the
+Captain came up.
+
+"What are you doing there?" he demanded. Then turning sharply to the
+young Lieutenant he said in the most brutal manner:
+
+"Don't you know that the orders are not to take these covers off, not
+until the very last minute, not until everything else has been tried
+and has failed to bring her down."
+
+"But His Royal Highness," stammered the younger officer, "has ordered
+this cover off because it is not on straight."
+
+"But, Your Royal Highness," expostulated the Captain, although in the
+most deferential manner, "don't you think that this cover is on
+straight enough?"
+
+"What! Do you mean to contradict me?" Lawrence almost screamed. "I say
+that the cover is not on straight, and I have ordered this fool to take
+it off and put it on straight, perfectly straight."
+
+"But that is impossible," said the Captain, warily keeping out of reach
+of His Royal Highness's fists. "The orders are that these covers are
+not to come off until the American flying machine makes its appearance,
+and if it does not appear, the covers are not to come off at all. These
+are the orders of the General Staff, and Your Royal Highness must
+realize that they have to be obeyed."
+
+"Well," said Lawrence with the persistency of a drunken man, talking at
+the top of his voice, "if you do not put that cover on straight I will
+report you, and you will be court-martialled for insulting a Prince of
+the Blood."
+
+All the while he kept swaying as if he were about to fall.
+
+Straightening himself up with much difficulty and assuming a drunken
+dignity he started to go away; but as if he were unable to free his
+intoxicated mind from the one idea that obsessed it, he turned and
+changed his tone to a persuasive one.
+
+"I don't insist that you take the cover off," he laughed, "I only
+insist that it be straightened, because you can see as well as I that
+it is not on perfectly straight, and your orders were to put these
+covers on straight, perfectly straight."
+
+The Captain, now thoroughly amused, and deciding that the best way was
+to humour him, thought, since his orders were only not to remove, that
+he would be able to satisfy the Prince without directly disobeying his
+instructions. He therefore ordered the men to unstrap the cover and
+pull it around.
+
+Lawrence seemed entirely satisfied with this, and took such interest in
+seeing that the cover was adjusted to exactly the right position, that
+he leaned over and took hold of it himself, as if to give his help. As
+he did so he gave a lurch, and grabbing at the cover as if to save
+himself, he went down in a heap with it on top of him.
+
+The men helped him quickly to his feet and as quickly readjusted the
+cover, but not before he had seen that the drum-shaped objects were in
+fact great wooden spools on which were wound thousands and thousands of
+yards of large copper wire.
+
+Having seen all that he wanted, he now turned his attention towards
+getting back to the Embassy, so taking the Captain's arm, and seeming
+either to have lost all interest or to have been overcome by his fall,
+made his way along. He swung and lurched so that it was with difficulty
+the officer kept him on his feet.
+
+Then when they arrived at the front steps and the Captain was assisting
+him up, Lawrence, as if suddenly awaking from sleep, stopped.
+
+"I am too dirty to go in by the front door," he protested, "I will go
+in by the garden. I am much obliged to you, Captain; don't come any
+farther."
+
+Then laughing and shaking his finger in the Captain's face, he said in
+a tone of exultation: "I got that cover on straight, anyhow--perfectly
+straight."
+
+Swaying as he rounded the corner of the house, he went in through the
+side door, where he found Fred waiting for him, who pulled off his
+boots and gave him his pumps.
+
+He took off his busby, and handed it to Fred, unpinned the long
+military cloak, unbuckled his sword, turned down the collar of his
+evening coat, and "Richard was himself again."
+
+Stepping into the elevator and letting himself off at the main floor,
+he went hurriedly into the room where Edestone was still showing his
+pictures, while Fred, after brushing and cleaning the royal
+paraphernalia, put them back in their place.
+
+Lawrence moved quickly over to the cabinet where Mr. Black was working
+the machine and stepped inside. "I must speak to Mr. Edestone," he
+whispered. "Can't you stop the machine as if something had gone wrong?
+Then Mr. Edestone will come back here and see what is the matter."
+
+"Not on your life!" Black shook his head violently. "The Emperor now is
+in a perfect fury. He and Mr. Edestone have had one or two 'set-tos,'
+and Mr. Edestone is beginning to put it back at him pretty strong, and
+if anything should happen to the machine I think it would end in a
+fight. I rather wish we were back in New York. If it is necessary for
+you to speak to Mr. Edestone before the lights go up, this reel that I
+am running off now will take just about eight minutes more, so if you
+will slip quietly back of the screen you can whisper to him from there
+without attracting much attention. I will make a little extra noise to
+help you out."
+
+Lawrence worked his way unobtrusively through the room, and standing
+just to the side of the screen in a dark corner, called in a low voice:
+
+"Jack, can I speak to you?"
+
+Edestone, who had been deeply concerned about him, felt that a load was
+lifted from his mind when he heard the dare-devil's voice. He knew at
+least that Lawrence was back safely, and he was confident that he would
+not have come back without the information until he had made a good
+fight for it. So as everything was quiet on the outside he was
+reassured.
+
+Lawrence very quickly explained to him exactly what he had seen, and
+Edestone, squeezing his arm, said quietly:
+
+"Ah! That is their little game!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI
+
+TWO REMARKABLE MEN
+
+
+When the lights finally went up and the entertainment ended, perhaps
+the most surprised, almost dumbfounded, man in the room was Jones. He
+now had his first insight into the stupendous amount of work that had
+been done by his friend, and was completely overcome by the seriousness
+of the situation. He understood at last many things which had been lost
+on him before, as for instance the insinuating remarks of the
+Chancellor at their various conferences and why he had suspected the
+Secretary of lying to him.
+
+Jones wondered also if his own Government had purposely kept the
+Embassy in the dark as to its relationship with Edestone. Not knowing
+the whereabouts or even the ownership of this frightful instrument of
+war, he was at a loss to know what he should say when certain pointed
+questions which were inevitable were put to him.
+
+He realized now for the first time that the German General Staff was at
+work and would stop at nothing either to obtain the use of this great
+monster of the air or, by seizing Edestone himself, control its
+movements; that is, if Edestone and not the United States were
+operating it.
+
+He could not blind himself to the air of confidence that pervaded the
+entire company, composed as it was of the highest men in the German
+Government, and this led him to believe that they knew Edestone held
+the key of the situation, and as long as they held him they occupied
+the strongest position.
+
+But why, he could not help asking himself, had Edestone been such a
+fool as to put himself so completely in their power. Still, being a
+very astute man, and having the greatest confidence in his old friend,
+who he knew would do the straight thing in a strong position and the
+wise thing if he found himself in a weak one, he awaited developments.
+
+Edestone, who had walked over to the Secretary of Legation, leaned down
+and said in a voice loud enough for the Emperor to hear:
+
+"Will you please say to His Imperial Majesty that if there is any
+question he would like to put to me, or if he would care to have me
+repeat any of the pictures, I should appreciate the great honour."
+
+The Emperor, who was just waking up to the fact that he had in this
+young American a very strong and clever man to deal with, was to a
+certain extent at a loss to decide just how he would treat him.
+
+Without waiting to have the request conveyed to him in due form, and
+speaking directly to Edestone he said in an affable voice:
+
+"I should like to see again the picture showing the working of the
+bomb-dropping device, and I would like to have the film stopped exactly
+at the moment that the projectile leaves the tube. I wish to examine
+the action of the ejector."
+
+"I shall be most happy," replied Edestone, "to run that film again very
+slowly and repeat it as often as Your Majesty may desire. I can also
+run it backward very slowly, but I cannot stop the machine that I am
+using tonight without ruining the film, and I am quite sure," he bowed
+most respectfully, "that Your Majesty will not wish me to do that."
+
+"Stop that machine as I order you to do, and ruin the film if it is
+necessary!" said the Emperor in his most commanding tone.
+
+At last Edestone had the chance he had been looking for. He knew that
+he was perfectly in his rights, and if he refused and the Emperor still
+insisted upon his most unjust demand, it would open the eyes of his
+country's representative to the situation and the true attitude of the
+German authorities. Besides, he was incensed at the wanton destruction
+of other people's property to satisfy the whims of this absolute
+monarch.
+
+"I am very sorry, Your Majesty, I cannot do that, and for state reasons
+that it is impossible for me to explain."
+
+The Emperor turned perfectly livid. His face was painful to look at. He
+tried vainly to speak, but could not. It was plain that he was
+labouring under an emotion greater than his physical condition could
+stand. His mouth worked and each hair of his moustache seemed to stand
+on end, giving to his trembling lips an almost ghastly expression. He
+was seized with a violent fit of coughing which on account of the weak
+condition of his throat caused his doctor, without whom he rarely
+moved, to step forward, as if alarmed, to his assistance.
+
+General von Lichtenstein leaned over as if to restrain him and
+whispered something in his ear, but this seemed only to infuriate him
+the more, and he waved his Councillor aside.
+
+The Acting Ambassador, a lawyer of ability, felt strongly the justice
+of Edestone's position in defending his property rights, and had he
+been sitting on the bench instead of on the edge of a raging volcano
+would have ruled in his favour. As it was, he watched with intense
+interest this contest between these two remarkable men.
+
+When the Emperor had recovered sufficiently to speak, in a way that
+showed his uncontrollable rage was battling with an inherited physical
+weakness, his voice, starting in a whisper, rose and broke, and, in his
+violent efforts to control the convulsive spasms of his throat, turned
+into a scream.
+
+"Show that film!" he shouted, "and stop it where I command or I will
+confiscate everything you have and throw you into prison."
+
+At this Jones rose quickly to his feet, a dangerous light in his eyes,
+and he was about to speak, but General von Lichtenstein rushed over and
+stopped him.
+
+"His Majesty is beside himself," he urged in a low voice. "He does not
+mean what he says. When he is himself again he will regret the
+indignity that he has offered your country and will make reparation."
+
+The Emperor had also arisen and was standing in the midst of as furious
+and warlike a looking lot of men as had ever grouped themselves around
+his wild barbaric ancestors, ready to pile their dead bodies about
+their master and give the last drop of blood for his protection.
+
+They looked as if they approved and only waited for the word to rush in
+and avenge the insult to their beloved lord, and while waiting for this
+word they stood and glared at Edestone with a look of absolute contempt
+and undying hatred.
+
+"Well, which shall it be?" said the Emperor, in a voice which was more
+under control but none the less determined. "Will you stop your film?"
+
+Edestone, who all this time had stood perfectly still looking at the
+Emperor with eyes out of which had gone every vestige of deference and
+respect, showed in every feature a fixed and determined but absolutely
+cool defiance. The only time that his face had changed or his position
+altered since he last spoke was when the Emperor was apparently
+suffering, and then it had taken on an expression of deep pity and
+sincere sympathy and he too had made a step forward as if to render
+assistance.
+
+This had quickly changed, however, when his glance caught the look of
+hatred that was riveted upon him. Declining even to glance at the
+Emperor, he addressed himself directly to the Secretary of Legation,
+speaking in a perfectly clear voice, which was a relief after the
+Emperor's painful and rasping efforts.
+
+"Mr. Secretary," he said slowly, "I resent the insult to you, and
+through you to our country, which you represent, but if I thought that
+by complying with the unjust demands which the Emperor of Germany has
+seen fit to make I could prevent war between the United States and his
+country, I naturally would comply. When I see, however, that the
+Emperor of Germany refuses to respect the rights of an American citizen
+in the house of his Ambassador, I realize that the destruction of my
+film will not save the situation." He turned to the Emperor. "I regret
+that I cannot comply with your commands. The matter is now between our
+two Governments."
+
+The Emperor laid his hand upon his sword and made a movement as though
+he intended to strike, at which every sword in the room flashed from
+its scabbard, save only that of old von Lichtenstein, who pressing
+forward laid a dissuasive hand on the Emperor's arm.
+
+"Don't let him draw you on," he whispered to his master; "this may be
+some trick." Then to the rest he said in a contemptuous tone: "Don't
+make fools of yourselves and make Germany ridiculous."
+
+The Emperor turned to the Secretary. "Sir," he said in a voice
+trembling with agitation, "you have heard the insult that has
+been offered to my Imperial person, and if you do not deliver
+this man over to my police, I shall at twelve o'clock tomorrow
+night declare war against the United States of America, and until
+that time"--threateningly--"I shall hold you personally responsible
+for him."
+
+Edestone coolly took out his watch and noted that it was exactly
+twenty-five minutes past eleven o'clock, a proceeding which almost
+caused the Emperor to lose control of himself again, but he was once
+more held in check by General von Lichtenstein.
+
+"I know now that this is a trick, Your Majesty," he declared.
+
+The Acting Ambassador bowed slightly to the Emperor's last attack. "I
+shall report to my Government all that has passed," he replied, "and
+exactly what Your Majesty has just said, and I shall, as soon as I
+receive an answer, report to Your Imperial Majesty." He finished, and
+stood waiting as if to force the Emperor's immediate departure.
+
+Then with scant formality, and showing by the unpardonable rudeness of
+their behaviour the contempt in which they held all Americans, the
+Emperor and his entire suite left the Embassy without taking the
+slightest further notice of Edestone.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII
+
+ALL CARDS ON THE TABLE
+
+
+The royal party had scarcely gotten out of the house and Edestone and
+Jones were still standing in the middle of the reception room when the
+return of General von Lichtenstein was announced.
+
+The old General came in as quietly as if nothing had happened. He
+greeted the Secretary cordially and smiled benignly at Edestone.
+
+"Young man," he said, "you needed my old head on your young shoulders
+badly tonight. I have returned to have a talk with the Acting
+Ambassador, and I think that if he can prevail upon you to be
+reasonable I may be able to settle this little difficulty between you
+and His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor. If you will only lead us into
+some smaller room, Mr. Secretary, we can sit down and over our cigars
+discuss this matter quietly."
+
+"I am sorry that my machine--" began Edestone, but he was quickly
+interrupted by the General.
+
+"Tut, tut, that is nothing at all. That was simply two young men losing
+their tempers, and ought to be soon settled. One being an Emperor makes
+it a little more difficult, I will admit, but I have seen Emperors
+angry before and they are just like any of us. They cool off when they
+realize that they have," and he lowered his voice with a quizzical
+look, "been a little bit foolish."
+
+When they were all comfortably seated around the table in the library
+of the Embassy, and the General and Edestone had lighted cigars, while
+Jones, who never smoked, looked on, the old General, statesman,
+philosopher, and writer opened the conversation.
+
+"We have now come to the last hand in this game which we have been
+playing," he said, "and I think it would be just as well for all cards
+to be laid on the table."
+
+Edestone looked at him in surprise, for instead of the simple, smiling
+old gentleman, with the soft gentle voice and fatherly manner, he saw a
+crafty, dangerous, and determined man of steel. His voice was cold and
+harsh, his winning smile had gone. He had come to fight and to fight
+desperately to the finish.
+
+"In the first place," he continued, "we do not know exactly what is the
+relationship between you," looking at Edestone, "and the United States
+of America," with a wave of his hand toward Jones, "and as there can
+now be no reason for further concealment, since we are virtually on the
+verge of a declaration of war--a step which I am here to prevent if
+possible--I will say that it makes no difference to His Imperial
+Majesty's Government what that relationship may be, so long as Germany
+gets the use of Mr. Edestone's invention. But we will declare war upon
+the United States tomorrow night unless we get an assurance from you
+that we shall have the exclusive right to the one and only flying
+machine in which this invention has been installed."
+
+At this Jones looked over at Edestone with a glance of inquiry.
+
+"Yes," said Edestone in answer to this, "there is only one."
+
+"Germany understands, of course," proceeded the General, "that the
+United States will construct others, but so will Germany. Germany is
+willing and prepared to pay well for this, although she knows that by
+holding Mr. Edestone she controls this machine and could have it
+without paying for it. We admit that we do not know where it is, but we
+are confident that Mr. Edestone does,"--he turned upon Edestone the
+look of a wild beast who has his prey and loves to torture it,--"and we
+intend that he shall communicate with the commander and see that this
+ship is sent to some place where we can take possession of it."
+
+And then with a grim smile he leaned forward on the table, looking
+first at the Secretary and then at Edestone.
+
+"You are both virtually prisoners in this Embassy," he said. "That is
+my hand."
+
+"Then we are now at war," said the Secretary with a quiet smile.
+
+"No," replied the General, "it has not come to that yet. And it does
+not necessarily have to come to that. We should be able to arrange this
+matter here tonight. As I have said, Germany will pay well. She is
+willing to start on even terms with the United States, who can build
+just as fast as we can. Germany will bring this war to an end within a
+week, and then she and the United States can come to an agreement as to
+how they will divide up the rest of the earth."
+
+Edestone smiled and made no answer.
+
+The Secretary said: "I can do nothing until I have communicated with my
+Government."
+
+"I am sorry," said the General impatiently, "but we cannot wait until
+we get an answer from your very slow and inefficient State Department.
+We must have a reply before tomorrow night at 12 o'clock. Have you
+nothing to say, Mr. Edestone? You are perhaps personally the most
+deeply interested, because I tell you," he grinned cruelly, "we will
+get your secret if we have to put you on the rack and go back five
+centuries in the eyes of the rest of the world, should it be necessary
+to do that in order to give it the blessings that can only be gotten
+under German rule. I ask you again, have you nothing to say?"
+
+"Nothing, General," replied Edestone.
+
+He was slowly blowing rings of smoke, seeming almost to fascinate the
+General, who would often stop speaking to follow them with his eyes
+until they broke or were lost in the darkness in the corners of the
+room. This was an old trick of his to divert the attention of his
+adversary, therein improving on Bismarck who always used his cigar to
+gain time when driven to a corner.
+
+"That is your final answer?" said the General.
+
+"My final answer," Edestone bowed.
+
+"And you, Mr. Secretary?"
+
+"I am but the mouthpiece of my Government, and she has not spoken yet."
+
+"Well, gentlemen," said the General rising, "I think we understand each
+other."
+
+"I think so," replied Edestone. "Good-night, sir."
+
+The Secretary accompanied the visitor out into the hall, leaving
+Edestone, who as soon as he was alone rang for a servant and sent for
+Lawrence. In the meantime he just had opportunity to glance at the note
+which General von Lichtenstein had given him. It was a mere scrap of
+writing asking him to come to the Princess Wilhelmina immediately after
+the departure of His Imperial Majesty.
+
+When Lawrence came in he hastily slipped this into his pocket.
+
+"Lawrence," he said, "I want you to send a message for me as soon as
+Jones has given his consent. I will ask him in regard to it as soon as
+he returns, so you had better wait and hear what he has to say."
+
+A moment later the Secretary came into the room with a very worried
+expression on his face. "Edestone," he said impressively, "this
+undoubtedly means war."
+
+"And if so," rejoined Edestone, "we will win."
+
+He then explained to Jones how he was in daily communication with
+"Specs" and was now only waiting for the Secretary's consent to send
+for him and he could have him over Berlin in seven hours. He also
+explained to him about the instrument that was in the penthouse on the
+roof of the Embassy.
+
+"But what do you propose to do, Jack?" frowned the Secretary. "Do you
+intend to fight these people single-handed and thereby drag your
+country into a cruel and disastrous war? That seems to me to be
+unnecessary."
+
+"No, I propose to save you and the members of the Embassy from a very
+disagreeable experience and from what may develop into a very dangerous
+situation; for I am convinced that these Germans will not hesitate to
+fire upon the Embassy if you do not deliver me up to them. The only
+hope of stopping war without loss of life is through me and my
+invention. I therefore ask your permission to send the following
+message," and he handed the Secretary a scrap of paper upon which he
+had written:
+
+"Be exactly over American Embassy Berlin tomorrow night at nine
+o'clock. Take station at 5000 feet and there await instructions.
+
+"E."
+
+The Secretary took the paper and read it through twice very slowly.
+
+"I fear," he said with a sigh, "that is the only way."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII
+
+WHERE IS IT?
+
+
+The Secretary left the room after practically turning the entire matter
+over to Edestone. He feared that the time had come to show force. The
+Germans, in what they felt might be a desperate strait, had thrown to
+the wind caution, tradition, and the usages of civilized warfare. They
+were preparing some desperate move which he felt that he was powerless
+to stop. Diplomacy with them now was as useless as pure logic on a
+charging elephant.
+
+How they expected to stand against Edestone and his diabolical mystery
+of the air, he could not comprehend, but he had lived long enough with
+this nation to know them. Simple, kind, and lovable in their ordinary
+lives, they were nevertheless, on the subject of war, individually and
+collectively mad and they were ready to die fighting.
+
+Whereas any sane man could see that their fight with Edestone was
+hopeless, they with their absolute confidence and conceit were
+preparing to pit themselves against him and some unknown secret of
+nature. While he, with his discovery, was apparently in a position to
+let loose upon their defenceless city an engine of destruction too
+terrible to think of. Edestone, like the pilot who has come aboard the
+ocean liner, had now taken entire charge.
+
+The first thing was to get off this message, so he sat down to work out
+the cipher known only to himself and "Specs." He said to Lawrence:
+
+"My initials J. F. E. are the call which must be repeated three times,
+then twice, and then finally once. This must all be repeated with one
+minute intervals until answered by the single letter 'E,' which will be
+repeated eight times, once for every letter in my name, and after an
+interval of five minutes, once again only.
+
+"After you have satisfied yourself that you are in touch with Mr. Page,
+my head man, 'Specs,' I call him, send him this." He handed Lawrence
+one word of twenty-two letters, or rather twenty-two letters which he
+had apparently taken indiscriminately from a small pocket dictionary.
+"Have him repeat, and see that there is no mistake," and continuing, he
+said: "We are certainly being watched by the German servants; the
+condition of my trunks shows that, so the first thing to do is to get
+them out of the way. Call them all down into the ballroom, and say that
+I wish to speak to them. See that everyone is there, and if there is a
+single one missing, search the house from garret to cellar until you
+find them all. I will give them a little talk which will give you and
+Black time to get off this message. I will, incidentally, show them
+that I propose to put up with no nonsense whatever."
+
+As Lawrence was leaving the room he said to him with a jolly laugh:
+"Oh, by the way, how does it feel to be rich again? I have been so
+occupied with other things that I have not had time to thank and
+congratulate you on your splendid work. What a fine story it will make
+when we get back to New York, which will be very soon, I hope."
+
+When the servants came in he first gave them a little insight into the
+real state of affairs from a standpoint that they had never known. He
+then explained to them that the Embassy was practically in a state of
+siege, and that he was in command, and that if he heard of any one of
+them having any communication whatever with anyone on the outside, he
+would treat them in the way that he had treated the people in the
+pictures which he had shown them, only he would put them out of the
+window and they would keep going up and up and never come down again.
+So when Lawrence returned and signalled that he might let them go, a
+more thoroughly scared set of domestics never waited on the word of
+"Ivan the Terrible."
+
+"Well, Bo," said Lawrence as he threw himself into a comfortable chair,
+after slopping whisky and water all over the tablecloth and dropping a
+large piece of ice on the floor which he kicked violently at the
+retreating servant at whom he had bellowed, giving a perfect imitation
+of a Prussian officer in a public restaurant when American ladies are
+present, "this has certainly been 'some day.' Will you please be so
+kind as to put me wise on a few of your dates?
+
+"In the first place, who was the 'wise guy' who rushed out from nowhere
+and swallowed up my J. F. E. like an old trout from under a bank who
+had never seen a Silver Doctor before? Where is he? How is he to get
+here, and what is he going to do when he does?"
+
+Edestone quietly finished the lighting of his cigar, and after he was
+thoroughly satisfied that this was perfectly done and it was going to
+draw to his entire satisfaction, he said:
+
+"Well, now that you are to be my fellow-partner in crime, and Jones is
+our associate, I will tell you. Do you remember the summer way back in
+the 90's that you and I spent in Switzerland mountain climbing?"
+
+"Yes, perfectly," said Lawrence, "but that was a long time ago. We were
+nothing but kids then."
+
+"Do you remember that you, kid-like, insisted upon going over a very
+flimsy-looking snow bridge, simply because the old guide told us that
+he had never seen that crevasse bridged before, and that the tradition
+down in Chamonix was that it had only been bridged once or twice in the
+memory of man?
+
+"And do you remember," went on Edestone, "that at first he refused to
+go, saying that if it broke after we got over, there was no possible
+way of our getting back?"
+
+"Yes," acknowledged Lawrence, "the old 'chump,' and I remember that we
+went over and got back all right, and those guides are talking about it
+yet."
+
+"Well, do you remember," continued Edestone, "that when we scrambled
+up over the next rock ridge we looked into a regular bowl-shaped
+valley that had the appearance of a crater of an extinct volcano?"
+
+"Yes," said Lawrence.
+
+"Well, 'Specs' is there in that valley, where perhaps no human being
+has ever been before. I sent him there for that reason. He has been
+there for the last two months and a half, unknown to anyone on the face
+of the earth and thoroughly protected from the storms that sweep over
+that portion of the French Alps."
+
+"Well, I'll be damned," said Lawrence. "Is 'Specs' the skipper of that
+pretty little toy you were showing on the screen?"
+
+"No, Captain Lee is the skipper," laughed Edestone. "Dear old 'Specs'
+is my boss. He is the Admiral."
+
+"Well, for the love of Mike," exploded Lawrence. "What a swell chance
+those mortars out there with their long distance telephone attachments
+will have with that Queen of the Milky Way. You don't mean to say that
+he is coming over here with his forty thousand tons and float around up
+there five thousand feet above the Embassy?" he exclaimed as he looked
+up at the ceiling with a look of alarm, as if he expected to see it
+come crushing down on him at any moment. And jumping out of his chair
+he ran about the room, making the most ridiculous gestures, crying:
+"Air, I want air!" while Edestone laughed until the tears rolled down
+his cheeks.
+
+"But say, Bo," said Lawrence, "there is nothing to it. What do you
+suppose those crazy Dutchmen are thinking about? Why I thought that sky
+pirate belonged to the United States, and was now probably tied to a
+dock in some mud flat, with a crew of two brass polishers and a Sunday
+School teacher, while the Virginia creeper and the North Carolina
+milkweed twined about it to make nests for the Dove of Peace."
+
+"No," said Edestone, "it is what you have just called it, a Sky Pirate,
+and I am the buccaneer."
+
+"Did the Emperor know that when he got so gay with you tonight?" asked
+Lawrence.
+
+"No, he does not know that, but he knows everything else."
+
+"Well, what is his game?"
+
+"Well," said Edestone, after thinking for a while, "as far as I can
+make it out it is this: They do not want to kill me; they are using me
+to bait the trap with which they hope to catch the 'Queen of the Milky
+Way,' as you call her. They will take her dead, now that they cannot
+get her alive, and they hope to be able to put new life into her after
+they have taken all life out with the 'long distance telephone
+attachments,' as you call them."
+
+"Why is he so certain that you will not drop bombs on his city?" asked
+Lawrence.
+
+"I do not know," replied Edestone, "unless he knows that I am more of a
+gentleman than he is. Or perhaps he thinks that I will not allow any
+damage to be done until I am safely on board, which may or may not be
+perfectly true."
+
+"_Tu as raison, mon vieux_," shrugged Lawrence.
+
+"They will do nothing to me until they are certain that they are going
+to lose me. They want me alive, but would rather have me dead than in
+the hands of the other fellow. Now do you understand?"
+
+"Not exactly," replied Lawrence, pretending to look very wise. "What do
+you mean about taking her dead if they can't get her alive, and what
+have those wires got to do with it?"
+
+"I mean by taking her alive," said Edestone, "buying her from whoever
+she belongs to, and keeping me here to show them how to run her. And
+when I spoke of taking her dead, I had forgotten that you had not heard
+what I said tonight while showing the pictures. I will explain this to
+you sometime when we get on board and we have more time, but you will
+understand enough when I tell you this."
+
+Lawrence listened attentively as Edestone continued.
+
+"They know that she floats by virtue of an instrument that I have; they
+know that she will not float if brought in contact with the earth or if
+connected with it by means of some electrical conductor. They propose
+to establish an electrical connexion between her and the ground by
+throwing those wires over her with mortars, just as the life-saving men
+throw a life-line to a ship in distress."
+
+"Oh, that was why they were so carefully connected with the water
+main," interrupted Lawrence.
+
+"Yes," replied Edestone, "and when they get her down they will expect
+me with my instrument to float her off again."
+
+"Well, what do you think of their chances of pulling this off?" asked
+Lawrence.
+
+"I think," said Edestone thoughtfully, "their chances are small, but
+you can never tell what these very resourceful people may do. They are
+buoyed up by a hopefulness that is almost uncanny and they can't all be
+crazy!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIX
+
+THE DIFFERENCE OF THEIR STATIONS
+
+
+Edestone and Lawrence sat quietly for a few minutes, Lawrence watching
+him with a merry twinkle in his eye while Edestone was unconsciously
+fingering the note that General von Lichtenstein had given him. Finally
+he said:
+
+"Well, I'm off for bed. I have a hard day before me tomorrow."
+
+"Yes, you are, you old fox!" said his companion. "I'm on to you. There
+is something up, and you can't hide it from me. You have been sitting
+there fingering that note from--well, I guess I can pretty well call
+you, because your lady friends in Berlin are limited--with the silliest
+expression I have ever seen on your face. Now, out with it! You had
+better get it off your chest by telling your troubles to papa."
+
+Edestone put the note quickly into his pocket, and was about to force
+through his bluff when Lawrence stopped him by saying:
+
+"You can trust me, old man; now out with it."
+
+"Well," said Edestone in an embarrassed tone, "General von Lichtenstein
+did give me a note from Princess Wilhelmina," showing it to Lawrence.
+
+"My dear fellow," Lawrence said, "what do you propose to do? If you are
+going to take a chance for the pleasure of seeing a beautiful woman, I
+am with you heart and soul; but if you are taking a chance because you
+believe she is sincerely in distress and calling on you, an American
+here in Berlin, when she's got all of those becorseted Johnnies around
+her, you had better allow me to advise you."
+
+"I am perfectly willing to take a chance," cried Edestone in an angry
+tone, "if you choose to call it that, because I have absolute confidence
+in her."
+
+"Say, Jack, I think you are beginning to get a little bit soft on the
+Princess. You may be all right when it comes to straight electricity,
+but I think you will admit that I have had more experience in this kind
+of animal magnetism than you. She is certainly a snappy little
+induction coil."
+
+"Lawrence, please don't," said Edestone.
+
+"Well, you don't know perfectly well, Jack, that General von
+Lichtenstein would not have delivered that note from a Princess of the
+house of Windthorst to you, a low-born American plebeian, unless it was
+part of their scheme. Why it's as much as his life is worth, if it is as
+you believe it to be," and he gave Edestone a knowing look.
+
+"Now, cut that out, Lawrence," said Edestone in a decided tone. "Do not
+think for one moment that I have any illusions as far as that young lady
+is concerned. She is evidently in trouble of some kind, and the fact
+that she is so young offsets that of her being a Princess."
+
+Lawrence shrugged his shoulders, and occupied himself smoking while
+Edestone continued:
+
+"I think that General von Lichtenstein thinks she is working for them,
+but I am just fool enough to think that she is not. In fact, I know she
+is not, but even if she were, I would like to show those people that I
+will not allow them to sacrifice her dignity and compromise herself in
+her own eyes even for them, so I am going, if for no other reason than
+to keep her from doing something which she may some day deeply
+regret. I'm off. If you want some excitement, why you might drop into
+some of the clubs and feel out the officers."
+
+"Ah," said Lawrence, "that is a good idea. I will be just about as
+popular as a baby rabbit in a litter of foxes."
+
+"And you can enjoy watching them as they sit around, licking their
+chops," interjected Edestone, "as they think of the dainty morsel you
+will make when they eat you alive tomorrow. Be careful. We want no
+false steps, and there are some pretty skittish ponies in the Emperor's
+stable. He can hold in check his plough horses, but these young
+thoroughbreds are getting nervous at the post."
+
+"Well," said Lawrence, "I never was very strong for these Prussians, but
+they made a hit with me tonight in the way in which they started for
+you. They were a pretty fine looking lot of handsome young chaps," and
+curling an imaginary moustache, he continued: "Almost as good as our
+eleven of 1903," and they both stood and toasted grand old Harvard, and
+he was leaving the room singing, "Here's to dear old Harvard, drink her
+down!" when Edestone called him back and said:
+
+"Lawrence, get one of the Embassy automobiles and I will drop you on the
+way."
+
+Edestone, whereas he knew that his movements were being watched and that
+this meeting had been arranged, if not by the German General Staff, by
+some of its female lieutenants, was determined to show them that he did
+not intend to compromise this little Princess by calling upon her at
+that hour of the night in a secretive manner.
+
+All was perfectly quiet in the streets, and the automobile was allowed
+to pass without interruption. When he arrived at the Palace he imagined
+that the coast had been cleared for him, for on entering he discovered
+that there was some sort of an entertainment going on, which would have
+necessitated the presence of waiting automobiles on the outside, which
+were conspicuous by their absence.
+
+He was evidently expected, and was immediately conducted to a small
+room. He could hear music and laughter in another part of the Palace,
+but saw no one except the flunkeys in the hall.
+
+The room into which he was shown was evidently one of those used by the
+family in their home life, as was shown by the papers, books, and fancy
+work lying about.
+
+The situation would ordinarily have been most amusing to him, and had he
+not been so occupied with such serious matters, and had there been less
+of a difference in their ages and social positions, he would have
+enjoyed the excitement of a mysterious rendezvous with this extremely
+charming and attractive young woman.
+
+He was thoroughly conscious of her attractions, and though he might have
+denied the necessity of this, in thinking of her he always kept before
+his mind the fable of the fox and the sour grapes.
+
+He was kept waiting for about fifteen minutes, and he began to wonder if
+the whole thing had not been arranged, and would not have been surprised
+if when the door quietly opened he had seen von Lichtenstein or even the
+Emperor himself instead of a very much frightened little woman.
+
+She was apparently supported by sheer will power and the pride of the
+Princess, which she had inherited from her long line of ancestors,
+extending back into the unwritten pages of history.
+
+She was dressed so simply that the lines of her most graceful little
+figure were perfectly revealed, but with such modesty that though she
+followed the dictates of the modern fashions, which leave little to the
+imagination, the effect upon Edestone was that of reverence in the
+presence of such youth and innocence.
+
+To him she seemed to be draped in some soft silky material, and though
+her neck and arms were bare, they were enveloped in a shimmer of tulle,
+which she held about her as if for protection. Her hair, parted in the
+middle, was flatly dressed, and held close to her small head by a little
+band of jewels which encircled it and crossed her low white brow.
+
+She was perfectly calm, dignified, and had herself well in hand. There
+was an expression upon her face of resolution, and as if to help, she
+assumed a more royal and dignified bearing than he had ever supposed she
+was capable of.
+
+She had evidently been crying, but her voice was steady and rather
+haughty in its tone as she said, giving him her hand:
+
+"I am glad that you have come."
+
+Edestone took it gently in his own, and bowing, scarcely touched it with
+his lips, but when he felt its icy touch, and caught the faint perfume,
+he felt a thrill, and for a moment he forgot that he was in the presence
+of a Royal Princess, who looked upon him as something a little bit
+better than a servant, and not as good as the most miserable Count that
+ever wore a paper collar or passed a fraudulent check at the Newport
+Reading Room.
+
+Recovering himself quickly, however, he dropped her hand and stood in an
+attitude of deep respect, but not until she had caught the look that he
+had given her.
+
+Not daring to look up at her for fear of her indignation at his
+presumption, he busied himself arranging the cushions in a seat for her.
+
+Raising her hand to her throat, which had moved convulsively, she
+watched him with a quiet little smile, as if waiting to finish the
+deadly work which she, young as she was, knew that she had started. Like
+a great ring general, she did not intend to allow her adversary time to
+recover before she administered the _coup de grace_.
+
+When he recovered sufficiently to allow himself to look at her, although
+he resolved to keep strictly to the object of their meeting, he was so
+struck with her great charm that he could not resist saying:
+
+"I sincerely hope, Princess, that you will pardon me if I take the great
+liberty of saying to you that you are looking extremely beautiful
+tonight."
+
+She answered with a smile.
+
+And then in a light and frivolous tone, and looking at her in a manner
+which she could not misunderstand, with the deepest respect he added:
+
+"If I were a Prince and a few years younger, I would humbly kneel and
+worship at your shrine, Princess."
+
+A cloud passed over her face, but recovering, with a look which if
+Edestone had been younger and less sensible would have finished him:
+
+"Well, Mr. Edestone," she smiled coquettishly, "I understand that you
+were tonight a match for an Emperor; and I am feeling very old myself."
+
+With a smile acknowledging her condescension in allowing this slight
+exchange of repartee, he assumed a fatherly air, and said, having
+recovered himself entirely:
+
+"Now, my dear and very sweet little Princess, your very old and most
+humble servant awaits your orders. The only reward that he expects is
+that he be allowed to see you one or two times before he dies of old
+age, or you are seated on a throne."
+
+With an impatient gesture, and an almost imperceptible stamp of her
+little foot, she said:
+
+"Please don't talk that way. I hate being a Princess, and the way you
+say it makes me hate myself," and with a quick glance and a tone of
+great seriousness: "I don't think you are so old as all that.
+
+"I have sent for you," changing her voice, "to warn you again. It was
+absolutely necessary in order to arrange this meeting to lead them to
+believe that I was willing to do that which you must hate me for--use my
+power as a woman to persuade you to give up the position which you have
+taken, and though I hate them all for it, in order to save you from
+certain death I have compromised myself in my own eyes, and have done
+that which will cause you to hate me."
+
+"That I could never do," said Edestone, which brought a faint smile to
+her lips. "Princess, I appreciate more deeply than I can say your great
+kindness, and if there is anything that I can do which will save you
+from these people when they find that you have failed in your
+undertaking, you can command me. Your warning, however, comes as no
+surprise to me; but I appreciate it none the less."
+
+"Could I not hold out to them," she anticipated, "that you had agreed to
+reveal this secret to me, and in that way gain time, and you might be
+able to get out of Berlin?"
+
+"But what would become of you when they discovered that you had played
+them false?" asked Edestone. And then, as if hesitating to refer to the
+delicacy of her position, an English Princess in Berlin, he added: "They
+are relentless, and they might suspect you of playing into the hands of
+England. No, Princess, there is but one thing for you to do, and that is
+to say that I declined absolutely and entirely to consider any
+proposition of any kind.
+
+"If you were in any way associated with me in what I have already done
+and what I propose to do, I should not be willing to leave you in
+Berlin, and though I know you are absolutely sincere in your intentions
+to assist me in my work, there is no possible way for me to protect you
+other than by taking you with me, which is absolutely out of the
+question. You would not be safe even in the American Embassy."
+
+She thought for a while, and then, as if an idea had struck her, she
+said blushingly:
+
+"My mother, like myself, is perfectly loyal to England, and if as I
+understand it is the intention of the American Government to come out on
+the side of the Allies, would there be any impropriety in my going with
+her to the Embassy and taking my chances with the Secretary's family?"
+
+"That would be impossible," said Edestone. "They have taken you into
+their confidence, and would not allow you to leave the country. I think
+mine is the only plan. Say to them that I would listen to no
+proposition, and allow me to go and take my chances."
+
+He could not trust himself, and he knew his only hope of keeping her
+esteem was in getting out before she discovered his real secret, and
+rising in a most dignified manner he kissed her hand, and then allowing
+himself to press it gently to his cheek for a moment, left the room
+abruptly, while she sank into a seat and covered her face with her
+hands.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXX
+
+THEY CALL FOR ASSISTANCE
+
+
+The next morning everything was perfectly quiet on the outside of the
+Embassy. The soldiers had apparently settled down for a siege. They
+contented themselves with singing hymns and drinking songs, and with
+mock reverence rendering the "Star Spangled Banner," closely followed by
+the "Marseillaise," and "It's a Long Way to Tipperary."
+
+But there was mutiny within the walls. Mrs. Jones had flatly refused to
+leave the Embassy. She said that she had not the slightest idea of
+going up in Jack's foolish flying machine, to be shot at by the soldiers
+or dropped into the middle of the ocean; that for her part she intended
+to stay exactly where she was. The Secretary might go if he wished to
+risk his life in a balloon or if it was his duty, but she thought she
+was safer in the Embassy. She was perfectly sure that the Germans would
+not dare to shoot at it while the United States flag was flying over it,
+and there were women inside.
+
+The Secretary seemed to agree with her, and said: "It was only on your
+account, my dear, that I was going. As long as the flag flies above this
+roof, my duty is here, and I sincerely hope that you are right."
+
+"But we are now at war with these people," said Edestone, "and they may
+take it into their heads to shoot that flag away, and they have plainly
+shown that they will kill and burn women and children if in their
+judgment one single point, however small, can be gained in their
+national game of war. It is a ruling passion with them, and they think
+that all of the nicer feelings of honour, humanity, and even religion
+must be crushed, and that these sentiments are foolish and are for women
+and weaklings only."
+
+At which Mrs. Jones seemed worried. She preferred, however, she said, to
+stay and take a chance rather than go to certain death with Edestone.
+
+"I think," said he, "that if we were dealing with any of the other
+civilized nations, the Embassy would be perfectly safe, even if war had
+been declared or forced upon us without any formal declaration, but with
+the Germans in their present state of nerves, it is quite
+different. They have a strange method of retaliation, not for an injury
+to themselves, but for the failure on their part to inflict one upon
+others, which can only be accounted for by their savage passion for
+revenge. The real danger, however, will be before this while they are
+trying to prevent my escape."
+
+The Secretary was anxious to remain at his post as long as possible, so
+he was glad to side with Mrs. Jones. Lawrence begged for and obtained
+permission to go with Edestone.
+
+"You can take absolutely nothing in the way of luggage," said
+Edestone. "I can fit you out when we get on board. I have just told
+Black, Stanton, and James the same thing, and I suppose your boy would
+like to go with you also."
+
+"Certainly," said Lawrence.
+
+With no preparations to make, there was nothing to do but wait. Lawrence
+was the only one who was willing to go out on the streets and stand the
+ugly looks that were given by all those who in some way or another knew
+that they were Americans.
+
+On his return he reported that the papers were silent on the subject of
+the Kaiser's call at the Embassy the night before. One of the afternoon
+papers, he said, did report that a very large Zeppelin had been seen
+flying over Berne at 9 o'clock in the morning, at about 5000 feet,
+judging by her size. At first it was thought that she was on fire from
+the clouds of smoke that she was emitting, but she continued on her way
+in the direction of Berlin at about fifty miles an hour. She was up too
+high, the papers stated, to be identified, but as the Swiss Government
+knew that none of the Allies had Zeppelins, it was suggested that a
+protest would soon come from Switzerland for a violation of her
+neutrality.
+
+Lawrence said that evidently the German General Staff had received some
+information, for he found no officers at the Club, and troops with
+anti-aircraft guns and mortars with their two-wheeled trailers were
+moving in all directions.
+
+The general public, however, as usual, seemed to have no information,
+and were going about their duties in their usual stolid manner.
+
+The troops around the Embassy had been reinforced and were showing great
+activity. He thought that the Kaiser was making a personal inspection
+judging by the number of high officers he saw going and coming.
+
+The soldiers were most insulting in their manner and kept him moving,
+and would not allow him to go anywhere near the mortars which were
+stripped for action. The covers over the two-wheeled drums were
+unstrapped so that they could be thrown off at a moment's notice.
+
+"You are right," said Edestone, as he and Lawrence stood looking out of
+one of the windows of the Embassy at about 5 o'clock in the afternoon.
+"They have heard something. I am surprised that we have heard nothing
+from them today. You can depend upon it, they will try to get me without
+an actual fight. They know that they can bamboozle our Government, but
+fear the temper of our people will not stand for any killing, which they
+certainly intend to do if necessary. I do wish Mrs. Jones was not here.
+
+"If 'Specs' was over Berne at 9 o'clock," he went on, "and he wanted to,
+he could have been here hours ago. He is evidently jogging along
+slowly. He cannot now be more than fifty miles away; he is perhaps just
+about at Leipsic. I think we had better speak to him and tell him to go
+higher up and not to come over Berlin before dark. You know he does not
+know what is going on here. I am afraid to warn him about the wires,
+for if by chance they should intercept our message they would know that
+they had struck a very good answer to my 'Little Peace Maker.'"
+
+"You don't mean to say," cried Lawrence, "that there is any chance of
+their pulling you down with those wires?"
+
+"It all depends," replied Edestone. "It would take me some time to
+calculate the amount of metal it would require to take the current that
+would wreck us, but if they do get that amount in contact with us and
+the earth at the same time we will come down."
+
+"My God!" said Lawrence.
+
+"Well, that is the reason that I do not want to take any chance by
+mentioning wires at all. They don't know now that one wire will not do
+the trick, and if they get the idea that it is a question of the largest
+possible number, they will double up on us. As it is, they have sixteen,
+and we have a fighting chance. At any rate, I will speak to 'Specs' and
+tell him not to come over the Embassy until after dark."
+
+"Won't he have some difficulty in finding the Embassy?" asked Lawrence.
+
+Edestone laughed. "You do not know old 'Specs.' In the first place he
+studied for six years in Berlin and knows it from end to end. Besides,
+he has all of the cities of Europe plotted, and he can get his bearings
+from a dozen different points. He will feel very badly unless Capt. Lee
+puts him within a few inches of where his calculations tell him he
+should be. Why, you should see him calculating! He used a 6 H pencil,
+and he can cover a large sheet of paper with microscopic figures before
+you have even sharpened yours! It will be just like 'Specs,' if it is a
+still night, to drop a plumb line and check himself. When you see him
+coming down slowly, you can be sure that he is going to drop his ladder
+at exactly the right spot.
+
+"You see to it that the servants are all out of the way. If necessary,
+lock them all down in the basement. I will work out the message."
+
+When Lawrence returned and stated that everything was clear, Edestone
+said to him: "Send this. It says:
+
+  "Stand by at 50, up 10,000. After dark follow orders. If called
+  come quickly.'"
+
+They then took the elevator and went together to the roof, where with
+powerful glasses they searched the south-western sky. On all sides they
+could see Taubes, which like great birds were circling in all
+directions.
+
+Edestone was startled by seeing something that looked like the "Little
+Peace Maker," but it turned out to be one of the largest German
+Zeppelins.
+
+"Why, my boy," laughed Lawrence, "Captain Lee could make that fellow
+look like an _ante bellum_ picnic in a thunderstorm, all hoop
+skirts and bombazine, before Count Zeppelin could get it under the
+shelter tent.
+
+"It is circling now," he exclaimed; "he must have his eye on a Belgium
+baby, the old buzzard!"
+
+After Edestone had gotten Lawrence to his wireless instrument by first
+running the car down until the top was at the level of the roof, and
+after Lawrence had stepped on running it up to the top of the penthouse,
+he then dropped the car down and came out on the roof again.
+
+He looked about with his glasses; and was not surprised to see soldiers
+on the roofs of the other buildings where they had stationed powerful
+anti-aircraft guns and searchlights.
+
+"I am rather glad Mrs. Jones is not coming with us," he thought. "It is
+going to be pretty hot here for a little while. We shall be under fire
+for about ten feet; Captain Lee will not dare come down any closer."
+
+When Lawrence came down, he said: "I got him and he answered me. I am
+sure someone was trying to cut in. I could not tell whether he could get
+us or not, but he was trying to mix us up."
+
+Edestone worked with his little book for a few minutes, and then read
+aloud:
+
+  "Passed over Leipsic up 5000. Have been seen. Will stand by at 30,
+  up 10,000."
+
+"That means that he is about over Dessau, and could get here in fifteen
+minutes easily if called. So far so good. But those machine guns are
+worrying me. I did not want to make any show of force, but self
+protection may drive me to it.
+
+"Run the elevator down, Lawrence, and come back by the stairs. We can
+walk down. I want to look over my ground and plan my campaign."
+
+"How foolish," he thought, "not to have remembered the machine guns on
+the roofs. The only protection we have on the Embassy are the chimneys
+and the penthouse, and they will protect only halfway up the landing
+ladder. There is always that ten feet in which we will be exposed on all
+sides to a fire under which nothing could live for half a minute."
+
+He then examined the door to the bulkhead at the head of the stairs. It
+was strong, but there was no way to fasten it on the outside. There was
+another door at the bottom of the stairs that could be locked, but it
+was an ordinary door and could easily be broken down. He found only one
+place on the entire roof where there was what might be called a zone of
+safety, and that was by no means perfectly safe.
+
+He carefully worked out the plan of defence, giving to his enemy the
+part to play which he thought they would naturally take.
+
+When Lawrence came up he explained his plan to him. He said: "When they
+see that we are attempting to escape by the roof, they will rush us by
+coming up those stairs. I do not intend to allow my men to fire unless
+it is absolutely necessary."
+
+"Oh, just shoot me one little one," begged Lawrence.
+
+Edestone frowned disapprovingly. "When they have broken through the
+lower door, we can stand here between the penthouse and the chimneys,
+and by keeping down below the parapet be comparatively safe. I will then
+tell them that I have a machine gun trained on the bulkhead door, and
+that it will be certain death for them to attempt to come out that
+way. If they fire on the Embassy, I will order my large guns to silence
+every gun that bears on it."
+
+As they went downstairs the sun was just setting.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXI
+
+"SIT DOWN, YOU DOG!"
+
+
+As Edestone and Lawrence were coming down the stairs they were met by
+one of the German servants, who told them in a rather excited manner
+that the Secretary wished to see them both in his library.
+
+Hastening down they were surprised as they arrived in the main hall to
+see through the iron and glass grille a squad of German soldiers
+standing at the front door.
+
+"This is their last card," said Edestone in an undertone, "and if it
+fails there is nothing left for them to do but kill me. They have
+received word from Leipsic and they know that there is no time to lose,
+so we can look out now for anything. You had better get our party
+together, Lawrence, and see that every man has a pistol. There are two
+automatics in my room. When you get back, if you find me standing, or if
+I rise, or if I light a cigar, make some excuse and get up to the roof
+as quickly as you can and send your S. O. S. call to 'Specs.' He can be
+here in fifteen minutes after he receives it. Then, lock that grille and
+station someone there you can trust."
+
+"I wonder what they'll charge me with?" he thought as alone he entered
+the room where the Secretary was sitting calmly, although Edestone could
+see that he was making a great effort not to show his indignation to the
+German officer who was standing in front of him.
+
+Edestone knew him so well that when he saw his mouth fixed as though he
+was whistling quietly to himself, the forefinger of his right hand at
+his lips as if to assist him in his musical efforts,--he who could not
+turn a tune,--he knew that Jones had himself well in hand. In his left
+hand the Secretary held a formal-looking paper with which he was quietly
+tapping the table in front of him as though keeping time to his
+soundless and imaginary ditty. With his chin well down, he was looking
+from under his heavy eyebrows with eyes that were dangerously cold.
+
+The officer who had delivered these papers was apparently waiting for
+his answer and stood very erect, looking straight ahead of him. He did
+not change his position or notice Edestone as he entered the room.
+
+"Good-morning, Count von Hemelstein," said Edestone on seeing who it
+was, and the soldier then condescended to acknowledge the greeting with
+a slight bow.
+
+The Secretary leaned forward, and putting both hands flat on the table
+while looking straight at Count von Hemelstein, said in a rather
+judicial tone, as though delivering an opinion from the bench:
+
+"Mr. Edestone, Count von Hemelstein has just delivered to me an order
+for your arrest on the charge of giving assistance to the enemies of
+Germany. He also charges Lawrence Stuyvesant with insulting the
+Emperor's uniform and his dignity by impersonating a Prince of the Royal
+Blood and rendering that Prince ridiculous. He states, however, in your
+case that the Emperor will accept your explanation if you will accompany
+Count von Hemelstein quietly and make it to His Imperial Majesty in
+person. In the case of Lawrence Stuyvesant, he demands an apology and
+has paroled him in my custody until this is received, and as in the
+first case he makes a further condition, which is that the Emperor will
+accept an apology made by Lawrence Stuyvesant to the Prince himself,
+provided only that you agree to accompany Count von Hemelstein quietly
+and at once."
+
+Then turning as if addressing a prisoner on trial before him he said, in
+that soft and quiet voice always assumed by a judge in speaking to a
+criminal, even though he knows that the culprit has just boiled his
+mother:
+
+"In the case against you, Mr. Edestone, in your absence I have flatly
+denied the charge. In the case against Lawrence Stuyvesant I deny all
+knowledge of, and decline to express an opinion until I have had an
+opportunity of looking into, the circumstances of the alleged offence."
+
+Edestone who had stood during this went over and took a seat at the
+Secretary's side of the table. "It is just as you said it would be," he
+observed to the Count with a mocking laugh as he passed him. "You
+Germans are so thorough."
+
+The Count made no reply, only stiffening up, if it were possible to give
+any more of that quality of German militarism to a ramrod in human form.
+
+He stood as if expecting the Secretary to continue, or to hear further
+from Edestone, but both men sat perfectly still looking at him. The
+Secretary, as if having delivered his ruling, he was waiting for the
+case to go on, settled back into his chair, while Edestone, with the
+look of a lawyer who is perfectly satisfied with the ruling of the
+court, was grinning at his opponent, toying with both hands with a small
+bronze paper-weight made in the shape of a ploughshare, recently
+received from Washington with the compliments of the Secretary of State.
+
+As neither man seemed to have the slightest intention of breaking the
+silence, after a moment which seemed an age, Count von Hemelstein
+brought his hand with a snap to a salute.
+
+"My orders are to bring Mr. Edestone with me," he said, "and if you
+decline to deliver him to me, Mr. Secretary, I must use force."
+
+"That I have no power to prevent you from doing," said Jones. "You are
+now in the Embassy of a friendly nation, on soil dedicated by His
+Imperial Majesty to the use of the representative of that nation, whose
+safety and that of those he may see fit to protect are guaranteed by the
+most solemn promise that it is possible for one nation to make to
+another. If His Imperial Majesty intends to break his solemn word, I am
+as powerless as the lowest peasant in his domain. As to my word of
+honour as to the safe-keeping of Mr. Lawrence Stuyvesant, you have by
+your act reduced me to the rank of a simple American citizen, and as
+such, and not as representing the Ambassador at the Court of Berlin--for
+after this there can be none--I tell you that I will not give my word to
+those who do not keep theirs. As to Mr. Edestone, I can simply, for his
+own sake, advise him to go with you, but not before I tell him that his
+country will resist with all its power the indignity which His Majesty
+has seen fit to offer it."
+
+Lawrence, who had come in during this speech, was standing looking in
+amazement from one to the other.
+
+Then Edestone rose. "Mr. Secretary," he said, "I regret to have been the
+cause of putting you in this most trying position, and before I decide
+to accompany this officer or detective I must think, so with your
+permission I will light a cigar." He walked over to a table and very
+slowly selected one from a box that was there.
+
+Lawrence, as if he had forgotten something, left the room hurriedly.
+
+Edestone very deliberately took his cigar and very slowly lighted it. He
+then as slowly walked back to his seat and sat blowing ring after ring,
+holding all the time the box of matches in his right hand.
+
+In the meantime Lawrence had walked to the front door, as if looking out
+to see why the soldiers were there, and turned the key of the grille so
+noiselessly that it failed to attract any attention from the men on the
+outside. Then turning to Fred, the Bowery boy, who was waiting for him,
+he spoke in an undertone.
+
+"Don't let any of the servants open that door or even go near it," he
+said, and, satisfied that his order would be obeyed, stepped inside the
+elevator and closed the door with a bang.
+
+Edestone, who had meanwhile been doing anything simply to kill time,
+heard this. He knew that Lawrence would work quickly, and had had ample
+time to carry out the first part of his instructions. As if about to
+drop into his pocket the box of matches he was holding, he drew with a
+quick motion a .38 automatic, and leaning across the table covered the
+Count with it.
+
+"Hold up your hands!" he said without raising his voice. "It is safer."
+
+There was on his face that unmistakable look of the man who intends to
+kill. The other man saw it and understood, and reluctantly raised his
+hands above his head after making a half-gesture as if to draw his own
+pistol from his belt but thinking better of it.
+
+"This is very foolish, Mr. Edestone," he said with a disdainful
+sneer. "Will you fight single-handed six million men?"
+
+Jones, who when a young man had spent a good many years in a frontier
+town, was too accustomed to this method of punctuating one's remarks and
+calling the undivided attention of one's listener to them, to be much
+surprised. At any rate, he showed none, and besides he knew Edestone to
+be a perfectly cool man whose trigger finger would not twitch from
+nervousness.
+
+"Be careful, Jack," he contented himself with saying very quietly; "I
+suppose you know what you are about." Then he settled back to wait for
+Edestone to explain what he would do next.
+
+"Yes, William," said Edestone, "I know exactly what I am doing, and in
+order to relieve you and your Government from any responsibility, I
+here, in the presence of the Emperor's representative, renounce my
+allegiance to the United States of America and to all other countries,
+and I now become a law unto myself, accountable to no one but myself--in
+other words, an outlaw, a pirate." He turned then to the emissary of
+the Kaiser.
+
+"Count von Hemelstein, as I intend to keep you in that position for some
+little time unless you will allow me to remove your arms--not your
+sword," he explained quickly on seeing the look of horror that came over
+the Prussian's face. "I will allow you to keep that barbaric relic of
+the Middle Ages and modern Japan, to which you and the Knights k of the
+Orient attach so much importance. But that very nice automatic I must
+have. I beg that you will allow me to take it without any unnecessary
+fuss." He walked around the table and, gently pulling the pistol out of
+its holster, put it into his own pocket, keeping the Count carefully
+covered all the while.
+
+"Now you can take down your hands. I know that you can hide nothing more
+dangerous in that tight-fitting uniform of yours than a long cigarette
+holder and a very pretty box. I am delighted that you have been so
+quiet, as no one could come to your assistance. Your soldiers are locked
+outside of the iron grille and would have some difficulty in breaking it
+down, even if they could hear you; so sit down. I wish to explain a few
+things to you.
+
+"It is now exactly a quarter before eight o'clock. By eight the Little
+Peace Maker will be over the Embassy, and you with your boastful
+knowledge of other people's business must realize what that means. You
+have heard what I just said to the Secretary representing the United
+States at the Court of Berlin, and my object in making that statement
+before you was to relieve him and the United States of America of the
+responsibility of any of my acts. The Little Peace Maker is my own
+personal property, and before she fires a gun or drops a bomb I shall
+haul down the flag of the United States and run up my own private
+signal, which on my yacht, the _Storm Queen_, is well known in all
+yachting circles. In short, from now on I declare myself an outlaw.
+
+"If your Emperor will allow me and my men to go abroad peaceably, I will
+do so and all may be well, but at the very first act of violence I will
+take the necessary steps to protect them. I intend to keep you here
+until I am notified that the airship has arrived, and when I leave this
+room, my advice to you is not to follow me, but go at once and notify
+your superior officer and thereby save the great loss of life that will
+otherwise ensue.
+
+"Now, Count, as we will have about ten minutes longer together, I am
+quite sure that the Secretary will not object to your joining me with
+one of the Ambassador's extremely good cigars," and he winked at his
+friend Jones.
+
+He walked over to the table as if to get the box, but the moment his
+back was turned the Count jumped and started for the door like a
+flash. With a quick side step, however, Edestone threw himself between
+him and the only exit from the room, and giving the fugitive a good poke
+in the stomach with the muzzle of his gun, said:
+
+"I allowed you to do that to show you that you are absolutely in my
+power. Sit down, Count von Hemelstein, and if you will give me your word
+of honour that you will not move I shall not tie you. Do you accept
+these terms?"
+
+The Count nodded his head and sat down, and the Secretary, who all this
+time had been sitting perfectly quiet, said with a very little bit of a
+smile on about one-half of his mouth:
+
+"Count von Hemelstein, if I were you I should sit still. You must see
+that you are powerless to do anything, and whereas I know that
+Mr. Edestone does not intend to kill you unless it is absolutely
+necessary, I am equally certain that he intends to if it is. In fact, I
+do not know that he might not kill me if I stood in his way. He has just
+declared himself to be an outlaw, and it is my duty to turn him over to
+the authorities, but I should hate to have to try to do it now that he
+seems so bent on leaving us."
+
+Edestone, who quickly caught the idea that the Secretary was trying to
+convey to him, turned on his friend.
+
+"If you, my friend, whom I have known for years, desert me now," he
+declared in a loud and apparently much excited tone, "or attempt to
+deliver me over to these wild people to kill, I will kill you, if it is
+the last act of my life." He faced about so that one eye was hidden from
+the flabbergasted German and gave another significant wink. Then
+turning back to the Count he resumed: "I will kill any man who prevents
+me from going on board the Little Peace Maker tonight. Now let us talk
+about more pleasant things for the few remaining minutes that we are to
+have in each other's company."
+
+But the Count was in no mood for conversation. He sat staring at the
+floor, while Edestone with his watch in his hand waited for word from
+Lawrence. It was now eight o'clock and still no response. Could there
+be some mistake? Had the Germans been able to prevent his message from
+going through? Or was Lawrence waiting to be sure that the airship was
+coming before leaving the roof to notify him?
+
+On the outside all was quiet, and as long as the soldiers did not
+suspect, everything would be all right. But suppose that the Emperor
+should grow impatient and send another messenger? He was just
+congratulating himself that the Count did not know what time it was or
+that the Little Peace Maker was now overdue, when a clock somewhere
+struck eight.
+
+The Count straightened up and his look of k interest changed to hope,
+and finally a smile broke over his face as the minutes slipped by.
+
+"Well, Mr. Edestone, your little dream will soon be over," he taunted,
+after sitting for about five minutes longer.
+
+Even the Secretary was growing fidgety. He knew that something would
+have to happen soon or the German General Staff, with its usual
+thoroughness, would ask the reason why, and this question would be put
+in their usual forcible manner.
+
+It was now ten minutes after eight, and Edestone expected every minute
+to hear a ring at the front door. Besides, the dusk was coming on and
+the servants would soon be in to light the lights. He had decided that
+if they did he would retreat to the roof, forcing the Count to accompany
+him, and there make a last stand. He formed a mental resolution never to
+leave that roof alive except on board of the Little Peace Maker. He had
+always said that he had rather be dead than a failure. He did not want
+to live to see his life's work, his beautiful ship, which must finally
+come down, used for war, death, and destruction, his dream of universal
+peace gone forever; or by his own discovery remove still farther from
+the grasp of the long-suffering world that relief which it was vainly
+reaching out for in its present desperate plight.
+
+Was this the end? If so, he would meet it calmly, but not until he had
+made a fight. Then he would meet Fate with a smile, for she had been
+good to him. Perhaps an all-wise Providence had decreed that man must
+fight on to the bitter end, and to punish him for his presumption in
+attempting to alter an unalterable law had led him on only to destroy
+him just as he, with his petty little mind, thought he had reached the
+goal.
+
+The Count was now laughing and explaining to Jones what was going to
+happen to him, to the United States, and especially to Edestone, and
+Jones was beginning to look as if he thought there might be some truth
+in what he was saying.
+
+It was nearly half-past eight when the long-expected ring at the front
+door came. The Count laughed out loud in triumph.
+
+"Mr. Edestone," he said, "don't you think that it is just about time to
+ask for terms? It is not too late even now. You are a game man, and I
+hate to see you go to destruction when it is not necessary."
+
+The ring was followed by another longer than the first.
+
+Edestone was leaning well over the table and looking at the Count with a
+light in his eyes like that in those of a tiger about to spring.
+
+"I return the compliment," he said.
+
+There was now heard on the outside much noise and confusion. The bell
+was rung again and the sound of someone violently shaking the front door
+was followed by the breaking of the glass in the iron grille. Above this
+din, which was really not so great as it seemed to the overwrought
+nerves of the three men who had sat looking at each other for the last
+forty minutes, there came the unmistakable rattle of machine-guns, which
+at first was distant and light in volume, but with incredible rapidity
+increased until it was a roar that seemed like a great wave rolling up
+from the southern part of the city.
+
+Edestone, who knew that this meant that the Little Peace Maker must have
+been sighted by the German look-outs on the roofs, ran to the window.
+
+The Count hesitated for just one moment, as if there were two forces
+within him fighting for mastery, and then with a quick movement he made
+a jump for the door.
+
+"Sit down, you dog!" cried Edestone turning just in time to see him, and
+he sent a bullet crashing through the door just above the Count's hand
+where it rested on the knob.
+
+Count von Hemelstein stopped, and turning braced himself to receive the
+ball that he thought must certainly follow.
+
+"Come back and sit down, you poor thing. If you cannot keep your word
+without help, I will help you next time."
+
+But the soldiers on the outside, on hearing the shot, redoubled their
+efforts to get in, and now could be heard running around the house and
+trying the other doors. In the midst of all this uproar, Lawrence came
+down, and in imitation of one of his favourite characters, the sailor
+who announced to Captain Sigsbee the sinking of the _Maine_, said:
+
+"Sir, I have the honour to report that the Little Peace Maker has been
+sighted on our starboard bow." Then throwing off his assumed character
+he added: "Get a move on you, they will be in at the front door in a
+minute!
+
+"And what are you going to do with this?" he asked on seeing the
+Count. "Don't you think we had better wing it before we leave? Ish ka
+bibble."
+
+"No." Edestone pushed him ahead of him out of the room. And to Jones:
+"Good-bye, William," he called over his shoulder. "I am sorry to have
+given you so much trouble."
+
+When he had closed the door they both ran into the elevator and started
+for the roof.
+
+"Where are all of those who are going with us?" asked Edestone.
+
+"They are all on the roof. No, by Jove!" Lawrence interrupted himself,
+"Fred is still down in the front hall."
+
+"We must go for him," said Edestone, halting the car and starting it
+down.
+
+"Why not leave him? Mr. Jones can take care of him."
+
+"No, they won't stop at anything." Edestone shook his head.
+
+By this time the car had arrived at the main-floor level, and as Edestone
+flung open the door the Count was seen just coming out of the library,
+while Fred, who had seen Edestone and Lawrence take the lift, was
+running up the stairs. In the dim light the Count saw him, and cried to
+the soldiers who had their guns through the grille:
+
+"Shoot that man!"
+
+There was the report of several rifles in quick succession, and the
+Bowery boy, who was now at the top of the great monumental stairs, fell
+dead. His body rolled to the bottom and lay there perfectly still.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXII
+
+L. P. M.
+
+
+Almost beside himself, Lawrence resisted all of Edestone's efforts to
+get him back into the elevator.
+
+"You damn' dirty Dutchman, I'll pay you for this!" he yelled over his
+shoulder, as he struggled to break loose from the firm grip which held
+him, and get at the Count.
+
+It was not a time to permit of argument. Overpowering him with his great
+strength, Edestone simply dragged him back, and flung him into a corner
+of the car, where he sat crying like a baby with uncontrollable rage.
+
+After he had started the lift, however, Edestone went over and patted
+him soothingly on the shoulder.
+
+"I am sorry, old man," he said regretfully, "awfully sorry! He thought
+it was I, and I almost wish it had been."
+
+This brought Lawrence back to himself. He knew that Edestone meant every
+word he said and, jumping to his feet, he threw his arms around his
+friend's neck.
+
+"Bo!" he exclaimed, half-laughing, half-sobbing, "you are a king among
+men!" little dreaming of the amount of truth there was in what he said.
+
+A moment later he dropped back into the vernacular, where he was more at
+home.
+
+"You are the best sport I ever knew," he said, "and I am nothing but a
+rotten squealer! Forgive me, and I will try to be good. But, Bo! that
+did hurt!" The tears came to his eyes once more. "He was such a nervy
+little chap!"
+
+By this time they had gotten to the roof, where they found Black,
+Stanton, and James eagerly awaiting them.
+
+"Where is Fred?" asked Black, noting his absence as the other two
+stepped out to join them.
+
+"Dead by God!" Lawrence started again to become hysterical. "That devil,
+Count von Hemelstein, killed him!"
+
+"Shut up, Lawrence!" broke in Edestone sharply. "Cut out that swearing
+and get to work. We have no time to lose."
+
+In the same quick, authoritative tone, he issued his orders to the
+others, as they stood staring at the news, each in his different way
+showing his breeding. Black was commencing to whine; Stanton with a
+scowl of rage was in sympathy with Lawrence; while James, demonstrating
+his years of training, stood statue-like with hand behind his back,
+leaning forward as if to catch his master's next order, and carry it out
+with perfect decorum.
+
+"Have you locked the door at the foot of the stairs? Ah! That is good!"
+he exclaimed, as he saw that they had barricaded the door of the
+bulkhead by putting a piece of timber between it and the coping around
+one of the skylights.
+
+It had grown quite dark in the interval, but in the glare of the great
+searchlights which were playing upon her he could plainly see above him
+the Little Peace Maker which had swung into a position directly over the
+Embassy, and was now slowly descending.
+
+She was not over a thousand feet above the roof as she hung there, three
+of her great searchlights bearing steadily on three different points in
+the city, and giving to her the aspect of an enormous spyglass standing
+on its gigantic tripod, and by its own weight forcing the feet of the
+tripod into the soft earth, as the ship slowly settled.
+
+Shrapnel shells were exploding all about her, and at times she was
+almost entirely enveloped in smoke. Between the reports of the heavier
+artillery could be heard the staccato spatter of bullets on her iron
+sides as the machine-guns sprayed her from end to end. Now and then one
+of the gunners would reach one of her searchlights, and as the ray was
+extinguished, one almost expected to see her topple in the direction of
+her broken support, but in each case it was quickly replaced by another,
+and she continued to drop nearer and nearer to the earth.
+
+Excepting for the searchlights there was no sign of life on
+board. Silently and without response of any kind, she came. But as she
+approached nearer, and the angle of the German guns was still further
+reduced, although they must already have been doing frightful damage in
+all parts of the city, the shrapnel and small bullets could be heard
+screaming over the heads of the little party on the roof.
+
+"It is getting pretty hot here, and we had better lie down," Edestone
+said. But the words were hardly out of his mouth before Stanton fell
+with a bullet in his head, and James sat down, probably more abruptly
+than he had ever done anything before in all his life.
+
+"I beg pardon, sir," he observed with a little gasp, "but I think, sir,
+as how they have got me in the leg, sir."
+
+They all dropped down. Stanton was dead, and James was bleeding badly
+from the flesh-wound in his leg.
+
+"That was the fellow in that tower over there." Lawrence made a
+reconnoissance. "He is now shooting straight at us."
+
+"This has got to stop." Edestone frowned. "Lawrence send this
+message. No cipher; I would rather have them catch this.
+
+"Tell 'Specs' first to haul down the U. S. flag and run up my private
+signal. Then he is to silence every gun he can find that is bearing on
+us, and train a machine-gun on the door of the bulk-head, ready to fire
+when I give the signal by throwing up my hat.
+
+"Take Lawrence up to the instrument, Mr. Black," he directed, turning
+to Black who was giving "first aid" to the unfortunate valet. "I will do
+what I can for James."
+
+When the elevator with Lawrence and the electrician had gone up above
+the level of the roof, leaving the shaft open down into the house, he
+could distinctly hear the soldiers running up the stairs. At any moment
+now they might be hammering on the door at the foot of the stairway
+leading to the roof.
+
+He hated the idea of killing those innocent Germans, mere machines, as
+they were, in the hands of a Master, who with his entire entourage had
+become sick with a mania which took the form of militarism, imperialism,
+and pan-Germanism. But after the death of his two fellow-countrymen--for
+at heart he was still true to the land of his birth, although to save her
+he had just renounced the flag--he felt that he was justified in what he
+was about to do.
+
+With a silent prayer for the peasant mothers who were soon to lose their
+dear ones, he commended their souls to God, and not as these mothers,
+poor benighted creatures, had done, to their Emperor.
+
+He was startled from these sorrowful reflections by the white glow of a
+searchlight from the Little Peace Maker sweeping across the roof, and
+playing hither and thither. Evidently, "Specs" had received his order,
+and was now feeling about for the bulkhead door.
+
+A moment later he located it. Immediately the night was made hideous
+with the roar of the guns from the airship, as they sowed bursting
+shells in all directions, and carried death and destruction to the heart
+of this great and wonderful city, built up stone by stone, and standing
+as a living monument to one of the greatest people on the face of the
+earth--a people that science teaches are the very last expression of
+God's greatness shown in His wonderful evolution of matter into His own
+image. And for what? That one family might maintain the position given
+to one of their ancestors in the remote, dark, and grovelling ages of
+the past for prowess of which a modern prizefighter might be proud, but
+for acts to which he with a higher standard might not stoop.
+
+The telling response of the Little Peace Maker soon put an end to the
+storm of shrapnel and bullets which had been singing, whistling,
+buzzing, and screaming about them, and Edestone might have been able to
+stand up, but for the pertinacity of the snipers, those serpents of
+modern warfare, who were searching every dark corner of the roof.
+
+Matters were fast coming to a climax, however. By the time that
+Lawrence and Black had returned from sending the wireless message, and
+had crawled over to where Edestone lay, the soldiers had broken down the
+lower door, and were pounding at the upper, which "Specs" was holding as
+with a rapier point at the heart of a fallen foe, ready to strike at the
+slightest movement.
+
+Crawling over to the elevator shaft, Edestone called down a warning in a
+loud voice to those below:
+
+"I have a machine-gun trained on the top of the stairs! If you order
+your men to break that door down, I will order my guns to fire, and will
+kill them faster than you can drive them up!"
+
+For a moment the only response to his challenge was silence. Then a
+voice rang out which he had heard before, arrogant and commanding:
+
+"As God has ordained that I and none other should rule the earth, with
+Him alone, I shall. By my Imperial order, and with His assistance,
+bring that man to me, dead or alive!"
+
+A brief pause ensued. Edestone could hear the officers urging on their
+men. Suddenly pistol-shots rang out, and with a mad rush they came on.
+The door swayed and shivered under the impact. It split and
+shattered. Finally it fell.
+
+"May God have mercy on his soul!" murmured Edestone, and he tossed his
+hat high in the air.
+
+"Specs" from his look-out caught the signal; and instantly the doorway
+became a writhing, shrieking mass of wounded humanity. Like vaseline
+squeezed out of a tube, it was forced out of the opening by the pressure
+of those behind and spread in wider and wider circles across the roof,
+until the aperture itself was choked and stopped with bodies.
+
+But Edestone and his companions were spared the full measure of this
+sickening sight, as the rapid manoeuvres of the Little Peace Maker
+compelled them to devote their attention to her.
+
+As the great ship descended to within about ten feet of the
+chimney-tops, men appeared on her lower bridge and dropped over the
+insulated ladder which extended almost to where the refugees lay.
+
+Picking James up and putting him on his back where he clung like a baby,
+Edestone ran for the ladder, quickly followed by Lawrence and Black. He
+reached the bridge just in time to turn James over to one of the crew,
+and extend his assistance to Lawrence, who had received a shot in one
+hand, and was rather dizzily holding on to the ladder with the
+other. Eventually, though, they all gained the bridge, and with their
+rescuers already there raced up the gangway under a perfect hail of
+bullets for the open doorway at the top. But before the last man had
+passed through, two of the sailors had been shot, and had fallen to
+their death on the roof.
+
+As they entered the ship, they were met by "Specs," Captain Lee,
+Dr. Brown, and other officers in uniforms which at the first glance
+might have been taken for those of the New York Yacht Club, except for
+the insignia on their caps which was a combination of Edestone's private
+signal and the letters L. P. M. Edestone, however, interrupted their
+attempt to salute him.
+
+"Please waive all ceremony," he said. "We have wounded men here that
+must be attended to."
+
+At this, Dr. Brown immediately came forward, and after ordering Lawrence
+and James to the hospital gave a start as his glance fell upon Edestone.
+
+"You did not tell me that you yourself were wounded, sir," he exclaimed;
+and then for the first time Edestone discovered that his face, hands,
+and clothing were covered with blood which was streaming from a wound
+above his temple.
+
+He was about to permit himself also to be examined, when there was heard
+from below the detonation of one of the Kaiser's big mortars; and
+pulling away from the Doctor, he called an excited order to "Specs":
+
+"Throw on your full charge, and lift her as fast as you can!"
+
+He ran to the gangway in time to see the wire carried up to a great
+height by the ball from the mortar settling down across the Little Peace
+Maker about midships. It was falling now, and would soon come in contact
+with the ship.
+
+When it did, there was a slight jar perceptible, but no such result as
+the enemy had hoped. The wire was so quickly fused, accompanying an
+explosion giving out an intense light, that it seemed to shoot to the
+earth like a streak of lightning, setting fire to or knocking down
+everything that lay in its path.
+
+Another and another mortar shot followed until the sky seemed to be
+filled with falling wires which were swinging, twisting, and snapping
+above him. The Little Peace Maker was the centre of an electrical
+storm, and was sending back by every wire messages of death to those who
+were striving to bring her down.
+
+The ship was rising very rapidly now, however, and almost before
+Edestone had time to sing out, "Steady now, as you are," she was 3000
+feet above the German capital, and out of range of the wire-throwers.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIII
+
+YACHTING IN THE AIR
+
+
+While Lawrence's hand was being dressed by one of the assistant
+surgeons, he had an opportunity of observing how perfect were the
+appointments of the operating room to which he had been taken. The
+orderlies and nurses moving about were all dressed in spotless white
+gowns and caps. The doctor and those assisting him in cleaning and
+dressing the slight flesh-wound which had been inflicted looked at their
+patient through holes in a cap that completely covered their heads and
+faces. Every appliance was provided for perfect cleanliness and
+sanitation, and the apparatus was on hand to permit of any operation of
+modern surgery, no matter how complicated.
+
+From where he sat, he could see into another room exactly similar where
+James was having the injury to his leg attended to with the same
+scrupulous care; and he had passed, as he was brought in, a long room
+which he was told was one of the surgical wards, and where he had seen
+several men on hospital cots. The surgical wards, he was further
+informed, were on the starboard side of the ship, and not connected in
+any way with the sick bay which lay over on the port side.
+
+With his great love for ships and machinery, Lawrence was impatient to
+get away and make a tour of inspection of this strange craft upon which
+he had embarked; but while he was waiting he occupied himself in his
+usual fashion by giving vent to his high spirits and making a joke out
+of everything.
+
+"Well, Doc," he remarked to the surgeon, "you certainly have got one
+nifty little butcher shop, but I want to tell you, before one of those
+Ku-Klux throw me down and slap the gas bag in my face, that I have no
+adenoids, and that my appendix was cut out by an Arabian doctor who
+threw a handful of sand into me to stop the bleeding. If you would like
+to study German sausages, though, there is a pile of it down there on
+the roof." And even he shuddered as he recalled that awful carnage.
+
+A bright-looking chap, dressed in the smart uniform of a steward on a
+gentleman's yacht, appeared at the door, but was not allowed to come in
+by Lawrence's aseptic guardians. He had been sent down by Edestone to
+inquire as to the condition of the wounded, and to announce to Lawrence
+that if he felt well enough to join him, dinner would be ready as soon
+as he was. He begged, the messenger said, that Mr. Stuyvesant would go
+directly to his room and dress, and allow him to have the pleasure of
+showing him over the ship after dinner. If he would let the
+quarter-master's department have his measure, he would be fitted out.
+
+Wild horses could not have restrained Lawrence from such an invitation,
+much less a little scratch on the hand; and his injury having been
+dressed by this time, he was about to set out with the messenger, when
+James appealed to him from the next room, begging to be allowed to look
+after his master's clothes.
+
+"Beg pardon, sir," he urged, showing his embarrassment at not being able
+to stand, "but I am the only one who knows how Mr. Edestone likes his
+dinner clothes laid out, and his whole evening will be spoiled without
+me, sir. I only ask to be allowed to break in the new man, sir, as
+starting right in laying out a gentleman's clothes is half the battle,
+sir."
+
+"Don't you think, you have had enough of a battle for one day, you dear
+old fighting fossil?" asked Lawrence in a tone of real affection, for
+there is nothing which draws men together, regardless of rank, more
+quickly than to fight on the same side, and he could not help but admire
+the cool manner in which the valet had borne himself under fire.
+
+"Thank you, sir, but mightn't I be allowed to see to his bath, sir? A
+drop of hot water in it turns his stomach for a week. Just let me do
+that, and I will come straight back to these very kind persons." He
+glanced about at the men of science with the condescending manner of the
+English upper servant in dealing with the shopkeeper class.
+
+But Lawrence shook his head. "I'm sorry, James, but--" he bowed low to
+the grinning circle of doctors and nurses, and assumed his most
+grandiloquent air--"you are now in the hands of the only acknowledged
+ruling class of the twentieth century, who hold you with a grip of
+steel, but whose touch is as gentle as a mother's kiss. So get out your
+knitting, Old Socks; you are doomed."
+
+He turned with a laugh and a new impersonation to the surgeon as he left
+the room.
+
+"Thank you, Doc. You've cert'nly been kind to me, a poor working
+girl. Just send the bill to Mr. Edestone. He is my greatest gentleman
+friend."
+
+In his room, which was reached by an elevator, he found the ship's
+tailor waiting for him; but after this functionary had taken his measure
+and gone, he had an opportunity to look around.
+
+He was in a room, he found, a parlour or sitting-room, about fifteen by
+twenty, neatly but handsomely furnished, and suggesting to him in its
+general appearance the owner's apartments on the largest and most
+perfectly equipped yachts. There was this difference, however, that
+nothing about it indicated that it was ever off an even keel. There
+were no racks or other contrivances to suggest that it was prepared to
+turn in any direction at an angle of forty-five degrees, and which to
+the land-lubber causes qualms even while the ship is still tied to the
+dock.
+
+It might indeed have been a handsome living-room in a bachelor's
+apartment, but for the windows, which at the first glance seemed to be
+of the ordinary French casement form, running down to the floor, and
+looking as if they might open out onto a balcony; but to his surprise,
+he found, when he pulled aside the heavy curtains, that they looked into
+a perfectly blank white wall about two inches from the glass.
+
+Adjoining the living-room was a bedroom furnished in similar style with
+the same sort of windows, and beyond, Lawrence found as attractive a
+bath-room as ever welcomed an American millionaire after a hot day in
+his office, or a game of polo.
+
+After a boiling tub and a freezing shower, in the pink of condition--and
+nothing else--he went back into the bedroom.
+
+"Now what," he had wondered, "will the Fairy Godmother have for me in
+the way of a union suit, and a pair of jumpers?"
+
+But he had not wondered very hard. He found, as he knew he would, for he
+had yachted with Edestone before, a complete outfit, not forgetting the
+cocktail, which was standing on the table as quietly and innocently as
+if it had always been there, although in reality it had just been placed
+there by a man who, with years of experience in listening to the sounds
+that come from a gentleman's bathroom, had timed its arrival to the
+second.
+
+Nor was it one of those cocktails that are poured from a bottle, and
+served hot out of a silver-snouted shaker on a sloppy waiter, but a
+masterpiece from the hands of an artist, who took pride in his
+handiwork.
+
+With the modesty of a chorus girl with a good figure on a "first night,"
+he toasted the valet with much ceremony.
+
+Soon he was dressed in the mess jacket of a petty officer, and putting a
+yachting cap jauntily on his head, he went out to seek his friend. The
+valet told him he would find Mr. Edestone in the breakfast room, and he
+was shown thither by an officer who was waiting for him.
+
+As he passed along, he could not divest himself of the idea that he was
+on board Edestone's yacht, the _Storm Queen_ again, only that everything
+here was on a larger scale. The breakfast room, he discovered, was on
+the same deck but farther forward, and was reached by passing through a
+large room furnished as a general living-room.
+
+Edestone came forward to greet him with a rather melancholy expression
+on his face. He was dressed in a yachtsman's dinner jacket which fitted
+him perfectly, and with his bandaged head, he looked more than ever the
+sea lord. His rank of Captain was shown by the stripes on his arm.
+
+The room was, as one would expect Edestone to have in his New York or
+country house, simple but handsome.
+
+He had just been giving some orders about the windows which were of the
+same form and size as those Lawrence had remarked in his own room, and
+like them opened against a wall; but at Lawrence's appearance, he
+interrupted these instructions.
+
+"I am glad to see you aboard." He presented his hand, which Lawrence
+took with his left. "I had looked forward to your first trip with me
+with so much pleasure. But how different it is from the way I had
+pictured it. I cannot get Fred, Stanton, or my two sailors out of my
+mind."
+
+Lawrence's own face saddened, but for Edestone's sake he endeavoured to
+speak philosophically.
+
+"The fortunes of war, old man. Why grieve? You certainly were not to
+blame."
+
+For a moment there was silence between them; then Edestone, as if
+attempting to shake off his gloomy reflections, struck a lighter note.
+
+"How do you like being a pirate, Lawrence?" he smiled.
+
+"Great! The dream of my life, with you for a captain!"
+
+So they sat down to dinner. The men attending to their wants moved about
+unheard and almost unseen in the shadow outside the circle of soft light
+which fell only on the table. The room was filled with an indescribable
+aroma of comfort and good cheer. A newly-lighted fire crackled on the
+hearth, for it had suddenly become quite cold. Indeed, it was with
+difficulty Lawrence could realize that but a few hours before they had
+been in the midst of battle and sudden death, and that, as they sat,
+down there five times the height of the Eiffel Tower below them was the
+Embassy from which they were still removing the dead, or aiding the
+dying.
+
+As he looked at Edestone with his sad, brooding eyes, he felt all at
+once as if his friend had been taken away from him, and had been lifted
+to a place so exalted, that for the life of him, he could not have taken
+the liberty of speaking until he was first addressed.
+
+The dinner went on, and though the food was delightful and the wines
+perfect, both men merely toyed with what was on their plates, while
+Lawrence gulped his champagne as if he were trying to get its effect
+quickly in order to throw off this strange new diffidence and restraint
+which he now felt in the presence of his oldest and dearest friend.
+
+He tried to imagine that they two were cruising alone on the _Storm
+Queen_, as they had so often done, and that this was just one of many
+evenings that they had spent in this way together; but
+
+    Where was the lap of the water at her side,
+      Or the pounding of the launch as she rode at her boom?
+    The groan of the anchor as she swung with the tide,
+      Or the blowing off steam, which demanded more room?
+
+All was perfectly quiet. If there were storage batteries on board, they
+had been charged. There was no shovelling of coal; no shrieking and
+banging of doors in the boiler room, nor banking of fires. The only
+thing that remained true to tradition was the ship's bell. It had just
+sounded out five bells.
+
+The silence was at last broken by Edestone; but, although he spoke, it
+was more as if he were merely letting his pensive thoughts run on.
+
+"How different this has been from the way I had planned it. How
+different, too, has been your home-coming, old man--for the _Storm
+Queen_ was like home to you in the old days."
+
+But Lawrence by this time was beginning to feel the effects of
+champagne, and was certain that unless he very soon did something to
+lift the pall that had fallen on them, he himself would be dissolved in
+tears.
+
+"I don't know what your plan was," he said; "but don't you worry about
+my home-coming. The thing that ought to worry you is my leave-taking.
+The L. P. M. has got the _Storm Queen_ beat a mile, and I am booked for
+life. And, by the way, what is my rank on this ship? My old position of
+room clerk on the _Storm Queen_ won't go here, as I don't suppose you
+intend to have any 'cuties' on board, not even for the New London week."
+
+"No." Edestone consented at last to smile. "I am afraid, Lawrence,
+those days are all over for me. My little house of cards has fallen
+about me, and I have serious work before me, if I wish to build it up
+again. I have been thinking, and thinking very hard. From the moment
+that I saw poor Fred roll down the stairs of the Embassy, I knew that my
+first plan had failed. When Germany discovers that the United States is
+not back of me, she will apologize, and you know how quickly our present
+Administration will accept the apology, and how quickly they will
+disclaim any responsibility for my acts, if it means a fight?"
+
+Lawrence nodded.
+
+"Germany," went on Edestone, "will then call on all the neutral nations
+to join her in bringing me, an outlaw, to earth. This will give her a
+common cause with them, and she will hope in that way to strengthen her
+position relative to the Allies. She does not know my relationship with
+England, but she will undoubtedly declare that I am one of the means
+England is using to subjugate the world."
+
+"And is there nothing you can do?" asked Lawrence.
+
+"My last and only hope is that tomorrow, after they have realized the
+uselessness of opposing me, they will listen to a proposition of
+peace--without honour, from their old standard; but with great honour,
+from the standard that I intend to establish. I propose to send what is
+practically an ultimatum; and that is, that if they do not immediately
+open negotiations looking toward peace, I will sink every German
+battleship that floats, and destroy every factory in which guns,
+explosives, or any of the munitions of war are manufactured."
+
+"Me for the junk business," exclaimed Lawrence with an inspiration. "Oh,
+you Krupps!"
+
+But Edestone paid no heed to the frivolous interruption. "It is my
+intention," he continued, "to give sufficient notice, so that if they
+are willing to admit my supremacy, there need be no loss of life."
+
+He halted, as an officer had just come in, and was standing after
+saluting, waiting for Edestone to stop speaking.
+
+"The look-outs report, sir, that there are several Taubes climbing up
+toward us. What are your orders, sir?"
+
+"Close everything down, except one of these." Edestone pointed to a
+window. "Expose no lights."
+
+After the man had retired, he said to one of the servants in the room:
+"Put out the lights, and bring us two cloaks."
+
+When the lights had been put out, Lawrence saw for the first time that
+during dinner the solid cubes of steel, the size of the windows, had
+noiselessly rolled back, leaving a square aperture or passage-way
+through the six-foot thickness of the armour-plate, and forming a sort
+of _loggia_ into which they stepped. It was a beautiful night, and
+through the clear, rarefied atmosphere the stars seemed to Lawrence
+brighter than he had ever seen them before, while down below them he
+could just see the lights of Berlin.
+
+The explosions of the motors of the Taubes could be plainly heard, but
+as yet nothing could be seen of them.
+
+"What do you suppose those mosquitoes expect to do against us with their
+pop-guns and tomato cans?" asked Lawrence.
+
+"I do not know." Edestone shook his head. "Perhaps they are just coming
+up to look us over. They will keep out of sight, and as they may not
+know that we are protected on top, will perhaps try to drop one of their
+tomato cans on us. That is, if they can get close enough. I hardly think
+that they will risk a miss, and drop bombs on their own capital, so long
+as the Only One Who Seems To Count In Germany is in the midst of his
+beloved people."
+
+The Taubes could be heard on all sides, as if they were climbing in
+great circles around the Little Peace Maker. There seemed to be at least
+a dozen of them, although owing to the confusion of sounds as they
+crossed and re-crossed, it was impossible to count them.
+
+At last, though, when judging by the noise they were about on the same
+level as the ship, Edestone turned to an officer who was standing by
+him.
+
+"Tell Commander Anderson to load all of the big guns with a full charge
+of black powder only, and fire them all off at the same time.
+
+"And, Lawrence," he advised his friend, "when you hear a bell ringing,
+stand on your toes, open your mouth, stick your fingers in your ears,
+and if you've never been in Hell before, prepare yourself for a shock."
+
+Hardly had he gotten the words out of his mouth, when bells began
+ringing all over the ship. In just exactly one minute, Lawrence thought
+he had been blown into bits, as he was lifted and thrown from side to
+side against the steel walls of the passage. The noise was so great that
+his ears seemed unable to record it, and it was made known to him by the
+air pressure which seemed to be crushing him to death. The rush of air
+down his throat was choking him, while his very insides seemed to be
+turning over and over in their effort to escape. A dizziness and nausea
+followed, and he had to lean against his friend, trying to catch his
+breath in the thick, black smoke with which they were enveloped.
+
+"This is Hell all right," he managed to gasp.
+
+"That is the worst you will ever get," said Edestone. "It was noise that
+I was after, and black powder makes it. Your experience would not have
+been half so bad had the guns been loaded or had I used smokeless."
+
+The ship which had trembled from stem to stern under the tremendous
+concussion was floating now as quietly as a toy balloon, while the wind
+was rolling up and pushing before it a great cloud of smoke which
+obscured the sky. On all sides there was perfect stillness, broken only
+now and again by the last explosion of gas caught in the cylinders of
+the Taubes by the sudden stoppage of the engines. The airmen were
+volplaning to earth as fast and as silently as they could.
+
+"Well, that ought to hold them for a while," commented Lawrence in a
+tone which showed that he was almost himself again.
+
+"And make them a little bit more amenable to reason in the morning,"
+added Edestone, and he laughed, for action with him always drove away
+the blue devils.
+
+"With that settled, too, we will just have time before turning in, to
+inspect my quarters," he continued. "Tomorrow I will introduce you to
+'Specs' and Captain Lee, and you can go with them at eleven o'clock on
+their tour of official inspection. They will show you the fire drill,
+the life-balloon drill, the gun drill, the kitchen, and the cows. But
+now I want you to see a different side of the ship. We will look at my
+quarters, then at my guest rooms, and finally at my royal suite or state
+apartments as I call them."
+
+He then took Lawrence through room after room, which were arranged in
+the form of a horseshoe, starting on the port side with his breakfast
+room, and working around to the starboard side with its opening toward
+the stern of the ship.
+
+On the port side were Edestone's apartments--living-room, library,
+or den, bedroom, dressing-room, bath-room, and gymnasium. On the
+starboard were a number of guest rooms arranged in suites of parlour,
+bedroom, and bath, while at the crown of the arch was a large dining-room
+in which fifty persons could sit down to dinner comfortably.
+
+The centre of the horseshoe was the large room through which he had
+passed, and like the general meeting room of a large country house was
+filled with all known kinds of games--instruments and devices to amuse
+that most unfortunate class of human beings who have no resources within
+themselves, and must play some foolish game, or do some foolish puzzle
+in order to get through the life which seems to hang so heavily on their
+hands.
+
+From this they passed to a lower deck about amidships, to a room about
+eighty feet by one hundred and twenty feet, which extended the full
+width of the ship and up three decks. At one end of this large and
+handsome room was a raised platform arranged like the Speaker's desk in
+the House of Representatives at Washington with the desks at lower
+levels for stenographers, clerks, and attendants, while around the room
+in concentric circles were large comfortable seats and desks, also like
+a Senate Chamber, only more luxurious in appointments, as though it were
+to receive a more distinguished body of men than the Senate of the
+United States, if that were possible.
+
+"This," said Edestone, "is where I intend to hold my Peace Conference,
+and when you see the names of the distinguished men who are to sit here,
+and the apartments that I have arranged for them and their suites, you
+will perhaps be glad to take your old position of room clerk."
+
+Then after showing his companion through these magnificent "royal
+suites," as he called them, all furnished and equipped in the most
+sumptuous fashion, he suggested that they had better turn in.
+
+"We will hope and pray for the best in the morning," he said, as he bade
+Lawrence good-night.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIV
+
+THE ULTIMATUM
+
+
+The sun was streaming through the windows when Lawrence awoke the next
+morning. The valet had come in shortly before to throw back the
+curtains with a slam, and by moving about the room, slapping up shades
+and dropping boots, make the usual noises of a well-trained valet at
+that time of the morning.
+
+"Mr. Edestone is already up, sir," he said when he saw that he had
+succeeded in waking Lawrence, "and is having his breakfast in his own
+apartments. Will you have yours here or will you go to the breakfast
+room?"
+
+"Breakfast room," elected Lawrence sleepily. "What time is it?"
+
+"Eight o'clock, sir. What will you have for breakfast, sir?"
+
+"Anything and eggs," said Lawrence, and was about to turn over and go to
+sleep again when he realized where he was, and leaping out of bed to the
+window in one bound stepped out into the _loggia_.
+
+The Little Peace Maker had dropped down and was now only about a
+thousand feet up; and when he looked down from his balcony, he could see
+that she had changed her position so as to float exactly over the
+Palace. It almost seemed to him as if he could step off and onto the
+roof of this great pile of masonry. The airship, too, must have just
+moved into this position, as was shown by the excited way in which the
+little people below him were running away in every direction.
+
+He had his bath, and hurriedly dressing went into the breakfast room,
+where he found Edestone, who had finished his breakfast and was waiting
+for him, while reading from a lot of slips of paper which he was turning
+over in his hand. The master of the ship was dressed all in white and
+looked refreshed after a good night's rest.
+
+"Good-morning, Lawrence," he greeted him. "Did you sleep well?"
+
+"Like a top."
+
+"And how is your hand?"
+
+"I had almost forgotten it, only I did get the dressings wet while
+taking my bath, but that will give me an excuse for passing the time of
+day with the doctors. How is your head?"
+
+"Oh, that does not amount to anything," said Edestone. "It will be well
+in a week. Have you seen the morning papers?" With a smile he handed him
+a sheet on which was printed all the news of the day which the wireless
+man had picked up during the night.
+
+"The United States has not been heard from," he commented as he glanced
+it over. "I wonder what the Southern Baptist Union School Children will
+think of me now? You know the Secretary of State thought I was a
+Baptist. And as for him, why he will leave the State Department and stay
+away until it gets too hot in Florida, or the lecturing season is all
+over, while the President will write a most scholarly note to all of the
+Powers telling them how much he loves them, and what a glorious thing it
+is to be an American. He will then give an unqualified invitation to all
+of the dark-skinned downtrodden criminals of Europe to come over and be
+sprinkled with the holy water of citizenship, after they have made their
+mark to their naturalization papers which have been read to them by
+their interpreter.
+
+"London reports that the news from Germany has filled the entire country
+with new confidence," he went on, "and that the Londoners have given
+themselves over to the most un-English and thoroughly Latin
+demonstrations by parading the streets and singing songs and indulging
+in another Mafeking. I see, too, that Lord Rockstone is reported to have
+said that he thought now the war would not last as long as he had
+expected. The King has called a special meeting of the Cabinet for today
+at 4 o'clock.
+
+"Reports come from Rome that Italy will enter the war immediately, and
+the papers point out the fact that now since her friend America has
+joined the Allies it is high time that Italy should take her position.
+
+"Petrograd reports that they have lost 100,000 men but have captured
+250,000 Austrians.
+
+"Constantinople," he went on reading, "declares that the Dardanelles are
+impregnable and that the city is perfectly quiet, but the Sultan and
+half of his harem have moved to his summer residence."
+
+He laid down the printed sheet. "I have had no communication yet from
+down there," he said as he pointed down in the direction of the Palace.
+"My international law department is drawing up a proclamation which I
+will send as soon as it is finished. It will be along the lines that I
+spoke of to you last night, but framed in more diplomatic
+language. These are the latest bulletins I was just reading over when
+you came in."
+
+Then while Lawrence sat eating his breakfast, Edestone continued to read
+now and then bits of the different press notices.
+
+"Listen to this," he said with a laugh. "'The twenty Taubes sent up to
+make a night attack on the American airship inflicted great
+injury. After using up all their ammunition and bombs they were forced
+to retire before the large guns of the enemy. They all reached the
+ground in safety. The tremendous explosion that was heard in the city
+is thought to have been caused by the exploding of one of the large
+magazines.'"
+
+"What's that from?" Lawrence glanced up from his "anything and eggs."
+"_Die Fliegende Blatter?_"
+
+But Edestone did not smile, he was glancing at another of the slips.
+
+"Ah," he said in a sad voice, "I seem to have killed about one thousand
+people last night."
+
+"Still," argued Lawrence, "that was not as large a percentage of the
+German Empire as they killed of your little kingdom."
+
+"No," granted Edestone; "and as long as they insist upon treating me as
+an outlaw I will be one so far as they are concerned. I will now go and
+see if my ultimatum is prepared. I am undecided as to whether I will
+send it by wireless or by a messenger."
+
+Lawrence finished his breakfast and while he sat in the _loggia_ smoking
+his cigar and looking down over the city, he decided to ask permission
+to carry the message to the Emperor himself. The idea delighted him,
+and he pictured exactly how he would walk and speak his lines like the
+prince in the story book. He only regretted that he was not to be
+dressed up in spangles, like the heralds of old, and have the triumphal
+march from _Aida_ played by trumpeters from the Metropolitan Opera
+House who would precede him in their brand-new Cammeyer sandals and
+badly fitting tights but he decided that if said trumpeters were obliged
+to read sheet music he would not allow them to wear glasses. He was just
+making up his mind what he would say to the Emperor when Wilhelm fell on
+his knees and begged him to intercede for him, as Edestone came in, and
+blasted all these glowing dreams with a word.
+
+"Well, it is done," he said, "and I have given them until one o'clock to
+answer."
+
+Lawrence was then formally introduced to "Specs" under his title of
+Admiral Page, to Captain Lee, and the officers, and he spent one of the
+most delightful days of his life, so much interested in what he saw that
+he entirely forgot that he was a pirate, waiting to destroy a peaceable
+city if it did not do his bidding.
+
+Edestone had settled himself down for a quiet day of waiting, and
+Lawrence amused himself by inspecting every part of the ship and talking
+with all on board from the oil men to the Admiral.
+
+"Admiral Page," he inquired, "where do you keep the Deionizer?"
+
+At which "Specs" peeped at him with a suspicious glance through his
+thick glasses. "Has Mr. Edestone spoken to you of that?" he asked.
+
+"Yes," replied Lawrence, "but he did not explain to me its working."
+
+"Specs" hesitated to take even Lawrence into the holy of holies until he
+had obtained permission from Edestone to do so. Having by telephone
+communicated with him, and receiving his permission, he conducted
+Lawrence up into the bow of the ship. After passing through several
+heavy doors, which "Specs" unlocked, saluting the sentries at each, they
+came to a great iron grille and he motioned to Lawrence to look through,
+saying, "This is as far as I can take you."
+
+Lawrence looked through, and he saw what appeared to be the door of an
+enormous safe-deposit k vault. "That," nodded "Specs," "is the door to
+the safe in which the Deionizer is kept. No one on earth excepting
+Mr. Edestone knows the combination that will open those doors. That is
+run by a one hundred H. P. motor in the engine room, and from it run the
+deionizing cables which run down the port and starboard sides of the
+vessel."
+
+"Do you mean to say," said Lawrence, "that I have no weight?" as he felt
+his large biceps with an expression of pride.
+
+This caused "Specs" to laugh, and in response to the numberless
+questions put to him by the young man, he explained the different
+mechanisms by which the weight of the ship and its contents was kept at
+the weight of the amount of air displaced by it.
+
+"So," said Lawrence, "we are floating not by virtue of gas bags filled
+with gas lighter than air, but by the amount of air displaced by all
+metallic substances on this vessel, which for all practical purposes are
+rendered lighter than air?"
+
+"Yes," replied "Specs," with a look of pity for the other man's
+ignorance, "I suppose that is the way you would express it. If you
+really want to understand, and are willing to give the time to it, come
+to my quarters, and I will give you the scientific explanation."
+
+"No, thank you," said Lawrence; "I'll take your word for it, but I am
+glad to know that when I get back to earth I'm not liable at any time to
+be blown away like a thistledown."
+
+At lunch Edestone appeared very thoughtful and seemed to feel great
+anxiety about the outcome of his note. They had observed that soon after
+the message had been sent automobiles were coming and going from the
+Palace in great numbers, and gathered that the Emperor apparently was
+holding a council of war. They had also seen with powerful glasses that,
+in certain parts of the city there was great activity of some kind, but
+they were unable to ascertain exactly what it was.
+
+"I cannot understand," frowned Edestone, "how they can possibly decline
+a proposition _pour parler_. I asked them to agree to nothing. I
+assured them that I would use my influence in favour of a just
+settlement of all the claims arising out of the war and of the incidents
+leading up to it. I appealed to their humanity, and guaranteed as far
+as lay within my power to protect the lives and property of Germans all
+over the world if they would only stop all actual fighting until I could
+make an exactly similar appeal to the other Governments that are
+involved."
+
+Just then an officer came in and handed Edestone a wireless message
+which had just been received.
+
+Edestone read it hurriedly, but as he glanced up it was easy to see from
+the expression on his face that he was pleased.
+
+"Well," he exclaimed elatedly, "these Germans are not so bad after all,
+and if they will only give up the idea that they are the only people on
+the face of the earth, the sooner will they get what they want. That is,
+if they are telling the truth when they state they are fighting only to
+bring religion, science, and culture to the entire world. They do
+sincerely and honestly believe, I think, that this can be obtained only
+under the German form of government, and many of the other nations would
+be willing to admit this in part were they absolutely convinced of their
+sincerity and did not suspect them of greed on the part of the merchant
+class and ambition on the part of the war party.
+
+"They have apparently received my note in the spirit in which it was
+sent," he explained, "and have agreed to consider carefully the
+proposition which I have made. They only ask to be given until five
+o'clock this afternoon to draw up in proper form their reply to me and
+their message to the other countries. I am expecting every minute now to
+see a white flag displayed somewhere on or around the Palace, which was
+the signal agreed upon and is to be acknowledged by a similar flag
+displayed by me. This is not to be considered as an indication of any
+weakness on their part, or any surrendering of their rights or the
+acknowledgment of my power, but as a truce which will last only until
+five o'clock, or until such earlier time as I shall answer them. They
+stipulate that I, as an indication of good faith, withdraw to some point
+outside of the city, where it will be well out of range of my largest
+guns, and in order to fix some location which will be perfectly
+satisfactory they have suggested that I lie over the Gotzen See and have
+established my exact position by the ruins of an old castle on its
+north-eastern bank. There I am to remain until I receive their answer,
+which if not satisfactory terminates the truce. They have indicated very
+justly that they do not think they should be called upon to open
+negotiations for an amicable settlement with me while the Little Peace
+Maker is lying so close to the Emperor's Palace and threatening it with
+instant destruction."
+
+As it was impossible for them from where they were to see the Palace,
+Edestone suggested that they go up on the upper deck.
+
+"I hope that by the time we arrive on deck," Edestone said as they
+hurried along, "the white flag will be flying, and I sincerely hope that
+this will mark the beginning of the end of this cruel war and the
+realization of my hopes, the accomplishment of my life's work.
+
+"Ah," he exclaimed as they arrived and looked down, "there she is! You
+can see it on the large flagpole out in front of the Palace, while the
+Imperial standard is still floating over His Majesty's residence." He
+called an officer to him and gave him his orders:
+
+"Dip my colours and then run them up to the peak again. Display a white
+flag. Tell Captain Lee to call all hands, and get under way at once.
+Drop to within four hundred feet, man the rail, and circle the
+Palace. Haul down my colours and run up the German Imperial Ensign and
+fire a national salute of twenty-one guns, and then run at top speed and
+take a position over the Gotzen See at a point which I shall indicate."
+
+The ceremony was executed faultlessly, as he directed, and when the
+Little Peace Maker, just skirting the tops of the buildings, cast the
+shadow of its nine hundred feet of steel as it came between the sun and
+the Imperial city, its big guns booming the national salute, the people
+of Berlin must have been impressed, for when she circled at about four
+knots they cheered. But when she changed her speed, and at one hundred
+and eighty knots disappeared from sight, they must have been relieved.
+
+At such speed it was only a few minutes before they were hovering
+quietly over the old ruin on the banks of the lake, and they settled
+down to spend the afternoon as they would have, had they been anchored
+in Frenchman's Bay off of Bar Harbour in the month of August on board
+the _Storm Queen_.
+
+It was a beautiful and quiet summer scene, and like a big trout in a
+limpid pool the Little Peace Maker lay perfectly still basking in the
+warm sunshine. Most of the ports were open and the men were lying around
+enjoying the relaxation of the first dog-watch.
+
+Although it was with difficulty that Edestone could keep Lawrence still
+long enough, he forced him to join in a game of chess, which was
+Edestone's favourite form of relaxation. Lawrence, however, kept
+continually breaking in with the suggestion that they go below and take
+a walk among the ruins of the home of one of the ancient Barons of
+Prussia.
+
+From time to time, while waiting for Lawrence to move, Edestone would
+consult his watch, and as the fatal hour of five approached, although
+perfectly calm he was anxious.
+
+With the finish of the game, Lawrence, who had chafed under the
+confinement, insisted upon going on deck and talking with the officers
+and men.
+
+When next he saw his friend, Edestone was walking up and down the
+general living-room with an expression of great anxiety on his face. It
+was half-past five o'clock, and although Lawrence had entirely forgotten
+it, he suddenly thought of the ultimatum.
+
+"Well what did they answer?" he asked.
+
+"Nothing," said Edestone.
+
+"And what are you going to do?"
+
+"I am going to Kiel to sink one of their largest battleships, and see if
+that will wake them up. We shall be under way in ten minutes and should
+be there by eight-thirty o'clock. I have ordered 'Specs' to get under
+way as soon as possible."
+
+Lawrence was delighted; this was the best yachting that he had ever had,
+and he wanted to be in so many places at the same time that he ran about
+like a boy on his first ocean trip. He was just going up the
+companionway to the pilot house, where he knew he would find Edestone,
+when he was almost knocked off his feet by the impact of something
+against the side of the ship which felt as if it would tear out every
+rivet and buckle every beam. At the same instant there was an explosion
+which was worse than the black-powder explosion of the night before, and
+he was just thinking how unkind it was of Edestone not to have warned
+him before indulging in another one of his pyrotechnical demonstrations,
+when it was followed by another and another.
+
+He had managed by this time to get into the pilot house, where he saw
+Edestone with an expression of rage on his face giving sharp peremptory
+orders while the life was being pounded out of the Little Peace
+Maker. In response to these orders, the ship suddenly shot up with such
+rapidity that it seemed to Lawrence as if his legs would be driven
+through the floor.
+
+He was suffering great pain in his head and his nose was bleeding. He
+could scarcely hear what Edestone was saying to him, but finally he
+caught these words:
+
+"So that is their answer, the liars! They have taken advantage of my
+willingness to remain here quietly, and with their thoroughness in all
+matters and their usual method of working in the dark, they have placed
+me where they have carefully worked out the range of their
+forty-two-centimetre guns. They hoped to be able to capture us, but
+seeing our smoke, and realizing that I was going to move, they took this
+unspeakable method of putting an end to the Little Peace Maker."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXV
+
+A LYING KING MAKES A NATION OF LIARS
+
+
+It seemed for a time as if Edestone had completely lost control of
+himself. Lawrence, "Specs," and Captain Lee, who had all known him for
+years, stood back staring at him in blank amazement. He was perfectly
+livid. Out of his face had gone every semblance of the man that they had
+known, loved, honoured, and respected for his kind, big, and forgiving
+nature, willing to stand an insult rather than use his great power where
+a smaller character would have demanded the last ounce of flesh. In its
+place was an expression of rage which would have been frightful to see
+on the face of a weaker man, but on his, with all the power and
+determination of his strong character behind it, it was appalling. It
+made them feel that they were held helpless by a powerful demon who
+would destroy and kill any who might stand in his way. Pushing everyone
+aside in a manner that was entirely foreign to him, he sprang to the
+wheel and taking it rang for full speed ahead. He swung the ship around
+so quickly that she banked and turned over at an angle of thirty
+degrees.
+
+She was then at an altitude of from 7000 to 8000 feet and he put her
+head down as if he intended to drive her steel-pointed bow into the very
+heart of the city of Berlin. But when he had gotten her at about 400
+feet he straightened her out and sent her at 150 knots. Without taking
+his eyes off his goal, which seemed to be the Palace of the Kaiser, he
+said in a cold and emotionless voice: "See what damage has been done and
+report to me quickly, and as there is a God in Heaven if a single one of
+my men has been killed I will hang the Kaiser after I have destroyed his
+city!"
+
+While the different officers were busily telephoning to every part of
+the ship carrying out this order, Lawrence stood paralysed waiting for
+the answers. He sincerely hoped that none of the men had been killed,
+but as one officer after another reported all well in his department,
+and as the number of departments yet to be heard from grew less and
+less, he could not control a distinct feeling of disappointment, for he
+had silently said "Amen!" to Edestone's last sentiment. When all had
+been heard from, and it was found that none had been killed, and that
+the injuries to the ship were, so slight that they could be repaired
+within a week, Edestone said to the officer of the deck:
+
+"Take the wheel. When you are over the city and have made the Palace,
+circle it at eight knots. I wish them all to see me. After you have
+rounded the Palace, run at full speed for Kiel."
+
+And without a word to Lawrence he turned and left the bridge. On his
+face was a look that showed that the demon within him was under perfect
+control, but he had no desire to hide the fact that it was still with
+him. Lawrence would no more have thought of following him than he would
+have thought of following a wounded Manchurian tiger into its cave.
+
+"I would have hated to hear that any one of our fine fellows had been
+killed," he said with a nervous laugh, "but my, what a swell little
+afternoon hanging that would have been! Nathan Hale with the original
+cast wouldn't have had a speculator in front of his doors. His front-row
+seats would be selling at box-office prices, while we would have sold
+out the house at ten thousand times the cost of the production before
+the first-nighters had even seen a press notice. There would not have
+been a piece of paper in the house except the Press and the Princes. By
+the sacred substance of John D. Rockefeller's hair-tonic, I hate to
+think of the money we would have made with the movies! The Crown Prince
+giving the Papa Wilhelm kiss, while the trap man plays on the melodeon
+'It's the Wrong Way to Tickle Mary,' and the Ghost of the Hohenzollern,
+who ate up her two babies when she found they disturbed her gentleman
+friend, hovering over the scene like Schumann-Heink in the
+_Rheingold_,--I would not release that reel for less than a billion
+dollars down!
+
+"But why talk about pleasant things when we have such serious matters on
+our hands."
+
+"Mr. Edestone looked as if he meant serious business all right," said
+one of the officers. "Listen! I hear the wireless sending a message
+now."
+
+Lawrence listened, and repeated as he heard: "The Little Peace Maker is
+now running for Kiel, where she will arrive at 8:30. At 8:45 I will
+begin to drop tons of lyddite and dynamite on the decks of all German
+ships of war, and in order that there may be no unnecessary loss of life
+I give this notice."
+
+The instrument stopped, but Lawrence continued, as if still catching and
+translating the message:
+
+"And realizing the extreme supersensitiveness of the German sailors, we
+are sending ahead by Parcel Post baskets for the cats and cages for the
+canaries. The women and babies, being contraband, must go down with the
+ships."
+
+They were now slowly swinging around the Palace, and as the people of
+Berlin knew nothing, they took the accepted German position, which was
+that Edestone was afraid of the Kaiser's wrath, and they therefore came
+flocking out into the streets to see him dip his flag to that of the
+all-powerful German Empire.
+
+Lawrence noted that the Imperial standard was no longer flying over the
+Palace. "It looks," said he, "as if we would have to put in an
+under-study for the leading man."
+
+And then as if some sudden idea had struck him, he rushed from the
+bridge, and while the Little Peace Maker was slowly passing over the
+plaza in front of the Palace, the men on the bridge saw with a mingled
+feeling of horror and delight a large black object, which resembled a
+submarine mine, dropping from the port side of the ship, and they stood
+in breathless expectation of seeing the hideous Renaissance monument,
+erected by Schluter, blown to atoms. When the sinister-looking cylinder
+struck the pavement it exploded, but instead of death and destruction
+the flaggings were strewn with egg-shells, coffee-grounds, and garbage.
+
+"I always did like that French chef," said Lawrence when he returned to
+the bridge, gasping for breath.
+
+"I am sorry," he added, "that we didn't have our little lynching bee
+this afternoon, but the sinking of a billion dollars' worth of
+battleships must be almost as much fun as hanging a 'kink.'"
+
+They were now going at top speed, and after waiting about for some time
+and finding that Edestone did not return to the bridge, he went to his
+room and dressed for dinner.
+
+At dinner Edestone appeared, but he was very quiet.
+
+"Lawrence," he said, "you must forgive me, but I really am not myself. I
+cannot recall at any time in my entire life when I was ever so angry as
+I was this afternoon. I think they call it 'seeing red.'"
+
+"You were 'seeing red' all right," said Lawrence, "and you certainly got
+my goat."
+
+"If one of the men on this ship had been killed, after that pledge had
+been given for their safety, I do not know what I would have done."
+
+"Exactly what do you propose to do?"
+
+"I intend to wreck and destroy everything in this country that will be
+of the slightest use to them for military purposes. Today it is Kiel
+with its ships, shipyards, and dry-docks; tomorrow, Krupps; and so on
+until they will have to stop fighting for the lack of munitions of
+war. I shall endeavour as far as possible to avoid loss of life, but,"
+with an ironical smile, "if these people wish to indulge in a fanatical
+display of heroism and patriotism, I shall allow them the privilege of
+sinking with their ships, or dying with their pet inventions."
+
+With everything closed down tight they were fast approaching Kiel, and
+going up into the conning tower Edestone and Lawrence were able to see
+the entire German fleet. His message had evidently been received, but
+the commanders, instead of accepting his warning, had steam up, were
+stripped for action, and with flags flying were making for the open sea.
+
+Edestone, as quietly as if he were standing on the bridge of the
+_Storm Queen_ giving instructions for the next day's cruise, turned
+to "Specs."
+
+"Go out and circle them," he said, "meet the leading ship, and then with
+every gun, aerial torpedo, and bomb dropper destroy them."
+
+The air was soon filled with the most frightful conflict that had ever
+taken place in the heavens above, on the earth beneath, or in the waters
+under the earth. Every ship in the fleet was, as far as possible,
+training all of her guns on them, while they, moving at the rate of
+thirty knots, were sailing around and around, dropping bombs on those
+under them, bombarding with their great 16-inch guns the distant ships,
+while the smaller guns rendered the middle distance untenable to any
+ship yet built by man.
+
+In the course of an hour not one of the German ships could be seen above
+the water, and Edestone, with none of his usual kindness of heart and
+sympathy for others, leaving to their fate the dead and dying that
+filled the sea beneath them, gave the orders to destroy the shipyards
+and dry-docks before it was too dark.
+
+For a week this rain of destruction was continued day after day until
+his prophecy had been fulfilled, and Germany, driven to her knees, was
+suing for peace.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVI
+
+THINK OF IT! WHY NOT?
+
+
+Edestone, in the meantime, through Sir Egbert Graves, had communicated
+with the King of England, politely calling His Majesty's attention to
+what he was doing, and begging that he would call upon his Allies to
+stop all hostilities, and intimating that the same treatment would be
+meted out to any who declined to comply with His Majesty's request.
+
+He also suggested that it was his sincere hope that His Majesty would
+call to a conference the representatives of the nations of Europe to
+discuss the settling of all questions that had caused the war, or had
+grown out of it, as well as the possible methods of securing for the
+world perpetual peace.
+
+He stated that he would put at His Majesty's disposal the Little Peace
+Maker if it were necessary in order to accomplish this.
+
+He intimated that, if it were perpetual peace that was sought, much time
+and many lives would be saved if all would, of their own accord, each
+for himself, do what he was doing for Germany as fast as possible,
+namely, destroy all ships and implements of war.
+
+This raised a storm of protest, and international notes burned the ether
+of space as they flashed back and forth. Even the United States entered
+the controversy, seeming to have at last found something sufficiently
+threatening to her interests and insulting to her dignity to cause her
+to take her place with the other nations of the world.
+
+Edestone was inundated with communications from the different nations,
+drawn in the most bombastic manner; for although they must have by this
+time realized that they were absolutely in his power, they were unable
+to set aside the boastful method of addressing their fellow-men which
+they had inherited from their savage ancestors, who, standing half-naked
+around the council fire, tried by this method to throw terror into the
+hearts of their listeners.
+
+To all this he made but one reply, which was that nations which came
+together for the purpose of sincerely discussing universal peace must
+come absolutely unarmed, and those who refused so to do should be
+disarmed by force. When these protests finally took the form of an
+approaching coalition of the nations of the earth for the purpose of his
+destruction, his answer was to take possession quietly of two or three
+of the largest plants in Europe, which he forced to run to replenish the
+Little Peace Maker with munitions of war.
+
+After a diplomatic correspondence had gone on, extending over several
+weeks, and Edestone had punctuated his demands with an occasional
+sinking of a battleship or destruction of a powder plant belonging to
+the nations who stood out against him, after he had visited all of the
+principal capitals, and representatives of the Governments had come on
+board to discuss with him, his terms were finally agreed upon, and the
+date for this great meeting was fixed. He declined to negotiate with
+any, other than the absolute heads of the respective Governments, and
+after much discussion all precedent was set aside, and it was agreed
+that the conference should be held on board of the Little Peace
+Maker. Franz Josef I., Emperor of Austria; Wilhelm II., Emperor of
+Germany; George V., King of England; Nicholas II., Czar of Russia; the
+President of the French Republic; Mr. Cockadoo of the United States of
+America, together with a company of lesser lights, all with suites in
+keeping with their rank, were there received and entertained by him.
+
+Lawrence, accepting the position of Room Clerk, took great pride and
+pleasure in seeing that everyone was properly installed. This was not,
+however, his official position, as Edestone had turned over to him the
+task of answering the great volume of communications that he had
+received from amateurs, fanatics, ladies, and criminals, and it devolved
+upon him to answer these and also to provide for the entertainment of
+the representatives of the Anarchists, Socialists, Organized Labour, and
+Suffragettes.
+
+To the Anarchists, in answer to their inquiries as to where they were
+now to obtain their explosives with which to continue their campaigns in
+the future, and without the use of which they could secure for their
+arguments no attention, he made no reply.
+
+To the Socialists, he said that the best that he could do for them was
+to provide an overflow meeting at the foot of the stairs; the Emperor of
+Germany had refused to sit down with the traitors, as he called them,
+and for once Edestone agreed with the Imperial contention. There,
+Lawrence assured them, their point of view would be given serious
+consideration; in fact, he himself expected to have the great honour
+of addressing them and the Prohibitionists, the Anti-Vivisectionists,
+the Cubists, the Futurists, the Post-Impressionists, and the Reds.
+
+To Organized Labour, Edestone wrote that he would represent their
+cause. Descended as he was from a long line of honest labouring men, who
+had succeeded without the assistance of an organization of lazy and
+inefficient ones combined under dishonest leaders, he assured them that
+he would insist upon their rights, and that under the new regime,
+honesty, efficiency, and sense of responsibility to those who employed
+them would be recognized and rewarded in a manner beyond their wildest
+dreams. This could not, however, be accomplished, he said, except by
+forcing the dishonest, lazy, and inefficient into their rightful
+position, that of a worthless by-product in this great world of
+recognition of true merit.
+
+To the Suffragettes, Lawrence extended a most cordial invitation, but
+stipulated that no representative would be received who had not borne
+and raised twelve children, or were willing to appear at the meeting
+without their hats, with hair cropped close to the head.
+
+The date selected by Edestone was the Fourth day of July; the place, in
+order to offend no one, was the beautiful valley of St. Nicholas in the
+neutral country of the Swiss, and the Little Peace Maker, painted and
+polished, was floating about twenty-five feet from the ground. About
+one-quarter of her length from her stern, leading from an opening in her
+bottom, ran a great flight of stairs which rested on a platform at their
+foot. This was constructed in a manner similar to the cradle upon which
+she was seen to rest by the King of England and his Cabinet. In this
+manner she was connected with the earth but absolutely insulated.
+
+To reach this platform one had to walk up four or five steps, which were
+made of hard rubber, over which was laid a thick red velvet carpet,
+which continued across the platform and up this most impressive flight
+of stairs and disappeared into the opening in the Little Peace Maker.
+Bands were playing, children were laughing, but not one soldier was to
+be seen.
+
+The Royalties, as they arrived, were received at the foot of the stairs
+by Edestone and conducted to their apartments where, surrounded by their
+secretaries and servants, they might live entirely alone, or could, if
+they desired to do so, mingle with the rest of the distinguished
+company.
+
+When the great day arrived, and these Royal Potentates were seated in
+their places, which had been arranged with great consideration for their
+extreme sensitiveness on the subject of precedent, an exact science,
+Edestone, dressed in his simple yachting costume, walked slowly up
+through the aisle, on either side of which were seated Royalties, each
+in his favourite uniform of ceremony, soon to become as old-fashioned as
+the tattooing on a savage's face. With perfect composure and
+self-possession he took his place as Chairman of the Board and called
+the meeting to order.
+
+Then in a perfectly businesslike manner he explained the object of the
+meeting, which he did with the greatest consideration for his
+distinguished listeners, but there was in his voice a ring of
+confidence, which they all knew was due to the fact that the suggestions
+that he made would certainly be put into effect, and whereas they came
+to discuss, they remained to agree.
+
+He first briefly outlined the Utopian condition of the world as it would
+be after his first suggestion had been carried into effect, and all
+arms, ammunition, ships of war, and all destructive agencies had been
+destroyed.
+
+He then laid down some new principles and relegated some of the old to
+the scrap-heap.
+
+He scoffed at the theory of majority rule, equality of man, and
+perpetual peace through brotherly love.
+
+Why should the majority rule, if the minority were more intelligent?
+
+Why should all men be considered equal in intelligence, if not in weight
+and height?
+
+Why should dried-up old women be able to do something that young men, in
+their full health and strength, had been unable to accomplish?
+
+He then established a very limited ruling class, which he called, for
+the lack of a better name, the Aristocracy of Intelligence, over which
+he placed a head with absolute power, backed with sufficient force to
+see that its wishes were carried out.
+
+He then finally laid before them the plan of administration which he
+proposed, which was that the entire world should be run by a Board of
+Directors, of which, for the present, he sincerely hoped that they would
+allow him to hold the humbler position of Chairman, while the President
+and glorious head should be selected from some of the distinguished
+monarchs within the sound of his voice.
+
+He then very diplomatically explained that the form of government would
+be based upon the administration of the great corporations of America,
+which was his extremely polite method of informing them that the
+Chairman of the Board was the power, and the President was but the icing
+on the cake.
+
+He stated that history taught them that all wars had come about on
+account of three things: Race, Religion, and Riches.
+
+He suggested that the Race problem might be entirely solved by
+segregating the races of the world, and giving over to them a portion of
+the earth sufficiently large to support them in comfort in the climate
+and surroundings to which they were accustomed, in which section they
+should speak their own language, and were entitled to indulge in their
+own forms of religion, customs, and superstitions, and there and there
+alone they were supreme, and then only on matters of the administration
+of their own allotment of the earth, but were subject absolutely and
+entirely to the ruling of the Board of Directors as to their
+international policies.
+
+The title of the portion of the world allotted to them was based not
+upon the claims of any barbarian of antiquity, fanatic of the Middle
+Ages, or the war lords of modern times, but upon the decision of the
+Board of Directors, which would annul all previous titles and be final
+and irrevocable.
+
+If at any time any one or group of these left the portion of the earth
+to which they had been restricted, they lost all of their rights as
+citizens of the world, and while visiting the other sections must bow
+absolutely to the will of those whose hospitality they were accepting.
+
+In the case of those nations who had no home, and who had been parasites
+on the nations of the earth for thousands of years, it was proposed that
+they purchase from the country now holding the cradle of their birth a
+home sufficiently large to accommodate their ever-increasing numbers
+under the hygienic and healthful condition of the countries which they
+swarmed.
+
+Religion, he said, which had for so many years been the cause of wars
+and tumults, numbered by actual count up into the thousands, were in his
+opinion sufficient in number to satisfy all who were not wishing for
+personal aggrandizement or accumulation of wealth to create
+others. Therefore, he stated, that all religions which had been
+established up to the beginning of the nineteenth century might be
+allowed to continue, but all others, being drawn on rather too
+scientific and financial lines, were to be eliminated.
+
+Coming to the last, and, as he expressed it, the cause of the present
+war, namely, Riches, he showed that in the new form of government
+competition would be eliminated, the interest of the whole being
+controlled by one head with power to police, and greater profits to all
+would accrue by the elimination of waste of time and money and by the
+efficiency of a single administration.
+
+He then suggested that a grand and international festival be held, at
+which the combined fleets of the entire world be gathered together in
+the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, and there, as a bond of good faith of
+all, in the midst of universal rejoicing, they should be consigned to
+the bottomless depths of absolute and eternal darkness.
+
+In the meantime, Lawrence was addressing an assemblage of Reds,
+I. W. W.'s, Prohibitionists, and other thoughtful members of society. To
+these he was serving grape juice and patent medicines. The percentage
+of alcohol in these beverages quieted the nerves of most, but rendered
+the Prohibitionists quite hilarious. They listened with much attention
+and applauded violently the scheme which he outlined before them.
+
+"You should be allowed," he said, "to settle in the middle of the Desert
+of Sahara, where you could all live in beautiful glass houses, and where
+the soil produces no stones of a throwable size. There will be no
+saloons there, clubs or dinner parties, but drugstores with their
+alluring lights will decorate every corner. There with your palates
+parching with pain your motto should be 'Speak Easy' for the sake of the
+Cause. The lives of the inhabitants will be regulated by priestesses and
+preachers, and to them will be submitted the most intimate affairs of
+the family. Yours will be a maternal government; to each member of every
+family the Government will daily, after taking the temperature, issue
+canton flannel underclothes of the proper weight to be worn during the
+day. Alarm clocks set by the Government will be issued to all. Your
+food, your cooking, and your babies--if you have any, and God grant that
+you may not in such a dry place!--will all be according to the canons of
+your religion. Should you at any time find that the inhabitants are
+drying up and blowing away, you can recruit from the malcontents of
+other portions of the globe."
+
+With the Anti-Vivisectionists he was most sympathetic. "Ladies and
+cranks," he said. "I, too, am very fond of dogs, but as it is absolutely
+necessary for the progress of science to make experiments upon living
+subjects, I call upon you to volunteer for this work for all portions of
+the body except the brain; for that portion I am creditably informed
+that the doctors would prefer to use wood pulp."
+
+This was received with violent protestations of disapproval by the
+Cubists, the Futurists, and the Post-Impressionists, who claimed that
+this was entirely unnecessary, as they were able in their pictures to
+reveal the most secret workings of the brain, and that upon their
+canvases they laid bare for the study of the scientific world all that
+it was necessary for it to know.
+
+To the representatives of the Allied A.M.L.Q. American Architects, he
+expressed his most sincere thanks for the kind expression of their
+approval and offer of assistance, and in recognition of their
+co-operation, he gave them entire charge of the competition for the
+laying out and decorating, with befitting whirlwind monuments, hot air
+fountains, and castles in the air, the great Edestone aerial highway
+which was to encircle the globe.
+
+Aloft Edestone, on the other hand, was having more trouble with his
+audience, for his speech when finished was received with loud
+protestations of disapproval, rendered in the most kingly and imperial
+manner by this group of cousins, first cousins, double first cousins,
+and half-brothers. Fortunately, however, for the welfare of the great
+mass of the people of the world, they were well represented by the
+strong, serious, and intelligent-looking men who sat at the elbow
+of this consanguineous group, some of whom had by a process of
+intermarrying degenerated into mere effigies of the strong men from
+whom they were descended. These powers behind the tottering thrones
+of Europe realized and bowed before the inevitable.
+
+
+FINIS
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of L. P. M., by J. Stewart Barney
+
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