’Say，friend，’heshouted，’you’veleftyourgrip，’andhehandedmemybagfromtheluggagerack。Butheshowednosignofrecognition，andthelastIsawofhimwassittingsunkinacornerwithhisheadonhischestasifheweregoingtosleep。Hewasamanwhokeptuphispartswell。
Therewasamotor—carwaiting—oneofthegreymilitarykind—
andwestartedataterrificpaceoverbadforestroads。Stummhadputawayhispapersinaportfolio，andflungmeafewsentencesonthejourney。
’Ihaven’tmadeupmymindaboutyou，Brandt，’heannounced。
’Youmaybeafooloraknaveoragoodman。Ifyouareaknave，wewillshootyou。’
’AndifIamafool？’Iasked。
’SendyoutotheYserortheDvina。Youwillberespectablecannon—fodder。’
’YoucannotdothatunlessIconsent，’Isaid。
’Can’twe？’hesaid，smilingwickedly。’Rememberyouareacitizenofnowhere。Technically，youarearebel，andtheBritish，ifyougotothem，willhangyou，supposingtheyhaveanysense。Youareinourpower，myfriend，todopreciselywhatwelikewithyou。’
Hewassilentforasecond，andthenhesaid，meditatively:
’ButIdon’tthinkyouareafool。Youmaybeascoundrel。Somekindsofscoundrelareusefulenough。Otherkindsarestrungupwitharope。Ofthatweshallknowmoresoon。’
’AndifIamagoodman？’
’YouwillbegivenachancetoserveGermany，theproudestprivilegeamortalmancanhave。’Thestrangemansaidthiswitharingingsincerityinhisvoicethatimpressedme。
Thecarswungoutfromthetreesintoaparklinedwithsaplings，andinthetwilightIsawbeforemeabiggishhouselikeanovergrownSwisschalet。Therewasakindofarchway，withashamportcullis，andaterracewithbattlementswhichlookedasiftheyweremadeofstucco。WedrewupataGothicfrontdoor，whereathinmiddle—agedmaninashooting—jacketwaswaiting。
AswemovedintothelightedhallIgotagoodlookatourhost。
Hewasveryleanandbrown，withthestoopintheshoulderthatonegetsfrombeingconstantlyonhorseback。Hehaduntidygrizzledhairandaraggedbeard，andapairofpleasant，short—sightedbrowneyes。
’Welcome，myColonel，’hesaid。’Isthisthefriendyouspokeof？’
’ThisistheDutchman，’saidStumm。’HisnameisBrandt。Brandt，youseebeforeyouHerrGaudian。’
Iknewthename，ofcourse;thereweren’tmanyinmyprofessionthatdidn’t。Hewasoneofthebiggestrailwayengineersintheworld，themanwhohadbuilttheBaghdadandSyrianrailways，andthenewlinesinGermanEast。Isupposehewasaboutthegreatestlivingauthorityontropicalconstruction。HeknewtheEastandheknewAfrica;clearlyIhadbeenbroughtdownforhimtoputmethroughmypaces。
Ablondemaidservanttookmetomyroom，whichhadabarepolishedfloor，astove，andwindowsthat，unlikemostoftheGermankindIhadsampled，seemedmadetoopen。WhenIhadwashedIdescendedtothehall，whichwashungroundwithtrophiesoftravel，likeDervishjibbahsandMasaishieldsandoneortwogoodbuffaloheads。Presentlyabellwasrung。Stummappearedwithhishost，andwewentintosupper。
IwasjollyhungryandwouldhavemadeagoodmealifIhadn’tconstantlyhadtokeepjoggingmywits。TheothertwotalkedinGerman，andwhenaquestionwasputtomeStummtranslated。
ThefirstthingIhadtodowastopretendIdidn’tknowGermanandlooklistlesslyroundtheroomwhiletheyweretalking。Thesecondwastomissnotaword，fortherelaymychance。Thethirdwastobereadytoanswerquestionsatanymoment，andtoshowintheansweringthatIhadnotfollowedthepreviousconversation。
Likewise，Imustnotprovemyselfafoolintheseanswers，forIhadtoconvincethemthatIwasuseful。Ittooksomedoing，andIfeltlikeawitnessintheboxunderastiffcross—examination，oramantryingtoplaythreegamesofchessatonce。
IheardStummtellingGaudianthegistofmyplan。Theengineershookhishead。
’Toolate，’hesaid。’Itshouldhavebeendoneatthebeginning。
WeneglectedAfrica。Youknowthereasonwhy。’
Stummlaughed。’ThevonEinem！Perhaps，buthercharmworkswellenough。’
GaudianglancedtowardsmewhileIwasbusywithanorangesalad。’Ihavemuchtotellyouofthat。Butitcanwait。Yourfriendisrightinonething。UgandaisavitalspotfortheEnglish，andablowtherewillmaketheirwholefabricshiver。Buthowcanwestrike？Theyhavestillthecoast，andoursuppliesgrowdailysmaller。’
’Wecansendnoreinforcements，buthaveweusedallthelocalresources？ThatiswhatIcannotsatisfymyselfabout。Zimmermansayswehave，butTresslerthinksdifferently，andnowwehavethisfellowcomingoutofthevoidwithastorywhichconfirmsmydoubt。Heseemstoknowhisjob。Youtryhim。’
ThereuponGaudiansetaboutquestioningme，andhisquestionswereverythorough。Iknewjustenoughandnomoretogetthrough，butIthinkIcameoutwithcredit。YouseeIhaveacapaciousmemory，andinmytimeIhadmetscoresofhuntersandpioneersandlistenedtotheiryarns，soIcouldpretendtoknowledgeofaplaceevenwhenIhadn’tbeenthere。Besides，IhadoncebeenonthepointofundertakingajobupTanganyikaway，andIhadgotupthatcountry—sideprettyaccurately。
’YousaythatwithourhelpyoucanmaketroublefortheBritishonthethreeborders？’Gaudianaskedatlength。
’Icanspreadthefireifsomeoneelsewillkindleit，’Isaid。
’Buttherearethousandsoftribeswithnoaffinities。’
’TheyareallAfrican。Youcanbearmeout。AllAfricanpeoplesarealikeinonething—theycangomad，andthemadnessofoneinfectstheothers。TheEnglishknowthiswellenough。’
’Wherewouldyoustartthefire？’heasked。
’Wherethefuelisdryest。UpintheNorthamongtheMussulmanpeoples。Butthereyoumusthelpme。IknownothingaboutIslam，andIgatherthatyoudo。’
’Why？’heasked。
’Becauseofwhatyouhavedonealready，’Ianswered。
Stummhadtranslatedallthistime，andhadgiventhesenseofmywordsveryfairly。Butwithmylastanswerhetookliberties。
Whathegavewas:’BecausetheDutchmanthinksthatwehavesomebigcardindealingwiththeMoslemworld。’Then，loweringhisvoiceandraisinghiseyebrows，hesaidsomewordlike’uhnmantl’。
Theotherlookedwithaquickglanceofapprehensionatme。
’Wehadbettercontinueourtalkinprivate，HerrColonel，’hesaid。
’IfHerrBrandtwillforgiveus，wewillleavehimforalittletoentertainhimself。’Hepushedthecigar—boxtowardsmeandthetwogotupandlefttheroom。
Ipulledmychairuptothestove，andwouldhavelikedtodropofftosleep。Thetensionofthetalkatsupperhadmademeverytired。IwasacceptedbythesemenforexactlywhatIprofessedtobe。Stummmightsuspectmeofbeingarascal，butitwasaDutchrascal。ButallthesameIwasskatingonthinice。Icouldnotsinkmyselfutterlyinthepart，forifIdidIwouldgetnogoodoutofbeingthere。Ihadtokeepmywitsgoingallthetime，andjointheappearanceandmannersofabackveldBoerwiththementalityofaBritishintelligence—officer。AnymomentthetwopartsmightclashandIwouldbefacedwiththemostalertanddeadlysuspicion。
TherewouldbenomercyfromStumm。Thatlargemanwasbeginningtofascinateme，eventhoughIhatedhim。Gaudianwasclearlyagoodfellow，awhitemanandagentleman。Icouldhaveworkedwithhimforhebelongedtomyowntotem。ButtheotherwasanincarnationofallthatmakesGermanydetested，andyethewasn’taltogethertheordinaryGerman，andIcouldn’thelpadmiringhim。Inoticedheneithersmokednordrank。Hisgrossnesswasapparentlynotinthewayoffleshlyappetites。Cruelty，fromallI
hadheardofhiminGermanSouthWest，washishobby;buttherewereotherthingsinhim，someofthemgood，andhehadthatkindofcrazypatriotismwhichbecomesareligion。Iwonderedwhyhehadnotsomehighcommandinthefield，forhehadhadthenameofagoodsoldier。Butprobablyhewasabigmaninhisownline，whateveritwas，fortheUnder—Secretaryfellowhadtalkedsmallinhispresence，andsogreatamanasGaudianclearlyrespectedhim。
Theremustbenolackofbrainsinsidethatfunnypyramidalhead。
AsIsatbesidethestoveIwascastingbacktothinkifIhadgottheslightestcluetomyrealjob。Thereseemedtobenothingsofar。
StummhadtalkedofavonEinemwomanwhowasinterestedinhisdepartment，perhapsthesamewomanastheHildahehadmentionedthedaybeforetotheUnder—Secretary。Therewasnotmuchinthat。Shewasprobablysomeminister’sorambassador’swifewhohadafingerinhighpolitics。IfIcouldhavecaughtthewordStummhadwhisperedtoGaudianwhichmadehimstartandlookaskanceatme！ButIhadonlyheardagurgleofsomethinglike’uhnmantl’，whichwasn’tanyGermanwordthatIknew。
Theheatputmeintoahalf—dozeandIbegandreamilytowonderwhatotherpeopleweredoing。WherehadBlenkironbeenpostingtointhattrain，andwhatwasheuptoatthismoment？Hehadbeenhobnobbingwithambassadorsandswells—Iwonderedifhehadfoundoutanything。WhatwasPeterdoing？Iferventlyhopedhewasbehavinghimself，forIdoubtedifPeterhadreallytumbledtothedelicacyofourjob。WherewasSandy，too？AslikeasnotbucketingintheholdofsomeGreekcoasterintheAegean。ThenI
thoughtofmybattalionsomewhereonthelinebetweenHulluchandLaBassee，hammeringattheBoche，whileIwasfivehundredmilesorsoinsidetheBochefrontier。
Itwasacomicreflection，socomicthatitwokemeup。Aftertryinginvaintofindawayofstokingthatstove，foritwasacoldnight，Igotupandwalkedabouttheroom。Therewereportraitsoftwodecentoldfellows，probablyGaudian’sparents。Therewereenlargedphotographs，too，ofengineeringworks，andagoodpictureofBismarck。Andclosetothestovetherewasacaseofmapsmountedonrollers。
Ipulledoutoneatrandom。ItwasageologicalmapofGermany，andwithsometroubleIfoundoutwhereIwas。IwasanenormousdistancefrommygoalandmoreoverIwascleanofftheroadtotheEast。TogothereImustfirstgotoBavariaandthenintoAustria。I
noticedtheDanubeflowingeastwardsandrememberedthatthatwasonewaytoConstantinople。
ThenItriedanothermap。Thisonecoveredabigarea，allEuropefromtheRhineandasfareastasPersia。IguessedthatitwasmeanttoshowtheBaghdadrailwayandthethroughroutesfromGermanytoMesopotamia。Thereweremarkingsonit;and，asIlookedcloser，Isawthatthereweredatesscribbledinbluepencil，asiftodenotethestagesofajourney。ThedatesbeganinEurope，andcontinuedrightonintoAsiaMinorandthensouthtoSyria。
Foramomentmyheartjumped，forIthoughtIhadfallenbyaccidentontheclueIwanted。ButInevergotthatmapexamined。I
heardfootstepsinthecorridor，andverygentlyIletthemaprollupandturnedaway。WhenthedooropenedIwasbendingoverthestovetryingtogetalightformypipe。
ItwasGaudian，tobidmejoinhimandStumminhisstudy。
Onourwaythereheputakindlyhandonmyshoulder。IthinkhethoughtIwasbulliedbyStummandwantedtotellmethathewasmyfriend，andhehadnootherlanguagethanapatontheback。
Thesoldierwasinhisoldpositionwithhiselbowsonthemantelpieceandhisformidablegreatjawstuckout。
’Listentome，’hesaid。’HerrGaudianandIareinclinedtomakeuseofyou。Youmaybeacharlatan，inwhichcaseyouwillbeinthedevilofamessandhaveyourselftothankforit。Ifyouarearogueyouwillhavelittlescopeforroguery。Wewillseetothat。Ifyouareafool，youwillyourselfsufferforit。Butifyouareagoodman，youwillhaveafairchance，andifyousucceedwewillnotforgetit。TomorrowIgohomeandyouwillcomewithmeandgetyourorders。’
Imadeshifttostandatattentionandsalute。
Gaudianspokeinapleasantvoice，asifhewantedtoatoneforStumm’simperiousness。’WearemenwholoveourFatherland，HerrBrandt，’hesaid。’YouarenotofthatFatherland，butatleastyouhateitsenemies。Thereforeweareallies，andtrusteachotherlikeallies。OurvictoryisordainedbyGod，andwearenoneofusmorethanHisinstruments。’
Stummtranslatedinasentence，andhisvoicewasquitesolemn。
HehelduphisrighthandandsodidGaudian，likeamantakinganoathoraparsonblessinghiscongregation。
ThenIrealizedsomethingofthemightofGermany。Sheproducedgoodandbad，cadsandgentlemen，butshecouldputabitofthefanaticintothemall。
CHAPTERSIX
TheIndiscretionsoftheSameIwasstandingstarknakednextmorninginthaticybedroom，tryingtobatheinaboutaquartofwater，whenStummentered。Hestrodeuptomeandstaredmeintheface。Iwashalfaheadshorterthanhimtobeginwith，andamandoesnotfeelhisstoutestwhenhehasnoclothes，sohehadthepullonmeeveryway。
’Ihavereasontobelievethatyouarealiar，’hegrowled。
Ipulledthebed—coverroundme，forIwasshiveringwithcold，andtheGermanideaofatowelisapocket—handkerchief。IownI
wasinaprettybluefunk。
’Aliar！’herepeated。’YouandthatswinePienaar。’
WithmybesteffortatsurlinessIaskedwhatwehaddone。
’Youlied，becauseyousaidyouknownoGerman。Apparentlyyourfriendknowsenoughtotalktreasonandblasphemy。’
Thisgavemebacksomeheart。
’ItoldyouIknewadozenwords。ButItoldyouPetercouldtalkitabit。Itoldyouthatyesterdayatthestation。’FerventlyI
blessedmyluckforthatcasualremark。
Heevidentlyremembered，forhistonebecameatriflemorecivil。
’Youareapreciouspair。Ifoneofyouisascoundrel，whynottheother？’
’ItakenoresponsibilityforPeter，’Isaid。IfeltIwasacadinsayingit，butthatwasthebargainwehadmadeatthestart。’Ihaveknownhimforyearsasagreathunterandabraveman。IknewhefoughtwellagainsttheEnglish。ButmoreIcannottellyou。Youhavetojudgehimforyourself。Whathashedone？’
Iwastold，forStummhadgotitthatmorningonthetelephone。
Whiletellingithewaskindenoughtoallowmetoputonmytrousers。
ItwasjustthesortofthingImighthaveforeseen。Peter，leftalone，hadbecomefirstboredandthenreckless。HehadpersuadedthelieutenanttotakehimouttosupperatabigBerlinrestaurant。
There，inspiredbythelightsandmusic—novelthingsforabackveldhunter—andnodoubtboredstiffbyhiscompany，hehadproceededtogetdrunk。ThathadhappenedinmyexperiencewithPeteraboutonceineverythreeyears，anditalwayshappenedforthesamereason。Peter，boredandsolitaryinatown，wentonthespree。
Hehadaheadlikearock，buthegottotherequiredconditionbywildmixing。Hewasquiteagentlemaninhiscups，andnotintheleastviolent，buthewasapttobeveryfreewithhistongue。AndthatwaswhatoccurredattheFranciscana。
HehadbegunbyinsultingtheEmperor，itseemed。Hedrankhishealth，butsaidheremindedhimofawart—hog，andtherebyscarifiedthelieutenant’ssoul。Thenanofficer—sometremendousswellatanadjoiningtablehadobjectedtohistalkingsoloud，andPeterhadrepliedinsolentlyinrespectableGerman。Afterthatthingsbecamemixed。Therewassomekindofafight，duringwhichPetercalumniatedtheGermanarmyandallitsfemaleancestry。Howhewasn’tshotorrunthroughIcan’timagine，exceptthatthelieutenantloudlyproclaimedthathewasacrazyBoer。AnyhowtheupshotwasthatPeterwasmarchedofftogaol，andIwasleftinaprettypickle。
’Idon’tbelieveawordofit，’Isaidfirmly。Ihadmostofmyclothesonnowandfeltmorecourageous。’Itisallaplottogethimintodisgraceanddrafthimofftothefront。’
StummdidnotstormasIexpected，butsmiled。
’Thatwasalwayshisdestiny，’hesaid，’eversinceIsawhim。Hewasnousetousexceptasamanwitharifle。Cannon—fodder，nothingelse。Doyouimagine，youfool，thatthisgreatEmpireinthethickofaworld—warisgoingtotroubleitsheadtolaysnaresforanignorant_taakhaar？’
’Iwashmyhandsofhim，’Isaid。’IfwhatyousayofhisfollyistrueIhavenopartinit。ButhewasmycompanionandIwishhimwell。Whatdoyouproposetodowithhim？’
’Wewillkeephimunderoureye，’hesaid，withawickedtwistofthemouth。’Ihaveanotionthatthereismoreatthebackofthisthanappears。WewillinvestigatetheantecedentsofHerrPienaar。
Andyou，too，myfriend。Onyoualsowehaveoureye。’
IdidthebestthingIcouldhavedone，forwhatwithanxietyanddisgustIlostmytemper。
’Lookhere，Sir，’Icried，’I’vehadaboutenoughofthis。IcametoGermanyabominatingtheEnglishandburningtostrikeablowforyou。Butyouhaven’tgivenmemuchcausetoloveyou。ForthelasttwodaysI’vehadnothingfromyoubutsuspicionandinsult。
TheonlydecentmanI’vemetisHerrGaudian。It’sbecauseI
believethattherearemanyinGermanylikehimthatI’mpreparedtogoonwiththisbusinessanddothebestIcan。But，byGod，I
wouldn’traisemylittlefingerforyoursake。’
Helookedatmeverysteadilyforaminute。’Thatsoundslikehonesty，’hesaidatlastinacivilvoice。’Youhadbettercomedownandgetyourcoffee。’
Iwassafeforthemomentbutinverylowspirits。WhatonearthwouldhappentopooroldPeter？IcoulddonothingevenifI
wanted，and，besides，myfirstdutywastomymission。IhadmadethisverycleartohimatLisbonandhehadagreed，butallthesameitwasabeastlyreflection。Herewasthatancientworthylefttothetendermerciesofthepeoplehemostdetestedonearth。Myonlycomfortwasthattheycouldn’tdoverymuchwithhim。Iftheysenthimtothefront，whichwastheworsttheycoulddo，hewouldescape，forIwouldhavebackedhimtogetthroughanymortallines。Itwasn’tmuchfunformeeither。OnlywhenIwastobedeprivedofitdidIrealizehowmuchhiscompanyhadmeanttome。Iwasabsolutelyalonenow，andIdidn’tlikeit。IseemedtohaveaboutasmuchchanceofjoiningBlenkironandSandyasofflyingtothemoon。
AfterbreakfastIwastoldtogetready。WhenIaskedwhereI
wasgoingStummadvisedmetomindmyownbusiness，butI
rememberedthatlastnighthehadtalkedoftakingmehomewithhimandgivingmemyorders。Iwonderedwherehishomewas。
Gaudianpattedmeonthebackwhenwestartedandwrungmyhand。Hewasacapitalgoodfellow，anditmademefeelsicktothinkthatIwashumbugginghim。Wegotintothesamebiggreycar，withStumm’sservantsittingbesidethechauffeur。Itwasamorningofhardfrost，thebarefieldswerewhitewithrime，andthefir—treespowderedlikeawedding—cake。Wetookadifferentroadfromthenightbefore，andafterarunofhalfadozenmilescametoalittletownwithabigrailwaystation。Itwasajunctiononsomemainline，andafterfiveminutes’waitingwefoundourtrain。
Onceagainwewerealoneinthecarriage。Stummmusthavehadsomecolossalgraft，forthetrainwascrowded。
Ihadanotherthreehoursofcompleteboredom。Idarednotsmoke，andcoulddonothingbutstareoutofthewindow。Wesoongotintohillycountry，whereagooddealofsnowwaslying。
Itwasthe23rddayofDecember，andeveninwartimeonehadasortoffeelofChristmas。Youcouldseegirlscarryingevergreens，andwhenwestoppedatastationthesoldiersonleavehadalltheairofholidaymaking。ThemiddleofGermanywasacheerierplacethanBerlinorthewesternparts。Ilikedthelookoftheoldpeasants，andthewomenintheirneatSundaybest，butInoticed，too，howpinchedtheywere。Hereinthecountry，wherenoneutraltouristscame，therewasnotthesamestage—managementasinthecapital。
Stummmadeanattempttotalktomeonthejourney。Icouldseehisaim。Beforethishehadcross—examinedme，butnowhewantedtodrawmeintoordinaryconversation。Hehadnonotionhowtodoit。Hewaseitherperemptoryandprovocative，likeadrill—sergeant，orsoobviouslydiplomaticthatanyfoolwouldhavebeenputonhisguard。ThatistheweaknessoftheGerman。Hehasnogiftforlayinghimselfalongsidedifferenttypesofmen。Heissuchahard—shellbeingthathecannotputoutfeelerstohiskind。
Hemayhaveplentyofbrains，asStummhad，buthehasthepoorestnotionofpsychologyofanyofGod’screatures。InGermanyonlytheJewcangetoutsidehimself，andthatiswhy，ifyoulookintothematter，youwillfindthattheJewisatthebackofmostGermanenterprises。
Aftermiddaywestoppedatastationforluncheon。Wehadaverygoodmealintherestaurant，andwhenwewerefinishingtwoofficersentered。Stummgotupandsalutedandwentasidetotalktothem。Thenhecamebackandmademefollowhimtoawaiting—
room，wherehetoldmetostaytillhefetchedme。Inoticedthathecalledaporterandhadthedoorlockedwhenhewentout。
Itwasachillyplacewithnofire，andIkickedmyheelstherefortwentyminutes。Iwaslivingbythehournow，anddidnottroubletoworryaboutthisstrangebehaviour。Therewasavolumeoftime—tablesonashelf，andIturnedthepagesidlytillIstruckabigrailwaymap。Thenitoccurredtometofindoutwhereweweregoing。IhadheardStummtakemyticketforaplacecalledSchwandorf，andafteralotofsearchingIfoundit。ItwasawaysouthinBavaria，andsofarasIcouldmakeoutlessthanfiftymilesfromtheDanube。Thatcheeredmeenormously。IfStummlivedtherehewouldmostlikelystartmeoffonmytravelsbytherailwaywhichI
sawrunningtoViennaandthenontotheEast。ItlookedasifImightgettoConstantinopleafterall。ButIfeareditwouldbeauselessachievement，forwhatcouldIdowhenIgotthere？IwasbeinghustledoutofGermanywithoutpickinguptheslenderestclue。
ThedooropenedandStummentered。Heseemedtohavegotbiggerintheintervalandtocarryhisheadhigher。Therewasaproudlight，too，inhiseye。
’Brandt，’hesaid，’youareabouttoreceivethegreatestprivilegethateverfelltooneofyourrace。HisImperialMajestyispassingthroughhere，andhashaltedforafewminutes。Hehasdonemethehonourtoreceiveme，andwhenheheardmystoryheexpressedawishtoseeyou。Youwillfollowmetohispresence。Donotbeafraid。TheAll—Highestismercifulandgracious。Answerhisquestionslikeaman。’
Ifollowedhimwithaquickenedpulse。HerewasabitofluckI
hadneverdreamedof。Atthefarsideofthestationatrainhaddrawnup，atrainconsistingofthreebigcoaches，chocolate—colouredandpickedoutwithgold。Ontheplatformbesideitstoodasmallgroupofofficers，tallmeninlonggrey—bluecloaks。Theyseemedtobemostlyelderly，andoneortwoofthefacesIthoughtI
rememberedfromphotographsinthepicturepapers。
Asweapproachedtheydrewapart，andleftusfacetofacewithoneman。Hewasalittlebelowmiddleheight，andallmuffledinathickcoatwithafurcollar。Heworeasilverhelmetwithaneagleatopofit，andkepthislefthandrestingonhissword。Belowthehelmetwasafacethecolourofgreypaper，fromwhichshonecurioussombrerestlesseyeswithdarkpouchesbeneaththem。Therewasnofearofmymistakinghim。Thesewerethefeatureswhich，sinceNapoleon，havebeenbestknowntotheworld。
Istoodasstiffasaramrodandsaluted。Iwasperfectlycoolandmostdesperatelyinterested。ForsuchamomentIwouldhavegonethroughfireandwater。
’Majesty，thisistheDutchmanIspokeof，’IheardStummsay。
’Whatlanguagedoeshespeak？’theEmperorasked。
’Dutch，’wasthereply;’butbeingaSouthAfricanhealsospeaksEnglish。’
Aspasmofpainseemedtoflitoverthefacebeforeme。ThenheaddressedmeinEnglish。
’Youhavecomefromalandwhichwillyetbeourallytoofferyourswordtoourservice？Iacceptthegiftandhailitasagoodomen。Iwouldhavegivenyourraceitsfreedom，buttherewerefoolsandtraitorsamongyouwhomisjudgedme。ButthatfreedomIshallyetgiveyouinspiteofyourselves。Aretheremanylikeyouinyourcountry？’
’Therearethousands，sire，’Isaid，lyingcheerfully。’Iamoneofmanywhothinkthatmyrace’slifeliesinyourvictory。AndIthinkthatthatvictorymustbewonnotinEuropealone。InSouthAfricaforthemomentthereisnochance，sowelooktootherpartsofthecontinent。YouwillwininEurope。YouhavewonintheEast，anditnowremainstostriketheEnglishwheretheycannotfendtheblow。IfwetakeUganda，Egyptwillfall。ByyourpermissionIgotheretomaketroubleforyourenemies。’
Aflickerofasmilepassedoverthewornface。Itwasthefaceofonewhosleptlittleandwhosethoughtsrodehimlikeanightmare。
’Thatiswell，’hesaid。’SomeEnglishmanoncesaidthathewouldcallintheNewWorldtoredressthebalanceoftheOld。WeGermanswillsummonthewholeearthtosuppresstheinfamiesofEngland。Serveuswell，andyouwillnotbeforgotten。’
Thenhesuddenlyasked:’DidyoufightinthelastSouthAfricanWar？’
’Yes，Sir，’Isaid。’IwasinthecommandoofthatSmutswhohasnowbeenboughtbyEngland。’
’Whatwereyourcountrymen’slosses？’heaskedeagerly。
Ididnotknow，butIhazardedaguess。’Inthefieldsometwentythousand。Butmanymorebysicknessandintheaccursedprison—
campsoftheEnglish。’
Againaspasmofpaincrossedhisface。
’Twentythousand，’herepeatedhuskily。’Amerehandful。TodayweloseasmanyinaskirmishinthePolishmarshes。’
Thenhebrokeoutfiercely。
’Ididnotseekthewar……Itwasforcedonme……Ilabouredforpeace……ThebloodofmillionsisontheheadsofEnglandandRussia，butEnglandmostofall。Godwillyetavengeit。Hethattakestheswordwillperishbythesword。Minewasforcedfromthescabbardinself—defence，andIamguiltless。Dotheyknowthatamongyourpeople？’
’Alltheworldknowsit，sire，’Isaid。
HegavehishandtoStummandturnedaway。ThelastIsawofhimwasafiguremovinglikeasleep—walker，withnospringinhisstep，amidhistallsuite。IfeltthatIwaslookingonatafarbiggertragedythananyIhadseeninaction。HerewasonethathadloosedHell，andthefuriesofHellhadgotholdofhim。Hewasnocommonman，forinhispresenceIfeltanattractionwhichwasnotmerelythemasteryofoneusedtocommand。Thatwouldnothaveimpressedme，forIhadneverownedamaster。Butherewasahumanbeingwho，unlikeStummandhiskind，hadthepowerOflayinghimselfalongsideothermen。Thatwastheironyofit。Stummwouldnothavecaredatinker’scurseforallthemassacresinhistory。Butthisman，thechiefofanationofStumms，paidthepriceinwarforthegiftsthathadmadehimsuccessfulinpeace。Hehadimaginationandnerves，andtheonewaswhitehotandtheotherswerequivering。IwouldnothavebeeninhisshoesforthethroneoftheUniverse……
Allafternoonwespedsouthward，mostlyinacountryofhillsandwoodedvalleys。Stumm，forhim，wasverypleasant。Hisimperialmastermusthavebeengracioustohim，andhepassedabitofitontome。ButhewasanxioustoseethatIhadgottherightimpression。