’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。