第5章

’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。