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Lord Romsey moved uneasily in his chair。 He had expected to find this an unpleasant interview and he was certainly not being disappointed。
〃Well； I was mistaken；〃 he admitted。 〃What I said was true enough。 I never did believe that the Government with which I was associated would declare war against Germany。 Even now； let me tell you that there isn't a soul breathing who knows how close the real issue was。 If your people had only chosen any other line of advance！〃
〃I have not come here to recriminate；〃 Mr。 Sidney declared。 〃That is not my mission。 I am here to state our terms for refraining from sending your lettersyour personal letters to the Kaiserto the English Press。〃
Lord Romsey sprang to his feet。
〃Good God； man！ Do you know what you are saying？〃 he exclaimed。
〃Perfectly；〃 the other replied。 〃I told you that my errand was a serious one。 Shall I proceed？〃
The Minister slowly resumed his seat。 From behind the electric lamp his face was ghastly white。 In that brief pause which followed he seemed to be looking through the walls of the room into an ugly chapter of his future。 He saw the headlines in the newspapers； the leading articles； the culmination of all the gossip and mutterings of the last few months； the end of his political careera disgraceful and ignoble end！ Surely no man had ever been placed in so painful a predicament。 It was treason to parley。 It was disgraceful to send this man away。
〃Germany wants peace；〃 his visitor continued calmly。 〃She may not have accomplished all she wished to have accomplished by this war； and she is still as strong as ever from a military point of view； but she wants peace。 I need say no more than that。〃
Lord Romsey shook his head。
〃Even if I had the influence； which I haven't；〃 he began； 〃it isn't a matter of the Government at all。 The country would never stand it。〃
〃Then you had better convert the country；〃 was the prompt reply。 〃Look upon it as your duty。 Remember thisyou are the man in all this world； and not the Kaiser； who is responsible for this war。 But for your solemn words pledging your country to neutrality； Germany would never have forced the issue as she has done。 Now it is for you to repair the evil。 I tell you that we want peace。 The first overtures may come ostensibly through Washington； if you will； but they must come in reality from you。〃
The Minister leaned back in his chair。 His was the calmness of despair。
〃You might as well ask me；〃 he said simply； 〃to order our Fleet out of the North Sea。〃
Mr。 Sidney rose to his feet。
〃I think；〃 he advised； 〃that you had better try what you can do； Lord Romsey。 We shall give you little time。 We may even extend it； if we find traces of your influence。 You have two colleagues； at least； who are pacifists at heart。 Take them on one side； talk in a whisper at first。 Plant just a little seed but be careful that it grows。 We do not expect impossibilities； onlyremember what failure will mean to you。〃
Lord Romsey looked steadfastly at his visitor。 Mr。 Sidney was tall and spare； and there was certainly nothing of the Teuton or the American in his appearance or accent。 His voice was characterless； his restraint almost unnatural。 Relieved of his more immediate fears； the Minister was conscious of a renewed instinct of strong curiosity。
〃How can I communicate with you； Mr。Sidney？〃 he asked。
〃In no way；〃 the other replied。 〃When I think it advisable I shall come to see you again。〃
〃Are you an American or a German or an Englishman？〃
〃I am whichever I choose for the moment；〃 was the cool response。 〃If you doubt my credentials； I can perhaps establish myself in your confidence by repeating the conversation which took place between you and the Kaiser on the terrace of the Imperial Palace at Potsdam between three and four o'clock on the afternoon of April the seventh。 You gave the Kaiser a little character sketch of your colleagues in the Cabinet； and you treated with ridicule the bare idea that one or two of them； at any rate； would ever consent〃
〃That will do；〃 the Minister interrupted hoarsely。
〃Just as you will；〃 the other observed。 〃I wish you good…day； sir。 The issue is before you now quite plainly。 Let us soon be able to appreciate the effect of your changed attitude。〃
Lord Romsey touched his bell in silence and his visitor took a grave and decorous leave。 He walked with the secretary down the hall。
〃These are sad days for all of us；〃 he said benignly。 〃I have been telling Lord Romsey of some of my experiences in Brussels。 I was American chaplain at the new church there when the war broke out。 I have seen sights which I shall never forget； horrors the memory of which will never leave me。〃
The secretary nodded sympathetically。 He was trying to get off early； however； and he had heard a good deal already about Belgium。
〃Will you let one of the servants fetch you a taxicab？〃 he suggested。
〃I prefer to walk a little distance；〃 Mr。 Sidney replied。 〃I am quite at home in London。 I was once； in fact； invited to take up a pastorate here。 I wish you good…day； sir。 I have had a most interesting conversation with your chief； a conversation which will dwell for a long time in my memory。〃
The secretary bowed and Mr。 Sidney walked slowly to the corner of the Square。 Arrived there； he hailed a passing taxicab which drew up at once by the side of the kerb。 In stepping in； he brushed the shoulder of a man who had paused to light a cigarette。 He lingered for a moment to apologise。
〃I beg your pardon；〃 he commenced
For a single moment his self…possession seemed to desert him。 He looked into the cold； incurious face of the man in an officer's uniform who was already moving away； as though he had seen a ghost。 His hesitation was a matter of seconds only； however。
〃It was very clumsy of me；〃 he concluded。
Major Thomson touched his cap as he moved off。
〃Quite all right；〃 he said serenely。
CHAPTER VI
The room was a study in masculine luxury。 The brown walls were hung with a choice selection of sporting prints； varied here and there with silverpoint etchings of beautiful women in various poses。 There were a good many photographs； mostly signed； above the mantelpiece； a cigar cabinet； a case of sporting…rifles and shot guns； some fishing tackle； a case of books； distributed appropriately about the apartment。 There were some warlike trophies displayed without ostentation； a handsome writing…table on which stood a telephone。 On a thick green rug stretched in front of the fireplace； a fox terrier lay blinking at the wood fire。 The room was empty and silent except for the slow ticking of an ancient clock which stood underneath an emblazoned coat of arms in the far corner。 The end of a log broke off and fell hissing into the hearth。 The fox terrier rose reluctantly to his feet； shook himself and stood looking at the smoking fragment in an aggrieved manner。 Satisfied that no personal harm was intended to him； however； he presently curled himself up once more。 Again the apartment seemed to become the embodiment of repose。 The clock； after a hoarse wheezing warning； struck seven。 The dog opened one eye and l