he
great rulers, the people in Russia, as well as in my beloved Fatherland,
may arise and cut their bonds."

A light came into the speaker's eyes, and Manfred Hegner looked at him
in mingled pity and contempt. It was not his intention, however, to
waste much time this evening listening to a foolish old man. In fact, he
had hesitated as to whether he should include the Froehlings in his
invitations--then he had thought that if he omitted to do so the fact
might possibly come to the ears of the Dean. Froehling and the Dean had
long been pleasantly acquainted. Then, again, it was just possible--not
likely, but possible--that he might be able to get out of the ex-barber
of the Witanbury garrison some interesting and just now valuable
information.

"What are you going to do now?" he asked. "Have you made any plans yet?"

"We are thinking of going to London, and of making a fresh start there.
We have friends in Red Lion Square." Froehling spoke as if the words
were being dragged out of him. He longed to tell the other man to mind
his own business.

"You haven't a chance of being allowed to do that! Why, already, on the
very first day, every German barber is suspected." The speaker gave a
short, unpleasant laugh.

"I am not suspected. So!" exclaimed Froehling heatedly. "Not one single
person has spoken as if he suspected me in this town! On the contrary,
England is not harsh, Mr. Hegner. English people are too sensible and
broad-minded to suspect harm where there is none. Indeed, they are not
suspecting enough."

Strange to say, old Froehling's last sentence found an agreeable, even a
comforting, echo in Mr. Hegner's heart. He looked up, and for the first
time the expression on his face was really cordial. "Maybe you are
right, Mr. Froehling. Most heartily do I desire it may be so! And
yet--well, one cannot say people would be altogether wrong in suspecting
barbers, for barbers hear a great deal of interesting conversation, is
it not so?"

"That depends on their customers," said the other coldly. "I cannot say
that I ever found the conversation of the young English officers here in
Witanbury very illuminating."

"Not exactly illuminating," said the other cautiously. "But take the
last few days? You must have heard a good deal of information as to
coming plans."

"Not one word did I hear," said the other man quickly--"not one word,
Mr. Hegner! Far more from my own intelligent, level-headed German
assistant. He knew