t that little matter
of the commission being halved."

"Oh no," murmured Anna, rather confusedly.

"Yes, and I understand your point of view. Well, from to-day, Frau
Bauer, I restore the old scale! And if at any time you can say anything
about the Stores to the visitors who come to see your ladies--anything,
you understand, that may lead to an order--I will be generous, I will
recognise your help in the widest sense."

Anna got up again, and so did her host. "Well, we have had a pleasant
gossip," he said. "And one word more, Frau Bauer. You have not told _any
one_, not even your daughter, of--of----" he hesitated, for he did not
wish to put in plain words the question he wished to convey--"of that
other matter--of that in which your nephew is concerned?"

"I gave my solemn promise to Willi to say nothing," said Anna, "and I am
not one who ever breaks my word, Mr. Hegner."

"That I am sure you are not! And Frau Bauer? Do not attempt to write to
the Fatherland henceforth. Your letters would be opened, your business
all spied out, and then the letters destroyed! I am at your disposal for
any information you require. Come in and see us sometimes," he said
cordially. "Let me see--to-day is Wednesday. How about Sunday? Come in
on Sunday night, if you can do so, and have a little supper. You may
have news of interest to my business to give me, and in any case it is
pleasant to chat among friends."

CHAPTER VIII

It was now the morning of Friday, the third day of war, and Mrs. Otway
allowed the newspaper she had been holding in her hands to slip on to
the floor at her feet with an impatient sigh.

From where she sat, close to the window in her charming sitting-room,
her eyes straying down to the ground read in huge characters at the top
of one of the newspaper columns the words:

"THE FLEET MOBILISED."

"MOTOR RUSH FOR VOLUNTEERS."

"HOW THE NAVAL RESERVE RECEIVED THEIR NOTICES."

"OUR SAILORS' GOOD-BYE."

Then, at the top of another column, in rather smaller characters, as
though that news was after all not really so important as the home news:

"DEFEAT OF THE GERMANS AT LIEGE."

"COMPLETE ROUT."

"GERMANS REPULSED AT ALL POINTS."

Finally, in considerably smaller characters:

"ALLEGED GERMAN CRUELTIES IN BELGIUM."

She raised her eyes and looked out, over the Close, to where the
Cathedral rose like a diamond set in emeralds. What a beautiful day--and
how