er on Bulgaria as the first to break.

So sublime, indeed, was the German confidence that many in America who
had been driven to cover because of their Teutonic activities before
America entered the war began to dream that they, too, would reap a
great reward for their martyrdom on behalf of the Fatherland.

The premonition of the dawning of _Der Tag_ stirred the heart of Nicky
Easton, of course. He had led for months the life of a fox in a
hunt-club county. Every time he put his head out he heard the bay of
the hounds. He had stolen very few chickens, and he expected every
moment to be pounced on. But now that he felt assured of a German
triumph in a little while, he began to think of the future. His heart
turned again to Mamise.

His life of hiding and stealing about from place to place had
compelled him to a more ascetic existence than he had been used to.
His German accent did not help him, and he had found that even those
heavy persons known as light women, though they had no other virtue,
had patriotism enough to greet his advances with fierce hostility.
His dialect insulted those who had relinquished the privilege of being
insulted, and they would not soil their open palms with German-stained
money.

In his alliance with Jake Nuddle for the blowing up of the _Clara_,
and their later communications looking toward the destruction of other
ships, he kept informed of Mamise. He always asked Jake about her. He
was bitterly depressed by the news that she was "sweet on" Davidge. He
was exultant when he learned from Jake that she had given up her work
in the office and had gone to Washington. Jake learned her address
from Abbie, and passed it on to Nicky.

Nicky was tempted to steal into Washington and surprise her. But enemy
aliens were forbidden to visit the capital, and he was afraid to go by
train. He had wild visions of motoring thither and luring her to a
ride with him. He wanted to kidnap her. He might force her to marry
him by threatening to kill her and himself. At least he might make her
his after the classic manner of his fellow-countrymen in Belgium. But
he had not force enough to carry out anything so masterful. He was a
sentimental German, not a warrior.

In his more emotional moods he began to feel a prophetic sorrow for
Marie Louise after the Germans had conquered the world. She would be
regarded as a traitress. She had been adopted by Sir Joseph Webling
and had helped him, only to abandon the caus