et?" asked Lennard in German.

"No, Herr, he is at Canterbury," replied the sentry. "Would you like to
see the officer?"

"Yes," said Lennard, "as soon as possible. These gentlemen are Lord
Whittinghame and Lord Kitchener, and they wish to meet the Emperor as
soon as possible."

The sentry saluted and retired, and presently a captain of Uhlans came
clattering across the street, clicked his heels together, touched the
side of his helmet, and said:

"At your service, gentlemen. What can I do for you?"

"We wish to get into communication with the German Emperor as soon as
possible," replied Lord Whittinghame. "Is the telegraph still working
from here to Canterbury?"

"It is," replied the German officer; "if you will come with me to the
office you shall be put into communication with His Majesty at once; but
it will be necessary for me to hear what you say."

"We're only going to try and make peace," said Lord Kitchener, "so you
might as well hear all we've got to say. Those infernal airships of
yours have beaten us. Will you get in? We'll run you round to the
office."

"I thank you," replied the captain of the Uhlans, "but it will be better
if I walk on and have the line cleared. I will meet you at the office.
Adieu."

He stiffened up, clicked his heels again, saluted, and the next moment
he had thrown his right leg across the horse which the orderly had
brought up for him.

"Not bad men, those Uhlans," said Lord Kitchener, as the car moved
slowly towards the telegraph station. "Take a lot of beating in the
field, I should say, if it once came to cold steel."

They halted at the post-office, and the captain of Uhlans, who was in
charge of all the telegraph lines of the south-east, was requested to
send the following telegram, which was signed by Lord Whittinghame and
Lord Kitchener.

"Acting as deputation from British Government we desire interview
with your Majesty at Canterbury, with view to putting end to
present bloodshed, if possible, also other important news to
communicate."

This telegram was despatched to the Kaiser at the County Hotel,
Canterbury, and while they were waiting for the reply a message came in
from Whitstable addressed to "Lennard, oyster merchant, Rochester,"
which was in the following terms:

"Oyster catch promises well. Advised large purchase
to-morrow.--ROBINSON & SMITH."

"That seems rather a frivolous sort of thing to send one nowadays,