"
said Lennard, dropping the paper to the floor after reading the telegram
aloud. "I have some interest in the beds at Whitstable, and my agents,
who don't seem to know that there's a war going on, want me to invest. I
think it's hardly good enough, when you don't know whether you'll be in
little pieces within the next ten minutes."

"I don't see why you shouldn't take on a contract for supplying our
friends the enemy," laughed Lord Kitchener, as the twinkle of an eye
passed between them, while the captain of Uhlans' back was turned for an
instant.

"I'm afraid they would be confiscated before I could do that," said
Lennard. "I shan't bother about answering it. We have rather more
serious things than oysters to think about just now."

The sounder clicked, and the German telegraphist, who had taken the
place of the English one, tapped out a message, which he handed to the
captain of Uhlans.

"Gentlemen, His Imperial Majesty will be glad to receive you at the
County Hotel, Canterbury. I will give you a small flag which shall
secure you from all molestation."

He handed the paper to Lord Whittinghame as he spoke. The Imperial
message read:

"Happy to meet deputation. Please carry German flag, which will
secure you from molestation _en route_. I am wiring orders for
suspension of hostilities till dawn to-morrow. I hope we may make
satisfactory arrangements.--WILHELM."

"That is quite satisfactory," said Lord Whittinghame to the captain of
Uhlans. "We shall be much obliged to you for the flag, and you will
perhaps telegraph down the road saying that we are not to be stopped. I
can assure you that the matter is one of the utmost urgency."

"Certainly, my lord," replied the captain. "His Majesty's word is given.
That is enough for us."

Ten minutes later the big Napier, flying the German flag on the
left-hand side, was spinning away through Chatham, and down the straight
road to Canterbury. They slowed up going through Sittingbourne and
Faversham, which were already in the hands of the Allied forces, thanks
to John Castellan's precautions in blocking all railroads to Dover, and
the German flag was saluted by the garrisons, much to Lord Kitchener's
quietly-expressed displeasure, but he knew they were playing for a big
stake, and so he just touched his cap, as they swung through the narrow
streets, and said what he had to say under his breath.

Within forty minutes the car pulled up opposite