the County Hotel,
Canterbury. The ancient city was no longer English, save as regarded its
architecture. Everywhere, the clatter of German hoofs sounded on the
streets, and the clink and clank of German spurs and swords sounded on
the pavements. The French and Austrians were taking the westward routes
by Ashford and Tonbridge in the enveloping movement on London. The War
Lord of Germany had selected the direct route for himself.

As the motor stopped panting and throbbing in front of the hotel
entrance, a big man in the uniform of the Imperial Guard came out,
saluted, and said:

"Lord Whittinghame and Lord Kitchener, with Mr Lennard, I presume?"

"Yes, that's so," said Lord Kitchener, opening the side door and getting
out. "Colonel von Folkerstroem, I believe. I think we've met before. You
were His Majesty's _attache_ with us during the Boer War, I think. This
is Lord Whittinghame, and this is Mr Lennard. Is His Majesty within?"

"His Majesty awaits you, gentlemen," replied the Colonel, formally. And
then as he shook hands with Lord Kitchener he added, "I am sorry, sir,
that we should meet as enemies on English soil."

"Just the fortune of war and those damned airships of yours, Colonel,"
laughed Lord Kitchener in reply. "If we'd had them this meeting might
have been in Berlin or Potsdam. Can't fight against those things, you
know. We're only human."

"But you English are just a little more, I think," said the Colonel to
himself. "Gottes willen! What would my August Master be thinking now if
this was in Berlin instead of Canterbury, and here are these Englishmen
taking it as quietly as though an invasion of England happened every
day." And when he had said this to himself he continued aloud:

"My lords and Mr Lennard, if you will follow me I will conduct you into
His Majesty's presence."

They followed the Colonel upstairs to the first floor. Two sentries in
the uniform of the 1st Regiment of Cuirassiers were guarding the door:
their bayoneted rifles came up to the present, the Colonel answered the
salute, and they dropped to attention. The Colonel knocked at the door
and a harsh voice replied:

"Herein."

The door swung open and Lennard found himself for the first but not the
last time in the presence of the War Lord of Germany.

"Good-evening, gentlemen," said the Kaiser. "You will understand me when
I say I am both glad and sorry to see you."

"Your Majesty," replied Lord Whittinghame, in a curiously se