broke up the Conference. We were not allowed even to discuss the means
whereby the nations might live at peace, there in the German capital.
What would become of the liberties of England if we were conquered by a
nation like that?"

Bob had no knowledge of what took place at the meeting after that. The
incident told, as it was, in homely, yet forcible fashion, seemed
unbelievable. Yet, he thought, the man would not dare to tell it if it
were not true. It was not a matter of hearsay; the thing had been
seen, experienced by the speaker. Not only did the Germans not desire
peace, but they made it impossible even to discuss means of maintaining
it. That was Germany! War they could engage in proudly, but even
friendly discussion among lovers of peace, to obtain peace, was made
impossible by the soldiers of the Kaiser.

Bob left the meeting bewildered. The brilliant speeches were forgotten
in the recital of this single incident. Surely there must be some
mistake! It could not be! It was opposed to, nay, it was the grossest
violation of the first elements of Christianity. And it had, been done
by the Government of the Kaiser.

No, no, the Kaiser did not know, he could not know! But this must have
been because of the law of the land, and the Kaiser must be cognisant
of it.

As he entered the door of the building where his chambers were, he saw
a young fellow whom he knew slightly.

"I say, have you seen this, Nancarrow?" he said.

"What is it?"

"It is an order given to his army by the Kaiser. It was sent me by a
man who actually saw it. Just read it. It is the sweetest thing I
have seen yet."

Bob read what has since become public property, but which was at the
time but little known:--

"_It is my Royal and Imperial Command, that you concentrate your
energy, for the immediate present, upon me single purpose, and that is
that you address all your skill, and all the valour of my soldiers, to
exterminate first the treacherous English, and walk over General
French's contemptible little Army._

"HEADQUARTERS,
"AIX-LA-CHAPELLE,
"_August_ 19."

"Pretty, isn't it?"

Bob's heart grew hot. The arrogance, the self-glory, the mountebankism
of the order aroused all the fighting spirit of the old Trelawneys.

"But they haven't done it yet, neither will they," went on the young
fellow. "Thank Heaven the tables are being turned, and we are driving
them back. No, by Jove, French's 'contemptible lit