the Prime Minister
intervened.

"You appear to be a perfect Secret Service to yourself, Prince," he said
smoothly. "Perhaps you can also tell us our reply?"

"I can tell you this much," the Prince answered. "You did not send word
back to Washington that your alliance was a sacred charge upon your
honor and that its terms must be fulfilled to the uttermost letter. Your
reply, I fancy, was more in the nature of a compromise."

"How do you know what our reply was?" Mr. Haviland asked.

"To tell you the truth, I do not," the Prince answered, smiling. "I have
simply told you what I am assured that your answer must have been. Let
us leave this matter. We gain nothing by discussing it."

"You have been very candid with us, Prince," Mr. Haviland remarked. "We
gather that you are opposed to a renewal of our alliance chiefly for
two reasons,--first, that you have formed an unfavorable opinion of
our resources and capacity as a nation; and secondly, because you
are seeking an ally who would be of service to you in one particular
eventuality, namely, a war with the United States. You have spent some
time upon the Continent. May we inquire whether your present attitude
is the result of advances made to you by any other Power? If I am asking
too much, leave my question unanswered."

The Prince shook his head slowly.

"Tonight," he said, "I am speaking to you as one who is willing to show
everything that is in his heart. I will tell you, then. I have been to
Germany, and I can assure you of my own knowledge that Germany possesses
the mightiest fighting machine ever known in the world's history. That
I do truthfully and honestly believe. Yet listen to me. I have talked to
the men and I have talked to the officers. I have seen them in barracks
and on the parade ground, and I tell you this. When the time arrives for
that machine to be set in motion, it is my profound conviction that the
result will be one of the greatest surprises of modern times. I say no
more, nor must you ask me any questions, but I tell you that we do not
need Germany as an ally. I have been to Russia, and although our hands
have crossed, there can be no real friendship between our countries till
time has wiped out the memory of our recent conflict. France hates us
because it does not understand us. The future of Japan is just as
clear as the disaster which hangs over Great Britain. There is only one
possible ally for us, only one possible combination. That is