ng?"

Seaman's narrow eyes glittered. He looked at his companion in
satisfaction. His forehead was puckered, his eternal smile gone. He was
the man of intellect.

"So you are waking up from the lethargy of Africa, my friend!" he
exclaimed. "You are beginning to think. As you ask me, so shall I
answer. The Kaiser is a vain, bombastic dreamer, the greatest egotist
who ever lived, with a diseased personality, a ceaseless craving for the
limelight. But he has also the genius for government. I mean this: he
is a splendid medium for the expression of the brain power of his
counsellors. Their words will pass through his personality, and he will
believe them his. What is more, they will sound like his. He will see
himself the knight in shining armour. All Europe will bow down before
this self-imagined Caesar, and no one except we who are behind will
realise the ass's head. There is no one else in this world whom I have
ever met so well fitted to lead our great nation on to the destiny she
deserves.--And now, my friend, to-morrow, if you like, we will speak of
these matters again. To-night, you have other things to think about.
You are going into the great places where I never penetrate. You have an
hour to change and prepare. At eleven o'clock the Prince Von Terniloff
will expect you."

CHAPTER VII

There had been a dinner party and a very small reception afterwards
at the great Embassy in Carlton House Terrace. The Ambassador, Prince
Terniloff, was bidding farewell to his wife's cousin, the Princess
Eiderstrom, the last of his guests. She drew him on one side for a
moment.

"Your Excellency," she said, "I have been hoping for a word with you all
the evening."

"And I with you, dear Stephanie," he answered. "It is very early. Let us
sit down for a moment."

He led her towards a settee but she shook her head.

"You have an appointment at half-past eleven," she said. "I wish you to
keep it."

"You know, then?"

"I lunched to-day at the Carleton grill room. In the reception-room I
came face to face with Leopold Von Ragastein."

The Ambassador made no remark. It seemed to be his wish to hear first
all that his companion had to say. After a moment's pause she continued:

"I spoke to him, and he denied himself. To me! I think that those were
the most terrible seconds of my life. I have never suffered more. I
shall never suffer so much again."

"It was most unfortunate," the Prince murmured sympathetically.

"T