Dominey stood at attention for a moment and bowed a little awkwardly.
The Kaiser smiled.

"It pleases me," he said, "to see a German officer ill at ease without
his uniform. Count, you will leave us. Baron Von Ragastein, be seated."

"Sir Everard Dominey, at your service, Majesty," Dominey replied, as he
took the chair to which his august host pointed.

"Thorough in all things, I see," the latter observed. "Sit there and be
at your ease. Good reports have reached me of your work in Africa."

"I did my best to execute your Majesty's will," Dominey ventured.

"You did so well," the Kaiser pronounced, "that my counsellors were
unanimous in advising your withdrawal to what will shortly become the
great centre of interest. From the moment of receiving our commands you
appear to have displayed initiative. I gather that your personation of
this English baronet has been successfully carried through?"

"Up to the present, your Majesty."

"Important though your work in Africa was," the Kaiser continued, "your
present task is a far greater one. I wish to speak to you for these few
minutes without reserve. First, though, drink a toast with me."

From a mahogany stand at his elbow, the Kaiser drew out a long-necked
bottle of Moselle, filled two very beautiful glasses, passed one to his
companion and raised the other.

"To the Fatherland!" he said.

"To the Fatherland!" Dominey repeated.

They set down their glasses, empty. The Kaiser threw back the grey
military cloak which he was wearing, displaying a long row of medals and
decorations. His fingers still toyed with the stem of his wineglass. He
seemed for a moment to lose himself in thought. His hard and somewhat
cruel mouth was tightly closed; there was a slight frown upon his
forehead. He was sitting upright, taking no advantage of the cushioned
back of his easy-chair, his eyes a little screwed up, the frown
deepening. For quite five minutes there was complete silence. One
might have gathered that, turning aside from great matters, he had been
devoting himself entirely to the scheme in which Dominey was concerned.

"Von Ragastein," he said at last, "I have sent for you to have a few
words concerning your habitation in England. I wish you to receive your
impressions of your mission from my own lips."

"Your Majesty does me great honour," Dominey murmured.

"I wish you to consider yourself," the Kaiser continued, "as entirely
removed from the limits, the authority