he turned
towards his host, "that you make a point of inculcating the principles
of National Service into your tenantry here."

Dominey's reply was a little dubious.

"I am afraid they do not take to the idea very kindly in this part of
the world," he confessed. "Purely agricultural districts are always a
little difficult."

"It is your duty as a landowner," the Duke insisted, "to alter their
point of view. There is not the slightest doubt," he added, looking
belligerently over the top of his _pince nez_ at Seaman, who was seated
at the opposite side of the table, "that before long we shall find
ourselves--and in a shocking state of unpreparedness, mind you--at war
with Germany."

Lady Maddeley, the wife of the Lord Lieutenant, who sat at his side,
seemed a little startled. She was probably one of the only people
present who was not aware of the Duke's foible.

"Do you really think so?" she asked. "The Germans seem such civilised
people, so peaceful and domestic in their home life, and that sort of
thing."

The Duke groaned. He glanced down the table to be sure that Prince
Terniloff was out of hearing.

"My dear Lady Maddeley," he declared, "Germany is not governed like
England. When the war comes, the people will have had nothing to do with
it. A great many of them will be just as surprised as you will be, but
they will fight all the same."

Seaman, who had kept silence during the last few moments with great
difficulty, now took up the Duke's challenge.

"Permit me to assure you, madam," he said, bowing across the table,
"that the war with Germany of which the Duke is so afraid will never
come. I speak with some amount of knowledge because I am a German by
birth, although naturalised in this country. I have as many and as dear
friends in Berlin as in London, and with the exception of my recent
absence in Africa, where I had the pleasure to meet our host, I spent a
great part of my time going back and forth between the two capitals. I
have also the honour to be the secretary of a society for the promotion
of a better understanding between the citizens of Germany and England."

"Rubbish!" the Duke exclaimed. "The Germans don't want a better
understanding. They only want to fool us into believing that they do."

Seaman looked a little pained. He stuck to his guns, however.

"His Grace and I," he observed, "are old opponents on this subject."

"We are indeed," the Duke agreed. "You may be an honest man, Mr.