ere," he said. "I will
tell you all about the high pheasants your husband killed, and about the
woodcock he brought down after we had all missed it."

"I shall love to hear about that," she assented. "How much sugar,
please, and will you pass those hot muffins to the Princess? And please
touch that bell. I shall want more hot water. I expect you are all very
thirsty. I am so glad to be here with you."

CHAPTER XX

Arm in arm, Prince Terniloff and his host climbed the snow-covered
slope at the back of a long fir plantation, towards the little beflagged
sticks which indicated their stand. There was not a human being in
sight, for the rest of the guns had chosen a steeper but somewhat less
circuitous route.

"Von Ragastein," the Ambassador said, "I am going to give myself the
luxury of calling you by your name. You know my one weakness, a weakness
which in my younger days very nearly drove me out of diplomacy. I detest
espionage in every shape and form even where it is necessary. So far as
you are concerned, my young friend," he went on, "I think your position
ridiculous. I have sent a private despatch to Potsdam, in which I have
expressed that opinion."

"So far," Dominey remarked, "I have not been overworked."

"My dear young friend," the Prince continued, "you have not been
overworked because there has been no legitimate work for you to do.
There will be none. There could be no possible advantage accruing
from your labours here to compensate for the very bad effect which
the discovery of your true name and position would have in the English
Cabinet."

"I must ask you to remember," Dominey begged, "that I am here as a blind
servant of the Fatherland. I simply obey orders."

"I will grant that freely," the Prince consented. "But to continue. I
am now at the end of my first year in this country. I feel able to
congratulate myself upon a certain measure of success. From that part
of the Cabinet with whom I have had to do, I have received nothing but
encouragement in my efforts to promote a better understanding between
our two countries."

"The sky certainly seems clear enough just now," agreed Dominey.

"I have convinced myself," the Prince said emphatically, "that there is
a genuine and solid desire for peace with Germany existing in Downing
Street. In every argument I have had, in every concession I have
asked for, I have been met with a sincere desire to foster the growing
friendship between our countrie