She shrugged her shoulders.

"I have made a little money once or twice on the Stock Exchange," she
remarked, "but I didn't have to carry my broker about in my pocket
afterwards."

"Seaman is a good-hearted little fellow, and he loves companionship. He
will drift away presently, and one won't see anything of him for ages."

"Henry began to wonder," she concluded drily, "whether you were going to
stand for Parliament on the Anglo-German alliance ticket."

Dominey laughed as he caught Middleton's reproachful eye in the doorway
of the farmer's kitchen in which they were hunching. He gave the signal
to rise.

"I have had some thoughts of Parliament," he admitted, "but--well, Henry
need not worry."

CHAPTER XXIV

The next morning saw the breaking-up of Dominey's carefully arranged
shooting party. The Prince took his host's arm and led him to one side
for a few moments, as the cars were being loaded up. His first few words
were of formal thanks. He spoke then more intimately.

"Von Ragastein," he said, "I desire to refer back for a moment to our
conversation the other day."

Dominey shook his head and glanced behind.

"I know only one name here, Prince."

"Dominey, then. I will confess that you play and carry the part through
perfectly. I have known English gentlemen all my life, and you have
the trick of the thing. But listen. I have already told you of my
disapproval of this scheme in which you are the central figure."

"It is understood," Dominey assented.

"That," the Prince continued, "is a personal matter. What I am now going
to say to you is official. I had despatches from Berlin last night. They
concern you."

Dominey seemed to stiffen a little.

"Well?"

"I am given to understand," the Ambassador continued, "that you
practically exist only in the event of that catastrophe which I, for
one, cannot foresee. I am assured that if your expose should take place
at any time, your personation will be regarded as a private enterprise,
and there is nothing whatever to connect you with any political work."

"Up to the present that is absolutely so," Dominey agreed.

"I am further advised to look upon you as my unnamed and unsuspected
successor here, in the event of war. For that reason I am begged to
inaugurate terms of intimacy with you, to treat you with the utmost
confidence, and, if the black end should come, to leave in your hands
all such unfulfilled work as can be continued in secrecy and silenc