oked around upon the audience was so
good-natured and attractive, that he had no alternative but to
assent. Seaman scrambled up the steps on to the platform, coughed
apologetically, bowed to the Duke, and took possession of the meeting.
After a word or two of compliment to the chairman, he made his
confession. He was a German citizen--he was indeed one of that
bloodthirsty race. (Some laughter.) He was also, and it was his excuse
for standing there, the founder and secretary of a league, doubtless
well known to them, a league for promoting more friendly relations
between the business men of Germany and England. Some of the remarks
which he had heard that evening had pained him deeply. Business often
took him to Germany, and as a German he would be doing less than his
duty if he did not stand up there and tell them that the average German
loved the Englishman like a brother, that the object of his life was to
come into greater kinship with him, that Germany even at that moment,
was standing with hand outstretched to her relatives across the North
Sea, begging for a deeper sympathy, begging for a larger understanding.
(Applause from the audience, murmurs of dissent from the platform.) And
as to those military preparations of which they had heard so much (with
a severe glance at Captain Bartram), let them glance for one moment at
the frontiers of Germany, let them realise that eastwards Germany was
being continually pressed by an ancient and historic foe of enormous
strength. He would not waste their time telling them of the political
difficulties which Germany had had to face during the last generation.
He would simply tell them this great truth,--the foe for whom Germany
was obliged to make these great military preparations was Russia.
If ever they were used it would be against Russia, and at Russia's
instigation.--In his humble way he was striving for the betterment
of relations between the dearly beloved country of his birth and
the equally beloved country of his adoption. Such meetings as these,
instituted, as it seemed to him, for the propagation of unfair and
unjustified suspicions, were one of the greatest difficulties in his
way. He could not for a moment doubt that these gentlemen upon the
platform were patriots. They would prove it more profitably, both to
themselves and their country, if they abandoned their present prejudiced
and harmful campaign and became patrons of his Society.

Seaman's little bow to the c