n section
of the British public. It is my theory that your interest in England is
for that section only; that as a country, you are no more an admirer of
her characteristics than I am."

"You are perfectly right," she answered coolly.

"Your interest," he proceeded, "is in the men and women toilers of the
world, the people who carry on their shoulders the whole burden of life,
and whose position you are continually desiring to ameliorate. I take it
that your sympathy is international?"

"It is," she assented

"People of this order in--say--Germany, excite your sympathy in the same
degree?"

"Absolutely!"

"Therefore," he propounded, "you are working for the betterment of the
least considered class, whether it be German, Austrian, British, or
French?"

"That also is true," she agreed.

"I pursue my theory, then. The issue of this war leaves you indifferent,
so long as the people come to their own?"

"My work for the last few weeks amongst those men of whom you have been
speaking," she pointed out, "should prove that."

"We are through the wood and in the open, then," he declared, with a
little sigh of relief. "Now I am prepared to trade secrets with you. I
am not a friend of this country. Neither my Chief nor my Government have
the slightest desire to see England win the war."

"That I knew," she acknowledged.

"Now I ask you for information," he continued. "Tell me this? Your
pseudo-friends have presented the supposed German terms of peace to Mr.
Stenson. What was the result?"

"He is taking twenty-four hours to consider them."

"And what will happen if he refuses?" the Baron asked, leaning a little
towards her. "Will they use their mighty weapon? Will they really go the
whole way, or will they compromise?"

"They will not compromise," she assured him. "The telegrams to the
secretaries of the various Trades Unions are already written out. They
will be despatched five minutes after Mr. Stenson's refusal to sue for
an armistice has been announced."

"You know that?" he persisted.

"I know it beyond any shadow of doubt."

He nodded slowly.

"Your information," he admitted, "is valuable to me. Well though I am
served, I cannot penetrate into the inner circles of the Council itself.
Your news is good."

"And now," she said, "I expect the most amazing revelations from you."

"You shall have them, with pleasure," he replied. "Freistner has been
in a German fortress for some weeks and may be shot at