London?" said Ascher. "You did not let me know
that you were here."

"I arrived here this afternoon," said Von Richter, "only this afternoon,
at five o'clock."

He spoke English remarkably well, with no more than a trace of foreign
accent.

"I've been in Ireland," he said, "for six weeks."

"Indeed!" said Ascher. "In Ireland?"

He was looking at his nephew without any expression of surprise,
apparently without any suggestion of inquiry; but I could not help
noticing that his fingers were fidgeting with the ribbon of his
pince-nez. Ascher, as a rule, does not fidget. He has his nerves well
under control.

Mrs. Ascher was frankly excited when she heard that Von Richter had been
in Ireland.

"Tell me," she said, "all about Ireland. About the people, what they are
saying and thinking."

"We are all," I said, "tremendously interested in Irish politics at
present."

"Alas!" said Von Richter, "and I can tell you nothing. My business
was dull. I saw very little. I was in Dublin and Belfast, not in the
picturesque and beautiful parts of that charming country. I was buying
horses. Oh, there is no secret about it. I was buying horses for my
Government."

It is certainly possible to buy horses in Dublin and Belfast; but I was
slightly surprised to hear that Von Richter had not been further afield.
Any one who understood horse-buying in Ireland would have gone west to
County Galway or south to County Cork.

The band showed signs of getting to the end of its tune. Von Richter
laid his hand on the door of the box.

"Shall I see you to-morrow?" said Ascher.

"Unfortunately," said Von Richter, "I leave London early to-morrow
morning. Back to Berlin and the drill yard." He kissed Mrs. Ascher's
hand again. "We poor soldiers have to work hard."

"Perhaps," I said, "you can join us at the Carlton after the play. Mr.
and Mrs. Ascher have promised to have supper there with me. If you are
not engaged------?"

I glanced at the lady in the stalls. I was not going to ask her to
supper.

"I shall be delighted," said Von Richter. "I have no engagement of any
importance."

The lady in the stalls was evidently the sort of lady who could be
dismissed without trouble.

"Good," I said, "we leave directly this play is over; but you may want
to see the rest of the performance. The dancing is good I am told. Join
us at the Carlton as soon as you're tired of this entertainment."

Von Richter slipped away. The curtain went up alm