seemed two men beside M. Schenk--sat down on the side of
it.

"And what sum will it be, Herr von Schenkendorf? It must be a large one.
My Government will expect much from so large and prosperous a business."

"I can give you 1,500,000 marks in money and securities," replied the
manager as he drew his keys from his pocket and approached the safe. "If
you wish I will hand the sum to your aide-de-camp now."

"I do wish it, Herr von Schenkendorf," replied the officer decisively.

Max and Dale held their breaths in suspense as they heard the key turn
in the lock and the door of the safe swing heavily open. There was a
sharp exclamation, followed by a dull sound as though the manager had
flung himself down on his hands and knees, the better to peer into the
inside.

"Mein Gott!" he cried in a strangled voice. "Gone--all gone!"

"No tricks, sir!" cried the general in a rasping voice, getting up
suddenly from the desk on which he had been sitting. "I will not be
trifled with."

The manager made no reply, but Max could hear him breathing heavily and
fancied he caught a groan.

"What is the matter, von Schenkendorf? Have you been robbed?" demanded
the officer.

"Yes, General," replied the manager after a pause in which he vainly
endeavoured to find his voice. "Mein Gott--yes--robbed! How--I know not.
Last evening I left all----"

"Bah! You _are_ trifling with me!" cried the officer in a stern voice.
"This is altogether too opportune to be the result of accident. I come
to you demanding a contribution to His Imperial Majesty's exchequer and
you tell me you have just been robbed. I begin to have grave doubts of
your faithfulness to our cause."

"General," cried Schenk in a voice which positively trembled with
vexation, "General, I assure you that it is a pure coincidence. Never
before has the firm been robbed, and how or why it should happen now I
do not know. But it shall be fully investigated and I will leave no
stone unturned to recover possession of the valuables--be assured of
that."

"So! Well, well, you have had a good reputation with our Government in
the past and I will let matters rest for the moment," replied the
officer in a voice which contained more than a suspicion of a threat.
"By the way," he went on suddenly, his voice again taking on a rasping
tone, "I am no doubt right in assuming that those siege-gun plans which
I handed to you yesterday are in safe custody?"

"I will look after them, General,