An Imperial Marriage

able was about the last. But for the stake I had at issue--to save Althe

egler was right, and the German Government were really contemplating some move against England, my old journalistic work would

might easily find myself in an ugly fix. I must be careful also not to be drawn in too

; and then, I could leave Berlin and, as

ask upon me. Borsen had confirmed the statement von Felsen had made to her as to h

y close to giving her consent. Self-sacrifice had become a sort of second nature with her, and sh

ng I could do before I told her--tackle von Felsen himself

mise I had given von Felsen on the previous day to hold my tongue about his

me was an ample justification for my taking back my promise; but I

closeted with my sister, and they appeare

d. "Tell him, Herr Bernhoff." She was ver

" I asked tu

the honour to betroth herself to me," h

oubt given yo

rest, Herr Bernhoff," c

o that extent a member of your family, and so concerned to help you in

ease," I sai

certain t

them," I

stable," he said, lifting his

en this--this gentlem

and he

e a word or two with him alone." She got up at

ss it with you, Mr. Bas

d I opened the door for her and prevented his leavi

ly and stared

in reply you have hinted that you will tell certain suspicions you entertain if she does not retract her refusal

to glare at m

an inconvenient

same dogge

ully my sister. You are an officer, and belong to a regiment in which the other officers at any rate are gentlemen. As for your suspicions, you can go and

nd began to protest. "I did n

eant. It's what you have done. I know your Colone

otest

ngrily. "It is your action which matters. Th

ished now, and he was as l

the kind. If you like to make this

a way out for you. You can convince your Colonel that you did not

esult would be, and so did he. "I am very sorry," he

n the door. "As for your suspicions, tell them

ven, he slunk out with his tail well bet

of unofficial "delegate" in Althea's affairs. There was a tacit agreement that I was to have some li

at my club and make some inquiries about the inner working of this Polish Irre

cted Nationalists subject to occasional spurts of violence, so Germany will always have a Polish question. But her policy

party and other sections, in the hope that eventually the combination would become strong enough to dictate

Government by worming out all sorts of official secrets the disclosure of which would

channels of information, about certain mysterious happenings, classed as "accidents," to Government property. More than one warship

nown it is not told," he declared; "but it probably is not known. You can draw your own

p with men who were planning a policy of violence, and I resolv

nce and tell him point-blank that I should let Ziegler know the truth. On my way to him I called to see Chalice. She

! Oh, I am nearly beside myself with delight,

s can happen in a

e me uncomfortable," she pouted. She ha

you call it, but I do wish to s

nged a State concert with the Ventura as his Prima. She can't come to it, or she won't or something, and he is actually going to put me in her place. In t

t ungraciously. She had not a thought fo

gs, I wish you'd choose another day for them. Y

ng to do about Pr

im to-day, nor for the whole week. Think of all it m

wet blanket, but

gers in her ears and shaking her head vigorously. "Herr Grumpel sai

u do not listen to me, Fr?ulein," I declared,

ate you! Go away!" s

nd that she could not get rid of me in that way, and then her manner

nything I ought to know which really does co

about Fr?ulein Alt

ht or I should have heard. Has s

all, and she does not know that I

e same thing," she

han I should be. But the fact is that before a week passes you are much more likely to be in the same pl

ey would try to

ration. The one arrest has been decided on because Fr?ulein Althea is the daughter of Baron von Ringheim, you are his granddaughter

nto a storm of tears. "You are cruel! It is infamous! Why persecute me

some of the trouble which she had viewed with such philosophic indifference when it affected only Althea. With all

wn. "Forgive me for having spoken as I did. You are right, of course,

en, and let the Kaiser have his way in r

e me," she wailed. "Wh

uld think of Althea when there was a diff

ught struck her. "You have quarrell

had some words with him because he would not be

s at m

a was being sacrificed for the sake of the secret. But if the truth is not told,

know wh

for you, and you must do as you will; but you

," she cried, catching and holding my hand

the fact that you do not wish to go counter to the Kaiser's wish and will do anything rath

te it. You writ

in writing it. You have just heard of His Majesty

aid, with a ve

l that means to you, and then persuade yourself that your emotion

y," she agreed; and saying that I would see her again

ns of advancing her interests. To me she stood for a type of calculating, callous selfishness; and yet to the Prince she appeared as a veritab

t the coming interview and staring out of the window into the now gloomy street, the electric lights of the room were switched

him as a fellow named Dragen, one of the worst characters in Berlin, the bully and worse of a low g

hat?" I as

nd why do you come to me?" and von Fe

he man have a good sight of me? And how long had th