Ambrose Lavendale, Diplomat

ar to him that she was bound upon a serious errand. She was dressed with her usual subdued elegance but with more, even, than her usual simplicity. In her black tailor-made costume,

ing, Miss

hand. Her greeting was cordial enough, but her

hiding for the last

ast night,' he replied. 'I

' she aske

ow things are with you. I can tell that

laug

you can help,' she told him. 'This is qui

taggered. Her man

ou are going to

ve printed cards of invitation, and policemen outside the door to keep away intruders. This isn't any ordinary barg

falling into step with her, 'the affai

ly,' she

inquired, 'will thi

d at him s

t you were m

into my head,'

some lunch at one o'

I was hoping for. A

el

ry much if I broug

at him in so

it must be a grill-room luncheon, p

Milan Grill,' he told

inutes in the outer offices and passed on, a little later, into a more private apartment. An elderly man with a clean-shaven face, grey hai

rose! Anyth

and grasped the hand whi

uld get to understand it, Mr. Washbu

d you ge

t ni

hing of o

ssed wi

uainted

ame, he was secretive. He didn't tell me the one thing I discovered of the greatest interest in connection with his trip, and that was that the Kaiser

urn shook

has he been in since he got back. Kind

ed thoughtfully, 'but it certainly doesn't look

from his eyes and rubbed them carefully with his handkerc

p than any other nation in the world. A German-American is a German first and an American afterwards, and don

le to pick up. Let it be for a day or two. What I am anxious to find out is whether Kes

comes at all,' Mr. Washburn promised. 'I hear th

dale

show on. Kessner as go

with him?' Mr. Washb

ent over on a mission about the British prisoners, 'and he's inclined t

shburn

e looking for disappointment. The brains that made twenty million in Wall Street

's always chance to be reckoned with, and I've one card up my sleev

red, as she leaned back upon a settee in the small lounge which led int

' Lavendale confessed, 'and I want you

t for granted that we ar

admit that a Germanized United States would be bad

upon a small table in front of t

his man Kessner?' she asked. 'Of wha

en spent like water but the progress has been too slow. Germany has gained adherents to her point of view, but not enough. America is in a position to be of immense use to the Allies and none whatever to Germany or Austria, and up to the present she shows no signs of ceasing to supply England and France and Russia

vance,' Miss de F

they are supplying none at all to Germany and Austria. That is, of course, owing to England's control of the sea, but it is galling to Germany and Austria to

tria as well,' she reminded him. 'Besides, Germany an

gn. They have shrugged their shoulders and apparently accepted the inevitable. No one who knows them would believe them capable of anything of the sort. Kessner has been over here for a month. He was in Germany when I was. He spent a week

re is some fresh sc

that, but I have an idea as to its bearing.... This is our

nd was handing his bowler hat to an attendant. His complexion was sallow, his general air one of complete insignificance. Suzanne watch

elied his appearance. His assurance was unli

claimed, 'so we are back in

nt you, if I may, to Miss de Freyne, who is lunching wi

. Kessner seemed to see no reason why he should conceal his admira

ide of a steamer, looking out for submarines, this time yesterd

ally crossed the North Sea,' Suzanne declar

do and take my chances. Same with Mr. Lavendale, I expect, only these diplomatists are used to it. Troublous tim

ces at the table, 'so you see I represent neutrality in my own person. My gran

ed appr

I don't know as it matters. We each of us have a right to our feelings, whatever they may be. I am an American first and foremost, lik

nd I have some good friends in England. I am torn every way. After all, though,' she went on reflectively, 'it cannot be as hard for me

cupants of the next two tables, young people from the land of musical comedy with their khaki-cla

ck, we German-Americans. We are honest and above-board about it, you see. We have

more you can do?'

in underneath his chin, was settling down to his luncheon like a

e is no pessimism, no doubt whatever, no shadow of misgiving. Germany must win-that is in their hearts. They have not a single doubt. And here in London, whether t

oing to win

ll be a drawn fight. There will be a period of peace, nominal peace. Germany knows now what

be a next

bjects. This champagne, I know, my friend Lavendale, is a compliment to me. You English-Americans do not drink champagne in the middle of the day. Believe me, you are wrong. I

s glass d

t we keep at the back of our thoughts. Now tell me. I sail on Saturday. On Friday night you and our friend L

kind,' they

ox which had been passed him

t luncheon I thank you very much, and for the privilege of having met Miss de F

re, yet with a confidence which surpassed conceit. They saw h

e back of his head some new scheme. It may not be directed against your p

merican himself

plied, 'which means that he is very muc

she sighed, 'I do not think that

ain. No American would receive the attentions of the Kaiser-in war time, too-and come back here without

Lavendale departed in search of his hat. A

pered, slipping a lit

. Lavendale was still talking to some acquaintances. S

e you again before Friday. I am in flat 74 in th

e in her hand. Lavendal

ere?' he asked. 'The

ook he

said. 'I am going up to my

*

me

r turned around in his chair from before a mass of papers. He looked at Suzanne for an instant in surprise, an expres

y dear young lady,' he said.

but she evaded him

n apartment here when I am in London. I thought I would call

e threw himself into the easy-chair opposite, a shapeless, ill-dressed little morsel of humanity, with a qu

aid. 'Do you know why I as

eyebrows and

plied. 'For myself, I love making fre

es?' he repe

ed sever

d in without a pause. I like to make acquaintances. Sometimes an

his eyes upon her and looked

nd you keep it there at the back of your pretty little head. The other-well, you are a young per

t manner?'

where my sympathies lie. Yours, I gathered, are divided. W

him, 'that the cause of Germany in Ameri

ethical neutrality. But the great source of Germany's greatness is her capacity for looking ahead. If one cause is lost, then in that day a new one is born. If Germany had not

a new scheme,'

, 'but what that may be it is not m

uted a

you are not goi

d think little of me if I did, and besides,' he added, risin

ing-room was opened. She gave a little start. An immense col

ny one rings, I am engaged. See that

od, Mr.

d into the bedroom, were inaudible. Kessner's elbow was propped against the mantelp

,' she persisted, 'how

u to the test,'

hat black Hercules loitering outside, something in the downward droop of the eyes of this man all the time

better think over more definitely what you want to say t

ed. 'What I have to say to you is

en the outside bell rang. He paused to listen. Her heart ga

xclaimed under her breath. '

tted her hand. She could have said noth

't be afraid. George would tell him that I wa

ersisted anxiously. 'Cannot I hide somewhere fo

a discreet

id. 'He is waiting outside in the corridor.

considered f

g into my sleeping apar

ang up

id of him quick

his touch without flinching. He handed her ove

air inside,' he ordered.

eau likely to be of the slightest interest. Suddenly her heart gave a little jump. George came out of the bathroom with a coat upon his arm, threw open the bureau and searched there for something. As he stood there, a thin, black silk pocket-book slipped from the breast-pocket of the coat and fell unnoticed on to the carpet. A moment later he closed the bureau, laid the coat carefully out upon the bed and w

irected. 'When he comes downstairs send him up

her dress and waited. In a few minutes there w

t once,' s

, but she dr

laimed. 'Shut the door. You

he ad

d you g

ng yourself into any trou

u k

nod

, I

et-book from the

p from the bedroom. It slipped out of the pocket of

German time-table, a long list of names, and a single letter on thick, cream paper. Suzanne stole to the door on tiptoe and stood there, listening. There was no sound

ne,' he whisp

f the bell rang through the room. Lavendale hesitated for a moment. Then he slipped the book i

compliments,' he said, 'a

and back into the corridor. Mr. Kessner himself came quietly in and closed the door behind him. There was a queer little gleam in h

rs,' he asked, 'buy m

m his pocket and prom

not serious! Miss de Freyne was just explaining her li

veral moments. He ran through the contents of the p

id, 'on Friday night? You will not

Lavendale

,' Suzanne

m. There was nothing in his manner to indicate what his se

ng very important

lau

purpose. There was a plan of a few remaining estates in a certain part of Brazil, still to be purchased to establish what at some seasonable juncture should be declared to be a Germ

y wh

s will ever come into the market,' he remarked d

uneasily tow

she said earnestl

hy

er,' she confessed. 'He t

hrugged his

emotions. He was playing for a great stake which he knows now that h

ddenly

r he really expects us to dine wit

any rate,' Lavendale d