The Man with the Clubfoot

staircase, the Maj

not come to our Casino. But I know him for all that: it is the young Count von Boden, of the Uhlans of the Guar

great-coat and a flat cap with a pink band round it. He sprang out as we

eing at the station to welcome you, but, apparently, there was some misunderstanding. The arrangements at the station for your

n added, "I will drive you to the station. W

g insolence of this young lieutenant, so I shook hands with him cordially

nd Uhlans of the Guard. I did not wish to say anything before that old chatterbox. I trust you have had a pleasant journey. Von Steinhardt, of our Legation a

invariable kindness. Inwardly, I noted the explanati

s luggage and fur pélisse. The platforms were now deserted save for sentries: all li

es at my feet. I looked down at my boots: they wanted brushing, certainly, but otherwise I could see nothing wrong with them. They were brown, it is true, and I refle

gle carriage and a guard's van. The stationmaster bid us a most cer

, presently, the young Count and I ate a meal, which, save for the inevitable "Kriegsbrod," showed few signs of the stringency of the British blockade. But

from what he had learnt in his own campaigning he seemed singularly ignorant of the development of the military situation. Particularly, his ignorance of conditions on the Western front was supreme. He was full to the brim with the most extraordinary fables about the British. He solemnly assured me, for

antry battalion doing garrison duty at Goch, the frontier station we had just left, where-as

or a dashing cavalry officer. They were a dull lot. I wouldn't go near the Casino. I met some of them at the hotel one evening. That was enough f

the lame fellow," using a German word "der Stelze." In a flash I saw before me again that scene in the squalid bedroom in the Vos in't Tuintje-the candle gut

out in a context with which I was familiar and then it had come back. With it, it brought that tableau in the dimly lit room, but also another-a

the station at Goch, The messenger he had come to meet, the bearer of th

ded the reason to be that he had orders to meet a person who had not been further designated to him except that he would arrive by a certain train. The Major at the station would be responsible for establishing my bona fide

failing, yet the Count manifested not the slightest desire to learn anything about me or my mission to Berlin. You may be sure that I, for my part, did nothing

re busy with that swarthy cripple. I had broken away from him with one portion of a highly prized document, yet he had made no attempt to have me arrested at the frontier. Clearly, then, he must still look upon me as an ally and must

that Clubfoot did not

ecently crossed the Atlantic se

from England. Perhaps, after all, my random declaration to the hotel-keeper had not been so far wrong; Clubfoot wanted to take the whole document to Berlin and reap a

xt evening at earliest. But, more redoubtable than a meeting with the man of power and authority, hung over me, an ever-present nightmare

heavily over a vast network of metals at some great terminus, then tore off again into the gathering darkness. In a little, we slowed down again. We were running through wooded country. From the darkness ahead a lantern waved at us and the train stopped with a jerk at a littl

at last!" sai

out to mee

igid at the salute before

as I alighted "... the gentlem

: "Have the goodness to come with me. The orderlies will attend to your things." And, with clinking spurs, he strode out

"delivering the goods." My surprise was of short duration, for once in the car the young Uhlan dropped all the formality he had displayed on the platform and addresse

tric lamp in the roof. Huge gold spectacles with glasses so thick that they distorted his eyes, straddled a great beak-like nose. He had doffed his helmet and was mopping his brow, and I saw a high perfectly bald dome-like head, brilliantly polished

you could have gone straight there. I suppose he means to see him here: that is why he wanted h

g waiting at home," he added in

o either of them, but I knew we were in Potsdam. The little station in the woods was Wild-Park, I suspected, the private station used by the Emperor on his frequent journeys and situated in the grounds of the New Palace. All the

and shining pate deepening their vermilion hue. "Do I give orders that they shall be forgotten? What do you mean? You ass...." He put his white-gloved hands on the man's shoulders and shook h

he son, who, putting down his cap and great-coat and unhooking his sword, l

dent voice screamed from the

orgot it. And we've got to keep the fellow here till then! An outrage, having the house used as a barrack for

accept. I knew I was caught deep in the meshes of Prussian discipline, every one had his orders and blindly carried them out, from the garrulous Major on the fr

I don't know you, I don't know your business, but I have received certain orders concerning you which I intend to carry out. For that reason you will dine with us here. After you have seen the person to whom you are to be taken to-night, Lieutenant Count von Boden will accompany you to th

smash," I had said to myself when I saw him savaging his servant in the hall and I repe

to dinner," sa

depressing room with dark brown wallpaper decorated with dusty stags' antlers, an enormous green-tiled stove dominating everything. The General and his son ate solidly through the courses while the lady pecked furtively at her plate. As for myself I could not eat for sheer fright. Every nerve in my body was vibrating at the thought of the

at, when the veins starting purple from his temples proclaimed that he had eaten to repletion, his temper s

ool of the Prussian Army are. They spoke little of England: their thoughts seemed to be centred on Russia as the arch-enemy. They pinned their faith on Falkenhayn and Mackensen. They had no words strong enough

vant before this great military luminary, I thanked the General with due servility for his h

d at that hour, save for the trams. Then I caught a glimpse of lamps reflected in water, and the next moment the car had stopped on a bridge over a canal or river. My

ing out from the corner of the building. In the tower was a door which yielded easily to my compa

h electric light. There a man was waiting, a fine, upsta

entleman. I shall be at the west entrance afterwa

n in green, and the lieutenant vanis

I stepped out of the car now came surging through my brain. That vast

nd broad corridor, hung with rich tapestries, the polished parquet glistening faintly in the dim light, through splendid suites of gilded apartments with old picture

down into emptiness, corridors stretched away into dusky solitude. Now and then an attendant in evening

the time my blood hammered at my temples and my throat grew dry as I thought of t

comfortable corridor had at least the appearance of leading to the habitation of man. A giant trooper in field-grey with a curious silver gorget suspe

listened. There was a moment of absolute silence. Not a sound was to be heard throughout t

ir and that indefinite air of good breeding that you find in every man who

me, he sto

asked and his eyes dropped to my feet.

m, immobile as a statue, standing at the end of the co

spoke and his voice

a whisper. "What have you done w

took th

emlin,"

the Embassy in Washington wrote abou

ld not come. We had to separa

was stammering now in his

odd

a sigh o

e arrangements," he said. "You will have to explain

back int

at one felt oneself in a world far removed from the angry strife of nations.

lderly man stood

y of leather furniture, to a door. He opened it, revealing

a voice-a harsh,

opening the door, thrust me into t

elf facing