HIS EXCELLENCY THE GENERAL IS WORRIED
I sat with Monica in her boudoir, which, the of German rooms, had an open in which a fire was burning. Monica, in a kimono, was on the leather seat the fireplace, one little in a out to the blaze. In that room she a picture, which for a moment almost me the me.
The Carter had himself of his task. When I awoke, like a refreshed, he had the fire in the fireplace, while on the table a of tea and eggs and biscuits was spread.
"There ain't no call to up with that dam' of theirs," he chirped. "Miss Monica, she lets me have biscuits, same like she has herself. I always calls her Miss Monica," he explained, "like what they did over at her uncle's place in Long Island, where I used to work."
After he produced water, a safety and other requisites, a clean shirt and collar, an overcoat and a Stetson hat—all from Gerry's wardrobe, I presumed. My boots, too, were polished, and it was as a new man altogether, fresh in mind and clean in body, that I presented myself, about ten o'clock in the morning, at the door and the "Frau Gräfin." By Carter's I had my moustache, and my clean-shaven countenance, together with my black and dark overcoat, gave me, I think, that of which one looks for in a male attendant.
Now Monica and I sat and the together.
"German their in into their masters' affairs," she said, "but we shan't be here. That door leads into Gerry's room: he was asleep when I in just now. I'll take you into him presently. Now tell me about ... and Francis!"
I told her again, but at length, all I about Francis, his mission into Germany, his long silence.
"I on impulse," I said, "but, me, I for the best. Only, to have against me. I appear to have walked into a of the most which right up to the Throne."
"Never mind, Des," she said, over and a little hand on my arm, "it was for Francis; you and I would do anything to help him, wouldn't we? ... if he is still alive. Impulse is not such a thing, after all. If I had on once, maybe Francis would not now be in the he is...."
And she sighed.
"Things look black enough, Des," she on. "Maybe you and I won't the of another like this again and that's why I'm going to tell you something I have told else. I am only telling you so as you will know that, happens, you will always in me an in your search ... though, as I am, I think I can help you much.
"Your wanted me to him. I liked him than else I had met ... or have met since, for that matter.... Daddy was dead, I was free to myself, so no in the way. But your was proud ... his was than his love for me, I told him when we ... and he wouldn't of marriage until he had himself independent, though I had for of us. He wanted me to wait a year or two until he had got his started properly, but his me and I wouldn't.
"So we and I with Mrs. Rushwood. Francis wrote: all I about him was an occasional in your letters. Mrs. Rushwood was about titles, and she ran me from to court, always looking for what she called a for me. At Vienna we met Rachwitz ... he was very good looking and very well and to be of me.
"Well, I gave Francis another chance. I him a and told him about Rachwitz wanting to me and asked his advice. He me a letter, a letter, Des. 'Any girl who is to sell herself for a title,' he said, 'richly a German husband.' What do you think of that?"
"Poor old Francis," I said. "He was of you, Monica!"
"Well, his did it. I married Rachwitz ... and have been since. I'm not going to you with a long about my troubles. No! I'm not going to either! I'm not crying! Karl is not a man, as German men go, and he's a gentleman, but his love and his parties and his of mind me ... it was so different to I had been used to. Then you know, I left him...."
"But, Monica," I exclaimed, "what are you doing here then?"
She wearily.
"I'm a German by marriage, Des," she said, "you can't away from that. My husband's country ... my country ... is at and the must play their part, their is. Karl asked me to come back, I'll give him the for that. I came of my own I my place was here. So I go to parties and and Red Cross matinées and try to be to the German and to their and about their army, their about Belgium, their of the best friends Daddy and I had, you English! But doing my by my husband not me to help my friends when they are in danger. That's why you can count on me, Des."
And she gave me her hand.
"I want to be with you, too," I said, "so, to me, you won't I have you about things. I can't say much my is not healthy for anyone to share, and, should they any you and me, if they me, it will be for you not to have anything compromising. But I want to tell you this. There is a at which is higher than my own safety, higher than Francis'. I don't I am to die: if I here, I shall killed at the sooner or later: it is of this I speak of that I want to away with my life to England."
Monica laughed happily.
"Why do men always take us to be fools?" she said. "You're a man to have around, Des, I know that, without my about any old secret. But you are my friend and Francis' and I'm going to help you.
"Now, listen! Old Boden was at that party last night: he came in late. Rudi Boden, he told me, is going to take to Rumania, to Mackensen's head-quarters. Well, I the old man this and asked him if Rudi would take a parcel for me to Karl. He said he would and the General is here to to-day to it.
"Von Boden is an old and after every woman he meets. He is by way of being to me, if you please, sir. I think I should be able to out from him what are the latest in your case. There's nothing in the paper this about the at the Esplanade. But then, these are always up."
"He'll say much in the circumstances," I "After all, the Kaiser is involved...."
"My dear Des, opinion of in circles in this country is so low that the in the army set at Court are very often than the General Staff. Von Boden will tell me all I want to know."
What a girl she was!
"About your friend, the man," she on, "I'm puzzled. He must be a person of to be by special train into the Emperor's private apartments, where very people penetrate, I you. But I've of him. He's not a Court official. Nor is he the of the Political Police ... that's Henninger, a friend of Karl's. Still, there are people of great in dark places in this country and I Clubfoot must be one of them.
"Now, I think I ought to take you into Gerry. I want to speak to you about him, Des. I daren't tell him who you are. Gerry's not himself. He's been a since his accident and I can't trust him. He's a very man and his would of me a ... a ..."
"Spy?" I suggested.
"No, a friend," she corrected. "So you'll just have to be a male nurse, I guess. A German-American would be best, I think, as you'll have to read the German papers to Gerry—he doesn't know a word of German. Then, you must have a name of some kind...."
"Frederick Meyer," I promptly, "from Pittsburg. It'll have to be Pittsburg: Francis there for a bit, you know: he me a about the place and I've pictures of it, too. It's the only American city I know anything about."
"Let it be Meyer from Pittsburg, then," Monica, "but you've got a terrible English accent, Des. I we'll have to tell Gerry you were years nursing in London the war."
She a moment, then added:
"Des, I'm you'll Gerry very trying. He's and ... and very spiteful. So you must be not to give away."
I had only met the once and my of him was of a good looking, man. He had been up in the States by the Long Island uncle great he had inherited.
"You'll be safe up here for the present," Monica on. "You'll sleep in the little room off Gerry's and I'll have your there too. After I have out from the General how stand, we'll decide what's to be done next."
"I'll be very with Master Gerry," I said. "But, Monica, though he has only me once, he Francis well and we are alike. Do you think he'll me?"
"Why, Desmond, it's years since he saw you. And you're not much like Francis with your off. If you're careful, it'll be all right! It isn't for long, either. Now we'll go in. Come along."
As we entered, a voice cried:
"Is that you, Monica? Say, am I to be left alone all the morning?"
"Gerry dear," answered Monica very sweetly, "I've been someone to look after you a bit. Come here, Meyer! This is Frederick Meyer, Gerry!"
I should have the handsome, I had met in London in the man with with pain who at me from the bed.
"Who is he? Where did you him from? Does he know German?"
He a of questions at Monica, who answered them in her sweet, patient way.
He was satisfied, for, when Monica presently got up to us, he me an of German papers and me read to him.
I had not sat with him for ten minutes I what an the man was. Nothing I do was right. Now he didn't want to the news, then it was the report of the Reichstag that him, now I didn't read loud enough, then my voice on him. Finally, he the paper out of my hand.
"I can't you say," he in with irritability; "you mouth and like an Englishman. You say you are an American?"
"Yes, sir," I answered meekly, "but I for many years in England."
"Well, it's a good thing you're not there now. Those English are just crazy. They'll Germany, not if they try for a century. Why, look what this country has done in this war? Nothing can against her! It's organization, that's what it is! The Germans lead the world. Take their doctors! I have been to every in America about my and paid them thousands of dollars. And what good did they do me? Not a thing. I come to Germany, they me a of the fees, and I a different man already. Before the Germans, the English ..."
Thus he ran on. I the type well, the American who is by German and so that he not see the of the medal.
He himself on the at last and me read to him again.
"Read about the at the Hotel Esplanade last night," he commanded.
I had an open for this very item but, as Monica had said, the papers no hint of it. I how Gerry about it. Monica would not have told him.
"What do you mean?" I said. "There is nothing about it in the papers."
"Of there is, you fool. What is the use of my you to read the papers to me if you can't news that's spread all over the place? It's no use me the paper ... you know I can't read it! Here, Josef will know!"
A man-servant had come into the room with some clothes.
Gerry to him.
"Josef, where did you see that you were telling me about an English a man at the Esplanade last night?"
"Dot ain't in de paper, sir. I from de of de Biedermanns next door. He at de hotel himself lars' night at de dance. Dey won't put in no paper, sir."
And the man chuckled.
I none too all this and was to be told to read on and be damned.
I read to the American all the morning. He on like a very up child. He was and and sometimes abusive, and I had some in my temper. He to my English and so and so at what he called "your English friends" that I to there was some purpose his attitude. But it was only part of his invalid's fractiousness, for when the valet, Josef, appeared with the tray, the American to make for his behaviour.
"I'm I'm a trying at times, Meyer," he said with a smile. "But you're a good fellow. Go and have your lunch. You needn't come till four: I always sleep after luncheon. Here, have a cigar!"
I took the cigar with all as my rôle and the into an room, where the table was for me. I am to influences, and I of the man Josef. I he my into a where his had been and where he had managed to secure a good of pickings.
He left me to my and away. After an excellent lunch, by some first-rate claret, I was my cigar over a book when Josef again.
"The Frau Gräfin will see you downstairs!" he said.
Monica me in a morning-room (the was on two floors). She was very much and had all her calm.
"Des," she said, "von Boden has been here!"
"Well!" I eagerly.
"I wasn't very successful," she on "I'm in water, Des, and that's the truth. I have the old General as he was to-day. He's a and tyrant, but his enemy him of cowardice. But, Des, to-day the man was cowed. He to be in terror of his life and I had the in making him say anything at all about your affair.
"I a joking to the at the hotel last night and he said:
"'Yesterday may prove the of not only my career but that of my son's also. Yesterday for me as an enemy, Madam, a man it ruin, death, to offend.'
"'You the Emperor?' I asked.
"'The Emperor!' he said. 'Oh! of course, he's furious. No, I was not speaking of the Emperor!'
"Then he the and it took me all my to to it. I asked him if they had the author of the attack at the Esplanade. He said, no, but it was only a question of time: the couldn't escape. I said I they would offer a and a of the all over the country. He told me they would do nothing of the sort.
"'The public will nothing about the affair,' he said, 'and if you will take my advice, Countess, you will all about it. In any case, the Princess Radolin is to all her guests at the last night to them to say nothing about the incident. The employees of the hotel will keep their mouths shut. The at that there should be any attempt in public to light on the affair.'
"That is all I out of him. But I have something to tell you. The General away after lunch. Almost as soon as he had gone I was called to the telephone. Dr. Henninger was there: he is the of the Political Police, you know. He gave me the same as the General, namely, to all about what at the Esplanade last night. And then the Princess Radolin me up to say the same thing. She very frightened: she was tearful. Someone had her badly."
"Monica," I said, "it's clear I can't here. My dear girl, if I am in your house, there is no what trouble may not come upon you."
"If there is any risk," she answered, "it's a I am to take. You have to go to in Berlin, and if you are they might out where you had been and then we should be as off as before. No, you right on here, and maybe in a day or two I can you away. I've been something out.
"Karl has a place near the Dutch frontier, Schloss Bellevue, it is called, close to Cleves. It's an old place and has been in the family for generations. Karl, however, only it as a shooting-box: we had big up there every autumn the war.
"There has been no there for two years now and the place is with game. The Government has been to people with to kill their game and put it on the market, so I had to go up to Bellevue this month and see the agent about this. I if I on Gerry to come with me, you him and you might across the Dutch from there. It's only about fifteen miles away from the Castle. If I can a move on Gerry, there is no why we shouldn't go away in a day or two. In the meantime you'll be safe here."
I told her I must think it over: she to be too much. But I think my mind was already up. I not on this friend.
Then I again to Gerry, who was in as a as before. His had with him: he hadn't slept: the room was not ... these were a of the he at me as soon as I appeared. He was in his most and mood. He sent me and thither: he gave me an order and it in the same breath: my to him, to him to me.
At last he came to his old subject, my English accent.
"I our good American is too for a English like you," he said, "but I you'll as speak as you were you're through with this city. An English is not healthy in Berlin at present, Mister Meyer, sir, and you'd best learn to talk like the of us if you want to keep on in this house.
"I'm in no to be just now and I've no of having the police in here some of their dam' plain-clothes men have my saying 'charnce' and 'darnce' like any Britisher—especially with this English loose. By the way, you'll have to be registered? Has my sister about it yet?"
I said she was to it.
"I want to know if she's done it. I'm a and I can't a thing done for me. Have you her your papers? Yes, or no?"
This was a fix. With all the of the invalid, the man was on his latest whim.
So I lied. The Countess had my papers, I said.
Instantly he the and Monica and had himself into a by the time she appeared.
"What's this I hear, Monica?" he in his high-pitched, voice. "Hasn't Meyer been registered with the police yet?"
"I'm going to see to it myself in the morning, Gerry," she said.
"In the morning. In the morning!" he cried, up his hands. "Good God, how can you be so shiftless? A law is a law. The man's papers must be sent in to-day ... this instant."
Monica looked at me.
"I'm I'm to blame, sir," I said. "The is, my is not in order and I shall have to take it to the I send it to the police."
Then I saw Josef by the bed, a in his hand.
"Zom letters, sir," he said to Gerry. I how long he had been in the room.
Gerry the and into a regular fit. He wouldn't have done that way in the house; he wouldn't have unknown in, with the city thick with spies—especially people with an English accent—his nerves wouldn't it: Monica ought to know better, and so on and so forth. The long and the of it was that I was ordered to produce my immediately. Monica was to ring up the to ask them to a point and see to it out of office hours, then Josef should take me to the police.
I don't know how we got out of that room. It was Monica, with her sweet tact, who managed it. I the to see my passport, but Monica me through that as well.
I had left my and in the entrance downstairs. I put on my coat, then to Monica in the morning-room.
There was much she wanted to say—I see it in her eyes—but I think she from my what I was going to do, so she said nothing.
At the door I said aloud, for the of Josef, who was on the stairs:
"Very good, my lady. I will come from the and then go with Josef to the police."
The next moment I was in Berlin.
