Unconsciously, almost, he drew his revolver, and pointed it straight at the War Lord’s breast.

“With one little movement of my finger,” said the lad softly to himself, “I could snuff out the life of the man who has already sent thousands to their death.  One shot, and—­”

His fingers tightened on the trigger, but for a moment only.  Then he lowered his weapon, and a moment later dropped it back in his pocket, while he wiped away little beads of perspiration that had gathered on his brow.

“It’s no use,” he told himself, “I couldn’t do it if I wanted to.”

Wilhelm II, Emperor of the German Empire and War Lord of Europe, will never know how close he was to death at that moment!

Now the voices of the officers in the room below became louder, and by straining his ears the lad could make out what they were saying.

“If,” came a voice from below, and Hal recognized it as that of Count Von Moltke, “if we can draw the British to this point, we can cut them off from their French support and annihilate them.  And—­”

“And,” came the voice of the Kaiser himself, “we can, then, by a quick turning move, take the French by surprise and our victory will be complete.”

“Exactly, sire,” came Count Von Moltke’s voice again.

“But, sire,” said a third voice, “what have we to warrant that the English will accept our bait?”

The Emperor did not reply immediately, and Count Von Moltke broke in again.

“We will make a strong showing on the eastern shore of the Marne,” he said, “and will retire slowly before the British.  As they come on, flushed with apparent victory, Von Kluck will take them on the left flank.  We shall cut them to pieces.”

“The plan sounds well to me,” came the voice of the Kaiser again.  “General Von Kluck, how soon can you be in readiness to execute this coup?”

“Not before day after to-morrow, sire,” was the reply.  “It will take me that long to bring my men to the designated point, at the same time keeping the British unaware of their withdrawal.”

“And how many men will you be able to bring?” asked the Kaiser.

“Half a million, sire.”

“Leaving how many in their present position, as a screen?”

“Very few, sire.  Hardly more than 50,000 men.”

The Kaiser growled something, unintelligible to Hal, into his mustache.  Then he spoke aloud: 

“If the British were aware of that,” he said, “by a quick advance they would place us at a tremendous disadvantage.”

“So they would, sire,” agreed General Von Kluck.  “But it must be seen that they do not anticipate our plan.”

“In that event,” came the Emperor’s reply, “it will be necessary for that part of your force which is left to make a show of strength at the same moment the mass of your command is withdrawn.”

“Exactly what I had figured upon, sire.”

“Good; but you say it is impossible for you to be ready until the day after to-morrow.  In that event, we must hold the English in their present positions at all costs.  A premature advance on their part, while we would undoubtedly repulse it, would mean the ruination of our coup.  See to it, gentlemen, that there is no leak.”