“Explain, if you please,” she begged earnestly.

He smoked stolidly for several moments.

“I imagine,” he said, “that you preserve with me something of that very skilfully assumed ignorance which is the true mask of the diplomatist.  But is it worth while, I wonder?”

She caught at her breath.

“You are too clever,” she murmured, looking at him covertly.

“You have seen,” he continued, “how Germany, who needs peace sorely, has striven to use the most despised power in her country for her own advantage—­I mean the Socialist Party.  From being treated with scorn and ignominy, they were suddenly, at the time of the proposed Stockholm Conference, judged worthy of notice from the All Highest himself.  He suddenly saw how wonderful a use might be made of them.  It was a very clever trap which was baited, and it was not owing to any foresight or any cleverness on the part of this country that the Allies did not walk straight into it.  I say again,” he went on, “that it was a mere fluke which prevented the Allies from being represented at that Conference and the driving in of the thin end of the wedge.”

“You are quite right,” Catherine agreed.

“German diplomacy,” he proceeded, “may sometimes be obtuse, but it is at least persistent.  Their next move will certainly rank in history as the most astute, the most cunning of any put forward since the war commenced.  Of course,” the young man went on, fitting his cigarette into a long, amber holder, “we who are not Germans can only guess, but even the guessing is fascinating.”

“Go on, please, dear Baron,” she begged.  “It is when you talk like this and show me your mind that I seem to be listening to a second Bismarck.”

“You flatter me, Countess,” the young man said, “but indeed these events are interesting.  Trace their course for yourself after the failure of Stockholm.  The Kaiser has established certain relations with the Socialist Party.  Once more he turns towards them.  He affects a war weariness he does not feel.  He puts it into their heads that they shall approach without molestation certain men in England who have a great Labour following.  The plot is started.  You know quite well how it has progressed.”

“Naturally,” Catherine assented, “but after all, tell me, where does the wonderful diplomacy come in?  The terms of peace are not the terms of a conqueror.  Germany is to engage herself to give up what she has sworn to hold, even to pay indemnities, to restore all conquered countries, and to retire her armies behind the Rhine.”

The young man looked at his companion steadfastly for several seconds.

“In the idiom of this country, Countess,” he said, “I raise my hat to you.  You preserve your mask of ignorance to the end.  So much so, indeed, that I find myself asking do you really believe that Germany intends to do this?”

“But you forget,” she reminded him.  “I was one of those present at the discussion of the preliminaries.  The confirmation of the agreed terms, with the signatures, has arrived, and is to be placed before the Labour Council at six o’clock this evening.”