“Come in,” said Wilhelm curtly, and not overwarmly, while he pressed the still angrily glaring Frau Muller’s hand gratefully.

The second visitor now mentioned his name—­it was that of one of the most prominent leaders of the Social Democrats in Germany.  Wilhelm signed to the two men to be seated, and asked what he could do for them.

“I heard through the mechanic Groll here,” answered the stranger, pointing to the other man, “what you did for Frau Wander.  That encouraged us to come to you with a request.”

At a sign from Wilhelm he continued: 

“You have seen one of our cases for yourself, and that not by any means the worst.  We have dozens of such cases, and there will probably be hundreds more.  Our union does what it can.  Every member gives up part of his week’s wages for the unfortunate victims, and thereby we perhaps save the government from the crime of having condemned innocent women and children to death by starvation.  But our people are poor, and have to fight against want themselves.  We cannot expect any great sacrifice from them.  What we want is a considerable lump sum to enable us to send on the families of the exiled workmen to join their respective bread-winners.  So we go round knocking at the doors of our wealthy associates, who, though in consideration of the times they do not care to declare themselves openly for us, nevertheless have a feeling heart for the workingman’s distress.”

All the time he was speaking he looked Wilhelm straight in the eyes.  Wilhelm bore his gaze quietly, and answered: 

“If you think I share your opinions you are much mistaken.  I consider that you are pursuing a false course, that you make assertions to the workingman which you cannot prove, and promise him things you cannot fulfill, and I frankly confess that I do not envy you the responsibility you have taken upon your own shoulders.”

The leader stroked his short beard with a nervous movement, and the mechanic twisted his hat awkwardly between his hands.  Wilhelm went on after a short pause: 

“But that does not prevent me from sympathizing with the distress of women and children, and I shall be very glad to do what I can if you will give me a detailed account of the state of affairs.”

In a few plain words the visitor gave a sketch of the circumstances, all the more heartbreaking for its very unpretentiousness.  So many men dismissed, so many wives, so many children, so many parents and near relatives unable to support themselves.  Of these so many were sick, so many women lately confined, so many cripples.  So many had prospects of better circumstances if they could get away from Berlin.  For that purpose such and such a sum was necessary.  So much was already in hand.  He stated the amount of certain large donations, and added—­“I will not mention the names of the subscribers, as it might happen that it would be to your advantage not to know them.”