“I must ask you to remember,” Dominey begged, “that I am here as a blind servant of the Fatherland.  I simply obey orders.”

“I will grant that freely,” the Prince consented.  “But to continue.  I am now at the end of my first year in this country.  I feel able to congratulate myself upon a certain measure of success.  From that part of the Cabinet with whom I have had to do, I have received nothing but encouragement in my efforts to promote a better understanding between our two countries.”

“The sky certainly seems clear enough just now,” agreed Dominey.

“I have convinced myself,” the Prince said emphatically, “that there is a genuine and solid desire for peace with Germany existing in Downing Street.  In every argument I have had, in every concession I have asked for, I have been met with a sincere desire to foster the growing friendship between our countries.  I am proud of my work here, Von Ragastein.  I believe that I have brought Germany and England nearer together than they have been since the days of the Boer War.”

“You are sure, sir,” Dominey asked, “that you are not confusing personal popularity with national sentiment?”

“I am sure of it,” the Ambassador answered gravely.  “Such popularity as I may have achieved here has been due to an appreciation of the more healthy state of world politics now existing.  It has been my great pleasure to trace the result of my work in a manuscript of memoirs, which some day, when peace is firmly established between our two countries, I shall cause to be published.  I have put on record there evidences of the really genuine sentiment in favour of peace which I have found amongst the present Cabinet.”

“I should esteem it an immense privilege,” Dominey said, “to be given a private reading of these memoirs.”

“That may be arranged,” was the suave reply.  “In the meantime, Von Ragastein, I want you to reconsider your position here.”

“My position is not voluntary,” Dominey repeated.  “I am acting under orders.”

“Precisely,” the other acquiesced, “but matters have changed very much during the last six months.  Even at the risk of offending France, England is showing wonderful pliability with regard to our claims in Morocco.  Every prospect of disagreement between our two countries upon any vital matter has now disappeared.”

“Unless,” Dominey said thoughtfully, “the desire for war should come, not from Downing Street but from Potsdam.”

“We serve an honourable master,” Terniloff declared sternly, “and he has shown me his mind.  His will is for peace, and for the great triumphs to which our country is already entitled by reason of her supremacy in industry, in commerce, in character and in genius.  These are the weapons which will make Germany the greatest Power in the world.  No empire has ever hewn its way to permanent glory by the sword alone.  We have reached our stations, I see.  Come to me after this drive is finished, my host.  All that I have said so far has been by way of prelude.”