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"I am Herr Wetten; Your Excellency is Herr Steinlach. It could not be simpler." The Baron laughed quietly. "Very good, indeed," he agreed. "And Haase? You did not think of him? Well, the good Haase, for the time being, shall be the Herr von Haase. Eh, Haase?" "Zu Befehl, Excellenz," deferred Herr Haase.
As a German officer, I resent the mere suggestion of this insult to the corps of officers. Your Excellency." The Baron lifted that quiet hand of his. "I order you to sit down and be silent," he said. Captain von Wetten hesitated. It seemed to Herr Haase, for a flattering instant, that the captain's eyes sought his own, as though in recognition of a familiar and favorable spirit.
Herr Haase would have liked to watch the further intercourse of the Baron and the lean young man; but Von Wetten, indicating to him a small iron spade, such as children dig with on the sea-beach, and a pointed iron rod, set him to work at making graves for the little paper-wrapped packages which he took from the suit-case.
"Well, Excellenz" Captain von Wetten hesitated. "As a matter of fact, I've arranged for you to see the thing yourself this afternoon." The Baron said nothing merely waited, large and still against the light of the window which shone on the faces of the other two. Captain von Wetten shifted in his chair awkwardly. "At five, Excellenz," he added; "it'll be cooler then.
Von Wetten took his cigar from his lips and held it between his fingers. The Baron waved the proffered envelope from him. "Read it to us, my good Haase," he said. "Zu befehl, Excellenz!"
Herr Haase saw the girl on the balcony lean forward as though to hear the word, its pride and its bitterness, and draw back again as though to hear it had been all that she desired. "Von Wetten!" The Baron spoke briskly. "You hear what Herr Bettermann tells me? Such things happen in the army do they?" Von Wetten shrugged. "They are strictly illegal, sir," he replied, formally.
"It isn't over," he said. "There's the stuff he" with a glance like a stab at Von Wetten "threw into the lake. Ready?" "Ach!" The Baron stepped hastily aside. "Yes; I had forgotten that. Quite ready, my dear sir quite ready. Haase, my good friend, I think I'll stand behind you this time."
Captain that is, Colonel von Specht shall be here, with the whip, as soon as the telegraph and the train can bring him. And then, I assume, the machine." "Pardon!" Captain von Wetten had risen. "I have not understood." He came forward between the two, very erect and military, and rather splendid with his high-held head and drilled comeliness of body.
He tried to look respectfully sympathetic. "Very good, your Excellency," said Von Wetten, at length. "The Emperor, of course, will be informed." He turned and stalked away to his former place. The Baron, watching him, smiled briefly. "Well, Herr Bettermann," said the Baron, rising stiffly, "it will not help us to have this arrangement of ours in writing. I think we'll have to trust one another.
Even Herr Haase perceived it, for he stared a moment open-mouthed before he recovered himself. Von Wetten, smoking, in an easy chair, was in evening dress. Herr Haase, with customary clockwork-like military motions, produced his envelope and held it forth. "The code-telegram of which I telephoned your Excellency and a transcription of it," he announced.
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