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The Kaiser's present letter is simply a repetition of his feverish attempt to probe our intentions." "But at present," Norgate ventured, "there is no Balkan Crisis." The Comtesse looked at him lazily out of the corners of her sleepy eyes. "Is there not?" she asked simply. "I have been away from Italy for a week or so, and Andrea trusts nothing to letters.
An English ultimatum is now on its way to Berlin. War will be declared before midnight." Selingman rose slowly to his feet. His face was black with passion. He pushed a man away who stood between them. He was face to face with Norgate. "So you," he thundered, suddenly reckless of the bystanders, "are a double traitor! You have taken pay from Germany and deceived her!
"One must have one's distractions," Selingman protested. "I confess that auction bridge, as it is played over here, is the one game in the world which attracts me." "But how about the crockery?" Norgate asked. "Doesn't that come first?" "First, beyond a doubt," Selingman agreed heartily. "Always, though, my plan of campaign is the same. On the day of my arrival here, I take things easily.
He had promised Jasper to come down to the Casket Theatre; and, however weary he might be of the tinsel and glitter, yet he never thought of making an excuse, or of breaking his word. He was about to set forth, when Norgate announced "Lord Standon," and though Adrien's greeting was as courteous as usual, the old genial warmth was gone.
Selingman asked keenly. "The risk of being misunderstood, of making mistakes." "Pooh!" Selingman exclaimed. "I do not like the man who talks of risks. Let us dismiss this conversation. I have work for you." Norgate assumed a more interested attitude. "I am ready," he said. "Go on, please."
"Our society," Selingman announced, smiling ponderously, "has ramifications in every direction. It is our business to know much. We are collectors of information of every sort and nature." "Seems to have been part of your business to follow me about," observed Norgate. "Perhaps so. If we thought it good for us to have you followed about, we certainly should," Selingman admitted.
She was an observant, intelligent woman, high-minded and pure-hearted, and vastly superior to his late satellites. She was eager to suit herself to him, and made herself as free with him as she could be, as far as he knew, with any one. At this season Gervase Norgate was attracted to something warmer, sweeter, more intimate in their intercourse. He enjoyed her quick remarks and shrewd conclusions.
She is very amiable, but I cannot attend to the game while she sits there opposite to me. She fascinates me. In Germany sometimes our women smoke cigarettes, but cigars, and in public, never!" "We'll get a rubber presently, I dare say," Norgate remarked, settling himself in an easy-chair. "How's business?" "Business is very good," Selingman declared.
He paused at once and beckoned to him. "Well, young fellow," he exclaimed, as they shook hands, "how's the German spy business going?" "Pretty well, thanks," Norgate answered coolly. "I am in it twice over now. I'm marrying an Austrian lady shortly, very high up indeed in the Diplomatic Secret Service of her country.
"A traitor to the false England of to-day," Norgate replied, "a friend, I hope, of the real England." She sat quite still for some moments. "Somehow or other," she said, "I scarcely fancied that you would give in so easily." "You seem disappointed," he remarked, "yet, after all, am I not on your side?" "I suppose so," she answered, without enthusiasm.
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