The other two were quite friendly, and through their smoke endeavoured to arrive at an understanding of Ray,--how he came to speak German so well,--what his business in life was,--where he was going, and why? And, as he had nothing to conceal and felt resentful still of the fat man’s insinuations, he told them frankly what he was there for. Their reserve and soberness over the political outlook impressed him greatly. He felt more than justified in the decision he had taken as to Lois. He did his best, without being too intrusive, to get at their view of the future, and they at his. But it was all too pregnant with awful possibilities, and too obscure and critically in the balance, for very free speech. From their manner, however, he gathered that, while they personally desired no interruption of the present prosperous state of affairs, they doubted if the dispute between Austria and Servia could be localised, and feared that if Russia supported Servia the fat would be in the fire. “For me, I do not like Prussia and her insolent ways,” said the Bavarian. “Yon stout one is typical of her. But if she goes, we have to follow--unfortunately, whether we approve or not. We are all bound up together, you see, and there you are.” And all their discursive chats throughout the day went very little deeper than that. It was a very wearisome journey. Time after time they were shunted into sidings while long and heavy trains rolled past. And when Ray commented on it with a surprised, “Well!--for a quick through train this is about as poor a specimen as I’ve ever tumbled on,”--their only comment, as they gazed gloomily out of the window, was, “The traffic is disorganised for the moment.” The stations they passed through were packed with people, and the military element seemed more in evidence even than usual. It was close on five o’clock in the afternoon before they arrived in Leipsic. The Bavarian had left them at Cassel. The Saxon, as he bade Ray adieu, said quietly, “You may find things more difficult still if you try to return this way, Herr. If you take my advice you will strike down South into Tirol and Switzerland, and meanwhile say as little as possible to anyone,” and with a meaning nod he was gone. Ray went along to the Hauffe, secured a room, had a much-needed bath and dinner, and then set off at once for Frau Helse’s house in Sebastian Bach Strasse. The plump Saxon maid informed him that Fräulein Dare was out, that Frau Helse was out, that Fräulein Luise was out;--they were in fact all at a concert at the Conservatorium; and the Herr Lieutenant, he was with his regiment. So Ray left his card with the name of his hotel scribbled on it, and Mrs Dare’s letter, and promised to return in the morning. Then, after a stroll about the unusually thronged streets, he returned to his hotel and looked up trains for Switzerland. VI