Then His Excellency opened his mouth and spoke to us, and signalled with his hand to the interpreter. The interpreter looked more than usually pallid, and more than usually uncomfortable. He began in trembling tones: “His Excellency wishes--His Excellency wishes--His Excellency wishes you to know that we consider you no longer our enemies.” His Excellency casts glances, first at the interpreter, then at us, to see whether his magnanimity has been rightly understood. Then he talks again, and the interpreter, with knocking at the knees and dismay in the eyes, essays to interpret. “His Excellency wishes--His Excellency wishes--that you do obey strictly the prescriptions of the camp.” The staff smile; His Excellency looks suspicious. “Have they rightly understood?” One of the staff suggests to him that some of the English officers are laughing. Gruffness predominates at once. The interpreter, more visibly nervous than ever, is incited to try again. “His Excellency wishes--His Excellency wishes--His Excellency wishes that----” His Excellency fumes; His Excellency wishes that the poor interpreter--now almost in a state of collapse--commit his message to paper before he commit further indiscretions. There is a lengthy confabulation and concoction of phrase, and ultimately the interpreter reads stammeringly: “His Excellency wishes you to know that he considers you as no longer our enemies. His Excellency wishes you to know that he will do everything he can possibly for your comforts. His Excellency wishes you to strictly observe the prescriptions of the camp.” Thereafter His Excellency gives audience, and, as a result, it is understood that a card system of parole will be adopted; that an effort will be made to combat the plague of fleas, and that otherwise there will be immediate reform. [Illustration: NARROW ALLEY, BEESKOW.] X IN CHURCH--A POLISH BAPTISM Once a month we were privileged to attend the ancient Marienkirche, where a service modelled as nearly as might be on the English Church evensong was conducted by the German Lutheran pastor. The service, including the sermon, which only lasted three minutes--a model brevity for homilies--was sympathetic, simple, and not difficult to follow for anyone with a slight knowledge of German. As not infrequently, I probably received most benefit and benediction from matters extraneous to the ritual. My ears would be assailed by the sharp, almost metallic, tapping upon the windows of the leaves of the elm tree outside, which may have sported thus to the winds of a century or more. My roving eyes sought the Last Supper upon the reredos, whereon it was to be observed that one of the Twelve is handing a morsel to a dog, while the Disciple whom Jesus loved has his arm affectionately through that of his Master. The interior of the church is entirely white, with here and there a quickening and vivification in a note of red or blue or brown on the altar, the pulpit, and the organ.