'Because you like me, I hope,' she replied. 'For myself, I love making fresh acquaintances amongst clever men.' 'Acquaintances?' he repeated slowly. She nodded several times. 'I am not one of those,' she said, 'who can gather the whole world in without a pause. I like to make acquaintances. Sometimes an acquaintance may become a friend. Sometimes--but that takes time.' She felt the steely light of his eyes upon her and looked modestly down upon the carpet. 'Well,' he went on, 'there were two reasons why I sent for you. One I think you have surmised, and you keep it there at the back of your pretty little head. The other--well, you are a young person of intelligence and mixed nationality. I thought it possible that you might be of use to me.' 'But in what manner?' she demanded. 'I was frank with you at luncheon-time,' he said. 'You know where my sympathies lie. Yours, I gathered, are divided. Would it be possible, I wonder, to induce you to look my way?' 'But you yourself admitted,' she reminded him, 'that the cause of Germany in America is lost. What more is there to be done?' 'Young lady,' he replied, 'the cause of Germany in America may be lost for the moment so far as regards our efforts to induce the present administration to carry into effect an ethical neutrality. But the great source of Germany's greatness is her capacity for looking ahead. If one cause is lost, then in that day a new one is born. If Germany had not foreseen and prepared for this war for forty years, she would have been crushed to-day. Now we who are her sons in foreign countries, our eyes, too, are fixed upon the future.' 'Then you have a new scheme,' she said quietly. 'We have a new scheme,' he admitted, 'but what that may be it is not my intention to tell you at present.' She pouted at once. 'Of course, if you are not going to trust me----' 'You must not be a foolish child,' he interrupted. 'You would think little of me if I did, and besides,' he added, rising to his feet, 'I am not sure yet that I do trust you. Wait.' He touched the bell. Almost immediately the door of the sitting-room was opened. She gave a little start. An immense coloured man in dark clothes stood respectfully in the doorway. 'George,' his master directed, 'if any one rings, I am engaged. See that I am not disturbed on any pretext.' 'Very good, Mr. Kessner! The man closed the door with wonderful softness. Even his footsteps, as he retreated into the bedroom, were inaudible. Kessner's elbow was propped against the mantelpiece, his head supported in his thin, yellow-stained fingers. He looked down at her. 'If you do not trust me,' she persisted, 'how can I be of help to you?' 'I might put you to the test,' he said slowly.