"I will tell you one thing which you may not readily believe," Felix said. "There is no country in the world so hated by all the great powers as England." Wolfenden shrugged his shoulders. "Russia," he remarked, "is perhaps jealous of our hold on Asia, but----" "Russia," Felix interrupted, "of all the countries in the world, except perhaps Italy, is the most friendly disposed towards you." Wolfenden laughed. "Come," he said, "you forget Germany." "Germany!" Felix exclaimed scornfully. "Believe it or not as you choose, but Germany detests you. I will tell you a thing which you can think of when you are an old man, and there are great changes and events for you to look back upon. A war between Germany and England is only a matter of time--of a few short years, perhaps even months. In the Cabinet at Berlin a war with you to-day would be more popular than a war with France." "You take my breath away," Wolfenden exclaimed, laughing. Felix was very much in earnest. "In the little world of diplomacy," he said, "in the innermost councils these things are known. The outside public knows nothing of the awful responsibilities of those who govern. Two, at least, of your ministers have realised the position. You read this morning in the papers of more warships and strengthened fortifications--already there have been whispers of the conscription. It is not against Russia or against France that you are slowly arming yourselves, it is against Germany!" "Germany would be mad to fight us," Wolfenden declared. "Under certain conditions," Felix said slowly. "Don't be angry--Germany must beat you." Wolfenden, looking across the street, saw Harcutt on the steps of his club, and beckoned to him. "There is Harcutt," he exclaimed, pointing him out to Felix. "He is a journalist, you know, and in search of a sensation. Let us hear what he has to say about these things." But Felix unlinked his arm from Wolfenden's hastily. "You must excuse me," he said. "Harcutt would recognise me, and I do not wish to be pointed out everywhere as a would-be assassin. Remember what I have said, and avoid Sabin and his parasites as you would the devil." Felix hurried away. Wolfenden remained for a moment standing in the middle of the pavement looking blankly along Piccadilly. Harcutt crossed over to him. "You look," he remarked to Wolfenden, "like a man who needs a drink." Wolfenden turned with him into the club. "I believe that I do," he said. "I have had rather an eventful hour." CHAPTER X THE SECRETARY Mr. Sabin, who had parted with Wolfenden with evident relief, leaned back in the cab and looked at his watch. "That young man," he remarked, "has wasted ten minutes of my time. He will probably have to pay for it some day." "By the bye," the girl asked, "who is he?" "His name is Wolfenden--Lord Wolfenden." "So I gathered; and who is Lord Wolfenden?" "The only son of Admiral the Earl of Deringham. I don't know anything more than that about him myself."