Number 70, Berlin: A Story of Britain's PerilLe Queux, William
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Number 70, Berlin: A Story of Britain's Peril
Le Queux, William
War stories; World War, 1914-1918 -- Fiction
"Well," Lewin Rodwell went on, clenching his fist, "we are at war--a war
the result of which no man can, as yet, foresee. But win we must--yet,
if we are to win, we must still make the greatest sacrifices. We must
expend our last shilling and our last drop of blood if victory is at
last to be ours. Germany, the mighty country of the volte-face, with
her blood-stained Kaiser at her head, has willed that Teuton `kultur'
shall crush modern civilisation beneath the heel of its jack-boot. Are
you young men of Scotland to sit tight here and allow the Germans to
invade you, to ruin and burn your homes, and to put your women and
children to the sword? Will you actually allow this accursed race of
murderers, burglars and fire-bugs to swarm over this land which your
ancestors have won for you? No! Think of the past history of your
homes and your dear ones, and come forward now, to-night, all of you of
military age, and give in your names for enlistment! Come, I implore of
you!" he shouted, waving his arms. "Come forward, and do your duty as
men in the service of mankind--your duty to your King, your country, and
your God!"
His speech, of which this was only one very small extract, was certainly
a brilliant and telling one. When he sat down, not only was there a
great thunder of applause while the fine organ struck up "Rule
Britannia," but a number of strong young men, in their new-born
enthusiasm, rose from the audience and announced their intention of
enlisting.
"Excellent!" cried Rodwell, rising again from his chair. "Here are
brave fellows ready to do their duty! Come, let all you slackers follow
their example and act as real honest, patriotic men--the men of the
Scotland of history!"
This proved an incentive to several waverers. But what, indeed, would
that meeting have thought had they caught the words the speaker
whispered in German beneath his breath, as he reseated himself? "More
cannon-fodder," he had muttered, though his face was brightened by a
smile of supreme satisfaction of a true Briton, for he had realised by
his reception there in Edinburgh, where audiences were never
over-demonstrative, how exceedingly popular he was.
Afterwards he had supper at the Caledonian Hotel with the Cabinet
Minister whom he had supported; and later, when he retired to his room,
he at once locked the door, flung off his coat, and threw himself into
the armchair by the fire to smoke and think.
He was wondering what action his friends at Number 70 Berlin were taking
in consequence of the report he had made on the previous night. On
Wednesday the north-east coast of England would be left unguarded.
What, he wondered, would happen to startle with "frightfulness" the
stupid English, whom he at heart held in such utter contempt?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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