[Illustration: Soldiers in the making--aiming practice] The throngs now streamed toward the Royal Castle in the confident hope that William the Speechmaker would not disappoint them. About six o’clock in the evening their patience and _Hochs_ were rewarded. Surrounded by the members of his family, the Kaiser appeared at the balcony window facing the Cathedral across the _Lustgarten_ (this was more of the 1870 precedent) and, looking down upon the densest and most fervent crowd of his subjects he ever faced, addressed to them in the guttural, jerky, but wonderfully far-reaching tones which are his oratorical style, the following homily: "A fateful hour has fallen upon Germany. Envious people on all sides are compelling us to resort to just defense. The sword is being forced into our hand. If at the last hour my efforts do not succeed in maintaining peace, I hope that with God’s help we shall so wield the sword that we shall be able to sheathe it with honor. "War would demand of us enormous sacrifices in blood and treasure, but we shall show our foes what it means to provoke Germany, and now I commend you all to God. Go to church, kneel before God, and pray to Him to help our gallant army." Berlin went to bed on the night of July 31 hoarse with _Hoching_ and footsore from standing and marching, but now indubitably certain that events were impending which would try the Fatherland’s soul as it had never been tried before. CHAPTER VII WAR