“Dr. Thorp,” said Brandon, with a happy and proud smile. “I have the great honor and privilege to present Dr. Kurt Christiansen, whose reputation has long preceded him. At the instance of a neutral government he has come to this country to pay in the name of humanity the world’s homage to our dear friend.” Solemn but cordial bows were exchanged and then Dr. Thorp replied, “I grieve to have to tell you, sir, that our dear friend has already passed.” The childlike bearer of the lilies looked very simply into the doctor’s eyes. “Dead,” he said. “But being dead liveth,” said a tall clergyman from the background in a whispered tone of new authority. There followed a moment of silence and constraint. And then it was very unexpectedly shattered by a wild appearance, grinning with strange joy and crying in an alien tongue, “He is risen! He is risen!” Only the prompt intervention of Dr. Thorp prevented this figure of fantasy flinging its arms round the neck of Mr. Sigismund Prosser, C.B. An international incident of some magnitude was thus averted, for the representative of the Royal Academy of Literature had recently said at a public meeting that “he had done with Goethe forever.” EPILOGUE _Whitehall, Friday._ _Strictly confidential._ DEAR BRANDON: Your moving account of the proceedings at Wellwood Sanatorium was read at the Cabinet meeting this afternoon and you will be glad to know that the Lord Chamberlain is being advised to license the production of the Play in this country. In the present state of the public mind it is felt to be the best course to take. It is hoped that further questions will not arise in the House, otherwise it may be impossible to avoid an inquiry into all the circumstances of a most singular case, and this, I think you will agree, would be undesirable just now from every point of view. Yours, GEORGE SPEKE. TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES: On page 33, threshhold has been changed to threshold. On page 35, bedridden has been changed to bed-ridden. On page 45, Grevase has been changed to Gervase. On page 63, ferrago has been changed to farrago. On page 125, wartime has been changed to war time. On page 130, nonplused has been changed to nonplussed. On page 269, prevaded has been changed to pervaded. On page 287, musn’t has been changed to mustn’t. All other spelling, hyphenation and variants have been retained as typeset.