Presently His Majesty looked up, and in that same, rather shrill voice, asked: "How long are you in the Service?" "Three years, sir." "You know Morocco?" Morocco! So that was it. France and Germany quarreling over the bone, at the point of war! I replied: "Yes, sir!" "How long were you in Morocco?" continued the Emperor. "About twelve months, sir." On this he seemed to hesitate. Frankly, I was nervous, so instead of thinking about Morocco, I noticed that the Kaiser wore the undress uniform of a Colonel of the Grenadier Guard with the star of the Order Pour le Merite, dangling from his coat button. As if making up his mind, he turned again on me those gray eyes. "You know Kaid MacLean?" "Yes, sir." "How did you get to know him?" "I happened to be of assistance to Sir Harry Kaid MacLean who was at that time Commander-in-Chief and Man-of-Affairs to the Sultan of Morocco." My answer seemed to please the Emperor, for his eyes gleamed. "Any likelihood of his remembering your services?" I hesitated, then said: "I cannot vouch for another man's memory, sire. Besides, I do not care to put the Kaid to the test." The Emperor looked at me queerly, but, evidently satisfied with my answer, he turned to Count Wedel, saying: "He will do. Have the dispatches ready." At once the Count hurried noiselessly into an adjoining room. The Kaiser, making one of his characteristic sudden movements, flung himself back into the chair, looked steadily at me, and added: "Besides the official dispatches you will memorize these commands, for the Captain of the warship _Panther_." He handed me a note, which I did not immediately look at, for he continued: "Outside of Count Wedel, no one is to know anything of your mission. No one is to know that you are carrying a verbal message from me to the Captain of the warship _Panther_. Understand?" "Yes, sir." The Emperor as abruptly drew himself forward, and propping his head with his hands, fell into a deep study, gazing fixedly at nothing. He seemed in that moment to be considerably older. His face, even for the tan, had that grayish look of a man who is carrying some tremendous responsibility. It came to me swiftly, the popular clamor for war, _Panther_!--the _Panther_ was lying off Spain ready to steam across the Mediterranean to Morocco. And I was to bear secret orders from the Emperor to the _Panther's_ captain. Then I opened the note that the Emperor had given me, and began to memorize its contents. Amazement must have shown on my face. A blow with a feather would have knocked me down. So wonder Wilhelm II was staring blankly, no wonder this message had to be delivered verbally. Hurriedly I began to memorize it. Presently, I saw Count Wedel come in and he and the Kaiser began to talk in whispers. Then Wilhelm looked up and said: "Have you memorized it?"