at he so
greatly resembled her adored Kaiser!

"You are very kind," she said mechanically.

"I believe that last Sunday, August 1st, there was owing to you this
sum." So saying, he pushed towards her across the table five
half-sovereigns.

Anna Bauer uttered an exclamation of profound astonishment. She stared
down at the money lying now close to her fat red hand.

"Is not that so?" he said, looking at her fixedly.

And at last she stammered out, "Yes, that is so. But--but----do you then
know Willi, Mr. Hegner?"

The man sitting opposite to her remained silent for a moment. He hadn't
the slightest idea who "Willi" was. "Ach, yes! It is from him that you
generally receive this money every six months--I had forgotten that!
Willi is a good fellow. Have you known him long?" He wisely waited for a
reply, for on his tongue had been the words, "I suppose he lives in
London?"

"I have only known him three years," said Anna, "and that though he
married my niece seven years ago. Yes, Willi is indeed an excellent
fellow!"

And then she suddenly bethought herself of what Mrs. Otway had said
that very morning. Mr. Hegner would certainly be able to tell her the
truth--he was the sort of man who knew everything of a practical,
business nature. "Perhaps you will be able to tell me," she asked
eagerly, "if my nephew will have to fight--to go to the frontier. Mrs.
Otway, she says that the police are always the last to be called out--is
that true, Mr. Hegner?"

"Yes, I think I may assure you, Frau Bauer, that it is a fact." He
looked at her curiously. "You are very fond, then, of your niece's
husband, of the excellent Willi?"

"I am indeed," she said eagerly, "and grateful to him too, for this
money he sends me is very welcome, Mr. Hegner. I was so afraid it might
not come this time."

"And you were right to be afraid! It will become more and more difficult
to get money from Germany to England," said her host, and there was a
touch of grimness in his voice. "Still, there are ways of getting over
every difficulty. Should the war last as long, I will certainly see that
you, Frau Bauer, receive what is your due on the 1st of next January.
But many strange things may happen before then. Long before Christmas
you may no longer be earning this money."

"Oh! I hope that will not be the case!" She looked very much disturbed.
L5 a year was about a fifth of good old Anna's total income.

"Well, we shall see. I will do my best for y