he
time, and I naturally missed it ... I had the wrong stunt, Major. I
was too high up and refined. I've been processing through Europe like
Barnum's Circus, and living with generals and transparencies. Not that
I haven't picked up a lot of noos, and got some very interesting
sidelights on high politics. But the thing I was after wasn't to be
found on my beat, for those that knew it weren't going to tell. In
that kind of society they don't get drunk and blab after their tenth
cocktail. So I guess I've no contribution to make to quieting Sir
Walter Bullivant's mind, except that he's dead right. Yes, Sir, he has
hit the spot and rung the bell. There is a mighty miracle-working
proposition being floated in these parts, but the promoters are keeping
it to themselves. They aren't taking in more than they can help on the
ground-floor.'

Blenkiron stopped to light a fresh cigar. He was leaner than when he
left London and there were pouches below his eyes. I fancy his journey
had not been as fur-lined as he made out. 'I've found out one thing,
and that is, that the last dream Germany will part with is the control
of the Near East. That is what your statesmen don't figure enough on.
She'll give up Belgium and Alsace-Lorraine and Poland, but by God!
she'll never give up the road to Mesopotamia till you have her by the
throat and make her drop it. Sir Walter is a pretty bright-eyed
citizen, and he sees it right enough. If the worst happens, Kaiser
will fling overboard a lot of ballast in Europe, and it will look like
a big victory for the Allies, but he won't be beaten if he has the road
to the East safe. Germany's like a scorpion: her sting's in her tail,
and that tail stretches way down into Asia.

'I got that clear, and I also made out that it wasn't going to be dead
easy for her to keep that tail healthy. Turkey's a bit of an anxiety,
as you'll soon discover. But Germany thinks she can manage it, and I
won't say she can't. It depends on the hand she holds, and she reckons
it a good one. I tried to find out, but they gave me nothing but
eyewash. I had to pretend to be satisfied, for the position of John S.
wasn't so strong as to allow him to take liberties. If I asked one of
the highbrows he looked wise and spoke of the might of German arms and
German organization and German staff-work. I used to nod my head and
get enthusiastic about these stunts, but it was all soft soap. She has
a trick in hand--that