may need you to interpret," laughed
Dick, indicating a chair at his left; and when Armitage sat down he faced
Chauvenet across the round table.

With the first filling of glasses it was found that every one could speak
French, and the talk went forward spiritedly. The discussion of military
matters naturally occupied first place, and all were anxious to steer
clear of anything that might be offensive to the Spaniard, who had lost a
brother at San Juan. Claiborne thought it wisest to discuss nations that
were not represented at the table, and this made it very simple for all
to unite in rejecting the impertinent claims of Japan to be reckoned
among world powers, and to declare, for the benefit of the Russian
attache, that Slav and Saxon must ultimately contend for the earth's
dominion.

Then they fell to talking about individuals, chiefly men in the public
eye; and as the Austro-Hungarian embassy was in mourning and
unrepresented at the table, the new Emperor-king was discussed with
considerable frankness.

"He has not old Stroebel's right hand to hold him up," remarked a young
German officer.

"Thereby hangs a dark tale," remarked Claiborne. "Somebody stuck a knife
into Count von Stroebel at a singularly inopportune moment. I saw him in
Geneva two days before he was assassinated, and he was very feeble and
seemed harassed. It gives a man the shudders to think of what might
happen if his Majesty, Charles Louis, should go by the board. His only
child died a year ago--after him his cousin Francis, and then the
deluge."

"Bah! Francis is not as dark as he's painted. He's the most lied-about
prince in Europe," remarked Chauvenet. "He would most certainly be an
improvement on Charles Louis. But alas! Charles Louis will undoubtedly
live on forever, like his lamented father. The King is dead: long live
the King!"

"Nothing can happen," remarked the German sadly. "I have lost much money
betting on upheavals in that direction. If there were a man in Hungary it
would be different; but riots are not revolutions."

"That is quite true," said Armitage quietly.

"But," observed the Spaniard, "if the Archduke Karl had not gone out of
his head and died in two or three dozen places, so that no one is sure he
is dead at all, things at Vienna might be rather more interesting.
Karl took a son with him into exile. Suppose one or the other of them
should reappear, stir up strife and incite rebellion--?"

"Such speculations are qui