is subject.

'Yes, I sent for you, Captain Colendorp, because I believe you to be a
faithful Maasaun. You are not one of those blind optimists who say
because Maasau has been swinging so long between ruin and extravagance
that she must swing on so for ever. It is not possible!'

'I am sorry to hear that, my lord.'

'No, I say it is not possible. Changes must be made. In these days of
big armaments and growing kingdoms, Maasau can no longer stand alone.
She must secure an ally, a friend powerful enough to back her up against
all comers--a great nation who will make the cause of Maasau's freedom
her own, and help us to preserve the traditions of our country.'

Elmur half expected the soldier to point this speech for himself by a
glance towards the representative of Germany, but Colendorp sat
unresponsive and black-browed, and gave no sign.

'There is a party among us who advise us to wait until we are forced
into a corner, and then to make choice of such an ally. But reasonable
men know that a bargain one is driven to make must inevitably be a bad
bargain. The only hope for Maasau is to move at once and to move boldly
before it is too late, and while we are still in a position to choose
for ourselves under the conditions which suit us best and will best
conduce to the preservation of our freedom.'

Colendorp listened without any change of expression.

'What is your opinion, Captain Colendorp?' asked Sagan at last.

'The only difficulty would be to find a nation sufficiently
disinterested for our purpose, my lord,' replied Colendorp deliberately.

'I have found one.' Sagan indicated Elmur, but the Guardsman still kept
his gaze on the Count. 'Only one small obstacle stands in the way of
carrying out our plans--the plans, recollect, of the wisest and most
patriotic of our countrymen. I need not name it.'

Colendorp apparently thought for a moment.

'M. Selpdorf?' he said.

'But not at all! Selpdorf is one of the foremost of my advisers.'

Colendorp shook his head as if no other name occurred to him; Sagan bent
across the table, the knotted hand on which he leaned twitching
slightly.

'You do not speak, but you know the truth. And you know the--the Duke.'

Colendorp's silence was telling on Sagan's self-control.

'Yes, the Duke!' he reiterated. 'He has never given a thought to the
welfare of Maasau. Its revenues are his necessity, that is all! If the
ruler will not take the interests of the country into cons