; "away, away."

Ascher did not speak; but she knew and I knew that his decision was not
that.

The scene was very painful. I felt that I had no right whatever to
witness it Gorman, I am sure, would have been glad to escape. But it was
very difficult for us to get away. Neither Ascher nor his wife seemed,
conscious of our presence. We stood helpless a little apart from them.
Gorman, with that unfailing tact of his, did, or tried to do the only
thing which could have relieved the intolerable tension. He made an
effort to get us all back to the commonplace.

"You're in a devil of an awkward situation, Ascher," he said. "A good
deal seems to me to depend on whether you are a naturalised British
subject or not. If you have been naturalised you ought to be able to
pull through, though it won't be pleasant even then."

"I have not been naturalised," said Ascher. "I never thought of it."

"That's a pity," said Gorman. "Still--in the case of a man in your
position I daresay it can be managed even now. I'll use my influence.
I know most of the members of the Cabinet pretty well. I can put it to
them that, from an English point of view, considering the tremendous
importance of your business, considering the financial collapse which
would follow--oh, we'll be able to manage."

"Thank you," said Ascher, "but that purely legal aspect of the matter
does not at the moment strike me as the most important or the most
pressing. No doubt it is important and your kindness will be helpful.
But just now I cannot speak about that There is, you see, my country and
the loyalty I owe to it. I do not seem to escape from that obligation by
a process of law. I may legalise, but do I really justify, treachery to
the claim of patriotism?"

I have always felt,--felt rather than known,--that there is a queer
strain of mysticism in Gorman. His arid common sense, his politics, his
rhetoric, his tricky money-making, are the outside, visible things about
him. Behind them, deep down, seldom seen, is a strange, emotional
love for his country. When Ascher spoke as he did about the claim of
patriotism Gorman understood. The innermost part of the man was reached.
Without hesitating for an instant, without consideration or debate,
Gorman leaped to a solution of the problem.

"Loyalty to your country comes first," he said; "it must. Everything
else goes by the board. I did not know you felt that way about Germany;
but since you do There is no more to be