Kennedy," said Heideck, "I will
send your belongings to Mr. Kennedy's house. I must now leave you for
the present. I have other official duties to perform, but I will return
later."

"In any case I am glad to welcome my countrywoman," protested the old
gentleman. "You can see my house from the window here, and I beg you
will call upon me when your duties are over."

It was not till after sunset that Heideck called at Mr. Kennedy's house.
He stood for a moment at the garden-gate and saw the snow-clad heights
glowing in the fire of the evening light. Long chains of blue hills rose
higher and higher towards the north, till at last the highest range on
the distant horizon, bristling with eternal glaciers, mounted towards
the sky in wondrous brilliancy.

Mr. Kennedy lived in a very imposing villa. Heideck was received with
such friendliness by the master of the house and the ladies that he
recognised only too clearly that Edith must have spoken warmly in his
favour. She must also certainly have told them that he was a German. She
was dressed as a woman again, and had already won the hearts of all by
her frankness. Mrs. Kennedy was a matron with fine, pleasant features,
and evidently of high social standing. Her daughter, about the same age
as Edith, appeared to have taken a great fancy to the visitor.

Heideck sat with the family by the fire, and all tried to forget that he
wore the uniform of the enemy.

"I wish we could manage to leave India and get back to England," said
Mrs. Kennedy. "My husband wants to remain in Calcutta to perform his
duties, but he cannot stand the climate. Besides, how could we get
to Calcutta? Our only chance would be to obtain a Russian passport,
enabling us to travel without interference."

"My dearest Beatrice," objected her husband. "I know that you,
like myself, no longer care what happens to us, at a time when such
misfortune has overtaken our country. Amidst the general misfortune,
what matters our own fate?"

"I should think," interposed Heideck politely, "that the individual,
however deeply he feels the general misfortune, ought not to give way
to despair, but should always be thinking of his family as in time of
peace."

"No!" cried Mr. Kennedy. "An Englishmen cannot understand this
international wisdom. A German's character is different; he can easily
change his country, the Englishman cannot. But you must excuse me," he
continued, recollecting himself. "You wounded my nationa