Evening star., 1899-07-29
dorp shy at any proposition whatever"


said Elmur again.
do you want to draw back? You don't
wish to appear in the matter-ts that it?
BY St Anthony Won Elmur, you showed
me the road that has brought me to this
pass anc you will have to stand by me
now! Also you were wrong about Colen-
dorp. When he sees for himself that
have Germany behind me. 1t will decide his
doubts-if he has any, which 1 don't ex-
pect l have read the man. He is soured
and ill-conditioned, the readest stuff to
make rebel and traitor of!
What more Elmur might have urged
was cut short by the entrance of Colen-
dorp. He had left his sword outside.
He saluted Sagan in his stiff punctilious
way his dark and sallow face impen-
etrabe
II am glad to see you, Capt. Colendorp,'
said Sagan with some constraint. Even he
felt the check of the mans iron impassive-
ness.
You sent for me, my lord returned
Colendorp, as one who hints that time is
short and he would be through with busi-
ness
Take cigar" said the count, pushing
a box across the table, and also pouring
out a generous glass of the liquor for the
manufacture of which Maasau is famous
the golden glittering poison known as
bizutte.
Colendorp accepted both in silence, but
took a seat with certain slow unwilling
ness that was suggestive Colendorp was
at the best unpliable. His manner put an
edge on SaganS temper. He plunged ih.o
his subject.
Yes, l sent for you, Capt. Colendorp,
because l believe you to be faithful
Maasaun. You are not one of those blind
optimists who say because Nassau has
been swinging SO long between ruin and
extravaganza that she must swing on so
forever. 1t is not possible!''
Il am sorry to hear that, my lord.
mo, l say it is not possible Changes
must be made. In these days of big arma-
6Tnn fs.r II
no longer stand alone She must secure an
ally, 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 tradl-
tionS of our country.
Elmur half expected the soldier to point
this speech for himself by a glance toward
the representative of Germany, but Colen-
dorp sat unresponsive and black-browed,
and gave no sign
us to wait until we are forced into a cor
ner and then to make choice of such an
ally. But reasonable men know that a bar
gain one is driven to make must inevitably
be bad bargain. The only hope for Maa-
sau 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 Colen-
dorp?" asked Sagan at last.
"The only difficulty would be to find a
nation sufficiently disinterested for our
purpose, my lord replied Colendorp de-
lberately.
81 have found one" Sagan indicated Ell
mur, 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
Dtrfr n Of nllr ntTIY on no
not name it.
Colendorp apparently thought for a mo-
ment.
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.