Evening star., 1907-08-04

nations. The success of Germany depended on
the house of Courlander The success of France
depended the house of Crampiron Ct
often occurs in international finance that the
centers OF activity are far from where they are
imagined to be) Each house had the control
of ten millions of money underwritten by COM
blnatlons OF satellite firms, and ready to be dis
bursed under the agis of Germany and France
respectively soon as the price of issue and
the rate of interest could be arranged. 1t was
a question of only half crown per cent. The
Sultan was dallying in the hope of dminuton
of this rate. The peace of Europe and the
existence of the English Government depended
on half crown per cent And Courlander and
CrampirOn and Lord Doncaste sat there at the
same table!
The suppressed volcanoes were Abraham
Crampiron and, curiously, Maurice Courlander.
Once or twice Maurice had deliberately foiled
his fathers attempts to shift the conversation
away from the too absorbing topic of the hour.
He was in a strange, pugnacious mood, and his
behavior belied his upbringing AS for Cramp-
iron his daughter. who understood him. feared
one of those out utbreaks which she knew so well.
The immediate cause of the trouble was Lord
Domestic urbane, incorrigible lack OF serious
ness. 1t amused many people exceedingly:
but there were Others whom it exceedingly
exasperated. Nobody was more surprised than
Lord Domestic when volcanoes became active.
Il have never really understood the money
market, and so I'm afraid | don't understand
the machinery of loans" said he blandly in
reply to a question from the Warehouses Il
tried to when | was Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer; but | was SO busy just then writing
my book on the theory of taxation that l really
hadn't time
And he looked round the dinner table, his
mouth slightly open in a languid smile, and his
eye glasses slipping down the ridge of his ef-
fective nose.
Most of the company laughed. to indicate
that Doncastle's sallies of pure humor were in
comparable.
NO; assure you am perfectly Serious"
insisted the Prime Minister, still smiling. Il
never joke"
He had not noticed the dark flash of a scowl
on Crampiron's face, nor that Norah was maxi
ing pacifcatory gestures to her betrothed.
"Perhaps" said Sir Louis Bartram, with a
naughty smile Il may be allowed to refer
Your Lordship for information about the ma
chinery of loans to popular explanation in
this mornings Daily Record ~
1T isn't quite nice of you to put Domestic
on to The Record Bartram," said Parcuer
the lawyer, having regard to its leading ar
ticle."
"Why?" The query came from the Prime
Minister.
The lawyer glanced an instant at Courlander,
and then answered, well, they accuse the
Cabinet of helping the German negotiations;
in fact, of trying to bring about European
war in order to save their own necks:'
do they?" said Lord Domestic. "How
rude of theml But how ingeniousl had no
idea that newspapers were so ingenious Be-
sides, it's true, you know" He laughed, and
gazed about him with lazy calm.
You want war;" exclaimed Maurice half
springing from his chair in angry protest.
1t was the first volcano in eruption, and it
sent thrill round the table.
"Sonny! murmured Carl Courlander sooth-
ingly He had meant his dinner party to be a
triumph a proof that Carl Courlander's dinner
parties could rise superior to no matter what
circumstances. But he had not expected to
find social delinquent in his own son.
"Why not?" asked Domestic
Because war is barbaric and cruel" said
Maurice with indignation that generous
but rude.
Norah Crampiron glanced at him with her
eager eyes half applauding, half blaming, him
so is peace" Domestic drawled The
briance of this epigram dazzled its author for
an instant. Moreover he continued seri-
ously. "suPposing we fell9 What calamity
for the nation!
Il thought Your Lordship never joked,"
Abraham Crampiron put in, with sudden and
startling brutality.
1t was the bursting of the second volcano
Crampiron's voice naturally rasping
ANY other man at the table might have made
that speech and inflicted wound; for if it
was cruel it was at any rate humorous. But
not Abraham Crampironi The instructive
ebullition of his fortnight and ruthless tenn
permanent shocked the company, used to the
manners of diplomacy. And everyone remem-
bered that he had come out of South Africa