Evening star., 1921-04-04
head: then he turned to the two Ger

head; then he turned to the two Ger
mans
Now you two gentlemen must ad
somewhat. 1t was no part OF you
original program that a British arm!
should occupy Cologne.
The war was the act of a fool
snarled Herr Steinemann. In few
years more Of peace we should nave
And now-they have beaten you
The count smiled slightly. Let u:
admit that the war was the act or {
fool. II you like, but as men Of bus1
ness we can only deal with the re-
suit the result, gentlemen. a:
are sufficiently patriotic to resent th'
presence of that army at Cologne
l have no doubt. And you, Mr.. HOOK
ing. have no love on personal grouno'
for the English. .. But ] am no.
proposing to appeal to financiers Of
your reputation on such grounds a.
those to support my scheme.
1t is enough that your persona
predictions run with and not agains
what / am about to put before you
the defeat of England -. a defea'
had lost the war.
His voice sank little. and instinc-
lively his three listeners drew closer
Don't think that I am proposing
this through motives of revenge
merely. We are business men. ano
revenge is only worth our while il
it pays. This will pay. 1 can give
you no figures. but we are not of the
type who deal in thousands, or even
hundred of thousands. There is a
force in England which. IL 1t be har-
messed and led properly. will result In
millions coming to you. =. 1t Is
present now in every nation-fetter-
ed. in articulate, uncoordinated.
1t Is partly the result of the war-the
war that the idiots have waged.
Harness that force, gentlemen. coor-
ends. That is my proposal Not
only will you humble that cursed
country to the dirt. but you will taste
Of power such as few men have tasted
before. :" The count stood up
his eyes blazing. "And II will do
it for you"
He resumed his seat. and his left
hand. slipping off the table. beat a
tattoo on his knee.
This is our opportunity-the op-
portunity Of clever men. I have not
got the money necessary: you have.
He leaned forward in his chair
and glanced at the intent faces OF
his audience. Then he began to
Ten minutes later he pushed back
his chair.
There is my proposal. gentlemen,
in a nutshell. Unforeseen develop
ment will doubtless occur: l have
spent my life overcoming the unex-
pected. What is your answer?
He rose and stood with his back
to them by the fire. and for several
minutes no one spoke. Each man
was busy with his own thoughts. and
showed it in his own particular way. The
T. .-l, hi a
toothpick backwards and forwards in
his mouth slowly and methodically
Steinemann stared at the fire. breath
ing heavily after the exertions of
dinner: Won Gratz walked up and
down-his hands behind his back
whistling under his breath. Only the
Comte de Guy stared unconcernedly
at the fire. as if Indifferent to the
result of their thoughts. In his atti-
tude at that moment he gave true
expression to his attitude on life. Ac-
customed to play with great stakes,
most gigantic gamble Of his life.
What matter to the three men, who
were looking at the hands he had
given them. that only a master crimi-
nal could have conceived such a
game? The only question which oc-
could carry it through. And on that
point they had only their judgment OF
his personality to rely on.
Suddenly the American removed the
toothpick from his mouth, and
stretched out his legs
There is a question which occurs
to me, count. before I make up my
got US sized up to the last button
you know who we are, what were
worth, and all about US. Are you dis
posed to be a little more communica-
tive about yourself? II we agree to
come in on this hand. it's going to
cost big money. The handling of that
money is with you. Wal-who are
you?"
Won Gratis paused in his restless
pacing and nodded his head in agree
ment; even Steinernann, with great
effort, raised his eyes to the count s
face as he turned and faced them.
"A very fair question. gentlemen,
able to answer. / would not insult
your intelligence by giving you the
fictitious address of-a fictitious count.
Enough that I am a man whose live
uhood lies in other peoples pockets.
As you say. Mr.. Hooking, it is going
the results the costs will be a flea
bite. Do look-and you are
all OF you used to judging men-do
look the type who would steal the
baby's money-box which lay on the
mantlepiece. when the pearls could be
will have to trust me. even as shall
have to trust you. You will
have to trust me not to divert the
money which you give me as working
expenses into my own pocket . . .
shall have to trust you to pay me
"And that payment will below
muchT' Steinensann's guttesal voice
broke the silence.
'One million pounds sterling-to be
split up between you in any proper
ton you may decide. and to be paid
within one month OF the completion
OF my work. After that the matter
may you leave that cursed country
grovelling in the dirty - His
eyes glowed with a fierce. vindictive
fury; and then, as II replacing a mask
which had slipped for moment. the
count was once again the suave, cour-
frankly and without haggling: stated
them as one big man states them to
another of the same kidney, to whom
time is money and indecision or beat =
ing about the bush anathema.
Take them or leave them" So
much had he said in effect, il not in
actual words. and not one of his au-
dience but was far too used to men
and matters to have dreamed of sug-
gesting any compromise. All or moth
ing: and no doctrine could have ap-
pealed more to the three men in
whose hands lay the decision
Perhaps. count, you would be good
enough to leave us for a. few min
utes" Won Gratz was speaking 1.-THE
decision is a big one. and :"
why. certainly. gentlemen" The
count moved towards the door. 81
will return in ten minutes. BY that
time you will have decided-one way
or the other"
Once in the lounge he sat down and