The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-15

and his cigar as at the same moment.
 The ambassador moved a trifle un- comfortably in his chair, and seemed relieved when General Helso intervened.
 Prince Glanzingfors," said that stout and elderly warrior, lowing stiffly to- ward his chief, "is accredited to the Court of Kilistria precisely because he is well ac quainted with all these things. For my self, it is different. Remember-it all took place before the war; and I was otherwise occupied, both then and since"
 'I may also remind you," said the prince ambassador sourly, "that before the war was not called upon by my government to waste my brain upon the obscure politics of these contemptible little countries. had more congenal work then than molding the destinies of handful of peasant mountain eers-a rabble who, even when one has suc- ceeded in detaching them from their other alliances, are not worthy to be counted the friends of great Nordernreich"
 There was sympathetic silence on the part of his hearers. The subject was a sore one. Since Nordernreich put herself out side the pale of civilization, not merely by declaring war of aggression, but by her devilish methods of conducting it, there had been slump in Nordern embassies Clan zingfors, formerly accredited to one of the great powers, found himself sent to Kills tria; since only in few utterly unimpor- tant countries was a delegate from the re- mains of the once great empire now persona grata.
 You spoke of curious details, Captain Rosmer, 1 should wish you to explain ex- actly what you mean by that"
 The man with the neatly brushed red dish hair-Captain Rosmer, as they called him-paused a moment before replying If he felt the supercilousness of tone and manner he did not show his feelings. He was used to the scorn of those he served.
 "lt is true," said he thoughtfully, "that it is now hard to recall the exact state of - things in Mittel Europe before the war.
 "Your highness, however, must have been aware of the attempt of ourselves and our ally to erect Pannonia into an independent principality?"
 The irony in his voice was hardly yelled. The Nordern embassy was now in Kilistria, and was headed by so important a person., age as Prince Glanzingfors, mainly on ac- count of this affair, which his excellency thought it grand to-pretend to ignore.
 "Of course, I know that" he snapped "I also know that there was an idea at that time of marrying one of the siste $ of the Kilstrian king to that young fool who ven tured into Pannonia with the amusing idea of governing it, and got knocked on the head for his pains. It came to nothing; but you seem to infer that there was more in it??"
 Rosmer slightly shifted his slim form in the big chair, watching between half closed lids the drifting smoke of his cigar.
 King Boris of Kilistra-I fear I am telling stale news, but I must begin at the beginning-has a half sister, much younger than himself; in fact, this same Princess Evadne of whose conduct you have just been complaining.
 "Oh-ov' said Von Reulnez "So this minx, who dares to put on airs to our em- bassy, is actually the girl who was be- I forgot his name-''
 The general answered, his cigar between his teeth
 "Leonhardt of Vrelde. His mother was English. His father claimed pure Pan nonlan ancestry.
 'The Vreldesv' said Von Reulenz con- temptuously. People of no importance
 "That sir, was probably the reason why the central powers chose him as their can didate," said Rosmer with slight smile.
 "And the stiff necked young woman was actually contemplating marriage with a Vrelde?"
 'Tt went further than that. His excel lency can tell you."