old grizzly bear."

"He will have his place in history; he is a statesman of the old blood
and iron school; he is the peer of Bismarck, and some things he has done.
He holds more secrets than any other man in Europe--and you may be quite
sure that they will die with him. He will leave no memoirs to be poked
over by his enemies--no post-mortem confidences from him!"

The reader of the _Neue Freie Presse_, preparing to leave his table, tore
from the newspaper an article that seemed to have attracted him, placed
it in his card-case, and walked toward the door. The eyes of Arthur
Singleton lighted in recognition, and the attaché, muttering an apology
to the Claibornes, addressed the young gentleman cordially.

"Why, Armitage, of all men!" and he rose, still facing the Claibornes,
with an air of embracing the young Americans in his greetings. He never
liked to lose an auditor; and he would, in no circumstances, miss a
chance to display the wide circumference of his acquaintance.

"Shirley--Miss Claiborne--allow me to present Mr. Armitage." The young
army officer and Armitage then shook hands, and the three men stood for a
moment, detained, it seemed, by the old attaché, who had no engagement
for the next hour or two and resented the idea of being left alone.

"One always meets Armitage!" declared Singleton. "He knows our America as
well as we do--and very well indeed--for an Englishman."

Armitage bowed gravely.

"You make it necessary again for me to disavow any allegiance to the