"May I offer you a glass before your journey?"

"No, thanks. But it looks like revelry."

"Altamont has a nice taste in wines, and he took a fancy to my
Tokay. He is a touchy fellow and needs humouring in small
things. I have to study him, I assure you." They had strolled
out on to the terrace again, and along it to the further end
where at a touch from the Baron's chauffeur the great car
shivered and chuckled. "Those are the lights of Harwich, I
suppose," said the secretary, pulling on his dust coat. "How
still and peaceful it all seems. There may be other lights
within the week, and the English coast a less tranquil place!
The heavens, too, may not be quite so peaceful if all that the
good Zepplin promises us comes true. By the way, who is that?"

Only one window showed a light behind them; in it there stood a
lamp, and beside it, seated at a table, was a dear old ruddy-
faced woman in a country cap. She was bending over her knitting
and stopping occasionally to stroke a large black cat upon a
stool beside her.

"That is Martha, the only servant I have left."

The secretary chuckled.

"She might almost personify Britannia," said he, "with her
complete self-absorption and general air of comfortable
somnolence. Well, au revoir, Von Bork!" With a final wave of