"Very good. How soon can you start?"

"As soon as I have paid the few bills that I owe in
Berlin," I replied.

"We can hardly wait for that," said my chief, "and in
case it might excite comment. You must start to-night!"

"Very good," I said.

"Such," said the Baron, "are the Kaiser's orders. Here
is an American passport and a photograph that will answer
the purpose. The likeness is not great, but it is
sufficient."

"But," I objected, abashed for a moment, "this photograph
is of a man with whiskers and I am, unfortunately,
clean-shaven."

"The orders are imperative," said Gestern, with official
hauteur. "You must start to-night. You can grow whiskers
this afternoon."

"Very good," I replied.

"And now to the business of your mission," continued the
Baron. "The United States, as you have perhaps heard, is
making war against Germany."