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The point of the entertainment had arrived. Julius had given the signal to his wife to leave him with Otto and Eugen. The other guests had gone comfortably off in their own motors without infringing upon the sacred petrol which Mandelbaum loathed to put at the disposal of his friends. Six different kinds of inferior liqueur, planted on a rose-painted glass-covered table, and surrounding a gilded box of much advertised cigars, gave to Julius an impression of festive generosity. This was the moment he had longed for; he had fed these two men before him, fed them well, for a particular purpose; now he was going to dictate to them. He stretched his legs out before him and licked his lips with satisfaction. In front of him, with his back to the light, was Otto Wolkenheimb. He had chosen a comfortable chair; his legs were luxuriously crossed; the finger tips of his expressive hands were lightly pressed together; his eyes rested speculatively, but without hope, upon the labels of the liqueur bottles. Eugen seated himself in front of a flaming scarlet sunset, in which a flock of sheep were implicated. He felt, even though his eyes no longer suffered from the glare, as if he had a fire at his back. He smoked one of his own cigars, and looked as remote as St. Simon on his pillar. ‘What,’ asked Mandelbaum, with a genial grin, ‘do you think of the English, Graf? They conquered us on the field—or they paid the French to do it—whichever you like, we shall never know the truth; but what do you think they are up to with this vaunted peace of theirs? I saw you talking for some time with our respected friend, the English Commissioner—about birds, was it not? How his eyes lit up when you mentioned them! Well, how would it be, if under the cover of those very birds we managed to pluck the sportsman himself for our own table?’ ‘The English,’ said Otto, bringing his bright brown eyes back from the liqueur bottles to his host’s face, ‘are a simple, steady people; not insignificant. Their strength, I fancy, lies in their simplicity. We sharper Europeans can seldom bring ourselves to believe that what stands behind their blunt spoken word is really only a lucky ignorance. We think their statecraft subtle because it has often in the long run proved successful where ours has failed, but a long study of their character has led me to believe that their policy is merely a series of astonishing blunders, retrieved at the last moment by a supreme common sense. Our theories, on the other hand, are really subtle; we have in them both skill and logic nicely adjusted to meet the dangers we foresee. Our theories will stand anything except practice. When it comes to carrying our policies through, they break down under the stupidity of life. The inadvertence of experience is too much for us. The English imitate the stupidity of life, as certain animals are found unconsciously to take on the protective colouring of their surroundings. We call this imitation hypocrisy, but I do not think it is anything so intellectual as hypocrisy; it is the clockwork instinct of a very strong animal in the moment of danger.’ Mandelbaum stirred uneasily. He did not want to listen to abstract reasoning. For one thing he distrusted it intensely, and for another it could be carried on by people like Otto Wolkenheimb as if they were still what they no longer were—at an advantage. Julius wanted to use the man before him because he knew that Otto had his uses. For instance, that very evening how differently Sir Roger Colet had spoken to Otto, without any of that rather formidable politeness with which he addressed Julius! Julius had climbed high, but there were still people whom it was enormously important for him to please, and with whom he wouldn’t be able to make his own terms unless they were pleased. But it was one thing for Julius to admit to himself his social inexperience and quite another for Otto to take advantage of it. Otto had got to learn that he couldn’t. He was poor, without influence, and naturally unpopular with the Socialists. The Pan-Germans hated him; the Christian Socialists—Conservatives though they were—distrusted him, although they feared him even more than they distrusted him. If Julius consented to lighten Otto’s poverty and to allow him to take his place in the new order of things, it would only be if Otto consented to leave his top-dog ways behind him. There must be no mistake as to who was master and who was man.

Julius knew that he had just given Otto a dinner that Otto, without straining his resources to the uttermost, couldn’t have given him. It was therefore absurd of Otto to sit there looking as if he owned everything in the room and Julius was a man sent for to tune the piano. Julius poured himself out a third liqueur with a steady hand and an ominous brow. Both his guests had tried the liqueur, sipped it and left it. This was an economy; but at the same time it was an insult. Julius knew what his liqueurs were made of, but they were quite good enough for the impoverished aristocrats before him.

‘All we want of the English,’ he said roughly, ‘is for them to sit here, keep order and spend their money; and all that I find necessary to know about them is how to make them do it. The other Allies don’t count. France, because she thinks of nothing but how to destroy what is left of Germany, and the Italians, because they can’t do us much harm without making the Serbs and Czechs too important for their own interests. They may even do us good, because they wish to expand and may bring capital into the country. They’ll ruin the Tyrol of course and destroy Trieste to benefit Venice, but they’ll help Wien. To go back to the English. I daresay you wondered why I had those Relief ladies here to-night—the plain one, I mean—the pretty one of course any man would like to have in his house; and keep there! Well, I had my reasons. I’m interested in Relief as much as anybody. It keeps starving people quiet. The state of the child life in Wien is appalling. If something isn’t done about it pretty soon the future is going to be handicapped, and we may see a plague that would wipe out half the city. I want Relief brought in. These ladies have solid money behind them. They’re worth keeping in with. I’ve subscribed heavily to their Mission, and I propose to lend them a warehouse for their stores. What puzzled me to-night was that that Dr. Simmons, as she called herself, didn’t jump at it. Three times I shoved it into her hands, and she got vaguer and vaguer each time, as if the damned loose-witted hen was thinking of something else! Why the devil didn’t she take a perfectly good warehouse offered her for nothing and be thankful?’ ‘Incredibly generous of you, my dear fellow, to offer it to her for nothing,’ said Otto, hiding a yawn; ‘I can only suppose a lady so formidable as the one we are discussing has received so few offers in the course of her life, that her first instinct is to refuse. You must return to the charge.’ ‘The point is,’ said Julius bluntly, ‘they’re going to get a large supply of condensed milk through from Switzerland for the babies, free of all duty. The Swiss are letting them have the milk cheap for the Mission. My idea is to get them to order a larger supply than they need—say twice as much—and hand the surplus over to me at cost price. What do you say to that for a scheme? Babies aren’t hit by it, Mission people score over it, and town people benefit as well—see?’ ‘Admirable, my dear Mandelbaum,’ replied Otto, ‘but in your place I should not have offered Dr. Simmons the warehouse quite so insistently.’ ‘Why not?’ asked Mandelbaum, with some heat. ‘That lady,’ replied Otto thoughtfully, ‘whom we might describe as a “female lady of the opposite sex,” struck me as having a remarkably hard head. Her manner was no doubt vague, but I should be surprised if her thoughts were anything but clear. I have an idea that she was asking herself whether she wasn’t expected to present just such an equivalent in return for your magnificent offer of the warehouse!’ ‘Well, why not?’ Mandelbaum again repeated. ‘I tell you the babies don’t suffer for it, nor does the Mission. As far as they are concerned it is an absolutely straight deal.’ ‘Yes, but it is a deal,’ said Otto thoughtfully, ‘and Anglo-Saxon heads of Relief Missions do not indulge in deals. You see, if the Swiss found out, they would curtail the milk supply.’ ‘They aren’t going to find out,’ said Julius impatiently; ‘I tell you I know how to do these things! What I don’t know how to do is how to handle the Englishwoman. I’m not used to ladies in business, and I’m not sure, as you say, that she’ll take my idea in the right way. If one of you fellows would undertake to bring her round to my scheme, I’ll see that you don’t lose by the transaction.’ ‘I shall not,’ said Eugen, without moving his eyes from the tips of his shoes, on which they had been steadily concentrated, ‘connive at playing a trick upon a lady.’ ‘Even,’ asked Otto with his flickering smile, ‘if she has the bad taste to resemble a gentleman? It’s an entertaining idea of yours, my dear Mandelbaum, very ingenious indeed! Nor am I as particular as my friend. Since we are doing the lady no harm and ourselves positive good, and since we all know that it must be beneficial spiritually to the Swiss to be made a little more charitable sometimes than they intend, I am quite willing to join in your attempt. You are sure, I suppose, that you can avoid all undesirable publicity?’ ‘Perfectly sure,’ said Julius scornfully. ‘How do you suppose I have made my fortune—legitimately? People with legitimate fortunes don’t keep four motor cars—not in times like these at any rate!’ ‘I am sure,’ said Otto cautiously, ‘that you must have used great skill and consummate social tact.’ ‘Skill—yes,’ growled Mandelbaum, ‘that kind of thing takes skill. Well, Graf, that’s my first offer to you. If that goes through I shall have plenty of little jobs of the same sort in which I can pay you to be useful to me. I don’t quite see where your friend comes in if he’s so particular, but that’s your business, not mine. We never put anything in writing of course, and we keep our mouths shut.’ ‘My friend,’ said Otto, ‘is also my legal adviser. The law is so incomprehensible to the lay mind just at present that I hardly care to undertake any project without a legal opinion. I frequently find myself reversing the words of the Apostle to the Gentiles, and saying, “All things are expedient for me but all things are not lawful.” A little expert pressure, a little adaptation here and there, and one finds that the law—expands.’ Julius nodded; he wasn’t quite sure from Otto’s manner if he yet grasped his subsidiary position, and he knew he must not put too much emphasis on it at the start. Fine gentlemen had weak stomachs. They couldn’t take money unless it came to them out of silk purses; and though they would have to toe his mark, it would be perhaps wiser to let them take the preliminary steps as if they were toeing their own. ‘I reckon,’ he said contemplatively, ‘on making a good deal of money over this milk deal if it comes off, and under the circumstances, if you bring the lady round to giving the double order to the Swiss, I am willing to let you have twenty per cent of the profits.’ Julius’ sharp eye slewed round upon Otto as he stated his minimum, and he was gratified, although surprised, at Otto’s not making any attempt to put up the percentage. It was obvious to him that Otto knew less about business than he had supposed possible. ‘Very generous, I am sure,’ said Otto pleasantly. ‘I can see no reason whatever for my refusing your offer.’ Eugen looked up from his boots with a surprise as great as Julius’ own. ‘With access to your books of course,’ Eugen said grimly. Julius gave him a prolonged uneasy stare. ‘I’ll satisfy you of course,’ he said after a pause, ‘in the usual manner.’ ‘I am not easily satisfied,’ replied Eugen coldly. ‘I choose also my own manner.’ ‘I am sure,’ intervened Otto suavely, ‘that when it comes to business you two will understand each other perfectly. I had a little proposition of my own to make, but perhaps it is rather late?’ ‘For me,’ said Julius, ‘business is never either too early or too late.’ ‘Then,’ said Otto, waving his hand gracefully towards Mandelbaum, ‘I will lay before you the history of my little project. While I was still in power, the owner of an important Armament firm—in which several international financiers of an expert race were also interested—approached me upon one of several possibilities threatened by our military débâcle. It had occurred to this far-seeing gentleman as early as 1916 that it would be as well to draw up plans by which he could avoid the patriotic pleasure of sharing in the results of this débâcle. He therefore first assured himself of the discretion and influence of certain people in Czecho-Slovakia, America and Switzerland. In the event of defeat and the consequent dismemberment of our Empire, the frontier of Austria would naturally pass to the north of his factory area, enclosing it in the relics of our broken country. But if neither the local authorities nor the Austrian Government brought pressure to bear there was no reason why Czechland—which has a not inconsiderable acquisitive instinct—and the high financial experts already mentioned, at work in Allied and neutral countries, should not evade comment and slip the frontier to the south of his works instead of the north. Geography has been known to yield to common sense. The usual historical and sentimental reasons would be forthcoming. The really important point in the negotiations was the passivity of Austria. So important was this point that the gentleman who approached me suggested placing a sum of Swiss francs in a bank in Zurich, in two names, one in the name of a nominee appointed by myself, and the other in that of a reliable acquaintance of his own. The ostensible object of this sum would be to found a branch of his firm for making sporting rifles for the Swiss; and it would pass automatically into the hands of my nominee when the Peace Treaty was signed and the works found themselves secure in Czech territory. I was, however, when this offer was put before me, a servant of the Kaiser, and at that time—a few little qualities—like honour, integrity and patriotism—which one would hardly care to boast of now!—prevented such transactions from taking place. They did not, however, prevent me from looking into the matter. If it should ever be necessary—either as a threat or as a reassurance—I hold the proofs of the offer. Therefore I can at any time produce them to bring about a similar position or—to prevent it. You and I, my dear Mandelbaum, are no longer the trustees of a great Empire, but little birds feathering their not inexpensive nests. May I ask if you have any moral objection to controlling the passivity of Austria?’ Mandelbaum grunted. ‘What is your offer?’ he demanded. ‘That’s the point.’ ‘We can, I think,’ said Otto, ‘very fairly make the same conditions as you have generously offered to me in the Swiss affair. On the success of the undertaking you will receive twenty per cent of the profits, the remainder of which will be my own.’ Julius raised his heavy head like an animal under a sudden blow. ‘Twenty per cent!’ he growled; ‘but that is not enough for me! I have the political pull; you cannot hold Austria passive without me! But I can carry the job through without you as soon as I have the names and the details. I should be prepared to give you something for them of course—not a percentage of profits but an agreed sum down. Half a minute will give me time enough to find out the firm! You must remember I shall have to keep the whole Cabinet quiet, and in the House the Pan-Germans will be full of objections. I may have to make concessions of my own—and all you have to do is to give me a few details!’

‘I think you underestimate the value of silence,’ said Otto indifferently. ‘I hold the whip hand of all those who were or will be connected with this offer since should any one act upon it without my participation, I have it in my power to disclose the whole proceeding. I think, upon reflection, you will see that my suggestion of mutual profits is as fair a one as your own. You will soon, I am sure, accustom yourself to handling your fellow ministers. You have nothing else to do; the local authorities have already been successfully approached. The whole affair is a very simple one.’ Julius clenched his heavy fist on the table. After all his precautions he had blundered. He had shown his hand first. Why hadn’t he waited, and got hold of Otto’s project before stating his own? If he took the deal in Otto’s teeth, as it were, would Otto dare to break him? That was the worst of men like Otto, they weren’t insignificant enough for tools. People listened to them. The English, for instance; they simply must not know that Mandelbaum as a Minister took—well—not exactly bribes, call them ‘recognitions.’ If only he knew what Otto would dare if he braved him. Or what he could use on his side as a make-weight against Otto. If only he could read that indifferent ironic face, if only he could force that delicate manicured hand to lay its cards upon the table. Otto smiled pleasantly. ‘But really,’ he said, rising to his feet, ‘we are staying unconscionably late! Wasting your valuable time, my dear Mandelbaum! Pray excuse us for prolonging so delightful an evening! And assure your wife once more for us that we are more than grateful for her charming entertainment. Ah! you are more fortunate than I, all your powers are reinforced by the pleasures of domesticity!’ Julius gave a grin that might have passed for a smile. ‘I can spare time,’ he said a little awkwardly, ‘for your project. Perhaps we might raise the milk business to thirty per cent profits, if what you suggest is practicable and worth half profits to me to carry out.’ ‘You are too generous,’ said Otto, without sitting down again. ‘But I prefer to keep to your original offer, and to make it the basis of my own. For the future we might lay our hands upon the table and make half profits our working policy. We should then know exactly how we stood, and our interests would be identical. But since the first of these projects is undeniably your own, and the second mine, it would be unfair for me to ask an advance upon your original offer; nor do I feel anxious to enlarge my own.’ Julius cleared his throat. ‘I also,’ he said, ‘believe in going slowly. Of what do the profits in this Armament deal consist?’ ‘My dear Mandelbaum,’ murmured Otto gently, ‘do you not think that the indulgence of curiosity should be a mutual pleasure? Am I to understand that you intend to enlighten us upon what you expect to gain from the Swiss project? Of course, if you are—? No? I see by your open countenance that you are not! I entirely agree with you! When we are acting on half profits we will make our revelations as mutual as our interests; but in these two little affairs—in which we only provide helping hands—we will remember the scriptural injunction, and keep those selfless members each from knowing what the other one does!’ Julius Mandelbaum’s eyes became flat in his head, and all expression faded out of them. ‘Good, gentlemen!’ he said after a long pause. ‘I agree; but why the devil doesn’t this firm of yours come to me now I am in power?’ ‘A question of habit,’ Otto murmured, ‘no doubt. A question of looking for authority where authority no longer exists. It will pass, as all our errors pass, into the purifying ocean of democracy!’ Julius looked up sharply; he felt that Otto was laughing at him, but Otto was looking particularly grave. ‘We are your debtors,’ he said, meeting Julius’ suspicious eyes, ‘for a truly interesting occasion.’ Eugen bowed with his heels together, the deep perfunctory dip of military training, and Julius took them to the front door himself. He afterwards remembered that it would have been more dignified to ring for a servant, but he would in that case have missed the satisfaction of watching his two guests descend into his rain-soaked garden. They had no car, and it was an inclement night.

Before they reached the twisted iron gates at the bottom of the short drive, Eugen spat fiercely on the ground. ‘All that,’ he said bitterly, ‘leaves a very bad taste in the mouth, Otto!’ But Otto paid no attention to his companion’s feelings. A smile hovered around the corners of his mobile lips. ‘That was a damned good phrase of mine, you know, Eugen,’ he murmured, ‘about the purifying ocean of democracy.’