Part 37 (1/2)

”By whose authority do you give these orders?” he said.

”The Emperor's.”

Von Moll clicked his heels together and saluted as he spoke. King Konrad Karl shrugged his shoulders. Gorman, determined not to be ignored this time, took von Moll by the arm.

”I say, von Moll,” he said. ”After the frightfully impressive way you said that, we ought to have some sort of demonstration. Let's drink the old boy's health and say 'Hoch!' or whatever the proper thing is.

I'm sure you must want a drink, and those swashbucklers of yours”--he looked round at von Moll's six men--”could hold hands and sing '_Deutschland uber Alles_.' It would cheer us all up.”

The Queen looked at von Moll in amazement. Then she glanced at Konrad Karl. While Gorman was speaking she made up her mind to a.s.sert herself.

”You forget,” she said, ”that King Konrad Karl is my guest, and so are you while you are in my house.”

Donovan, still in his s.h.i.+rt sleeves, looking very tired and hot, slouched into the hall while the Queen spoke. Smith followed him. The Queen, nervous and half frightened in spite of her brave words, turned to him.

”Oh, father,” she said, ”I am glad you've come.”

Donovan nodded to von Moll.

”Sit right down,” he said, ”there's a chair behind you. You'll stay for luncheon, won't you?”

He sat down himself as he spoke and took a cigar out of his case.

”Smith,” he said, ”c.o.c.ktails.”

”Yes, sir,” said Smith.

Von Moll turned to the men behind him and pointed to Smith.

”Arrest that man,” he said.

Two of the sailors stepped forward and crossed the hall towards Smith.

”Say,” said Donovan, ”is this a rehearsal for a cinema? and when do you reckon to have the camera operating?”

”That man,” said von Moll, pointing to Smith, ”is a deserter from the service of the Emperor and a spy. He pays the penalty.”

Donovan deliberately cut the end off his cigar and struck a match.

Then he looked up at von Moll.

”Seems to me,” he said, ”that there's some kind of misunderstanding.

I'm not blaming you, Captain, not at all. But this is a neutral State, and according to international law you can't b.u.t.t in and arrest citizens without applying for an extradition order in the regular way.”

”You talk like a fool,” said von Moll. ”This is war.”

He gave a fresh order to his men.

”Take him,” he said. ”Shoot him on the steps outside.”

Donovan struck a fresh match and lit his cigar. He puffed at it slowly.