“I have a Cook’s letter of credit,” said Stewart. “They would give me gold. Where is Cook’s office here?”
“It is but a step up the street, sir,” answered the other eagerly. “Come, I will show you,” and, hastening to the door, he pointed out the office at the end of a row of buildings jutting out toward the cathedral.
Stewart, the banknotes in his hand, hastened thither, and found quite a crowd of people drawing money on traveler’s checks and letters of credit. He noticed that they were all being paid in gold. They, too, it seemed, had heard rumors of war, had been advised to get gold; but most of them treated the rumors as a joke and were heeding the advice only because they needed gold to pay their bills.
Even if there was war, they told each other, it could not affect them. At most, it would only add a spice of excitement and adventure to the remainder of their European tour; what they most feared was that they would not be permitted to see any of the fighting! A few of the more timid shamefacedly confessed that they were getting ready to turn homeward, but by far the greater number proclaimed the fact that they had made up their minds not to alter their plans in any detail. So much Stewart gathered as he stood in line waiting his turn; then he was in front of the cashier’s window.
The cashier looked rather dubious when Stewart laid the banknotes down and asked for gold.
“I am carrying one of your letters of credit,” Stewart explained, and produced it. “I got these notes on it at Heidelberg just the other day. Now it seems they’re no good.”
“They are perfectly good,” the cashier assured him; “but some of the tradespeople, who are always suspicious and ready to take alarm, are demanding gold. How long will you be in Germany?”
“I go to Belgium to-night or to-morrow.”
“Then you can use French gold,” said the cashier, with visible relief. “Will one hundred marks in German gold carry you through? Yes? I think I can arrange it on that basis;” and when Stewart assented, counted out five twenty-mark pieces and twenty-four twenty-franc pieces. “I think you are wise to leave Germany as soon as possible,” he added, in a low tone, as Stewart gathered up this money and bestowed it about his person. “We do not wish to alarm anyone, and we are not offering advice, but if war comes, Germany will not be a pleasant place for strangers.”
“Is it really coming?” Stewart asked. “Is there any news?”