Herr Freudenberg removed his hat and entered.
CHAPTER VI
FALKENBERG FAILS
Herr Freudenberg was dressed for the evening with his usual fastidious neatness. He had the air of a man who had been engaged for many nights in some arduous occupation. There were dark rims under his eyes, the lines upon his forehead were deeper. Nevertheless, he smiled with something of his old gayety as he accepted the chair which Julien placed for him.
"My dear Sir Julien," he said, "I have come a good many hundred miles at a most inconvenient moment for the sake of a brief conversation with you."
Julien raised his eyebrows.
"You surprise me!" he exclaimed. "I had no idea that the mission you spoke of was so urgent."
"Nor is it," Herr Freudenberg replied. "As a matter of fact, it scarcely exists at all, or if it did exist, it was created simply as a means of removing you from within the reach of practical politics for some months. I have foresight, you see, Sir Julien. I saw what was coming. Permit me to tell you that I do not like your letter in Le Grand Journal yesterday, a letter which I understand appeared also in the London Post."
"I am sorry," Julien said calmly. "Still, to be perfectly frank, it wasn't written with a view of pleasing or displeasing you. It was written in a strenuous attempt to preserve the friendship between France and England."
"It is to be followed, I presume, by others?" Herr Freudenberg asked.