“But not thirty thousand men, Effenden Pascha,” the King said.
The Turk bowed.
“With your permission,” he said, “I will now go and lay before the Sultan, my master, your explanation of the Bekal incident.”
“We shall ourselves,” the King answered, “be requiring an explanation of that unprovoked attack upon our territory.”
The Turk bowed and withdrew. The three men were left alone.
“The situation is fairly clear, I think,” the King said. “Turkey is to be Russia’s catspaw—we are to be the chestnuts. One great point is in our favour. The onus of an unprovoked invasion must rest with Turkey. Brand will see the facts correctly stated in the English and American papers. We had better send to the barracks at once, Reist, for the General, and hold a council of war.”
There followed an hour’s anxious consultation. Then the King, without any attendant, as was his custom, left the Palace by the side entrance, and amidst the respectful salutations of the passers by walked across to the villa which Mr. Van Decht had rented. Mr. Van Decht and Sara were sitting in the garden. He accepted the chair they offered him, and lit a cigar mechanically.
“Mr. Van Decht,” he said, abruptly, “I regret exceedingly that I have encouraged you to make investments in my country. I did it for the best. It was for the advantage of my people, and I hoped for yours. I told you of the one risk. I fear that it has come to pass.”
Mr. Van Decht was unmoved. Sara turned upon him breathlessly.