"On one condition: that never again you lend ear to outsiders in matters affecting the Krupp works, whatever may be their character or claims to recognition."
"I promise, Uncle Majesty."
The War Lord leaned back in his chair and motioned to Bertha to sit down.
"The most terrible War Office secret has just been communicated to me by Metternich," he began, "and I would be unworthy of the trust imposed upon me by the Almighty if I did not use every preventive to undo this new dreadful peril to the Fatherland. Prevention spells: 'Increase of armaments on land and sea and, indeed, above the sea.' That's why I am forced to seize the Krupp works if you dare oppose my will——"
"But I don't, Uncle Majesty. I swear I don't!" cried Bertha.
The War Lord sunk his penetrating eyes into Bertha's as if trying to read the War Lady's very thoughts. "Ring for the baby," he said; and when the child was brought in he whispered to her to dismiss the nurse.
"Swear on the life of your child that you will not attempt to wrest the control of the Krupp works from my agent, or agents, and that your factories and shipyards shall ever be at my exclusive disposal, your Uncle Majesty to control the output and mode of manufacture absolutely, and decide on all measures deemed essential for the success of the works and the armament and defence of the Fatherland."
For a few moments the War Lady stared at the speaker, then allowed him to take her right hand and place it on the baby's head.
"I swear," she said in a hardly audible voice.
"On the life of your child," demanded Wilhelm. There was a scarcely concealed threat in his tones.