"The fellow's career is a miracle," remarked Mr. John Brown at length. "A millionaire one day, a pauper the next. And then to settle down as a toiler among toilers—to become the popular hero, the socialist leader, the rebel, the seer of visions, the daring reformer! A miracle, I say! But with proper guidance, he is the man we need. He can do much!"
Count Romanoff laughed like one amused.
"Germany is in a bad way, eh? Poor Wilhelm, what a fool! Oh, what a fool!"
"Be quiet!" cried the other hoarsely. "Even here the walls may have ears, and if it were suspected that——"
"Exactly, my friend," sneered the Count. "But tell me how you stand."
For some time they talked quietly, earnestly, the Count asking questions and raising objections, while Mr. John Brown explained what he had in his mind.
"Germany is never beaten," he said—"never. When arms fail, brains come in. Russia has become what Russia is, not by force of arms, but by brains. Whose? And Germany will triumph. This fellow is only one of many who are being used. A network of agencies are constantly at work."
"And to-night you are going to introduce him to Olga?" and the Count laughed.
"The most fascinating woman in Europe, my friend. Yes; to-night I am going to open his eyes. To-night he will fall in love. To-night will be the beginning of the end of Britain's greatness!"