It was so unlike him to miss a chance of distinction, or underrate his merits, that I stared. He was changed, indeed, to-day; or he thought the position very critical, the need of caution very great.
The general continued to urge him; and so strongly that I began to think that our host had his own interests to serve.
'Oh, come,' he said, in a light, gibing tone which just stopped short of the offensive. 'You must not decline. There are five competitors--two Bohemians, a Scot, a Pole, and a Walloon; but no German. You cannot refuse to shoot for Germany, Waldgrave?'
The Waldgrave shook his head, however. 'I should do Germany small honour, I am afraid,' he said.
The general smiled unpleasantly. 'You are too modest,' he said.
'It is not a national failing,' the Waldgrave answered, smiling also.
'I fancy it must be,' the general retorted. 'And that is the reason we see so little of Germans in the war!'
The words were almost an insult, though a dull man, deceived by the civility of the speaker's tone, might have overlooked it. The Waldgrave understood, however. I saw him redden and his brow grow dark. But he restrained himself, and even found a good answer.
'Germany will find her champions,' he said, 'when she seriously needs them.'
'Abroad!' the general replied, speaking in a flash, as it were. The instant the word was said, I saw that he repented it. He had gone farther than he intended, and changed his tone. 'Well, if you will not, you will not,' he continued smoothly. 'Unless our fair cousin can succeed where I have failed, and persuade you.'