I realized that none of his portraits do his eyes
justice. Of a bluish-steel gray, they have an icy, impersonal,
weighing look in them. It is hard to define. It struck me in that
moment that Lord Kitchener, Teufick Pasha, Cecil Rhodes, and Li Hung
Chang had exactly those same eyes--the eyes of men who feel it in them
to master the world.
Presently His Majesty looked up, and in that same, rather shrill
voice, asked:
"How long are you in the Service?"
"Three years, sir."
"You know Morocco?"
Morocco! So that was it. France and Germany quarreling over the
bone, at the point of war! I replied:
"Yes, sir!"
"How long were you in Morocco?" continued the Emperor.
"About twelve months, sir."
On this he seemed to hesitate. Frankly, I was nervous, so instead of
thinking about Morocco, I noticed that the Kaiser wore the undress
uniform of a Colonel of the Grenadier Guard with the star of the Order
Pour le Merite, dangling from his coat button. As if making up his
mind, he turned again on me those gray eyes.
"You know Kaid MacLean?"
"Yes, sir."
"How did you get to know him?"
"I happened to be of assistance to Sir Harry Kaid MacLean who was at
that time Commander-in-Chief and Man-of-Affairs to the Sultan of
Morocco."
My answer seemed to please the Emperor, for his eyes gleamed.
"Any likelihood of his remembering your services?"
I hesitated, then said:
"I cannot vouch for another man's memory, sire.
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