Still I
did not like the trend of his talk. I began to suspect that this
British Minister was doing one of two things. Either he did not know
everything about the Black Forest meeting--(not at all improbable with
the conditions existing in England's cabinet at that time)--or else he
wanted to learn if I knew the tenor of that conference. In either
ease it was one of those occasions where I deemed it wise to keep my
own counsel.
After many searching questions upon the French system and her army and
navy, he began to try to lead me to make comparisons between their
strength and England's, these being based upon my personal
observations. This, and the whole trend of his thought, led me to
suspect that Sir Edward Grey was in noways sure in his own mind or
favorable to the German-English alliance. With men like his Lordship,
personal antipathy plays a powerful part in such matters.
He then began to try to make me divulge the contents of any personal
dispatches I had carried for the German Emperor.
"Do you know," he asked abruptly, "if the German Emperor ever
communicates with Viscount Haldane?"
"Yes, sir."
He leaned forward eagerly.
"How and under what circumstances?"
"Why, I thought it common knowledge that they often correspond. They
are good friends."
"Not that. I mean direct secret communications between them,
concerning affairs of the state.
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