"To think," he said to himself after a long pause, "that he is primarily responsible for this great war, with its toll of thousands of lives and the destruction of property worth millions of dollars."
Unconsciously, almost, he drew his revolver, and pointed it straight at the War Lord's breast.
"With one little movement of my finger," said the lad softly to himself, "I could snuff out the life of the man who has already sent thousands to their death. One shot, and----"
His fingers tightened on the trigger, but for a moment only. Then he lowered his weapon, and a moment later dropped it back in his pocket, while he wiped away little beads of perspiration that had gathered on his brow.
"It's no use," he told himself, "I couldn't do it if I wanted to."
Wilhelm II, Emperor of the German Empire and War Lord of Europe, will never know how close he was to death at that moment!
Now the voices of the officers in the room below became louder, and by straining his ears the lad could make out what they were saying.
"If," came a voice from below, and Hal recognized it as that of Count Von Moltke, "if we can draw the British to this point, we can cut them off from their French support and annihilate them. And----"
"And," came the voice of the Kaiser himself, "we can, then, by a quick turning move, take the French by surprise and our victory will be complete."
"Exactly, sire," came Count Von Moltke's voice again.
"But, sire," said a third voice, "what have we to warrant that the English will accept our bait?"
The Emperor did not reply immediately, and Count Von Moltke broke in again.
"We will make a strong showing on the eastern shore of the Marne," he said, "and will retire slowly before the British. As they come on, flushed with apparent victory, Von Kluck will take them on the left flank. We shall cut them to pieces."
"The plan sounds well to me," came the voice of the Kaiser again. "General Von Kluck, how soon can you be in readiness to execute this coup?"
"Not before day after to-morrow, sire," was the reply. "It will take me that long to bring my men to the designated point, at the same time keeping the British unaware of their withdrawal."
"And how many men will you be able to bring?" asked the Kaiser.