"... Because," Plessen went on, "if so, Grundt must be in Holland. In that case, why is he not here?"
My heart sank within me. Above all things, I knew I must keep my countenance. The least sign of embarrassment and I was lost. Yet I felt the blood fleeing from my face and I was glad I stood in the shadow.
A knock came to the door. The elderly chamberlain who had met me outside appeared.
"Your Majesty will excuse me ... General Baron von Fischer is there to report...."
"Presently, presently," was the answer in an irritable tone. "I am engaged just now...."
The old courtier paused irresolutely for a moment.
"Despatches from General Head-quarters, Your Majesty! The General asked me to say the matter was urgent!"
"Bring him in!" Then, to Plessen, he added in a voice from which all mirth had vanished, in accents of gloom:
"At this hour, Plessen? If things have again gone wrong on the Somme!"
An officer came in quickly, rigid with a frozen face, helmet on head, portfolio under his arm. The Kaiser walked the length of the room to his desk and sat down. Plessen and the other followed him. I remained where I was. They seemed to have forgotten all about me.
A murmur rose from the desk. The officer was delivering his report. Then the Kaiser seemed to question him, for I heard his hard, metallic voice:
"Contalmaison ... Trones Wood ... heavy losses ... forced back ... terrific artillery fire ..." were words that reached me. The Kaiser's voice rose on a high note of irritability. Suddenly he dashed the papers on the desk from him and exclaimed:
"It is outrageous! I'll break him! Not another man shall he have if I must go myself and teach his men their duty!"
Plessen hurriedly left the desk and came to me. His old face was white and his hands were shaking.
"Get out of here!" he said to me in a fierce undertone. "Wait outside and I will see you later!" Still, from the desk, resounded that harsh, strident voice, running on in an ascending scale, pouring forth a foaming torrent of menace.
I had often heard of the sudden paroxysms of fury from which the Kaiser was said to suffer of recent years, but never in my wildest daydreams did I ever imagine I should assist at one.
Gladly enough did I exchange the highly charged electrical atmosphere of the Imperial study for the repose of the quiet corridor. Its perfect tranquillity was as balm to my quivering nerves. Of the man in green nothing was to be seen. Only the trooper continued his silent vigil.