OCTOBER 271 



" Yes. Would you like to apologise ? " 



Bismarck did not answer immediately. 

 He was weighing the alternatives. It 

 was an anxious interval in the placid 

 conversation. I expected that the de- 

 termining influence would be the trait he 

 had mentioned in the morning ; and I was 

 not wrong. 



"No," said he : "certainly not." 



His vigorous features, as he looked up, 

 expressed resolution blent with wonder. 

 What would Peter say now? What 

 further rebuke should we have to suffer ? 



" Well," said Peter, rising, " I like ye 

 nane the waur for stanin' by what ye 

 said. But it doesna' do to be called a 

 scoonerel. It micht lead to bein' treated 

 as such. We maun find a way oot o' the 

 difficulty. Here, John : just gi'e me a 

 hand wi' this table." 



The larger table having been moved 

 into a corner, Peter took down two pairs 

 of boxing-gloves from among the fire-arms 

 on the wall. 



"They're very light," he said, as he 



