OCTOBER 273 



ports. These make me at least a gentle- 

 man of means. So, kind Sir, come on ! " 



At the close of this speech, delivered 

 with easy arrogance modified by good- 

 humour almost brotherly, Bismarck burst 

 into laughter. Then he rose from the easy- 

 chair, and took off his jacket. It was 

 impossible to feel repelled by Peter. It 

 was impossible to reject his challenge. 

 We had invaded his house, and we had 

 called him names. If he was good enough 

 to have these attentions bestowed upon 

 him, surely he was good enough for 

 others, those which he had invited ? Surely 

 we were not so unworthy as to abandon 

 our course of conduct merely because it 

 had taken us to an unexpected turn, 

 risky to ourselves ? That was implicit in 

 what Peter had said ; but it was implicit 

 only. The fascinating rascal had too 

 much delicacy of taste to be raspingly 

 plain in his speech. He was treating us 

 with much consideration. 



" Yes : come on ! " said Bismarck, 

 tapping Peter on the shoulder. Out 



18 



