“But there is not a house in sight,” Dominey remarked wonderingly.

“You will be received on board His Majesty’s private train,” Seaman announced.  “The Kaiser, with his staff, is making one of his military tours.  We are honoured by being permitted to travel back with him as far as the Belgian frontier.”

They had come to a standstill now.  A bearded and uniformed official threw open the door of their compartment, and they stepped on to the narrow wooden platform of a small station which seemed to have been recently built of fresh pine planks.  The train, immediately they had alighted, passed on.  Their journey was over.

A brief conversation was carried on between Seaman and the official, during which Dominey took curious note of his surroundings.  Around the station, half hidden in some places by the trees and shrubs, was drawn a complete cordon of soldiers, who seemed to have recently disembarked from a military train which stood upon a siding.  In the middle of it was a solitary saloon carriage, painted black, with much gold ornamentation, and having emblazoned upon the central panel the royal arms of Germany.  Seaman, when he had finished his conversation, took Dominey by the arm and led him across the line towards it.  An officer received them at the steps and bowed punctiliously to Dominey, at whom he gazed with much interest.

“His Majesty will receive you at once,” he announced.  “Follow me.”

They boarded the train and passed along a richly carpeted corridor.  Their guide paused and pointed to a small retiring-room, where several men were seated.

“Herr Seaman will find friends there,” he said.  “His Imperial Majesty will receive him for a few minutes later.  The Baron Von Ragastein will come this way.”

Dominey was ushered now into the main saloon.  His guide motioned him to remain near the entrance, and, himself advancing a few paces, stood at the salute before a seated figure who was bending over a map, which a stern-faced man in the uniform of a general had unrolled before him.  The Kaiser glanced up at the sound of footsteps and whispered something in the general’s ear.  The latter clicked his heels together and retired.  The Kaiser beckoned Dominey to advance.

“The Baron Von Ragastein, your Majesty,” the young officer murmured.

Dominey stood at attention for a moment and bowed a little awkwardly.  The Kaiser smiled.

“It pleases me,” he said, “to see a German officer ill at ease without his uniform.  Count, you will leave us.  Baron Von Ragastein, be seated.”

“Sir Everard Dominey, at your service, Majesty,” Dominey replied, as he took the chair to which his august host pointed.

“Thorough in all things, I see,” the latter observed.  “Sit there and be at your ease.  Good reports have reached me of your work in Africa.”

“I did my best to execute your Majesty’s will,” Dominey ventured.