I have reason to believe,
however, that even if the negotiations have been commenced in the
name of the Kaiser, an immediate change is likely to take place in
the constitution of Germany."
"Germany's new form of government, I understand," Fenn intervened,
"will be modelled upon our own, which, after the abolition of the
House of Lords, and the abnegation of the King's prerogative, will
be as near the ideal democracy as is possible. That change will
be in itself our most potent guarantee against all future wars.
No democracy ever encouraged bloodshed. It is, to my mind, a
clearly proved fact that all wars are the result of court
intrigue. There will be no more of that. The passing of
monarchical rule in Germany will mean the doom of all
autocracies."
There was a little sympathetic murmur. Julian, to whom Catherine
had been whispering, next asked a question.
"I suppose," he said, "that no doubt can be cast upon the
authenticity of the three signatures attached to this document?"
"That's been in my own mind, Mr. Fiske--leastwise, Mr. Orden,"
Phineas Cross, the Northumbrian, remarked, from the other side of
the table. "They're up to any mortal dodge, these Germans. Are
we to accept it as beyond all doubt that this document is entirely
genuine?"
"How can we do otherwise?" Fenn demanded. "Freistner, who is
responsible for it, has been in unofficial correspondence with us
since the commencement of the war. We know his handwriting, we
know his character, we've had a hundred different occasions to
test his earnestness and trustworthiness.
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