"And
what right have you to stand there and cross-question me?"
"The right of being prepared to call you to your face a liar,"
Julian said gravely. "We have very certain information that
Freistner is now imprisoned in a German fortress and will be shot
before the week is out."
There was a little murmur of consternation, even of disbelief.
Fenn himself was speechless. Julian went on eagerly.
"My friends," he said, "on paper, on the facts submitted to us, we
took the right decision, but we ought to have remembered this.
Germany's word, Germany's signature, Germany's honour, are not
worth a rap when opposed to German interests. Germany,
notwithstanding all her successes, is thirsting for peace. This
armistice would be her salvation. She set herself out to get it
--not honestly, as we have been led to believe, but by means of a
devilish plot. She professed to be overawed by the peace desires
of the Reichstag. The Pan-Germans professed a desire to give in
to the Socialists. All lies! They encouraged Freistner to
continue his negotiations here with Fenn. Freistner was honest
enough. I am not so sure about Fenn."
Fenn sprang to his feet, a blasphemous exclamation broke from his
lips. Julian faced him, unmoved. The atmosphere of the room was
now electric.
"I am going to finish what I have to say," he went on. "I know
that every one will wish me to. We are all here to look for the
truth and nothing else, and, thanks to Miss Abbeway, we have
stumbled upon it.
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