should have to pass, how many years I should have to wait to reach the position which is open to me at the start, ten thousand marks a year." 

 "That's true," he murmured, musing. He looked into the fire for a minute, then got up and went to the bookcase, from which he returned with a large volume in one of those dull-coloured, gilded, but tasteless bindings which characterize many English and German books. 

 "Are you certain that the proposal has been made to you on behalf of the Grand Duke of Lautenburg-Detmold?" he asked. 

 "Yes," I replied, "on behalf of the Grand Duke Frederick-Augustus." 

 "That's the man. To be tutor to his only son, Duke Joachim." 

 It was thus that I learnt the name of my future pupil. 

 My old tutor thought a few seconds more, and then, raising his glasses towards me: 

 "May I ask if you are already bound by any formal contract?" 

 "Not yet, strictly speaking, but my mind is made up, and I shall go unless some one else is preferred to me." 

 "In that case let us say no more," said M. Thierry, putting the book back. 

 I was intrigued and a little annoyed. 

 "My dear master," I said, "will you be really frank with me? I know you are too interested in my welfare to suggest my refusing such an attractive offer unless you had very serious reasons for doing so. Besides, I may confess that in coming to you this morning I hoped to obtain some valuable information about the Court of Lautenburg-Detmold for your unique knowledge of the men and affairs of modern Germany. I am sure you are even more familiar with these details than I suspected. I am to interview Count de Marçais, our Minister at Lautenburg, very shortly, but it will not be easy for me to question him. Besides, a diplomatist must doubtless observe a certain reticence, which you have not the same reason to consider with me. To put it shortly, may I ask you a question which sums up all this? If you had a son, Monsieur Thierry, would you let him do what I propose to do? Would you let him go to Lautenburg?" 

 He looked straight at me, and replied firmly, "No." 

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