[Gutenberg 39150] • A Hero of Liége: A Story of the Great War

At nine o'clock on Tuesday morning, August 4, Kenneth Amory walked into the private office of the head of the well-known firm of Amory the sooner you are home, the better." "Our dear Max is jumpy," came in smooth tones from the third person in the room, the ends of his well-brushed moustache rising stiffly as he smiled. He was tall and slim--a contrast to his cousin Finkelstein, who had reached that period of life when good food, a successful business, and Germanic lack of exercise, tend to corpulence. "I tell him he need not worry," the speaker went on. "It will be as in '70." "Provided that England----" Finkelstein was beginning, but Kurt Hellwig broke in with a laugh. "Oh, England! England will protest a little, and preach a little, and take care not to get a scratch." "Don't you be too sure of that," said Kenneth, rather warmly. "No? You think otherwise?" Hellwig was smiling still. "Well, we shall see. Perhaps you have private information?" His mocking smile and ironical tone brought a flush to Kenneth's cheeks. "I don't want any private information to know what England will do," cried the boy.