SUSPICION OF A VENDOR

                                         cont'd..

                                           -- 2 --


"You forget yourself, von Kaiserschmarrn,"  I snapped. "I am no skulking anarchist 
- if you wish to eliminate van Zilchenhoot, you must blow him up yourself."
"Moderate your voice, Rudolph!  Remember zat zis is not London - neither is it 
home-town Ruritania-"
"-What do you mean!?"  I coloured.
"Do not underrate the importance of zis place, my dear Rudie.."  
I bridalled at his familiarity, yet I listened.
"Since zer time of Charlemagne this city has been the crossroads of an empire und
zer melting-pot of many cultures;  today, alas, zere is no such Reich: only a loose
federation of german states. Consequently, the bidding is doubled - as you say in
Bridge, und here in Mainz spies are ten a thaler - thus here you must be as discreet
as I."he spread his hands in a most un-english manner.
I had much to consider and my mode of expression was somewhat tardy.  "I shall
require good reason for this,"  I managed at last.
"A mere bagatelle, my dear Rudolph,"  he sneered. "Van Zilohenhoot is a seller of
ships - a mere tradesman, if you will. Today he sells to Russia and Japan; tomorrow
it could well be the old cast-Iron porpoise himself."
"Bismarck?"
"Who else when Zilchenhoot is a money-grubber with the power to bribe?  He throws
a ball for the purposes of his business connections;  at these functions he has the
habit of presenting his customers and cronies with vulgar little jewel-filled 
crackers."



                                  --sterl'