Page 149 - A Hero of Liége

CHAPTER XVII

-- A BARMECIDE FEAST

Granger laughed when Kenneth related the incidents of the past twenty-four
hours.

"You are uncommonly lucky young daredevils," he said. "To the best of my

knowledge Proteus, for all his quick changes, had only one life; you seem
to have several apiece. The only pity is that you couldn't enjoy the triumph
that would have attended your marching of the prisoners into camp."

"Yes, I should have liked that," said Kenneth. "But what are you doing

here? What is your game? Your disguise is perfect, upon my word!"

"I will tell you--in confidence," he replied with a sly look. "From

information received I arrived here yesterday afternoon. As you see, the
amiable Teutons have left their mark on the house. My informant had led

me to expect that it would be visited by certain German gentlemen. Sure
enough, late last night an armoured car honked at the door, and when I
lifted the bar with my fumbling fingers, there entered an officer and a

civilian. A sergeant and three privates remained outside until the major
ordered them in to search the house. The civilian was clearly a man of some

importance, judging by the deference--somewhat strange among
Germans--paid to him by the soldier occupants of the car. He went by the
name of Brinckmann, but as an ornament of society in Cologne, and

occasionally I believe in London also, he was known as Kurt Hellwig."

"By George!" exclaimed Kenneth.

"I thought I should interest you."

"The cur!"

"Hush, my dear fellow! Hellwig enjoys imperial favour. He boasted of a
particularly cordial interview with the War Lord, who appears to take a