Page 21 - A Hero of Liége

"I don't want any private information to know what England will do," cried
the boy.

"True, the public information is conclusive. England is helpless; she suffers

from an internal complaint; she is breaking up."

"That will do, Kurt," said Finkelstein, anticipating an explosive word from

Kenneth, who was quick-tempered, and apt to fall out with Hellwig.
"Really, Ken, you will be safer at home, and if you don't go now you will

lose your chance; all the trains will be required for the troops."

"I'd rather wait a little longer," replied Kenneth. "It's all so interesting. I've

never seen a mobilisation before."

"It will do him good to see how we manage things in Germany," said
Hellwig. "And since England will remain neutral, he will run no risk."

Finkelstein, easygoing and indolent where business was not concerned,
yielded the point.

"Very well," he said. "Do as you please. But I recommend you to pack up
in readiness for a sudden departure. For my part, I hope Kurt is right; I

think of my business."

"We all think of our business," said Hellwig, with a slight stress upon the
pronoun.

"Our business--yes," said Finkelstein. "We shall all suffer, I fear. But if it is
as in '70---- "

Kenneth did not wait to hear further discussion on the chances of the war.
Remarking that he would see the others at lunch, he hurried away into the

street. Awakened very early that morning by the rumbling of carts and the
tramp of horses, he had got up and gone out, to watch the continual passage

of regiments of infantry and cavalry, batteries of artillery, pontoon trains,
commissariat and ammunition wagons, through the streets and the railway