They eyed me amicably, and several of them nodded in a
friendly way. I was forced to say something, or I must have laughed
outright.
"I should like to know," I said, "what is expected of me."
An exceedingly fat man, whom I had noticed as the companion of the lady
upstairs in the sailor hat, beckoned me to stand before him.
"Paul Schmidt," he said, "listen to me! You are a German born?"
"Without doubt," I answered.
"The love of your fatherland is still in your heart?"
"Always!" I answered fervently.
"Also with all of us," he answered. "You have lived in America so long,
that a few words of explanation may be necessary. So!"
Now this man's voice, unimpressive though his appearance was, seemed
somehow to create a new atmosphere in the place. He spoke very slowly,
and he spoke as a man speaks of the things which are sacred to him.
"It is within the last few years," he said, "that all true patriots have
been forced to realize one great and very ugly truth. Our country is
menaced by an unceasing and untiring enmity. Wherever we have turned, we
have met with its influence; whatever schemes for legitimate expansion
our Kaiser and his great counsellors may have framed have been checked,
if not thwarted, by our sleepless and relentless foe.
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