The Double Traitor | Page 7

of seeing German goods in England."
Herr Selingman was apparently a trifle hurt, but his efforts to make
himself agreeable were indomitable.
"If you will," he said, "I can explain why my crockery sells in England
where your own fails. For one thing, then, I am cheaper. There is a
system at my works, the like of which is not known in England. From
the raw material to the finished article I can produce forty per cent.
cheaper than your makers, and, mind you, that is not because I save in
wages. It is because of the system in the various departments. I do not
like to save in wages," he went on. "I like to see my people healthy and
strong and happy. I like to see them drink beer after work is over, and
on feast days and Sundays I like to see them sit in the gardens and
listen to the band, and maybe change their beer for a bottle of wine.
Industrially, Mr. Englishman, ours is a happy country."
"Well, I hope you won't think I am rude," Norgate observed, "but from
the little I have seen of it I call it a beastly country, and if you don't
mind I am going to sleep."
Herr Selingman sat for several moments with his mouth still open.
Then he gave a little grunt. There was not the slightest ill-humour in the
ejaculation or in his expression. He was simply pained.
"I am sorry if I have talked too much," he said. "I forgot that you,
perhaps, are tired. You have met with disappointments, maybe. I am
sorry. I will read now and not disturb you."
For an hour or so Norgate tried in vain to sleep. All this time the man
opposite turned the pages of his book with the utmost cautiousness,

moved on tiptoe once to reach down more papers, and held out his
finger to warn the train attendant who came with some harmless
question.
"The English gentleman," Norgate heard him whisper, "is tired. Let
him sleep."
Soon after five o'clock, Norgate gave it up. He rose to his feet,
stretched himself, and was welcomed with a pleasant smile from his
companion.
"You have had a refreshing nap," the latter remarked, "and now, is it
not so, you go to take a cup of English tea?"
"You are quite right," Norgate admitted. "Better come with me."
Herr Selingman smiled a smile of triumph. It was the reward of
geniality, this! He was forming a new friendship!
"I come with great pleasure," he decided, "only while you drink the tea,
I drink the coffee or some beer. I will see. I like best the beer," he
explained, turning sidewise to get out of the door, "but it is not the best
for my figure. I have a good conscience and a good digestion, and I eat
and drink much. But it is good to be happy."
They made their way down to the restaurant car and seated themselves
at a table together.
"You let me do the ordering," Herr Selingman insisted. "The man here,
perhaps, does not speak English. So! You will drink your tea with me,
sir. It is a great pleasure to me to entertain an Englishman. I make many
friends travelling. I like to make friends. I remember them all, and
sometimes we meet again. Kellner, some tea for the
gentleman--English tea with what you call bread and butter. So! And
for me--" Selingman paused for a moment and drew a deep sigh of
resignation--"some coffee."
"Very kind of you, I'm sure," Norgate murmured.

Herr Selingman beamed.
"It is a great pleasure," he said, "but many times I wonder why you
Englishmen, so clever, so world-conquering, do not take the trouble to
make yourselves with the languages of other nations familiar. It means
but a little study. Now you, perhaps, are in business?"
"Not exactly," Norgate replied grimly. "To tell you the truth, at the
present moment I have no occupation."
"No occupation!"
Herr Selingman paused in the act of conveying a huge portion of rusk
to his mouth, and regarded his companion with wonder.
"So!" he repeated. "No occupation! Well, that is what in Germany we
know nothing of. Every one must work, or must take up the army as a
permanent profession. You are, perhaps, one of those Englishmen of
whom one reads, who give up all their time to sport?"
Norgate shook his head.
"As a matter of fact," he said, "I have worked rather hard during the last
five or six years. It is only just recently that I have lost my occupation."
Herr Selingman's curiosity was almost childlike in its transparency, but
Norgate found himself unable to gratify it. In any case, after his denial
of any knowledge of the