The Great Impersonation | Page 7

away even from
the by-ways of life, just to shake hands and pass on. I am sick to death
of niggers and animals."
"It is Fate," Von Ragastein decided. "Where I go, I must go alone.
Farewell, dear friend! We will drink the toast we drank our last night in
your rooms at Magdalen. That Sanscrit man translated it for us: 'May
each find what he seeks!' We must follow our star."
Dominey laughed a little bitterly. He pointed to a light glowing fitfully
in the bush.
"My will-o'-the-wisp," he muttered recklessly, "leading where I shall
follow--into the swamps!"
A few minutes later Dominey threw himself upon his couch, curiously
and unaccountably drowsy. Von Ragastein, who had come in to wish
him good night, stood looking down at him for several moments with
significant intentness. Then, satisfied that his guest really slept, he

turned and passed through the hanging curtain of dried grasses into the
next banda, where the doctor, still fully dressed, was awaiting him.
They spoke together in German and with lowered voices. Von
Ragastein had lost something of his imperturbability.
"Everything progresses according to my orders?" he demanded.
"Everything, Excellency! The boys are being loaded, and a runner has
gone on to Wadihuan for ponies to be prepared."
"They know that I wish to start at dawn?"
"All will be prepared, Excellency."
Von Ragastein laid his hand upon the doctor's shoulder.
"Come outside, Schmidt," he said. "I have something to tell you of my
plans."
The two men seated themselves in the long, wicker chairs, the doctor in
an attitude of strict attention. Von Ragastein turned his head and
listened. From Dominey's quarters came the sound of deep and regular
breathing.
"I have formed a great plan, Schmidt," Von Ragastein proceeded. "You
know what news has come to me from Berlin?"
"Your Excellency has told me a little," the doctor reminded him.
"The Day arrives," Von Ragastein pronounced, his voice shaking with
deep emotion. He paused a moment in thought and continued, "the time,
even the month, is fixed. I am recalled from here to take the place for
which I was destined. You know what that place is? You know why I
was sent to an English public school and college?"
"I can guess."
"I am to take up my residence in England. I am to have a special
mission. I am to find a place for myself there as an Englishman. The

means are left to my ingenuity. Listen, Schmidt. A great idea has come
to me."
The doctor lit a cigar.
"I listen, Excellency."
Von Ragastein rose to his feet. Not content with the sound of that
regular breathing, he made his way to the opening of the banda and
gazed in at Dominey's slumbering form. Then he returned.
"It is something which you do not wish the Englishman to hear?" the
doctor asked.
"It is."
"We speak in German."
"Languages," was the cautions reply, "happen to be that man's only
accomplishment. He can speak German as fluently as you or I. That,
however, is of no consequence. He sleeps and he will continue to sleep.
I mixed him a sleeping draught with his whisky and soda."
"Ah!" the doctor grunted.
"My principal need in England is an identity," Von Ragastein pointed
out. "I have made up my mind. I shall take this Englishman's. I shall
return to England as Sir Everard Dominey."
"So!"
"There is a remarkable likeness between us, and Dominey has not seen
an Englishman who knows him for eight or ten years. Any school or
college friends whom I may encounter I shall be able to satisfy. I have
stayed at Dominey. I know Dominey's relatives. To-night he has
babbled for hours, telling me many things that it is well for me to
know."
"What about his near relatives?"

"He has none nearer than cousins."
"No wife?"
Von Ragastein paused and turned his head. The deep breathing inside
the banda had certainly ceased. He rose to his feet and, stealing
uneasily to the opening, gazed down upon his guest's outstretched form.
To all appearance, Dominey still slept deeply. After a moment or two's
watch, Von Ragastein returned to his place.
"Therein lies his tragedy," he confided, dropping his voice a little lower.
"She is insane--insane, it seems, through a shock for which he was
responsible. She might have been the only stumbling block, and she is
as though she did not exist."
"It is a great scheme," the doctor murmured enthusiastically.
"It is a wonderful one! That great and unrevealed Power, Schmidt,
which watches over our country and which will make her mistress of
the world, must have guided this man to us. My position in England
will be unique. As Sir Everard Dominey I shall be able to penetrate into
the inner