Page:America Fallen!.djvu/132

120 by the executive officer with every mark of distinction, and escorted to the Admiral's quarters.

He was tall, blond, blue-eyed, affable, and supremely ceremonious. Moreover, he spoke most excellent English.

"He was sensible," he said, "of the great honor conferred upon the German Navy, upon the flagship, and upon himself, by the presence on board of the Mayor of the great commercial metropolis of the Western Hemisphere, attended by so many representatives of its leading financial houses.

"He could have wished that this meeting had taken place under less distressing circumstances; but—well—war is war, and upon him, as one under authority, had fallen the unhappy duty of bringing their city to terms by force of arms."

Picking up a document from his table he said: "The conditions on which I am