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24 conversations with the Danish minister, and have you requested him to be present?"

"The conversations were eminently satisfactory, your Majesty. The Danish minister is in the anteroom and awaits your commands."

"Send for him," said the Kaiser.

The Danish minister entered, and he was no sooner seated than the Kaiser, without any preliminaries, abruptly asked, "What sum do you name as the purchase price of the island of St. Thomas in the West Indies?"

"Twenty-five million dollars, your Majesty," said the minister.

"We will give you that sum for the island," said the Kaiser. "The only stipulation is that you shall pledge yourself to secrecy, leaving it to Germany to announce, at such time as may seem best, the transfer of the island. Here are the necessary