The Commandant was repeating every few minutes "peace" and "friends." A table neighbor, a commercial commissioner, offered his services as interpreter to Julio, with that obsequiousness which lives on advertisement.
"The Commandant asks God to maintain peace between Germany and France and hopes that the two peoples will become increasingly friendly." Another orator arose at the same table.

He was the most influential of the German passengers, a rich manufacturer from Dusseldorf who had just been visiting his agents in America.

He was never mentioned by name.

He bore the title of Commercial Counsellor, and among his countrymen was always Herr Comerzienrath and his wife was entitled Frau Rath.

The Counsellor's Lady, much younger than her important husband, had from the first attracted the attention of Desnoyers.