Hebblethwaite sighed resignedly.  “Well,” he said, “the question you submit is a problem which has presented itself to us once or twice, although I may tell you that there isn’t a soul in the Cabinet except one who believes in the chance of war.  We are not a fire-eating lot, you know.  We are all for peace, and we believe we are going to have it.  However, to answer your questions more closely, our obligations depend entirely upon the provocation giving cause for the war.  If France and Russia provoked it in any way, we should remain neutral.  If it were a war of sheer aggression from Germany against France, we might to a certain extent intervene.  There is not one of us, however, who believes for a single moment that Germany would enter upon such a war.”

“When you admit that we might to a certain extent intervene,” Norgate said, “exactly how should we do it, I wonder?  We are not in a particular state of readiness to declare war upon anybody or anything, are we?” he added, as they turned around and strolled once more towards the polo ground.

“We have had no money to waste upon senseless armaments,” Mr. Hebblethwaite declared severely, “and if you watch the social measures which we have passed during the last two years, you will see that every penny we could spare has been necessary in order to get them into working order.  It is our contention that an army is absolutely unnecessary and would simply have the effect of provoking military reprisals.  If we, by any chance in the future, were drawn into war, our navy would be at the service of our allies.  What more could any country ask than to have assured for them the absolute control of the sea?”

“That’s all very well,” Norgate assented.  “It might be our fair share on paper, and yet it might not be enough.  What about our navy if Antwerp, Ostend, Dunkirk, Calais, Boulogne, and Havre were all German ports, as they certainly would be in an unassisted conflict between the French and the Germans?”

They were within hearing now of the music of the band.  Hebblethwaite quickened his pace a little impatiently.

“Look here,” he protested, “I came down here for a holiday, I tell you frankly that I believe in the possibility of war just as much as I believe in the possibility of an earthquake.  My own personal feeling is that it is just as necessary to make preparations against one as the other.  There you are, my German spy, that’s all I have to say to you.  Here are your friends.  I must pay my respects to the Prince, and I should like to meet your charming companion.”

Anna detached herself from a little group of men at their approach, and Norgate at once introduced his friend.

“I have only been able to induce Mr. Hebblethwaite to talk to me for the last ten minutes,” he declared, “by promising to present him to you.”

“A ceremony which we will take for granted,” she suggested, holding out her fingers.  “Each time I have come to London, Mr. Hebblethwaite, I have hoped that I might have this good fortune.  You interest us so much on the Continent.”