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The army and navy are fully equipped?

MINISTER OF WAR

Down to the last shoe-string.

PRIME MINISTER

[To CHIEF OF STAFF.

Would you say it would be better to wait a week or a month or even a year—­or to strike at once?

CHIEF OF STAFF

[Firmly and quietly.

Strike at once.

MINISTER OF WAR

You dreamers, you theorists!  How about the King’s negotiations?

PRIME MINISTER

[Rising, with the message in his hand.

Gentlemen, I have seen fit to abbreviate the King’s message.  I have not altered a word nor added a word.  I have merely omitted all that did not seem to me pertinent or useful.  The message reads as follows:  “The King sent for the Ambassador of the Republic this afternoon and outlined a plan that would satisfy the royal government.  The Ambassador regretted that he was unable to consider any compromise.  The King replied that then he could have nothing more to say in the matter.”

MINISTER OF WAR

There’s ginger, by Heaven!  The other was a dove-peep to a parley.  This is a trumpet call of defiance.

CHIEF OF STAFF

[With quiet delight.

The Republic will never swallow that.

PRIME MINISTER

They are not supposed to.  They will declare war, and then be the aggressors.

MINISTER OF WAR

[Exultantly.

Our God of old lives yet and will not let us perish in disgrace!

CHIEF OF STAFF

[Looking about.

My helmet.  Damn it!  Where is my helmet?  I am going to dig at the plans once more.  If God lets me lead the armies in such a fight, the devil can come when I’m through and fetch away the old carcass.

PRIME MINISTER

[To MINISTER OF WAR.

Where’s your Secretary?

MINISTER OF WAR

[Crossing to door.

Secretary, here!

[SECRETARY enters.

PRIME MINISTER

[Handing him the paper.

To the telegraph-operator with this.  It is to be sent to every news bureau in the city and to all our embassies abroad.

MINISTER OF WAR

Tomorrow, the mobilization!