class="direction">[Flaring up.

Look at this, look at it! The King is sending our national honor to the dogs. He has secretly resumed communication with the Ambassador of the Republic, instead of doing what was natural and constitutional, sending the man to us. He is going to compromise. Pack up your tin soldiers, old man. Take them home for your grandchildren to play with. Our country evidently has no more use for them.

chief of staff

[With compressed lips.

Show me.

[He takes the paper and reads its contents aloud.

"The King desires to inform the Foreign Office that, in pursuance of his well-known love of peace, he sent for the Ambassador of the Republic this afternoon and outlined a plan that would satisfy the royal government and at the same time yield certain points to the government of the Republic. The Ambassador was courteous, but, although acknowledging the generosity of the King's offer, regretted that he was unable to consider any compromise before communicating again with his government. The King replied that if his offers were refused he could then have nothing further to say in the matter, but would have to turn it over entirely to his Ministers.

"The King suggests to the Foreign Office that these facts be put before our Ambassadors abroad, and, to pacify the public mind, be given at once to the newspapers."

My God, and you want peace!

minister of war

[Harshly.

Well, how do you like it?

chief of staff

He's backed down, he's backed down. All the world will be shouting tomorrow how our King has backed down. Christo! To accept defeat before you've begun to fight!

[He turns again to the map.

If this other plan should be frustrated by the enemy's navy, look, we could land here and here and—

[The door opens and the prime minister enters. He is a stern, titanic figure in the sixties, sallow-skinned, gray-haired.

prime minister

[Standing in the doorway.

Good evening, gentlemen. Counting your battalions?

chief of staff

[Absorbed.

And here, joining our armies at—

minister of war

Thank God, you're here. Where in sin have you been?

prime minister

Home on my estates, saying good-bye to my family.

[He smiles grimly, and with his cane makes a thrust in carte and tierce.

minister of war

You think you are going to war?

prime minister

I know.

minister of war

[Taking up the paper the chief of staff has let fall on the desk.

Read that. It came from your office.

prime minister

[Takes it and begins to read.

Eh? The King? Mediation on his own hook?

[With growing anger.

So? So? So?

[He lets the paper flutter to the floor.

Very good. He can find a new Prime Minister. I resign.

chief of staff

[Turning abruptly.

No, you don't!

minister of war

[Hotly.

We stick together in this. You are not going to resign.

prime minister

My good friends, I am going to resign.

[He picks up the paper off the floor.

Give me your seat at the desk. On the back of this ignoble parley, my resignation goes to him.

minister of war

You are the support of the army. We go to the dogs, if you leave us.

prime minister

[Sitting at the desk.

So? "The King suggests to the Foreign Office that these facts be put before our Ambassadors abroad and, to pacify the public mind, be given at once to the newspapers." He suggests. So do I suggest—something different.

chief of staff

[In front of the map again.

Three hundred thousand men here, turning the flank of a possible army marching north with that ridge of mountains as a cover—If we can only have the chance!

prime minister

[Studying the message, suddenly.

By Heaven! If—

minister of war

What is it? You look as if—

prime minister

If nothing! Bring me some claret out of that inexhaustible cabinet of yours.

[He draws his pen through a section of the message. The minister of war goes to a cabinet in the rear wall and brings forth a decanter of claret and glasses.

minister of war

[Pouring a glassful for the prime minister.

Here, dear old Titan.

prime minister

[Gulping it down.

Thanks. More. And cigars.

[The minister of war refills the glass and brings cigars. The prime minister wreathes himself in smoke.

chief of staff

[With his back still turned to the others.

I planned this campaign first some twenty years ago. But there was no navy then to speak of, and no airships. It is more intricate now, but very much more interesting as an intellectual problem.

prime minister

[Indicating his glass.

Another, good man.

minister of war

You're smelling blood when you drink like that.

prime minister

[Turning to the chief of staff.

Here! You old death's head! You are prepared, you say?

chief of staff

[Calmly.

I have been making my plans for twenty years. The present plans have been complete, except for slight revisions, for three years.

prime minister

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