brought your kingdom thus far, shall not have my hands tied when the moment for stern action arrives.

king

[With a whimsical smile.

After all, my good Prime Minister, it is my kingdom, you know.

prime minister

[Moved.

Your Majesty knows that what I have done I have done for your glory. The liberals have cursed me for a reactionary through the length and breadth of the kingdom; because I served you, and served you in all love and devotion.

king

I know your devotion. But give me a fresh example of it. Keep my kingdom at peace with the world.

prime minister

That I cannot do.

king

You cannot? You will not.

prime minister

I could not face my conscience, or make my peace with God, if I weakened now and allowed the golden opportunity to pass by. For your Majesty's sake as well as for our country's.

king

For mine?

prime minister

Your Majesty has forgotten that your throne was built by war and rests on force. Force only, military prestige only, can uphold you. The rebels of labor have crept close to your throne now. Ten more years of peace, and you are cast out overnight, to wander over Europe, a homeless absurdity, a king without a chair to sit on.

king

[With flashing eyes.

We shall see!

prime minister

[Quietly.

May I ask your Majesty in all humility and devotion to give me back that slip of paper?

king

You have thought of our national honor, our prestige, our commercial growth, our dynastic life. Have you given no thought at all to the men you send to death to purchase these?

prime minister

A man has no higher privilege than to die for his country. I beg your Majesty—the paper?

king

[Tearing the paper once across.

And the women?

prime minister

[Grimly.

We'll find them new husbands, your Majesty. The paper, if you please.

king

[Tearing the paper into shreds.

I forbid this war!

prime minister

[With controlled anger.

My God, your Majesty! You are letting a sentiment master you. There are worse things than war. There are possibilities in peace infinitely worse than any war, or there would be no war. War may kill a million bodies, but a wicked peace can snuff out unnumbered souls!

king

I will take my chances with peace.

minister of war

It is for you we are fighting, your Majesty, but not for you only, not for your glory only and the permanence of your House, but for the permanence of the monarchical principle, which we know is better and higher than the principle of democracy, since it is the earthly symbol of God's singleness of rule, and comes direct from God.

chief of staff

[Coolly.

Moreover, your Majesty, it works!

king

This is a matter of war and peace, not a matter of monarchy or democracy.

prime minister

Your Majesty does not see far enough. Give us war, and we keep our monarchy. Give us peace, and we plunge within ten years into the rapids of revolution and democracy.

king

[Simply.

I will take my chances with peace.

prime minister

[Stern and cold.

Very good, your Majesty. Then you may paddle your bark alone. I resign.

minister of war

And I resign!

chief of staff

And I!

king

[Crossing to the window, where he stands with his back turned to the others. His voice is uncertain.

I did not expect that of you.

prime minister

[Moved.

Oh, your Majesty! You know what my love has been—

king

[Turning.

Half the country will fall from me if you three desert me.

prime minister

It is not desertion, your Majesty. It is loyalty to something even higher than the King, the principle that makes him King.

king

[Perplexed.

Perhaps I am wrong. Perhaps I am sentimental—

minister of war

[Gently.

Your Majesty is humane, but perhaps a deeper humanity demands a hardening of the heart sometimes.

king

[To minister of war.

But you always detested war. You called yourself my Minister not of War, but of Peace.

minister of war

[Rigidly.

When the honor of our country is at stake—

king

[Impatiently.

But nobody is attacking our honor!

prime minister

[Bluntly.

The case is as I said. We need this war, and we must have it.

king

[Torn by his conflicting desires.

I cannot let you resign. There is no one else I can trust as I trust you three. But not war, not war!

prime minister

I am a lover of peace, but the time has come when we must have war.

minister of war

It is our sacred duty, your Majesty, to draw our swords for light and justice when God calls!

chief of staff

And God has always been with us. God will be with us now!

king

[White and tense.

You are three strong men against me. I want peace, but I am helpless without you three. For I am an anachronism. Not nature but human force, fighting against nature, keeps me on my throne. If you must have war, have it. But I tell you this: God has no part in it. Leave God out of the game!

[He sinks into the chair by the desk.

prime minister

[To minister of war.

Call your Secretary!

[minister of war goes to the door. The