class="smcap">secretary enters. The prime minister takes a paper out of his pocket.

Here. It is a copy of the message I directed you to send to the news bureaus and embassies. Transmit it at once.

[The secretary bows and goes out. The king falls forward on the desk, sobbing. At his side, straight and stern, the prime minister Stands. To minister of war.

Give orders for immediate mobilization.

[The stage is slowly darkened.

---

SCENE II

As the lights rise again they reveal a small, comfortably furnished clubroom, with a wide window opening on a balcony in the back, and doors right and left. It is evening and the electric lamps are lit.

grosvenor, a man of fifty-odd, large, sleek, unctuous, well-groomed, is discovered in an arm-chair, surrounded by newspapers. He glances with feverish interest at one after the other. A cheer is heard outside, then the sound of fifes and drums. He rises excitedly and throws open the French window. The tramp, tramp of a regiment is heard. two officers in uniform, a general and a captain, enter left.

general

[A strongly-built man in middle age, with a firm, resolute face.

Evening, Grosvenor. Not poaching on your rights if we come in here a minute? The other windows were crowded.

grosvenor

Not at all, General, not at all. We're all making way for the khaki today, sir. And proud to have the chance.

[With overdone politeness to the Captain, a handsome man of the romantic type.

Take my place, Captain.

captain

Thanks. Great tune that, eh? Stirs up a man's vitals, eh?

grosvenor

Yes, indeed; yes, indeed.

captain

Wait till we put that into the repertory of the enemy's bandmasters.

[Leaning out of the window.

Come. They're a fine-looking lot, eh?

general

Fine! Fine! The pick of the land. Fighters to a finish, every one of 'em.

captain

And say, but they're thanking God tonight for the war-scare that's brought 'em back from manœuvres.

grosvenor

[Eagerly.

They are, eh?

captain

Manœuvres are too tame. They're crazy to get into a real fight.

grosvenor

[In excited, subdued tones.

Then you think—there'll be war?

general

[Turning.

The President expects to hear from our Ambassador any minute about the private interview he wired he was about to have with the King.

grosvenor

[Taking up the papers.

Seen the latest?

general

[Picking out one paper with a particularly flaring headline.

"Iberia planning secret attack," eh? That man Pollen knows more things that aren't so than a college graduate.

captain

[Taking another paper.

He's entertaining enough, though. I daresay he has some influence.

grosvenor

I pray to God that we may keep peace, but we must not let ourselves be walked over—we must not—

captain

[Laughing.

Exactly. The nation is at last to see what it spends its army and navy appropriations for. Eh?

general

No sane man wants war, but if—

captain

I'm sane. And I want war. I want to go out and help lambaste those infernally cocksure armies of that jelly-and-cream King. We've parleyed long enough. Now we'll fight. Force is the only convincing argument after all.

grosvenor

As our Master said, "I bring a sword"—

general

[At the window again.

Fine fellows those. Look at that boy there, third from the end. And that lieutenant. Strapping, wonderful fellows—with brains! That's the great thing. Give me five hundred thousand of those and I'll hold off all comers.

grosvenor

[With nervous acuteness.

How long d'ye think it'll last?

general

Six months. Maybe a year.

grosvenor

[Tentatively.

You couldn't, I suppose—say—more exactly?

general

[With a glance of suspicion.

How should I—before it's even begun?

grosvenor

[Hastily.

Oh—er—just a matter of curiosity.

captain

[Laughing.

At any rate, we'll be back in time for the next presidential election. We're coming back with the General on our shoulders, and when we drop him it'll be through the skylight of the President's house.

general

[Self-consciously.

Don't talk nonsense.

captain

There's nothing like a war to make a man President.

[At window.

More and more and more of 'em. Bully lines. Not natty enough to be a joke, just straight and trim. Those fellows'll carry you into the presidency, General, if anyone can. A few of 'em'll have to choke first, but that's fisherman's luck.

general

[Turning.

That'll do, Dave.

[A page enters Right.

page

[Crossing the room.

Mr. Grosvenor? Mr. Grosvenor?

grosvenor

[Eagerly.

Here.

page

[Handing him a telegram.

Any answer?

grosvenor

Wait.

captain

[Still watching the soldiers.

They are happy.

[Pause.

I wonder which of 'em'll come back, and which won't.

grosvenor

[Who has torn open the yellow envelope, sinks back in his chair. To page.

No answer.

[He mops his brow in utter dejection. The officers