by the window do not see him as he studies the telegram and studies it again as though he could not believe his eyes.

captain

[Turning.

Any news, Mr. Grosvenor?

grosvenor

[Thickly.

A plot, a damned Stock Exchange plot.

[He hands the captain the message.

captain

[After a glance at the message.

Hello! Say, General, look at this.

general

[Turning.

What's up?

captain

The State Department has just had news from our Ambassador to Iberia. Delightful interview with the King. Evident willingness to meet us half way.

general

[Coolly.

Is this straight? It sounds fishy.

captain

They're trying to gain time. I don't believe it.

grosvenor

It's a damned plot.

general

Looks to me like a blind to stop our preparations. I'm going over to the War Department. Coming, Captain?

captain

It's that crafty Prime Minister over there playing us tricks, eh?

grosvenor

[Hotly.

It's a plot!

general

Something's queer! Good night, Grosvenor!

grosvenor

[Effusively.

Good night, General, good night. God be with us all in these dark days, I say!

general

[Solemnly.

Amen to that!

captain

[Saluting carelessly.

Good night.

grosvenor

Good night, good night.

[The officers go out. grosvenor strides excitedly up and down.

It's a plot, it's a damned plot—

[He goes toward the rear and picks up a telephone instrument on a desk by the window.

Can you get me the House? Mr. Maynard. Yes. Making a speech? Never mind.

[He hangs up the receiver and presses a button on the wall. Then he quickly writes a message on the back of the telegram and encloses it in an envelope. The page enters.

page

Ring, sir?

grosvenor

Yes. Take this to the House at once. To Mr. Maynard. See that he gets it himself. Here's a dollar.

page

[Touching his cap.

Thank you, sir.

[Exit.

grosvenor

[Taking up the telephone again.

Give me the Senate. Mr. Taney. Saw him go out?

[He hangs up the receiver impatiently.

Isn't anyone on the job?

[He strides up and down.

A damned plot!—

[Enter, right, hurriedly, senator taney, a stout, red-haired man, clean-shaven.

taney

[Puffing.

Hello, Grosvenor.

grosvenor

Thank God, you're here.

taney

Only got a minute. Hell's loose in the Senate.

grosvenor

I've been nearly crazy waiting for news.

taney

God, man. Perhaps you think I ain't been busy rounding up a lot of on-the-fence-men? It seems to me pretty nearly everybody was on the fence. No decided opinions at all. But they're coming, they're coming.

grosvenor

How 'bout that report about the King over there wanting peace?

taney

That's what the row's about. The highbrows an' the peace people are shouting hurrahs all over the place, an' the rest of us has to do what we can to drown 'em out.

grosvenor

[Restlessly moving about the room.

If it's true about the King, can you—work it—anyway?

taney

How do I know?

grosvenor

Got any figures? For or against?

taney

Yes. It's about an even go.

grosvenor

[Disappointed.

You can't give me anything more definite?

taney

What's up, anyway? You look nervous.

grosvenor

I am. This business is cutting into my sleep. My last cent is tied up, and I've got a good many other people's last cents as well. Damn it, Taney, this is worse than Monte Carlo. You're dealing with cold-blooded chance there, but here you're dealing with sentiments, emotions. It's exhausting. War is a terrible thing, Taney. It worries me day and night. Think of the lives! And yet we need this war, we need it for the good of the nation. And now that we're ready, it would be a calamity if—

taney

[Turning to go.

Don't you worry about that.

grosvenor

[Nervously.

How's the House going?

taney

Don't know anything about the House. But I guess your man Maynard is doing his job. I'm off to see Cottrell. Another man that wants news. Be back in ten minutes.

grosvenor

Keep me posted, for God's sake. You know—I'm not ungrateful. You shan't lose by your efforts, Taney. You know I'm a liberal man.

taney

[Quietly, but with emphasis.

Look here. You're not Conroy and you're not Pollen. They're the whales in this pond. You're only a nervous minnow. I'm working with bigger men than you. And perhaps I've got some convictions of my own, had 'em for years. If I hadn't, no money of yours would buy me. I believe the people want this war to settle once and for all whether that wishy-washy King or us is going to direct the universe, and if the people want it, it's my business to see that they get it. If that means any money in your pocket, it's none of my business. But I'm not your slave, Grosvenor. And don't you forget it.

grosvenor