The Project Gutenberg eBook ofMakers of MadnessThis ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online atwww.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.Title: Makers of MadnessAuthor: Hermann HagedornRelease date: September 3, 2005 [eBook #16636]Most recently updated: December 12, 2020Language: EnglishCredits: Produced by Melissa Er-Raqabi and the Online DistributedProofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net.*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MAKERS OF MADNESS ***
This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online atwww.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.
Title: Makers of MadnessAuthor: Hermann HagedornRelease date: September 3, 2005 [eBook #16636]Most recently updated: December 12, 2020Language: EnglishCredits: Produced by Melissa Er-Raqabi and the Online DistributedProofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net.
Title: Makers of Madness
Author: Hermann Hagedorn
Author: Hermann Hagedorn
Release date: September 3, 2005 [eBook #16636]Most recently updated: December 12, 2020
Language: English
Credits: Produced by Melissa Er-Raqabi and the Online DistributedProofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net.
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MAKERS OF MADNESS ***
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THE MACMILLAN COMPANY
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MACMILLAN & CO.,Limitedlondon · bombay · calcuttamelbourne
THE MACMILLAN CO. OF CANADA,Ltd.toronto
New YorkTHE MACMILLAN COMPANY1914
All rights reserved
Copyright, 1914
By HERMANN HAGEDORN
Set up and electrotyped. Published November, 1914.
This play has been copyrighted and published simultaneously in the United States and Great Britain. All acting rights, both professional and amateur, are reserved in the United States, Great Britain, and countries of the Copyright Union, by Hermann Hagedorn. Performances forbidden and right of representation reserved. Application for the right of performing this piece must be made to The Macmillan Company. Any piracy or infringement will be prosecuted in accordance with the penalties provided by the United States Statutes:
"Sec. 4966. Any person publicly performing or representing any dramatic or musical composition, for which copyright has been obtained, without the consent of the proprietor of the said dramatic or musical composition, or his heirs or assigns, shall be liable for damages therefor, such damages in all cases to be assessed at such sum, not less than one hundred dollars for the first and fifty dollars for every subsequent performance, as to the Court shall appear to be just. If the unlawful performance and representation be willful and for profit, such person or persons shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction be imprisoned for a period not exceeding one year." U.S. Revised Statutes, Title 60, Chap. 3.
Transcriber's Note: Where obvious, I added missing punctuation, and changed the typo "psycholology" to "psychology".
Night! And a black and barren skyWith a wet wind in from the coast.And only the kites to make replyTo heaving body and pleading cry—Here where the lost battalions lie,I walked last night with a ghost.His face was gray, his hands were red,And a ghostly mare he rode,That wearily stepped, with drooping head,Over the shadowy lines of dead,And rolled her eyes, and shook with dreadUnder her foam-white load.The ghost turned not to left or right.But mutely he beckoned me,And moved like a pillar of livid lightThrough the humid dark of the foggy night,With eyes deep-sunken and greenly brightAs phosphor on the sea.He led me where in ghostly filesThe dead slept with their toys.Miles, miles, and never-ending miles,Along the valley's mournful aisles,The voiceless, vague, misshapen pilesOf men and golden boys!He led me up the gory hillBy wood and sodden heath.Ravage! And faces, lone and chill,In the murmuring wash of the willow-rill!Slaughter! And voices, begging shrillThe merciful grace of death.A waning moon broke, sickly pale,Through the muddy fog's disguising;And over the breadth of the ghastly valeThe battle-wake like a steamer's trail,And a heaving as of waves in a gale,Rising and falling and rising!And out of the air, and up from the plain,The ancient battle-story!—Of stricken love and laughter slain,And hearts beneath the hoofs of pain—But not a breath of human gain,And not a word of glory.
Night! And a black and barren skyWith a wet wind in from the coast.And only the kites to make replyTo heaving body and pleading cry—Here where the lost battalions lie,I walked last night with a ghost.
His face was gray, his hands were red,And a ghostly mare he rode,That wearily stepped, with drooping head,Over the shadowy lines of dead,And rolled her eyes, and shook with dreadUnder her foam-white load.
The ghost turned not to left or right.But mutely he beckoned me,And moved like a pillar of livid lightThrough the humid dark of the foggy night,With eyes deep-sunken and greenly brightAs phosphor on the sea.
He led me where in ghostly filesThe dead slept with their toys.Miles, miles, and never-ending miles,Along the valley's mournful aisles,The voiceless, vague, misshapen pilesOf men and golden boys!
He led me up the gory hillBy wood and sodden heath.Ravage! And faces, lone and chill,In the murmuring wash of the willow-rill!Slaughter! And voices, begging shrillThe merciful grace of death.
A waning moon broke, sickly pale,Through the muddy fog's disguising;And over the breadth of the ghastly valeThe battle-wake like a steamer's trail,And a heaving as of waves in a gale,Rising and falling and rising!
And out of the air, and up from the plain,The ancient battle-story!—Of stricken love and laughter slain,And hearts beneath the hoofs of pain—But not a breath of human gain,And not a word of glory.
In the Capital of Iberia:the kingthe prime ministerthe minister of warthe chief of staffa secretaryofficersIn the Capital of the Republic:grosvenor, a contractorconroy, a manufacturer of gunspollen, owner of a chain of newspaperssenator taneysenator harradanrepresentative maynarda general in the armya captaincrowdpage
In costuming this play, it is essential that the uniforms of the Iberian officers in the first scene should not be conspicuously copied after those of any of the armies of Europe. A compromise, grotesque to the expert, would be better here than a misleading realism.
A room in the Ministry of War in the capital of Iberia.
Evening.
Theminister of war,a tall, stern, bearded man with deep-set eyes and many furrows, is sitting at a large, mahogany desk-table, Left.
Thechief of staff,silent, motionless and watchful, stands beside him with his hands resting on the table-top. He is thin, old and emaciated, clean-shaven, firm-lipped, and looks startlingly like a bird of prey. Right, stands a group of generals and other officers.
minister of war
[Rising and speaking in a sharp, crisp bass voice.
I can only repeat, gentlemen, what his Excellency, the Chief of Staff, has already made clear to you. Nothing has been decided. You have your orders in your pockets. There may be war and there may not be war. I understand, gentlemen, your natural impatience once more to draw the naked steel for the glory of our country, and you may rest assured that his gracious majesty, the King, will not forget that his fame and the happiness of his people rests ultimately in your hands. Personally, as a man of family and as a Christian, I hope to God that peace may be preserved. But if God wills that our enemy, by his insolence, forces us to draw the sword, I know that you will wield it with honor and will not sheathe it until our enemy is crushed, root and branch, stock and barrel, and brought so low that he will never raise his head again in dishonorable defiance of our holy rights.
[Theofficersshout with enthusiasm, lifting their helmets in air. Theminister of warsits down again.
That is all, gentlemen.
[With a grim smile.
But I recommend that you do not send your service uniforms to the tailor tonight. You may have need of them.
[There is another cheer. Theofficersstand about in groups a minute or so, then file out through the double-door in the centre of the rear wall. One elderly general, only, comes up quickly to the desk.
general
[In a rasping voice, to thechief of staff.
Delay again? Aren't we ever going to get at their throats?
chief of staff
We are ready. But the King!
[He shrugs his shoulders.
The peace propagandists are after him. Mediation is the magic word. Mediation—by which the neutral nations block our legitimate road to victory for their own benefit, in the name of civilization and progress.
general
Old women's talk.
[With a swagger.
Give me a sword in my right hand again, I say! I'll break open a few skulls yet, for all my sixty years. Eh? Mediation! Let those mediate, I say, who are afraid to fight!
chief of staff
[Calmly, dispassionately.
We are not mediating yet. You may tell that to your friends if they become downhearted.
general
[Saluting.
To command, your Excellency! It is good that some one looks out for the honor of the army.
[Saluting again.
Good night, gentlemen!
[Theminister of warhalf rises and bows slightly. Thechief of staffnods. Exit thegeneral.
chief of staff
[With a flash in his old eyes.
Ha! Once more to have those fellows behind me. Think of it! Each man of them represents fifty thousand. And behind them another million and another! God! What a machine to handle.
[He slaps his forehead.
And the old brain working still!
minister of war
[Rising and crossing to a window, right forward, then speaking thoughtfully.
I don't know, Clement. I am growing old. I think sometimes that war is the most terrible matter in which we erring humans become engaged. I have always thought that—at times.
chief of staff
[Who has crossed to the Left and stands facing a map of the world, covering half the wall.
So you are a sentimentalist, after all?
minister of war
[Looking out of the window.
No. Because there is something stronger in me, conquering the repulsion. My temperament, character, destiny. I am impelled to war. A dozen generations of soldiers in my blood press me on. My whole education presses me on. My sympathies and my religious sense make me tremble before the impending horror, but—I confess to you—I believe I want this war.
chief of staff
[Without turning.
So do we all. War is the soldier's work. And he does not want to play all his life. Look. We land here and here and here.
[He indicates places on the map with a paper-cutter, speaking with growing excitement.
No defenses, except at this place—a masonry fort built thirty years ago. Bad cement, moreover. Fraudulent contractor. Then—
minister of war
[Returning to his desk, resolutely.
No, you old hawk, we're not going to do it. We'll be content to settle ourselves in peaceful graves, you and I and the old Chief. No war, no war!
chief of staff
[Calmly.
That is sentiment. Here is fact. We land here and here and here. Then march down here and up there, uniting the armies. Rich country. I've never seen it, but I know it better than any letter-carrier in the district. We live on the land, burning and pillaging if the inhabitants don't give us what we want. A little dose will tame them. We'll sweep all before us in six weeks.
minister of war
[In mock protest.
Stop, man, stop! You make me want to try it.
chief of staff
I can't stop. It's a game with me. I play it all day in my thoughts and all night I direct campaigns in my dreams. A great game. Only sometimes I get tired of playing it on paper, and want to hear the real guns and see the real battalions.
[Asecretaryenters with a message.
secretary
[To Minister of War.
A message from the King sent over from the Foreign Office. The Prime Minister was not there.
minister of war
Let me have it.
[He takes the message and glances at it.
What?
[With a gesture to the Secretary.
That will do.
[Exitsecretary.
chief of staff
Well?
minister of war
[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 theprime ministerenters. 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 thechief of staffhas 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. Theminister of wargoes to a cabinet in the rear wall and brings forth a decanter of claret and glasses.
minister of war
[Pouring a glassful for theprime minister.
Here, dear old Titan.
prime minister
[Gulping it down.
Thanks. More. And cigars.
[Theminister of warrefills the glass and brings cigars. Theprime ministerwreathes 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 thechief 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
[Tochief 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
[Tominister of war.
Where's your Secretary?
minister of war
[Crossing to door.
Secretary, here!
[secretaryenters.
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!
chief of staff
Tonight! I need those twelve hours for my plans.
[Thesecretaryholds the door open for thechief of staffwho is about to go out when suddenly in the doorway appears a young man of thirty, pale, dark, timid. He hesitates on the threshold.
secretary
[Taken aback, bowing.
Your Majesty!
chief of staff
[Drawing back.
My King!
[prime ministerandminister of warbow.
king
[Courteously.
I trust I am not breaking in upon a matter that does not concern me?
prime minister
There is nothing that the King's servants may do that does not concern the King.
king
True. But sometimes the King is kept in ignorance nevertheless.
[To thesecretary.
What paper is that you have there, if you please?
secretary
[With an uneasy glance at the others.
Here, your Majesty.
minister of war
[Aside tosecretary.
Get out!
[Exitsecretary.
prime minister
It is the report of your Majesty's interview with the Ambassador.
king
[Glancing at the paper and speaking in quick, excited tones.
My message has been altered. It was conciliatory. It is a challenge now. Who did this?
prime minister
Your Majesty sees the culprit before you.
king
Are you trying to make war?
prime minister
I am trying, your Majesty, to save the country from the results of your Majesty's indiscretion in calling the Ambassador to your palace without consulting your Ministers. If we do not strike now we lose our prestige as a great nation, our national honor is dragged in the dust. We have to fight. We cannot afford to back down.
king
[Striding across the room, agitatedly.
But this is unholy, barbaric—this deliberate concoction of a great, terrible war. I saw clearly this evening as I was talking with the Ambassador how utterly without inner necessity this war-scare is. It is a made thing from beginning to end, and I refuse absolutely to sanction it.
chief of staff
[Deliberately.
Your Majesty is an idealist. We are practical, and, I may say, far-seeing men. And we are the three men, perhaps, who have given your Majesty the chair you sit on and made your kingdom what it is.
king
[Drawing himself up.
I think I have not been ungrateful. But my people come first, and I will not have my people plunged into misery for no valid and inevitable necessity.
prime minister
Your Majesty, I have served you for fifteen years and I served your exalted father for twenty. You are right. This war may be avoided. In two days this war-cloud could be so utterly dissipated that men would laugh here and in the great Republic that for a day they had talked so hotly of war. Dissipated. For a year, for two years. For always? No. The war must come sooner or later. It is a matter, in the first place, of prestige, of national honor. But, more emphatically, it is a question of mathematics, birth-rate, death-rate, revenue, taxes, industries, imports, exports.
[Crossing to left.
There is a map of the world, your Majesty. This stretch of land there we need as a safety-valve. If we get that we are safe. If we fail to get it we explode. Not at once. But sooner or later. Our army and navy have never been in better shape. These two gentlemen can give your Majesty their word for that. But you can take mine, too. The enemy's army is politically rotten, and enfeebled by sentimental peace propaganda. Their defenses are inadequate and their navy likewise. Those things will change. Strike today—and they never raise their heads again. Wait—and it is you who may be crushed.
king
[Sharply.
That is a theory. Not a fact. Ten years may change the aspect of things entirely, particularly if we use those ten years in preparations not for war but for peace, honest at home and abroad, just, open, civil, to our neighbors.
prime minister
Your Majesty, I look farther than ten years, farther than ten times ten years. And I have wrought for this moment, prepared for this moment, this moment of our strength and our enemy's weakness. I have a right to insist that I, who have 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 ismykingdom, 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? Youwillnot.
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
[Tominister 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
[Tominister of war.
Call your Secretary!
[minister of wargoes to the door. Thesecretaryenters. Theprime ministertakes 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.
[Thesecretarybows and goes out. Thekingfalls forward on the desk, sobbing. At his side, straight and stern, theprime ministerStands. Tominister of war.
Give orders for immediate mobilization.
[The stage is slowly darkened.
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 officersin uniform, ageneraland acaptain,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.
[Apageenters 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.
Theyarehappy.
[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. Topage.
No answer.
[He mops his brow in utter dejection. The officers 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 thecaptainthe 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.
[Theofficersgo out.grosvenorstrides 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. Thepageenters.
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