‘I know that, too,’ was the unexpected reply. ‘The Russians have decided to turn their attention to China. There they can do all that they want with a hundred thousand men. So it is to their interest to get rid of the burden of a great army which will not be wanted for a generation.’
This was an ingenious idea, but it did not satisfy me, any more than the semi-official one had done. I ventured to object—
‘If that were all, sire, there would be no occasion for this melodramatic appeal to the other Powers. There is nothing to hinder Russia from reducing her armaments by one-half to-morrow. No one dreams of attacking her. Her army is kept up for offence, not for defence. She is the one Power that could afford to set the example of disbanding, and such an example would carry more weight than any number of professions on paper, however well meant.’
The Sultan appeared struck by this reasoning.
‘Then what do you say is the object behind this rescript?’ he demanded.
‘I do not know. But I undertake to find out if your Majesty will furnish me with the necessary means.’
Abdul Hamid gave me a distrustful glance.
‘It is an expensive thing to buy information from the Council of State,’ he grumbled.
‘You are right, sire. And the higher one goes, the more expensive it becomes. It is clear that this move has been engineered by persons who are able to manage the Tsar himself, and such persons are not likely to sell their own game for much less than a million roubles.’
Abdul Hamid quivered at the mention of this sum as though I had demanded one of the eyes out of his head.