“You are very punctual, Prince.”
Newspapers and letters were arranged on a round center-table.
“Please, let us sit down without delay; I have put in order the various papers which might serve to show my motives for the action I have in mind.”
“I have faith in your action, Mr. Toker, without your proving motives,” said the prince, as he took his place at the table.
Toker followed his example and put a few English, French, and German newspapers before him. “Please read first of all the passages marked in blue pencil.”
“Those are sheer alarmist prognostications,” remarked the prince, after he had glanced through the designated passages. “‘War-in-sight’ news. And actually maps—already—of the probable seat of war!”
“And now read the passages marked in red.”
“Bad news again: bomb-throwing ... strikes ... conspiracy ... lynchings ... hunger-revolts ... riots....”
“In other words, we are facing a war on the one hand and a revolution on the other.”
“Excuse me, Mr. Toker, but perhaps you take the matter too tragically,” said the prince, pushing the papers to one side. “The rumors of wars are apparently false or are merely incitements—we have been reading the like for many years regularly in the papers and yet nothing comes of them. These revolutionary attacks do happen here and there and are always speedily suppressed: order is immediately restored.”