“Is it because you are nervous about—about divided loyalty?”
She nodded, keeping her face hid.
“Then you do understand? You have thought?”
She nodded. “And I know you’ll do nothing but what you ought to do.”
“What I have to do,” he replied. “I’m going to enforce the laws. I’m going to ask for more laws of the kind that are for the benefit of the whole people—and I’m going to get them.”
“You are going to attack—father?” she said, speaking as if she were compelled.
“Probably you’ve heard of Voltaire’s dilemma?”
“No,” said she.
“Suppose there were a button before you, and by pressing it you could have your heart’s dearest wish—wealth, fame, power, love, happiness—but if you did press that button, instantly a human being away off in China would fall dead. It might be an old man about to die anyhow—or horribly diseased—or some dreadful criminal—or the mother of some baby needing all her love and care—or the father and only support of a family—or some girl like yourself, about to marry and be happy. You would never know whom you had killed; but—some one would be dead. Would you press the button or not?”
“Isn’t that terrible!” said she.