"There have been a few remarks of the same sort," Lutchester reminded her, "about the inhabitants of the British Empire—Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders, for instance."
"As a matter of fact," Pamela admitted generously, "I consider that your Colonials understand the word patriotism better than the ordinary Englishman. With them, as with the Germans, it is almost a passionate impulse. Your hearts may be in the right places, but you always give one the impression of finding the whole thing rather a bore."
"Well, so it is," Lutchester insisted. "Who wants to give up a very agreeable profession and enter upon a career of bloodshed, abandon all one's habits, and lose most of one's friends? No, we are honest about that, at any rate! Germany may be enjoying this war. We aren't."
"What was your profession?" Pamela inquired.
"Diplomacy," Lutchester confided. "I intended to become an ambassador."
"Do you think you have the requisite gifts?"
"What are they?"
"Secrecy, subtlety, caution, and highly-developed intelligence," she replied. "How's that?"
"All those gifts," he assured her, "I possess."
She fanned herself for a moment and looked at him.