“Quite so,” said Donovan. “We all like to keep our self-respect, even admirals.”
Smith stood up.
“Very well, sir,” he said, “and if there’s nothing you want, sir——”
“Nothing,” said Donovan.
“I shall be back in time to serve luncheon, sir.”
The Smith who left the room was Donovan’s valet, not the head of the Intelligence Department of Salissa.
“Now that,” said Donovan, “is an example of the pacifist method of settling disputes, without appealing to force or sacrificing human life.”
“I admire it,” said Gorman. “I have a higher opinion of pacifism this minute than I ever had before.”
“It’s civilized,” said Donovan, “and it’s cheap. I don’t say it can always be worked as cheap as this; but it’s cheaper than war every time.”
“I wonder,” said Gorman, “if it would work out on a large scale. Take the case of the Emperor now.”