"Now if Bayreuth were in our hands," continued the War Lord, "the Italians could whistle for the new road to Berlin, as the English can for the promenade to Hamburg, since Salisbury, good old man—God rest his soul—presented us with that little islet in the North Sea."
"Maybe Bavaria could be induced to fortify her frontiers on the Austrian border," suggested the Chancellor.
"And I postpone my war until half a dozen Liéges and Namurs and Metzs and Strassburgs are built—man alive," thundered the War Lord. "Life is short, and the longer England and France are left in possession of the best colonies, the harder it will be for us to Prussianise them when things are being adjusted to our liking."
"Prussianise England and France, excellent idea, très magnifique!" crowed Phili the irrepressible.
"Not quite so fast," said the War Lord. "I was thinking of India and Ceylon, of Cochin China and Tonking, of Algeria, Hongkong, the Straits Settlements and the French Congo, of Madagascar and Natal, of Rhodesia, Gibraltar, the Senegal and other dainties in the colonial line."
"Even so—a jolly mouthful for Prussianisation, Majesty."
"You don't suppose I would tolerate the loose discipline encouraged by Downing Street and Quai d'Orsay," cried the War Lord. "Subject peoples and tribes must have a taste of the whip and spur. Where would Poland be without them—yes, and Alsace-Lorraine! But those Bavarians, Bülow. I hope I made it perfectly clear that Otto must go and that severest pressure must be brought on Luitpold."
"Together with the Italian problem, the matter shall have my closest attention," said the Chancellor.
"And don't forget that they are a crazy lot at best, and hand and glove with Franz Ferdinand's black masters."
"Matters can't be hurried, though," ruminated Bülow, "and I am afraid there is little store to be set by Luitpold."