[Sitting down at the desk and beginning to write. With a cynical laugh.
You mean property. You don't give a damn about national honor. You know you don't. What's the use of trying to fool me?
grosvenor
Conroy, do you mean to impugn my patriotic motives?
conroy
[Without looking up, good-naturedly.
Grosvenor, we've known each other thirty years. I don't try to bluff you because I know that you know too much about me. You made the beginnings of your pile out of one big war and you've been playing up a lot of little republics against each other ever since, harvesting a neat little fortune every time. Now it's a real world-war you're after. If it comes, you're made, if it don't, you're broke. It's a cinch. Mind you, I'm not throwing stones. Only I don't want you to think you can pull the noble patriotic guff on me.
grosvenor
I have certain investments, of course, which might possibly be promoted by a war. But I am not thinking of that. I am thinking of the honor of my country, that honor which has never yet been stained, and shall not be stained if I can do aught by my own efforts and by my prayers to God, to keep it pure.
conroy