'We do not progress, Monsieur,' Elmur was saying.
'What would you, my dear Baron? we have so many obstacles in our path,' answered the other, shrugging his shoulders good-humoredly.
Elmur leaned his elbow on the table.
'I know that delay can conduce to no good end,' he said. 'You have agreed that a certain course is desirable no less for your country than mine.'
'Have I agreed to that proposition? Not altogether! Remember, I cannot be expected to see with German eyes.'
'Even to the most patriotic Maäsaun it must be evident that sooner or later the State must fall to us; it is merely a question of time.'
'The time has already been long,' said the Chancellor softly.
'For an excellent reason: because we have not always been as now, a huge bulk. The bulk of the new Empire must by force of gravitation attract all the smaller bodies round to itself. It is by a miracle only that Maäsau has stood alone so long.'
'And by another miracle she might go on standing alone a little longer.'
'This is not the age of miracles, my friend!'