"Really, let's hear it?"
"I've just glanced through the Tribune de Lausanne. Berlin announces that war is imminent; Austria is mobilising; they say we're going to do the same thing."
"No?"
I was dumbfounded for a moment; then, "Oh come! You'll see that affairs will settle themselves yet."
He shook his head:
"It's quite true; nobody wants to fight. What about you, would it convey anything to you to go and get your skin punctured?"
I shrugged my shoulders:
"Those are all journalists' tales! As copy is scarce in summer, they start rumours of tension, of possible rupture, at this season, every year...."
"Suppose it should be serious, this time...?"
"Nonsense! Can you see the French and Germans breaking each other's heads ... for Serbia?"