“War between Germany and America—the thing is preposterous nonsense, not to be considered among the possibilities!”
“But as a mere hypothesis for the sake of argument, what would your position be?” persisted Larry.
Professor Schaefer was visibly annoyed. “I say the hypothesis is nonsense and unthinkable,” he cried.
“Come on, Schaefer, you can't escape it like that, you know,” said Hugo Raeder. “By that law of yours, where would your allegiance be should war arise? I am asking what actually would be your standing. Would you be a German citizen or an American citizen?”
“The possibility does not exist,” said Professor Schaefer.
“Quite impossible,” exclaimed Meyer.
“Well, what of other countries then?” said Hugo, pursuing the subject with a wicked delight. His sturdy Americanism resented this bigamous citizenship. “What of France or Britain?”
“Ah,” said Professor Schaefer with a sharpening of his tone. “That is quite easy.”
“You would be a German, eh?” said Raeder.
“You ask me,” exclaimed Professor Schaefer, “you ask me as between Germany and France, or between Germany and Britain? I reply,” he exclaimed with a dramatic flourish of his hand, “I am a worshipper of the life-giving sun, not of the dead moon; I follow the dawn, not the dying day.”