They talked about the military situation. Zaharoff set forth the extreme importance to civilization of overcoming the German menace. He told about what he had done to set up Venizelos in Greece and bring that country in on the side of the Allies; he didn't say how much money he had spent, but that he had moved heaven and earth.
“Greece is my native land,” he said. “Love of Greece has been the first passion of my life, and hatred of Turkish cruelty and fanaticism has been the second.” As he talked about these matters his voice trembled a little, and Lanny thought, was all that playacting? If so, it was a remarkable performance. But Robbie told him afterward that it was genuine; the munitions king did really hate the Turks, and had spent millions buying newspapers and politicians, pulling wires against King Constantine and his German wife. Zaharoff had gone in for oil, and wanted Mesopotamia for his British companies. He used his money for things which the Allied governments wanted done, but which were too discreditable for them to do directly.
VII
Presently they were talking about President Wilson, who had said that Americans were “too proud to fight,” and had been reelected with the slogan, “He kept us out of war.” Robbie explained the Presbyterian temperament, which would find some high moral basis for whatever it decided to do, and would then do it under divine direction. Now this President was talking about “war for democracy,” and Zaharoff asked if that was supposed to be a moral slogan.
Robbie replied: “The founders of our nation didn't believe in democracy, M. Zaharoff, but it is supposed to be good politics now.”.
“Well, I should want to write the definition somewhat carefully.” The old man smiled one of those strange smiles, in which his watchful eyes never took part.
“It is playing with fire,” said the other, unsmiling. “We have seen in Russia what it may lead to, and not even Wilson wishes the war to end that way.”
“God forbid!” exclaimed the munitions king; and no one could doubt the sincerity of that.
When you are having a lady of ancient lineage to pour tea for you, it is necessary to pay some attention to her. So presently Robbie remarked: “That is a lovely tea service you have, Duquesa.”
“It is an heirloom of my family,” replied Maria del Pilar Antonia Angela Patrocino Simon de Muguiro y Berute, Duquesa de Marqueni y Villafranca de los Caballeros.