"Like clergymen," said Phyllis vaguely.
"Exactly," I said. "And all round the building are secret police disguised as reporters, and reporters disguised as secret police. And then each of the diplomatists goes away and writes a white paper, or a black paper, or a greeny-yellow paper, to show that he was right."
"And then?" Phyllis gaped with astonishment.
"Then everybody organises, and centralises, and fraternises, and defraternises, and, in the end, mobilises."
Phyllis and Lillah simply stared.
"Why?" they both gasped.
"Oh, just to show the diplomatists were wrong," I said airily.
"And then?" said Lillah breathlessly.
"The ratepayers pay more."
"What is a ratepayer?" asked Phyllis.