First W. I. M. Yes, that's it. It's the German for Highlands.
Inquirer. Of course, so it is. I might have thought of that.
Average Man (to First W. I. M.). Seems to me you've none of you got hold of the right point. What I want to know is, does Uganda pay? Lugard says it don't; the Company hasn't made anything of it, and they've got to go whether they like it or not; though I daresay they're deuced glad to be out of the hole. But, if it don't pay, what on earth are we going to do with it?
Second W I. M. (triumphantly reinforcing him). Yes, what on earth are we to do with it?
First W. I. M. (calmly, but contemptuously). Ah! I see you're both little-England men. From your point of view, I daresay you're right enough. But I'm one of those who believe that we must stick on wherever we've planted the flag. I agree with Moltke, that the nation that gives up is in a state of decay.
Second W. I. M. It wasn't Moltke who said that; it was Victor Hugo, or (after a pause) Lord Palmerston.
First W. I. M. Well, it doesn't matter who said it. The point is, it's true. Besides, what are you going to do about the slaves and the Missionaries?
Average Man. Oh, bother the Missionaries!
First W. I. M. It's all very well to say "bother the Missionaries!" but that won't get you any further. They're our fellow-creatures after all, and what's more, they're our fellow-countrymen, so we've got to look after them.
Average Man. I should let the whole lot of Missionaries fight it out together. They only keep quarrelling amongst themselves, and trying to bag one another's converts; and then France and England get involved.