Sir John. I confess your plan does seem simple.
Lord George. And there is more behind. We are not satisfied with merely spending money—we learn a lesson as well. Come, you must confess that surprises you?
Sir John. Well, I admit that generally, where there is any spending of money, it is I who learn the lesson.
Lord George. Good—distinctly good! But let us be serious. Well, when we are carrying on a war by every means in our power, we fancy that one Fleet is chasing the other. They both have equal speed, and we give one Fleet twenty-four hours' start of the other, and will you believe me that, although the first follows the second as fast as may be from the beginning to the end of the manoeuvring, they never see one another! On my life—never! They never see the British Fleet, because it's not in sight!
Sir John. But could you not have learned all this without so great an expenditure of money?
Lord George. Well, no, Sir JOHN—not at the Admiralty!
Sir John. And how do you end the farce?
Lord George. In the usual fashion, Sir JOHN (ignites blue fire)—in smoke!
[The characters are lost in the fog customary to the occasion.
Curtain.