When the President finished reading and hung up the telephone, a deathlike silence fell upon the gathering. Dr. Gresham, standing by the door, made no further movement to depart.
The President glanced at the faces about him, as if seeking some solution of the problem. But no aid was forthcoming from that source.
Suddenly the silence was broken by a chair being pushed back from the table, and Sir William Belford rose to speak.
“Gentlemen,” he said, “this is no time for hesitation. If the United States does not immediately grant Dr. Gresham’s request for a naval expedition against the Seuen-H’sin, Great Britain will do so!”
At once Monsieur Linne spoke up: “And that is the attitude of France!”
The Duke de Rizzio nodded, as if in acquiescence.
Without further hesitation, the President announced his decision.
“I will take the responsibility for acting first and explaining to Congress afterward,” he said. And, turning to the Secretary of the Navy, he added:
“Please see that Dr. Gresham gets whatever ships, men, money and supplies he needs—without delay!”