We are ready . But the King !The peace propagandists are after him . Mediation is the magic word . Mediation — by which the neutral nations block our legitimate road to victory for their own benefit , in the name of civilization and progress . We are not mediating yet . You may tell that to your friends if they become downhearted . Ha ! Once more to have those fellows behind me . Think of it ! Each man of them represents fifty thousand . And behind them another million and another ! God ! What a machine to handle .And the old brain working still ! MINISTER OF WARI do n't know , Clement . I am growing old . I think sometimes that war is the most terrible matter in which we erring humans become engaged . I have always thought that — at times . So you are a sentimentalist , after all ? MINISTER OF WARNo . Because there is something stronger in me , conquering the repulsion . My temperament , character , destiny . I am impelled to war . A dozen generations of soldiers in my blood press me on . My whole education presses me on . My sympathies and my religious sense make me tremble before the impending horror , but — I confess to you — I believe I want this war . So do we all . War is the soldier 's work . And he does not want to play all his life . Look . We land here and here and here .No defenses , except at this place — a masonry fort built thirty years ago . Bad cement , moreover . Fraudulent contractor . Then — MINISTER OF WARNo , you old hawk , we 're not going to do it . We 'll be content to settle ourselves in peaceful graves , you and I and the old Chief . No war , no war ! That is sentiment . Here is fact . We land here and here and here . Then march down here and up there , uniting the armies . Rich country . I 've never seen it , but I know it better than any letter-carrier in the district . We live on the land , burning and pillaging if the inhabitants do n't give us what we want . A little dose will tame them . We 'll sweep all before us in six weeks . MINISTER OF WARStop , man , stop ! You make me want to try it . I can n't stop . It 's a game with me . I play it all day in my thoughts and all night I direct campaigns in my dreams . A great game . Only sometimes I get tired of playing it on paper , and want to hear the real guns and see the real battalions . Well ? MINISTER OF WARLook at this , look at it ! The King is sending our national honor to the dogs . He has secretly resumed communication with the Ambassador of the Republic , instead of doing what was natural and constitutional , sending the man to us . He is going to compromise . Pack up your tin soldiers , old man . Take them home for your grandchildren to play with . Our country evidently has no more use for them . He 's backed down , he 's backed down . All the world will be shouting tomorrow how our King has backed down . Christo ! To accept defeat before you 've begun to fight !If this other plan should be frustrated by the enemy 's navy , look , we could land here and here and — And here , joining our armies at — MINISTER OF WAR Thank God , you 're here . Where in sin have you been ? Three hundred thousand men here , turning the flank of a possible army marching north with that ridge of mountains as a cover — If we can only have the chance ! I planned this campaign first some twenty years ago . But there was no navy then to speak of , and no airships . It is more intricate now , but very much more interesting as an intellectual problem . I have been making my plans for twenty years . The present plans have been complete , except for slight revisions , for three years . The Republic will never swallow that . My helmet . Damn it ! Where is my helmet ? I am going to dig at the plans once more . If God lets me lead the armies in such a fight , the devil can come when I 'm through and fetch away the old carcass . Tonight ! I need those twelve hours for my plans . Your Majesty is an idealist . We are practical , and , I may say , far-seeing men . And we are the three men , perhaps , who have given your Majesty the chair you sit on and made your kingdom what it is . Moreover , your Majesty , it works ! And God has always been with us . God will be with us now !