Read Ebook: Makers of Madness A Play in One Act and Three Scenes by Hagedorn Hermann

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Ebook has 669 lines and 13651 words, and 14 pages

We stick together in this. You are not going to resign.

PRIME MINISTER

My good friends, I am going to resign.

Give me your seat at the desk. On the back of this ignoble parley, my resignation goes to him.

MINISTER OF WAR

You are the support of the army. We go to the dogs, if you leave us.

PRIME MINISTER

So? "The King suggests to the Foreign Office that these facts be put before our Ambassadors abroad and, to pacify the public mind, be given at once to the newspapers." He suggests. So do I suggest--something different.

CHIEF OF STAFF

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!

PRIME MINISTER

MINISTER OF WAR

What is it? You look as if--

PRIME MINISTER

If nothing! Bring me some claret out of that inexhaustible cabinet of yours.

MINISTER OF WAR

Here, dear old Titan.

PRIME MINISTER

Thanks. More. And cigars.

CHIEF OF STAFF

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.

PRIME MINISTER

Another, good man.

MINISTER OF WAR

You're smelling blood when you drink like that.

PRIME MINISTER

Here! You old death's head! You are prepared, you say?

CHIEF OF STAFF

I have been making my plans for twenty years. The present plans have been complete, except for slight revisions, for three years.

PRIME MINISTER

The army and navy are fully equipped?

MINISTER OF WAR

Down to the last shoe-string.

PRIME MINISTER

Would you say it would be better to wait a week or a month or even a year--or to strike at once?

CHIEF OF STAFF

Strike at once.

MINISTER OF WAR

You dreamers, you theorists! How about the King's negotiations?

PRIME MINISTER

Gentlemen, I have seen fit to abbreviate the King's message. I have not altered a word nor added a word. I have merely omitted all that did not seem to me pertinent or useful. The message reads as follows: "The King sent for the Ambassador of the Republic this afternoon and outlined a plan that would satisfy the royal government. The Ambassador regretted that he was unable to consider any compromise. The King replied that then he could have nothing more to say in the matter."

MINISTER OF WAR

There's ginger, by Heaven! The other was a dove-peep to a parley. This is a trumpet call of defiance.

CHIEF OF STAFF

The Republic will never swallow that.

PRIME MINISTER

They are not supposed to. They will declare war, and then be the aggressors.

MINISTER OF WAR

Our God of old lives yet and will not let us perish in disgrace!

CHIEF OF STAFF

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.

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