“The only possible government in Albania,” he said, looking steadfastly before him down the hill-side, “is a group of republican cantons after the Swiss pattern.  I can see no other solution that is not offensive to God.  It does not matter in the least what we owe to Serbia or what we owe to Italy.  We have got to set this world on a different footing.  We have got to set up the world at last—­on justice and reason.”

Then, after a pause, “The Treaty of Bucharest was an evil treaty.  It must be undone.  Whatever this German King of Bulgaria does, that treaty must be undone and the Bulgarians united again into one people.  They must have themselves, whatever punishment they deserve, they must have nothing more, whatever reward they win.”

She could not believe her ears.

“After this precious blood, after this precious blood, if we leave one plot of wickedness or cruelty in the world—­”

And therewith he began to lecture Letty on the importance of international politics—­to every one.  How he and she and every one must understand, however hard it was to understand.

“No life is safe, no happiness is safe, there is no chance of bettering life until we have made an end to all that causes war....

“We have to put an end to the folly and vanity of kings, and to any people ruling any people but themselves.  There is no convenience, there is no justice in any people ruling any people but themselves; the ruling of men by others, who have not their creeds and their languages and their ignorances and prejudices, that is the fundamental folly that has killed Teddy and Hugh—­and these millions.  To end that folly is as much our duty and business as telling the truth or earning a living....”

“But how can you alter it?”

He held out a finger at her.  “Men may alter anything if they have motive enough and faith enough.”

He indicated the atlas beside him.

“Here I am planning the real map of the world,” he said.  “Every sort of district that has a character of its own must have its own rule; and the great republic of the united states of the world must keep the federal peace between them all.  That’s the plain sense of life; the federal world-republic.  Why do we bother ourselves with loyalties to any other government but that?  It needs only that sufficient men should say it, and that republic would be here now.  Why have we loitered so long—­until these tragic punishments come?  We have to map the world out into its states, and plan its government and the way of its tolerations.”

“And you think it will come?”

“It will come.”

“And you believe that men will listen to such schemes?” said Letty.

Mr. Britling, with his eyes far away over the hills, seemed to think.  “Yes,” he said.  “Not perhaps to-day—­not steadily.  But kings and empires die; great ideas, once they are born, can never die again.  In the end this world-republic, this sane government of the world, is as certain as the sunset.  Only....”