CHIEF OF STAFF

[Coolly.

Moreover, your Majesty, it works!

KING

This is a matter of war and peace, not a matter of monarchy or democracy.

PRIME MINISTER

Your Majesty does not see far enough.  Give us war, and we keep our monarchy.  Give us peace, and we plunge within ten years into the rapids of revolution and democracy.

KING

[Simply.

I will take my chances with peace.

PRIME MINISTER

[Stern and cold.

Very good, your Majesty.  Then you may paddle your bark alone.  I resign.

MINISTER OF WAR

And I resign!

CHIEF OF STAFF

And I!

KING

[Crossing to the window, where he stands with his back turned to the others.  His voice is uncertain.

I did not expect that of you.

PRIME MINISTER

[Moved.

Oh, your Majesty!  You know what my love has been—­

KING

[Turning.

Half the country will fall from me if you three desert me.

PRIME MINISTER

It is not desertion, your Majesty.  It is loyalty to something even higher than the King, the principle that makes him King.

KING

[Perplexed.

Perhaps I am wrong.  Perhaps I am sentimental—­

MINISTER OF WAR

[Gently.

Your Majesty is humane, but perhaps a deeper humanity demands a hardening of the heart sometimes.

KING

[To MINISTER OF WAR.

But you always detested war.  You called yourself my Minister not of War, but of Peace.

MINISTER OF WAR

[Rigidly.

When the honor of our country is at stake—­

KING

[Impatiently.

But nobody is attacking our honor!

PRIME MINISTER

[Bluntly.

The case is as I said.  We need this war, and we must have it.

KING

[Torn by his conflicting desires.