Sir John.  It is not the truth.

Mendip.  The greater the truth the greater the libel, and the greater the resentment of the person libelled.

The Dean. [Trying to bring matters to a blander level] My dear Stephen, even if you were right—­which I deny—­about the initial merits, there surely comes a point where the individual conscience must resign it self to the country’s feeling.  This has become a question of national honour.

Sir John.  Well said, James!

More.  Nations are bad judges of their honour, Dean.

The Dean.  I shall not follow you there.

More.  No.  It’s an awkward word.

Katherine. [Stopping the Dean] Uncle James!  Please!

     [More looks at her intently.]

Sir John.  So you’re going to put yourself at the head of the cranks, ruin your career, and make me ashamed that you’re my son-in-law?

More.  Is a man only to hold beliefs when they’re popular?  You’ve stood up to be shot at often enough, Sir John.

Sir John.  Never by my country!  Your speech will be in all the foreign press-trust ’em for seizing on anything against us.  A show-up before other countries——!

More.  You admit the show-up?

Sir John.  I do not, sir.

The Dean.  The position has become impossible.  The state of things out there must be put an end to once for all!  Come, Katherine, back us up!

More.  My country, right or wrong!  Guilty—­still my country!

Mendip.  That begs the question.

     [Katherine rises.  The Dean, too, stands up.]

The Dean. [In a low voice] ’Quem Deus volt perdere’——!

Sir John.  Unpatriotic!

More.  I’ll have no truck with tyranny.

Katherine.  Father doesn’t admit tyranny.  Nor do any of us, Stephen.

Hubert Julian, a tall Soldier-like man, has come in.

Helen.  Hubert!

     [She gets up and goes to him, and they talk together near the
     door.]

Sir John.  What in God’s name is your idea?  We’ve forborne long enough, in all conscience.

More.  Sir John, we great Powers have got to change our ways in dealing with weaker nations.  The very dogs can give us lessons—­ watch a big dog with a little one.

Mendip.  No, no, these things are not so simple as all that.

More.  There’s no reason in the world, Mendip, why the rules of chivalry should not apply to nations at least as well as to—–­dogs.

Mendip.  My dear friend, are you to become that hapless kind of outcast, a champion of lost causes?