"Excellent," exclaimed MWAW. "We have felt that ourselves. Continue." "Now, doubtless, the Highly Exalted are often hungry." "Always," interrupted MWAW, "say always!" "Always being hungry," droned Schmuck, "the Highly Exalted may feel at certain times the craving for a certain kind of food in order to obtain a more perfect expansion. To need is to take. Is it not so?" "It is," said MWAW, "and we do. Find another argument." "Self-defense," replied Schmuck. "Too old," said MWAW. "Worn out. Won't go any more." "But as I shall put it, Highly Exalted will see a newness in it. The best way to defend oneself is by injuring others. Sheep, for example, when gathered in sufficient numbers are the most dangerous animals in the world. The only way to be safe from them is to attack them and scatter them. Especially the small flocks, for that prevents their growing larger and becoming more dangerous. Particularly should the sheep with horns be attacked. Sheep have no right to have horns. Wolves have none. But even the hornless sheep and the lambs should not be spared, for by rending them you may frighten and discourage the horned ones." "Capital," cried MWAW, springing up and pacing the arbor in excitement. "Just our own idea. Frightfulness increases force. We like to make people afraid. We feel stronger. Essence of Werwolfery. Give another argument, excellent Schmuck. Think once more." "The Highly Exalted will forgive me. I cannot, momentarily, bring forth another." "What!" snarled an angry voice above the trembling professor. "Not think of the best argument of all! Forget your creed! Deny your faith! Wretched Schmuck! Who gave you a place? Who feeds you? Who are WE?" "The Lord's Anointed!" murmured Schmuck, falling on his knees. MWAW drew himself up, stiff as steel. His eyes blazed through their slits like coals of fire. "Right!" he cried. "Right at last. That is the great argument. Use it. WE are the Chosen of God. WE are his weapon, his vicegerent. Whatever WE do is a brave act and a good deed. Woe to the disobedient!" He held out his hand and lifted the professor to his feet. "Stand up, Schmuck. You are forgiven. Take more beer. To-night I follow biological necessity. More work to do. But you go and tell people the truth." So Schmuck went. Whether he told the truth or not is uncertain. At all events, it was in different words. And the Werwolfery continued. Chapter III THE WERWOLF AT LARGE I In the days immediately before and after the breaking of the war-tempest, the servants of the United States Government in Europe were suddenly overwhelmed by a flood of work and care. The strenuous, incessant toil in the consulates, legations, and embassies acted somewhat as a narcotic. There was so much to do that there was no time to worry.