DOMIN. They got possession of all firearms, telegraphs, radio stations, railways and ships. HALLEMEIER. And don’t forget that these rascals outnumbered us by at least a thousand to one. A hundredth _part_ of them would be enough to _settle_ us. DOMIN. Remember that this news was brought by the last steamer. That explains the stoppage of all communication, and the arrival of no more ships. We knocked off work a few days ago, and we’re just waiting to see when things are to start _afresh_. HELENA. Is that why you gave me a warship? (_GALL fills DOMIN’S glass._) DOMIN. Oh, no, my dear, I ordered that six months ago. Just to be sure I was on the safe side. But, upon my soul, I was sure then that we’d be on board today. HELENA. Why six months ago? DOMIN. Well, there were _signs_, you know. But that’s of no consequence. (_Gets glass_) To think that this week the whole of civilization has been at _stake_. Your health, my friends. HALLEMEIER. Your health, Madame Helena. (_ALL drink to HELENA._) HELENA. You say it’s all over? DOMIN. Absolutely. HELENA. How do you know? DR. GALL. The boat’s coming in. The regular mail boat, exact to the minute by the timetable. It will dock punctually at eleven-thirty. DOMIN. Punctuality is a fine thing, my friends. That’s what keeps the world in order. Here’s to punctuality. (_MEN drink._) HELENA. Then--everything--is all right? DOMIN. (_Up C. a step_) Practically everything. I believe they’ve cut the cables and seized the radio station. But it doesn’t matter if only the _timetable_ holds good. (_Up to window._) HALLEMEIER. (_Rises_) If the _timetable_ holds good, human laws hold good. Divine laws hold good, the laws of the _universe_ hold good, everything holds good that _ought_ to hold good. (_GALL applauds._) The timetable is more significant than the gospel, more than Homer, more than the whole of _Kant_. Madame Helena, the timetable is the most perfect product of the human mind. Madame Helena, I’ll fill up my glass. (_GALL hands HALLEMEIER the decanter._) HELENA. Why didn’t you tell me anything about it? DR. GALL. Heaven forbid. DOMIN. You mustn’t be worried with such things. (_Glass on table R.C.; crosses to back of couch._) HELENA. But if the revolution had spread as far as here? DOMIN. You wouldn’t know anything about it. HELENA. Why? DOMIN. Because we’d be on board your _Ultimus_ and well out at sea. Within a month, Helena, we’d be dictating our own terms to the Robots. HELENA. I don’t understand. DOMIN. (_Crosses to C. toward GALL and HALLEMEIER_) We’d take something with us that the Robots could not exist _without_! HELENA. What, Harry? DOMIN. (_Turns to HALLEMEIER_) The secret of their manufacture. Old Rossum’s manuscript. As soon as they found out that they couldn’t _make_ themselves they’d be on their knees to us.