"No--the Prime Minister receives a conference to-day. There seems to be more trouble over the Sarajevo incident." "What's that, sir?" asked Vernley. "One of the Hapsburgs potted at by a Serbian--those blighters are always shooting one another in the Balkans," interrupted Marsh. "There's a report from Copenhagen that Russia's mobilising," said Mr. Vernley. "Oh, you must never believe reports from Copenhagen, sir," cried Lindon, looking sideways at John. The next moment he just escaped a shoe by ducking. "The Kaiser says that Austria must have guarantees from Serbia, with penalties, and that Russia must acquiesce." "I wish somebody would have a shot at that idiot," said John. "Well you can, when he's had one at us, as he intends," replied Vernley. "Oh, bosh!" cried Marsh, "every half-pay major who wants conscription and has had a week's holiday in Berlin, propagates that yarn. The Germans would no more think of fighting us than the Chinese--they wouldn't have a dog's chance." "With twelve million disciplined troops?" queried Mr. Vernley, over the top of his glasses. "Why, sir, we'd never meet 'em on land. How would they get here--with our navy?" Vernley got up and shook the sand off his legs. "Come on, Scissors--let's have that tennis four--if we let Lindon and Marsh go on there'll be war in England; I can see Lindon's gorge rising at the little Englander!" "Little Englander--why of course! We are the wealthiest race on the earth, have the greatest possessions, and the worst slums!" cried Marsh. "What good is the wealth of India when there's Sheffield, or the possession of Egypt when it can't wipe out the slums of Lancashire--we have the largest national debt, the heaviest taxation! And there are idiots banging the big drum, raising the German bogey, because they want to go and grab more countries, when we can't manage what we have got!" Marsh was flushed and the wind had blown the hair down into his eyes. "But we do manage it--and well," asserted Tod, usually silent, and just appointed to a commission in the Guards. "We have civilised India, brought justice and liberty to its people as well as health--" "And Christianity," added Mrs. Vernley. "Yes, and thrown away hundreds of lives and millions of money on South Africa--only to realise we had no right there and to give it back again," retorted Marsh. "You must admit, Teddie, we have a genius for government," said John. "Not while we've Ireland threatening insurrection every minute," flared Marsh, his blood up. "I think you boys had better play tennis," called Mr. Vernley, from behind the newspaper. "You'll get hot to some purpose then. But unless I'm mistaken, this old country will be in the balance soon. Austria has attacked Serbia, and is bombarding Belgrade. Russia has sent an ultimatum on behalf of her ally, and the Kaiser is hurrying back to Berlin." "That idiot will only stir up the mess," said Bobbie. "What's it all about, Dad?"