"The Austrian Archduke was assassinated at Sarajevo. Austria demands penalties and will not accept Serbia's offer. It is reported Germany is strengthening Austria's hand, and Russia stands behind Serbia. Sir Edward Grey has offered his services as mediator." "Oh, he'll settle it!" cried Bobbie. "Clever dog, Grey." "It looks to me like a European conflagration unless great tact is shown," said Mr. Vernley. He turned to his wife, "I think we ought to wire for Muriel to come home." "But why? Belgium is not affected." The whole circle looked at Mr. Vernley who took off His glasses and tapped the newspaper. "It may mean war for us." "For us!" They all echoed. "We've too much sense, sir, to be messed up in these ludicrous Balkan squabbles. The blighters are always nibbling at one another's ears. Well, here's one who won't join in. If every man thought and acted as I do, there wouldn't be any wars!" declared Marsh. "Why?" asked John. He had never seen Marsh quite so excited before. "Because if there were no feeble fools willing to be made into gun fodder, there'd be no wars. You can't have wars without soldiers." "But supposing Germany declared war on us," began Tod. "Oh, bosh!" interrupted Marsh. "Germany will not declare war on _us_," said Mr. Vernley quietly, "but if this unrest spreads, she may declare war on France--and that would involve our honour; we should have to help France." "It seems a terrible mix-up, all these entangling alliances," sighed Mrs. Vernley, "and it is unthinkable that the world's rulers will let us slip into war. To-day war would be terrible with all the science and inventions of this age." "It would be insane!" cried Marsh loudly. "We must refuse to be pushed in by the financiers and land-grabbers. Think of the millions it means, the homes ruined, the sons and fathers butchered--why it's incredible!" "But if our honour--" began Tod. "Honour be damned!" snapped Marsh. Then quickly, "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean that. But it's wicked to think of war. I refuse to think of it." "We may have to, Marsh," said Mr. Vernley. "I won't." "If we had to fight, wouldn't you?" asked Kitty. Marsh stood up, looking very handsome in his flushed indignation but John noticed how his lip trembled as he paused before answering, and looked out to sea. "No," he said quietly. Mr. Vernley looked at him steadily. "I'm afraid, Marsh, you would be--" he began to say. "Called a coward, sir--I know. But war's insanity, and only the corrupt, the insane and the ignorant will allow it. I'll consider it my duty to refuse to condone it at any cost." "Oh--you're--you're impossible," muttered Tod. "You're--you're a professional soldier," retorted Marsh, and the moment he uttered it, turned white in the face. "Oh--Tod--please I didn't mean it like that--I didn't really." There were tears in his eyes as he turned appealingly. Tod put his hand on his shoulder and smiled at him.