"One thing I spend it on," said the General, "is my arsenal. I am proud of that. It is my pet. You know we invented gunpowder long before it was known in Europe, but only used it for fireworks. I am forced now by circumstances to turn out arms; we produce a trench mortar the equal of any made in Europe, but if peace ever comes to my province long enough I shall spend my time in inventing and producing the most delicious and the strangest varieties of fireworks." "Hm," said Mr. Shultz, "I doubt it." "And what else do you do with it?" asked Megan. "Oh, I don't think it would interest you, Miss Davis. It is all very dull. Upkeep of my troops, of roads and government buildings, propaganda." "Propaganda?" "Yes, a great amount of my revenue goes into that. Foreign and local, especially local. I can only govern by force and the good opinion people have of me. I have to buy both of them, and I find that good opinion is much the more expensive." "I believe in the local propaganda all right," said Mr. Shultz. "A few pamphlets around to the soldiers. They can't read them and they respect any one that can shower them with information that's a mystery to them. But not this foreign propaganda. No one cares in Europe or the States what a bunch of Chinese are doing. 'Don't get us in on it,' that is all they say. No, you overdo it. Enough's enough." "No," said the General, "you are wrong; enough is seldom enough. A small surplus is generally necessary." He turned to Megan. "You'll admit, Miss Davis, that in a country like yours, where nearly every man can read, it is of the utmost importance that he read the truth?" "Don't make me laugh," said Mr. Shultz. "There isn't such a thing as truth, the way you mean it." "You are clever to see the way I mean it," said the General. "Sure I'm clever," admitted Mr. Shultz. "Say, is this poker we're playing or lotto? How about a few royalties here, ladies and gentlemen, how about a few royalties?" He bit the end off his cigar, spitting it into the corner of the room. The General offered his briquet. Captain Li, looking politely aloof, sipped hot tea with a sucking noise. "Yes, I guess I'm clever enough," Mr. Shultz said, "but I'm a child alongside you, General. I'll admit that. I'll tell you that little incident I spoke of, Miss Davis; it'll illustrate what I mean about the General's sense of humor."