KAISER: It must be done. It shall be. We are working against a time-table. With England cut off, and Turkey remaining in, Germany is consolidated. Von Tirpitz was right, after all. It is our chief weapon of parley. You must smash every ship and redouble our submarine tactics ten times from to-night--from this minute. I see it all plainly and all will be well. (VON KAPELLAR _withdraws_. KAISER _motions to the Chancellor, who disappears through the door, to reappear immediately conducting_ TALAAT PASHA.) B.-H.: I present to your Majesty our friend and Embassy from Turkey--Talaat Pasha. (_The_ KAISER _rises to his full height, silent and immovable, for ten awful seconds. And during those ten seconds the heart of_ TALAAT, _humped violently, as he beheld, at last, beyond the bowed heads of these grim men, the famous figure, strangely terrible, of the Great War Lord standing there dark and silent as Fate in the lamp shadow--the War Lord that had carpeted the earth with blood_. TALAAT, _not being used to these things, bows low. The_ KAISER _advances and takes him cordially by the two hands_.) KAISER: Welcome, faithful friend of the Fatherland in peace and war, and soon in victory. You see, I have just been reviewing my sinews of war. A magnificent piece of news has just arrived. We have smashed the Mistress of the Seas. It but remains to sweep away the fragments. (_Enter_ VON KAPELLAR.) I will introduce to you Baron Von Kapellar, the hero of the hour. (_Introduces them to_ TALAAT, _and after a few moments' conversation they withdraw, and_ TALAAT _is left alone with the_ KAISER, _who smokes_.) KAISER: Your arrival, my friend Talaat, has been the precursor of most wonderful news. I am happy to be able to tell the distinguished leader of our brave and faithful ally that the end of the war is a matter of a few weeks only. In four days we have sunk seventy-two large boats. There is a panic in England, and we have been touched about terms of peace. TALAAT: Oh, that is good. My mission was for ten millions now, and to say we can't stand the strain for more than three months. KAISER: The strain? My generals will see to that. We are at England's throat. You must press every ounce--her terms depend on these blows. We could have peace to-night, but the peace we want requires manoeuvring for. You remain firm, do you not? (TALAAT _nods meekly_.) Our submarines are supreme, and every day the position improves. TALAAT: There are riots in Constantinople. KAISER: I will arrange for sufficient policing of the place. Now do not misunderstand me. The case for Turkey is everything or nothing, and without Germany it will be nothing. You are to dine with the Chancellor and me to-night. Is there any question you would like to ask? TALAAT: What is your plan of retirement in the West?