“Take that thing away,” said Ultimus. The little chambermaid stared at him. “I don’t want it. I don’t like it,” he said, glowering at the girl’s face. It was like a flower, like a star; it was beautiful. Ultimus could not take his eyes off it. Her eyes smiled back at his amazed curiosity. He stood and reeled and said: “I love you.” “Yes, sir,” replied the little chambermaid. “My father said the Fattish were false. I asked them to send me the most beautiful woman in the land and they sent me a hideous old creature.” “Yes, sir.” “Ah! Why did they not send you? We could have gone away at once, away, away, where there are no old women, no battleships, no beds.” The little chambermaid by this time was fascinated, and she stayed with Ultimus all night, while he talked and told her how he had desired to see a woman and was now satisfied and never wished to see another, and how when he had seen the war he and she would retire to the island. “Oh, sir,” said the little chambermaid. “And shall I be a Queen? And won’t the Fatters ever be able to get near the island? They all say the Fatters do awful things to women.” Ultimus took her to his breast and they were joined in the mystical union of a kiss; and for many hours no word passed between them. In the morning they were disturbed by Siebenhaar, who came in unsuspectingly, saw what had happened and withdrew discreetly, gave orders to the management that Mr. Samways was not to be disturbed, and went out to see Bondon in war-time. XI: HIGH POLITICS The streets were full of young men in uniform. In the parks were young men without uniform being drilled. Except for policemen, hall-porters, street-scavengers, the town was empty, and when Siebenhaar asked a policeman why it was so, he was informed that everybody had gone to look at the island. Said the constable: “There was nothing like it since I was a boy, when the war began.” Siebenhaar was taken aback. “How long?” he said. “Well! It’ll be a matter of fifteen years now, though it’s difficult to remember. It goes on. Things get quiet in the winter. Then it begins again with the fine weather, with a new list of Fatter atrocities. Then there’s a new promise from the Emperor of Grossia; then we have another rally of the Empire and things become livelier.” “I am astonished,” said Siebenhaar, “that a great free nation like the Fattish should tolerate such a state of affairs.” “Bless you,” said the policeman, “I’ve forgotten what peace was like. There’s a few old gentlemen hold meetings to talk about it, but we’re used to it by now. I remember there used to be scares about our being invaded, but they soon came to an end. We all take our spell at the fighting, and, if we come home, settle down to work of one sort or another. There’s no doubt about it, the Fatters would make a nasty mess of things if we didn’t keep them bottled up.” Siebenhaar protested: “Surely you yourselves are making a nasty mess of things?”