Page:The Prime Minister by Hall Caine.djvu/165

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THE PRIME MINISTER
141

Lady Dorothy.
Yes, what cruel, heartless, fiendish treachery!

Sir Robert.
A natural-born British subject, too!

Lady Dorothy.
It must have been in the man's blood. When his hour of temptation came the wretched creature couldn't resist it.

Sir Robert.
[With intense feeling.] None of them can. Haven't they been doing as much all along—all the world over—ever since the war began? They are working their evil ways in secret now, but if they succeed they'll do it openly. Once let them land on these shores as conquerors and there's nothing before any of us but a dog's life, a dog's death, and a dog's burial. [Moving across the room, then returning.] O God, what a lesson to such of us as have been dreaming dreams of universal brotherhood—seeing visions of a liberated world—when the enemy rulers have been set aside and we can safely make peace with the people! Folly! Madness! Suicide! People and rulers are all alike. Only one peace can be made with either of them, and that is the peace of Victory.

Lady Dorothy.
But there are good and bad in all nations, Robert, and even among our enemies there must be loyal, faithful, unselfish souls——

Sir Robert.
Show me one—one person born of that race who is capable of an act of loyalty, fidelity, self-sacrifice——