He had drawn very close to Norgate, his pudgy hands stretched out upon his knees.

He dropped his voice so that it was audible only a few feet away.
"Let me put an extreme case," he suggested.

"Supposing Russia and Germany were at war, and France, as Russia's ally, were compelled to mobilise.

It would not be a war of Germany's provocation, but Germany, in self-defence, would be bound to attack France.

She might also be compelled by strategic considerations to invade Belgium.