Selingman nodded ponderously.
"Surely," Norgate asked, "Germany will wait for some reasonable pretext ?" "She will find one through Austria," Selingman replied.

"That is simple.
Mind, though this may seem to you a war wholly of aggression, and though I do not hesitate to say that we have been prepared for years for a war of aggression, there are other factors which will come to light.

Only a few months ago, an entire Russian scheme for the invasion of Germany next spring was discovered by one of our Secret Service agents." Norgate nodded.
"One question more," he said.

"Supposing Germany takes the plunge, and then England, contrary to anticipation, decides to support France ?" Selingman's face darkened.

A sudden purposeless anger shook his voice.
"We choose a time," he declared, "when England's hands are tied.