He had the appearance of a man tortured by conflicting thoughts.
"I should like to ask you, Selingman," he said, "whether you have made any definite plans for your conflict with the British Navy?
I admit that the days of England's unique greatness are over.

She may not be in a position to-day, as she has been in former years, to fight the world.

At the same time, her one indomitable power is still, whatever people may say or think, her navy.

Only last month the Cabinet of my country were considering reports from their secret agents and placing them side by side with known facts, as to the relative strength of your navy and the navy of Great Britain.

On paper it would seem that a German success was impossible." Selingman smiled--the convincing smile of a man who sees further than most men.
"Not under the terms I should propose to you, Monsieur Douaille," he declared.