CHAPTER XXV

Terniloff and Dominey, one morning about six months later, lounged underneath a great elm tree at Ranelagh, having iced drinks after a round of golf. Several millions of perspiring Englishmen were at the same moment studying with dazed wonder the headlines in the midday papers.

"I suppose," the Ambassador remarked, as he leaned back in his chair with an air of lazy content, "that I am being accused of fiddling while Rome burns."

"Every one has certainly not your confidence in the situation," Dominey rejoined calmly.

"There is no one else who knows quite so much," Terniloff reminded him.

Dominey sipped his drink for a moment or two in silence.

"Have you the latest news of the Russian mobilisation?" he asked. "They had some startling figures in the city this morning."

The Prince waved his hand.

"My faith is not founded on these extraneous incidents," he replied. "If Russia mobilises, it is for defence. No nation in the world would dream of attacking Germany, nor has Germany the slightest intention of imperilling her coming supremacy amongst the nations by such crude methods as military enterprise. Servia must be punished, naturally, but to that, in principle, every nation in Europe is agreed. We shall not permit Austria to overstep the mark."

"You are at least consistent, Prince," Dominey remarked.

Terniloff smiled.

"That is because I have been taken behind the scenes," he said. "I have been shown, as is the privilege of ambassadors, the mind of our rulers. You, my friend," he went on, "spent your youth amongst the military faction. You think that you are the most important people in Germany. Well, you are not. The Kaiser has willed it otherwise. By-the-by, I had yesterday a most extraordinary cable from Stephanie."

Answer this series of questions:

1. What chapter are we in?
2. Who is the second character introduced?
3. And the first?
4. Where were they?
5. Under what?
6. Were they standing?
7. What were they doing?
8. What other thing were they doing?
9. What had they just got done with?
10. What was the accusation made against the Ambassador?
11. Did everyone share his confidence?
12. Was Dominey excited?
13. Who was mobilizing?
14. Were the numbers surprising?
15. Why did the Prince say they were mobilizing?
16. Did he feel Germany would be attacked?
17. Did he believe they would take military action?
18. What did he say Servia deserved?
19. What had he been shown?
20. Who did he get a telegram from?
1. 25
2. Dominey
3. Terniloff
4. Ranelagh
5. A tree
6. No
7. Sitting
8. having iced drinks
9. Playing golf.
10. Fiddling while Rome burns.
11. No
12. He was calm.
13. Russia
14. Yes
15. For defence
16. No
17. No
18. To be punished.
19. The mind of our rulers.
20. Stephanie