_The King._ I'm sick and tired of all this talk.

_The Kaiser._ If you go on like that I shall not talk to you any more.

_The King._ Don't say that; I could not bear such a loss. But, seriously,
are you going to help as you promised?

_The Kaiser._ I cannot help you now. You must play for time.

_The King._ I've exhausted all the possibilities of playing for time. It
wouldn't be the least good. They really mean it this time, and they've
given me a strictly limited period for compliance.

_The Kaiser._ Well, I suppose you know best, but I should have thought you
could have spun out negotiations for a hit--given them a little promise
here and a little promise there on the chance of something turning up.

_The King._ The long and the short of it is that you promised to help us,
but it was only a little promise here or there, and you don't mean to keep
it. I shall accept the ultimatum.

_The Kaiser._ The what? The telephone's buzzing again.

_The King._ The ULTIMATUM!!

_The Kaiser._ Oh, the ultimatum. Yes, by all means accept it. And, by the
way, I'm publishing a volume of my War-speeches, and will make a point of
sending you an early copy. You might get it reviewed in the Athens papers.