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Augustus Does His Bit by George Bernard Shaw
page 19 of 35 (54%)
forgive England? Remember: England! Forgive her.

AUGUSTUS [with gloomy magnanimity]. It will make no difference
whatever to my services to my country. Though she slay me, yet
will I, if not exactly trust in her, at least take my part in her
government. I am ever at my country's call. Whether it be the
embassy in a leading European capital, a governor-generalship in
the tropics, or my humble mission here to make Little Pifflington
do its bit, I am always ready for the sacrifice. Whilst England
remains England, wherever there is a public job to be done you
will find a Highcastle sticking to it. And now, madam, enough of
my tragic personal history. You have called on business. What can
I do for you?

THE LADY. You have relatives at the Foreign Office, have you not?

AUGUSTUS [haughtily]. Madam, the Foreign Office is staffed by my
relatives exclusively.

THE LADY. Has the Foreign Office warned you that you are being
pursued by a female spy who is determined to obtain possession of
a certain list of gun emplacements?

AUGUSTUS [interrupting her somewhat loftily]. All that is
perfectly well known to this department, madam.

THE LADY [surprised and rather indignant]. Is it? Who told you?
Was it one of your German brothers-in-law?

AUGUSTUS [injured, remonstrating]. I have only three German
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