(_The Emperor of AUSTRIA and Count TISZA_.)
_Tisza_. So there is the full account, your Majesty, of men killed, wounded
and captured.
_The Emperor_. It is a gloomy list and I hardly can bear to consider it.
_Tisza_. Yes, and beyond the mere list of casualties by fighting there are
other matters to be considered. Food is scarce and of a poor quality, in
Hungary as elsewhere. The armies we can yet feed, but the home-staying men
and the women and children are a growing difficulty. It becomes more and
more impossible to provide them with sufficient nourishment.
_The Emperor_. It is strange, but in Austria the conditions are said to be
even worse.
_Tisza_. You are right, Sire, they are worse, much worse.
_The Emperor_. Well, we must lose no time then. We must buy great stocks of
food. More money must be spent.
_Tisza_. More money? But where is it to come from? Not from Hungary, where
we are within a narrow margin of financial collapse, and not in Austria,
where there is already to all intents and purposes a state of bankruptcy.
More money is not to be got, for we have none ourselves and nobody will
lend us any.
_The Emperor_. You paint the situation in dark colours, my friend TISZA.
_Tisza_. I paint it as it is, Sire, at any rate as I see it. It is not the
part of a Royal Counsellor to act otherwise.
_The Emperor_. Yes, but there might be others who would take a different
view, and support their belief with equally good reasons.
_Tisza_. Not if they know the facts and are faithful to their duty as
Ministers of the State. Here and there, no doubt, might be found foolish
and ambitious men who would be willing to deceive, first themselves and
then their Emperor, as to the true condition of affairs. But, if your
Majesty trusted them and allowed them to guide you, you would learn too
late how ill they had understood their duty. I myself, though determined to
do everything in my power to promote the welfare of Hungary and its King,
would willingly stand aside if you think that others would give you greater
strength.
_The Emperor_. I have every reason to trust you most fully. Have you any
plan for extricating us from this dreadful morass of failure and difficulty
into which we are plunged?
_Tisza_. Your Majesty, there is only one way. We must have peace, and must
have it as soon as possible.
_The Emperor._ I too think we must have peace, but how shall we obtain it
when we have a friend and ally who watches us with the closest care, and
would not allow us even to hint at any steps that would really lead to
peace?
_Tisza_. Sire, you are a young man, but you are a scion of a great and
ancient House, which was powerful and illustrious when the Hohenzollerns
were but mean and petty barbarian princelings. Withdraw yourself, while the
opportunity is still with you, from the fatal domination of this vain and
inflated upstart who endeavours to serve only his own selfish designs. Our
enemies will make peace with you, and thus he too will be forced to abandon
the War. With him and with the deeds that have outraged the world they will
not initiate any movement that tends to peace. He must go through his
punishment, as indeed we all must, but his, I think, will be heavier than
ours.
_The Emperor_. Then you want me to make peace?
_Tisza_. If it could be done by holding up your hand, I would urge you to
hold it up at once.
_The Emperor_. And what would the world say?
_Tisza_. The world would glorify your name.
* * * * *
[Illustration: A SHORT WAY WITH TINO.
THE BIG GUN (_ringing up the Entente Exchange_). "OH, YOU _ARE_ THERE, ARE
YOU? WELL, PUT ME ON TO NUMBER ONE, ATHENS."]
* * * * *