"'You couldn't blow up a munitions plant and make a first-class job of
it under ten thousand dollars, Boss,' Bernstorff says.
"'Is _that_ so?' the Kaiser tells him. 'Well, let me tell you something,
Bernstorff. I've got a pretty good line on what them munitions
explosions ought to cost. My eldest boy has been blowing up buildings in
France for over three years now, and for what it costs to blow up a
factory he could blow up two cathedrals and a chateau.'
"'Have it your own way, Boss,' Bernstorff says, 'but them chateau
buildings is so old that they're pretty near falling down, anyway.'
"'Don't give me no arguments,' the Kaiser says. 'I suppose you're going
to tell me these here