Lovelace's eyes were on Penn's face. It was grave and impassive as he answered. `The chap who sent you this message looked as though he meant it.'
`Did he? You could describe him, of course?'
`Yes. The whole episode was so astounding that I should recognise him again anywhere.'
`Good!' The big man jumped to his feet. `I'm going down to Police Headquarters right away. 'Fraid they'll want to bother you for your story later, but I'm not taking any chances, and the sooner these Millers o f God people are chased out of town the better. It may be some bughouse religious organization, still you never know. I've heard some queer things lately. So long.
Benyon swung easily away Lovelace raised his eyebrows. `This sounds like a secret society which is out to kill off war profiteers. Seems a bit drastic, doesn't it? Although, of course, they're a rotten lot of blighters.'
`They are,' agreed Penn, `as a whole. Benyons a decent enough fellow really, and I'd be sorry if anything happened to him. However, I've passed on this mysterious warning, so let's hope he'll take notice of it. You were saying just now, by the way, that you could make a case for Italy, if you wanted to. I'd be interested to hear it.'
Lovelace looked up in surprise. He would have liked to speculate further on the possible activities of the Millers of God, but Penn was obviously determined to change the conversation. `All right,' he said, `but you mustn't take this as my own view. I'm neutral. Most English people are at heart, I think. We hate to see the poor little Emperor done down because, believe it or not, we're a sentimental lot, and our sympathies usually go to the weaker party. On the other hand, we do know that the Emperor isn't strong enough to cope with the terrible abuses which still go on in his country. Of course, what it needs is a real good spring cleaning.
On the other hand, we admire Mussolini for pulling Italy together after the war, and we've always had a genuine liking for the Italians.'
While Penn listened attentively, the Englishman then outlined the amazing changes which had taken place in Italy since the Great War. He laid particular stress upon the fact that she had not sufficient arable land to support her population. `And, after all,' he finished, `Mussolini is only proposing to do what Britain and France have done on innumerable occasions in the past. What's more, he gave many months' notice of his intention.'
Penn nodded. `That's a very able argument, but, d'you realise you are admitting that Britain is as much to blame as anyone else for this wretched muddle? You say Mussolini gave many months' notice of his intention. If Britain had made it clear then that she meant to support the League, the presumption is that there wouldn't have been any war.'
'Perhaps, but I'd rather you didn't father it entirely on us. Britain has voiced the feeling of the smaller nations, but she couldn't do that before she knew it. This is the League's business, and we had to wait for the League's decision.'
`You mean you never fancied the idea of having the Italians in Abyssinia, because you feared they might prove awkward neighbours for you in Egypt. But you preferred to wait before making your protest until you could appear as the champion of the League.'
Lovelace grinned `You're a pretty shrewd young man, aren't you?'
'Not particularly. I've studied these questions rather carefully, that's all. Another thing: that argument about surplus population is a complete fallacy. Did you know that although the Germans had a very considerable colonial Empire before the war, there were actually a greater number of their nationals in Paris, the enemy capital, on the outbreak of hostilities, than in the whole of their overseas territory? It's been proved time and again that colonies are not essential to the expansion of a people. Look at the number of Italians and Germans we have here in the States!'
`There's a certain amount of truth in that.'
`There is, and ingenious as your case for Italy appears on the surface, if I were Cassel, I should tell you it's just the sort of argument that Britain can be guaranteed to put up when she wishes to justify her own annexations. A delightful essay in hypocrisy!'
Lovelace laughed. `Oh, everyone accuses the British of being hypocrites. It isn't true, though. It's just that our statesmen are so slow in the uptake that quick witted foreigners always suspect their noncommittal attitude to conceal some deep laid plan. Generally, before our people have even had time to formulate a policy.'
`Nonsense,' smiled Penn; `they're the astutest bunch of diplomats in the world. Still, even granting that all you have said is honestly believed by the great majority of Italians, you don't believe it yourself, do you?'
`Not altogether.' Lovelace was frank. `I was only arguing for fun just now. Actually, I'm sailing for Abyssinia on Saturday as a non combatant, of course but I shall be helping Abyssinia as far as a neutral can.'
`Really?' Penn looked up with quickened interest. But it's a bit late in the day, isn't it?'
`Why? Of course, if the League can make some face saving arrangement by which Mussolini comes off with flying colours a peace may be agreed to morrow. Again, if the Italians start using poison gas the Abyssinian armies are so ill organised that they might break up and the Emperor find himself compelled to throw his hand in. But that's unlikely. In six months the Italians have penetrated the country to the depth of about a hundred and fifty miles. They still have two hundred and fifty to go before they reach Addis, and the rains are due in about a month. The probabilities are that the Italians will have to dig in then and wait till the text dry season before they can advance further. Even if they succeed in taking Addis Ababa they will not have conquered the country. The tribes will still put up a stiff resistance in the western mountains. I should have been out there months ago if I hadn't been held up by other rather important, personal affairs.'
`I see,' Penn hesitated; `but what is it you are going to do out there?'
`I don't quite know yet,' Lovelace said quietly. `I have a little money of my own. Not much, but enough to make me independent, so I've knocked about the world a good deal, and I've rather a gift for languages. I’ve been mixed up in the tail ends of half a dozen wars too, and know how to handle native labour, so there are plenty of jobs the relief organizations would be glad to give a fellow like myself.'
`I see. You make a habit of being on the spot in any war that's going. But why? Is it because you like the excitement?'
`No.' Lovelace fiddled with his pipe, and seemed a little shy as he gave his reason. `You'll probably think me a queer bird, but if you've never seen it you can have no idea of the incredible misery and suffering which afflicts the population behind a war zone. And since we can't stop the war, I feel it's up to those of us who
can afford to chuck up the easy life to go and do the little that's possible to make things just a shade less terrible, particularly for the women and children.'
`That's fine,' said Penn softly. `You're really a war hater, just as much as I am, then. I'm afraid I've done you rather an injustice.'
`Oh, that's all right. It just amuses me to pull the leg of theoretical pacifists like Cassel now and again, that's all.'
Penn passed a hand over his jet black hair. For a moment he was silent. `You know,' he said at last, 'there's lots of things I'd like to talk to you about. D'you happen to be fixed up for this evenings'
'No. I was going to a show but the man I was going, with has gone sick.'
Well, I can't ask you to dine in New York because it's essential I should go out to my Long Island home to night. But, if you don't mind the drive, we could dine there and the car could run you back, or I could put you up for the night, just as you prefer.'