ration," he declared when they had reached the end of Partow's
appeal. "Now we'll hear what the staff has to say for itself after
gratifying the wish of a dead man," he added as a messenger gave him
another sheet.

"The staff, in loyalty to its dead leader who made victory possible,
and in loyalty to the principles of defence for which the army fought,
begs to say to the nation--"

It was four o'clock in the morning when this despatch concluded with "We
heartily agree with the foregoing," and the cabinet read the names of
all the general staff and the corps and division commanders. Coursing
crowds in the streets were still shouting hoarsely and sometimes
drunkenly: "On to the Gray capital! Nothing can stop us now!" The
premier tried to imagine what a sea of faces in the great square would
look like in a rage. He was between the people in a passion for
retribution and a headless army that was supposed to charge across the
frontier at dawn.

"The thing is sheer madness!" he cried. "It's insubordination! I'll have
it suppressed! The army must go on to gratify public demand. I'll show
the staff that they are not in the saddle. They'll obey orders!"

He tried to get Lanstron on the long distance.

"Sorry, but the chief has retired," answered the officer on duty
sleepily. "In fact, all the rest of the staff have, with orders that
they are not to be disturbed before ten."

"Tell them that the premier, the head of the government, their
commander, is speaking!"

"Yes, sir. But the staff were up all last night and most of to-night,
not to mention a pretty busy day. When they had finished their report to
you, sir, they were utterly done up. Yes, the orders not to disturb them
are quite positive, and as a junior I could not do so except by their
orders as superiors. The chief, before retiring, however, repeated to
me, in case any inquiry came from you, sir, that there was nothing he
could add to the staff's message to the nation and the army. It is to be
given to the soldiers the first thing in the morning, and he will let
you know how they regard it."

"Confound these machine minds that spring their surprises as fully
executed plans!" exclaimed the premier.

"It's true--Par tow and the staff have covered everything--met every
argument. There is nothing more for them to say," said the foreign
minister.

"But what about the indemnity?" demanded the finance minister. He was
thinking of victory in the form of piles of gol