y difference. You
know, one gets so used to potting at people. It's rather difficult to
realize suddenly that one oughtn't to.

JAMES (getting up). I don't know what the object of this tomfoolery
is, if it has one. But you understand that I expect you to come to
the office with me to-morrow at nine o'clock. Kindly see that you're
punctual. (He turns to go away.)

PHILIP (softly). Uncle James.

JAMES (over his shoulder). I have no more--

PHILIP (in his parade voice). Damn it, sir! stand to attention when
you talk to an officer! (JAMES instinctively turns round and stiffens
himself.) That's better; you can sit down if you like. (He motions JAMES
to his chair with the revolver.)

JAMES (going nervously to his chair). What does this bluff mean?

PHILIP. It isn't bluff, it's quite serious. (Pointing the revolver at
his uncle) Do sit down.

JAMES (sitting donor). Threats, eh?

PHILIP. Persuasion.

JAMES. At the point of the revolver? You settle your arguments by force?
Good heavens, sir! this is just the very thing that we were fighting to
put down.

PHILIP. _We_ were fighting! _We_! _We_! Uncle, you're humorist.

JAMES, Well, "you," if you prefer it. Although those of us who stayed at
home--

PHILIP. Yes, never mind about the excess profits now. I can tell you
quite well what we fought for. We used force to put down force. That's
what I'm doing now. You were going to use force--the force of money--to
make me do what you wanted. Now I'm using force to stop it. (He levels
the revolver again.)

JAMES. You're--you're going to shoot your old uncle?

PHILIP. Why not? I've shot lots of old uncles--Landsturmers.

JAMES. But those were Germans! It's different shooting Germans. You're
in England now. You couldn't have a crime on your conscience like that.

PHILIP. Ah, but you mustn't think that after four years of war one has
quite the same ideas about the sanctity of human life. How could one?

JAMES. You'll find that juries have kept pretty much the same ideas, I
fancy.

PHILIP. Yes, but revolvers often go off accidentally. You said so
yourself. This is going to be the purest accident. Can't you see it in
the papers? "The deceased's nephew, who was obviously upset--"

JAMES. I suppose you think it's brave to come back from the front and
threaten a defenceless man with a revolver? Is that the sort of fair
play they teach you in the Army?

PHILIP. Good heavens! of course it is. You don't think that you wait