until the other side has got just as many guns as you before you attack?
You're really rather lucky. Strictly speaking, I ought to have thrown
half a dozen bombs at you first. (Taking one out of his pocket) As it
happens, I've only got one.

JAMES (thoroughly alarmed). Put that back at once.

PHILIP (putting down the revolver and taking it in his hands). You hold
it in the right hand--so--taking care to keep the lever down. Then you
take the pin in the finger--so, and--but perhaps this doesn't interest
you?

JAMES (edging his chair away). Put it down at once, sir. Good heavens!
anything might happen.

PHILIP (putting it down and taking up the revolver again). Does it ever
occur to you, Uncle James, that there are about three million people in
England who know all about bombs, and how to throw them, and--

JAMES. It certainly does not occur to me. I should never dream of
letting these things occur to me.

PHILIP (looking at the bomb regretfully). It's rather against
my principles as a soldier, but just to make things a bit more
fair--(generously) you shall have it. (He holds it out to him suddenly.)

JAMES (shrinking back again). Certainly not, sir. It might go off at any
moment.

PHILIP (putting it back in his pocket). Oh no; it's quite useless;
there's no detonator.... (Sternly) Now, then, let's talk business.

JAMES. What do you want me to do?

PHILIP. Strictly speaking, you should be holding your hands over your
head and saying "Kamerad!" However, I'll let you off that. All I ask
from you is that you should be reasonable.

JAMES. And if I refuse, you'll shoot me?

PHILIP. Well, I don't quite know, Uncle James. I expect we should go
through this little scene again to-morrow. You haven't enjoyed it, have
you? Well, there's lots more of it to come. We'll rehearse it every
day. One day, if you go on being unreasonable, the thing will go off. Of
course, you think that I shouldn't have the pluck to fire. But you can't
be quite certain. It's a hundred to one that I shan't--only I might.
Fear--it's a horrible thing. Elderly men die of it sometimes.

JAMES. Pooh! I'm not to be bluffed like that.

PHILIP (suddenly). You're quite right; you're not that sort. I made a
mistake. (Aiming carefully) I shall have to do it straight off, after
all. One--two--

JAMES (on his knees, with uplifted hands, in an agony of terror).
Philip! Mercy! What are your terms?

PHILIP (picking him up by the scruff, and helping him