“Herintellectisdefective，“Mr。Fentolinremarked，“ononepointonly。ThegoodwomanisobsessedbytheideathatherhusbandandsonsarestillcallingtoherfromtheDaggerRocks。Itisalmostpitifultomeetherwanderingaboutthereonastormynight。Theseacoastsarefulloftheselittlevillagetragedies-realtragedies，too，howeverinsignificanttheymayseemtous。“
Mr。Fentolin’stonewasgentlysympathetic。Hechangedthesubjectamomentortwolater，however。
“Nerofiddlesto-night，“hesaid，“whileRomeburns。Therearehundredsinourposition，yetitcertainlyseemsqueerthatweshouldbesittingheresoquietlywhenthewholecountryisinsuchastateofexcitement。Iseethepressthismorningispreachinganimmediatedeclarationofwar。“
“Againstwhom？“Mrs，Fentolinasked。
Mr。Fentolinsmiled。