said:
“Marriage can’t change one’s love for one’s own country, and I don’t know if you know it but I’m half Italian.”
“Yes, I know that,” I said. “What of it?”
“If Britain and Italy went to war you’d expect me to hate Italy, and I could never do that.”
“Of course I shouldn’t,” I laughed. “Britain’s war with Germany is one thing. War between Britain and Italy would be quite another matter. The English and the Italians have always been good friends, and the Italians are no fonder of the Germans than we are, so if they did get dragged in through pressure exerted by Hitler, there’d be no real bitterness on either side. You and I would make the subject taboo—just ignore it.”
“No, Julian,” she shook her head. “We might try to but we couldn’t do that. After a few months of this hateful modern war each side would have performed acts which the other would consider brutal or despicable, and we’d be bound to be affected. It would be taking an awful risk for me to marry you as long as there is any chance that war may break out between Italy and Britain.”
“It won’t,” I declared with a confidence that I really felt. “I don’t want to belittle Italy in any way, but one can’t get away from facts. Italy couldn’t possibly afford a war. She’s only self-supporting in one of the six major commodities which are used in waging wars so she would be a liability rather than an asset to Hitler. At present Italy is the big hole in the Allied blockade. She’s taking in millions of tons of surplus merchandise each month and railing it straight through to Germany. Once she went to war our Navy could put an end to that overnight and the traffic would have to start to flow back the other way. Hitler would have to help feed and support the Italians and there are forty-five millions of them. Honestly, darling, this great trumpet-blowing act that Musso is putting on now is only another big bluff.”
“Perhaps you’re right. I hope so! But this morning all Italian shipping was recalled to its ports, and that’s a pretty serious step.”
“Of course I’m right,” I insisted. “Holding up his shippingfor a day or two, or even a week, may cost Mussolini a bit of money but he can well afford it. With Britain, Germany and France at war Italy has been left without a rival for the Atlantic passenger traffic, and she’s making a packet out of it. While we’re all busy the Italians are cornering all the South American markets, too, and of course they’re making a huge profit on every single thing they send through to Germany. If the war lasts for two years Italy will have drained Germany dry financially and conquered huge new markets for herself overseas into the bargain. From near bankrupt she will have become one of the richest countries in the world, while we’ve been cutting each other’s throats. That’s why it’s absolutely inconceivable that the Italians would be such fools as to come in. Anyhow, if you won’t marry me right away, we can at least get engaged.”
Her eyes danced as she murmured: “Yes. I suppose we could, but it will be an awful shock for poor Paolo.”
“That’s settled then.” I kissed her hands. “You’ll break the bad news to Paolo as soon as he turns up, and while you’re doing it I’ll tackle your mother and stepfather.”
“Oh, Julian! This is all so—so …”
“Sudden!” I finished for her with a laugh. “That’s the classic phrase which a mid-Victorian girl would use for a situation like this.”
The dimple on her cheek showed. “Do you really think that I’m so terribly old-fashioned?”
“You have no time or period. You’re just the loveliest and most adorable thing in the world,” I answered, staring straight into her eyes; and next moment we were locked in each other’s arms again.
“Daphnis!” The exclamation of shocked surprise pierced our reeling senses, causing us to spring apart. Madame Diamopholus had come
“Marriage can’t change one’s love for one’s own country, and I don’t know if you know it but I’m half Italian.”
“Yes, I know that,” I said. “What of it?”
“If Britain and Italy went to war you’d expect me to hate Italy, and I could never do that.”
“Of course I shouldn’t,” I laughed. “Britain’s war with Germany is one thing. War between Britain and Italy would be quite another matter. The English and the Italians have always been good friends, and the Italians are no fonder of the Germans than we are, so if they did get dragged in through pressure exerted by Hitler, there’d be no real bitterness on either side. You and I would make the subject taboo—just ignore it.”
“No, Julian,” she shook her head. “We might try to but we couldn’t do that. After a few months of this hateful modern war each side would have performed acts which the other would consider brutal or despicable, and we’d be bound to be affected. It would be taking an awful risk for me to marry you as long as there is any chance that war may break out between Italy and Britain.”
“It won’t,” I declared with a confidence that I really felt. “I don’t want to belittle Italy in any way, but one can’t get away from facts. Italy couldn’t possibly afford a war. She’s only self-supporting in one of the six major commodities which are used in waging wars so she would be a liability rather than an asset to Hitler. At present Italy is the big hole in the Allied blockade. She’s taking in millions of tons of surplus merchandise each month and railing it straight through to Germany. Once she went to war our Navy could put an end to that overnight and the traffic would have to start to flow back the other way. Hitler would have to help feed and support the Italians and there are forty-five millions of them. Honestly, darling, this great trumpet-blowing act that Musso is putting on now is only another big bluff.”
“Perhaps you’re right. I hope so! But this morning all Italian shipping was recalled to its ports, and that’s a pretty serious step.”
“Of course I’m right,” I insisted. “Holding up his shippingfor a day or two, or even a week, may cost Mussolini a bit of money but he can well afford it. With Britain, Germany and France at war Italy has been left without a rival for the Atlantic passenger traffic, and she’s making a packet out of it. While we’re all busy the Italians are cornering all the South American markets, too, and of course they’re making a huge profit on every single thing they send through to Germany. If the war lasts for two years Italy will have drained Germany dry financially and conquered huge new markets for herself overseas into the bargain. From near bankrupt she will have become one of the richest countries in the world, while we’ve been cutting each other’s throats. That’s why it’s absolutely inconceivable that the Italians would be such fools as to come in. Anyhow, if you won’t marry me right away, we can at least get engaged.”
Her eyes danced as she murmured: “Yes. I suppose we could, but it will be an awful shock for poor Paolo.”
“That’s settled then.” I kissed her hands. “You’ll break the bad news to Paolo as soon as he turns up, and while you’re doing it I’ll tackle your mother and stepfather.”
“Oh, Julian! This is all so—so …”
“Sudden!” I finished for her with a laugh. “That’s the classic phrase which a mid-Victorian girl would use for a situation like this.”
The dimple on her cheek showed. “Do you really think that I’m so terribly old-fashioned?”
“You have no time or period. You’re just the loveliest and most adorable thing in the world,” I answered, staring straight into her eyes; and next moment we were locked in each other’s arms again.
“Daphnis!” The exclamation of shocked surprise pierced our reeling senses, causing us to spring apart. Madame Diamopholus had come
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