General Dupree now showed the delegates into the car. As before, Marshal Foch sat at his desk, immersed in a pile of papers. He looked up as the delegates approached.
"Ah, gentlemen," he said, "pray, be seated."
He motioned the five men to seats at his table. Besides these, there were also seated there three or four members of the marshal’s staff.
"I trust you had a pleasant trip, gentlemen?" said Marshal Foch politely.
"Not so very pleasant, sir," said one of the envoys, and explained what had befallen.
Marshal Foch expressed his condolences, then added:
"We are ready to discuss terms, sir," said General Herwigs.
"Ah," said Marshal Foch, "but there shall be no discussion. I have stated my terms. It is for you to say whether Germany will accept."
"You have the terms in writing, Marshal?"
"I have, sir. They are here," and Marshal Foch extended a paper to General Herwigs.
General Herwigs read the several sheets of foolscap carefully. Then, without a word, he passed them to his associates, who scanned them carefully in turn. The paper was passed back to General Herwigs.
"They are very severe, sir," said General Herwigs.
"So they are," agreed Marshal Foch, "but under the circumstances I can do no better."
"But surely, sir," said General Herwigs, "you realize that they are more harsh than have ever before been imposed upon an enemy by a civilized nation?"
"Perfectly," said Marshal Foch. "At the same time, sir, never has a civilized nation wrought such ruin on the world at large as has Germany in the last four years. He who plays, must pay the fiddler, you know, sir."
"Is there no hope, sir," asked General Herwigs, "that the terms may be modified?"
For the space of perhaps five minutes General Herwigs was silent. Then he said:
"You will grant me a few moments’ private conversation with my associates, sir?"
"As many as you choose," replied Marshal Foch.
The German delegates retired to the far end of the car, where they conversed in low voices for perhaps ten minutes. Then they returned to their seats.
"Since you insist upon these terms," said General Herwigs, "I want to record formal protest against their severity."
"It shall be duly recorded, sir," said Marshal Foch gravely.
"And," continued General Herwigs, "as you refuse to modify them, there is only one thing Germany can do."