The Velvety Glove of Outrageous Insult

It is December, 1900. The leaders of the Western world convene an assembly to put their collective will and might to the task of ending war, famine, plague and pestilence. As tipsy dukes are wont to do, representatives of the great powers turn to boasting, insult and counter-insult. The toss of the velvet glove leads to the crack of the cane to the cut and thrust of the cutlass to the mass arming of the unwashed masses. War beckons. Come great dukes. To war. To war. Wounded honor and noble pride demand satisfaction!