The Man Who Was Thursday

"Are you the new recruit?" asked the invisible chief, who seemed to have heard all about it. "All right. You are engaged."

Syme, quite swept off his feet, made a feeble fight against this irrevocable phrase.

"I really have no experience," he began.

"No one has any experience," said the other, "of the battle of Armageddon."

"But I am really unfit —"

"You are willing, that is enough," said the unknown.

"Well, really," said Syme. "I don't know any profession of which mere willingness is the final test."

"I do," said the other — "martyrs. I am condemning you to death. Good day."