“What you have told me, Commissioner, alters my position. If my brother is the person principally guilty, I cannot honourably be responsible for advising His Majesty to let the affair be hushed up.”
The Commissioner bowed low, deeply impressed by the scrupulous delicacy of his superior.
“What are your Grace’s instructions?”
“The law must take its course—for the present, at all events. Of course, I shall communicate again with His Majesty, and with the Prime Minister.”
“In that case I shall have to arrest his lordship as well as the others.”
“It will be sufficient if you arrest Lord Alistair. You can give the others a chance to escape abroad.”
The Chief Commissioner stood for a moment, playing awkwardly with his hat.
“In cases of high treason,” he observed, in a low voice, “it is customary for the warrant to be signed by the Home Secretary.”
The Home Secretary drew himself up.
“Have you a warrant with you?”