“I imagine,” Julian began, “that you know something about this new Labour Council?”
“What little we do know,” Mr. Stenson answered, “we have learnt with great difficulty through our secret service. I gather that a small league of men has been formed within a mile of the Houses of Parliament, who, whatever their motives may be, have been guilty of treasonable and traitorous communication with the enemy.”
“Strictly speaking, you are, without doubt, perfectly right,” Julian acknowledged.
Mr. Stenson switched on an electric light.
“Sit down, Orden,” he invited. “There is no need for us to stand glaring at one another. There is enough of real importance in the nature of our interview without making melodrama of it.”
The Prime Minister threw himself into an easy chair. Julian, with a little sigh of relief, selected a high-backed oak chair and rested his foot upon a hassock. Hannaway Wells remained standing upon the hearthrug.
“Straight into the heart of it, please, Orden,” Mr. Stenson begged. “Let us know how far this accursed conspiracy has gone.”
“It has gone to very great lengths,” Julian declared. “Certain members of this newly-formed Council of Labour have been in communication for some months with the Socialist Party in Germany. From these latter they have received a definite and authentic proposal of peace, countersigned by the three most important men in Germany. That proposal of peace I am here to lay before you, with the request that you act upon it without delay.”
Julian produced his roll of papers. The two men remained motionless. The great issue had been reached with almost paralysing rapidity.
“My advice,” Mr. Hannaway Wells said bluntly, “is that you, sir,”—turning to his Chief—“refuse to discuss or consider these proposals, or to examine that document. I submit that you are the head of His Majesty’s Government, and any communication emanating from a foreign country should be addressed to you. If you ever consider this matter and discuss it with Mr. Orden here, you associate yourself with a traitorous breach of the law.”