notorious Mr.
Storm--"Father" Storm, for he was drawing the people into the Roman
obedience. The man was bringing religion into ridicule and contempt, and
it was the duty of all who loved their mother Church----

"Pardon me, Mr. Archdeacon, we have nothing to do with that," said the
Minister. "You should go to your Bishop. Surely he is the proper
person----"

"We've been, sir," said the Archdeacon, and then followed an explanation
of the Bishop's powerlessness. The Church provided no funds to protect a
Bishop from legal proceedings in inhibiting a vicar guilty of this
ridiculous kind of conduct. "But the man comes within the power of the
secular authorities, sir. He is constantly inciting people to assemble
unlawfully to the danger of the public peace."

"How? How?"

"Well, he is a fanatic, a lunatic, and has put out monstrous and
ridiculous predictions about the destruction of London, causing
disorderly crowds to assemble about his church. The thoroughfares are
blocked, and people are pushed about and assaulted. Indeed, things have
come to such a pass that now--to-day----"

"Pardon me again, Mr. Archdeacon, but this seems to be a simple matter
for the police. Why didn't you go to the Commissioner at Scotland Yard?"

"We did, sir, but he said--you will hardly believe it, but he actually
affirmed--that as the man had been guilty of no overt act of
sedition----"

"Precisely--that would be my view too."

"And are we, sir, to wait for a riot, for death, for murder, before the
law can be put in motion? Is there no precedent for proceeding before
anything serious--I may say alarming----"

"Well, gentlemen," said the Minister, glancing impatiently at his watch,
"I can only promise you that the matter shall have proper attention. The
Commissioner shall be seen, and if a summons----"

"It is too late for that now, sir. The man is a dangerous madman and
should be arrested and put under restraint."

"I confess I don't quite see what he has done; but if----"

The Archdeacon drew himself up. "Because a clergyman is well
connected--has high official connections indeed----But surely it is
better that one man should be put under control, whoever he is, than that
the whole Church and nation should be endangered and disgraced."

"Ah----H'm!----H'm! I think I've heard that sentiment before somewhere,
Mr. Archdeacon. But I'll not detain you now. If a warrant is
necessary----" and with vague promises and plausible speeches