through at a wonderful speed. The fact of the matter
was that the guns were talking--talking within earshot of Palace Yard
itself, and so men had come to choose their words and make them few.

After the introductions had been made the man who really held the fate
of the world in his hands took a long envelope out of the breast-pocket
of his coat, and proceeded to explain, somewhat as a schoolmaster might
explain to his class, the doom which would overwhelm humanity on the
12th May 1910.

He was listened to in absolute silence, because his hearers were men who
had good reason for believing that silence is often worth a good deal
more than speech. When he had finished the rustle of his papers as he
handed them to the Prime Minister was distinctly audible in the solemn
silence. The Prime Minister folded them up, and said:

"There is no necessity for us to go into the figures again. I think we
are prepared to take them on the strength of your reputation, Mr
Lennard.

"We have asked you here to-night as an adviser, as a man who in more
ways than one sees farther than we can. Now, what is your advice? You
are aware, I presume, that the German Emperor, the Czar of Russia and
the French President landed at Dover this morning, and have issued an
ultimatum from Canterbury, calling upon us to surrender London, and
discuss terms of peace in the interests of humanity. Now, you occupy a
unique point of view. You have told us in your letters that unless a
miracle happens the human race will not survive midnight of the 12th of
May next. We believe that you are right, and now, perhaps, you will be
good enough to let us have your opinions as to what should be done in
the immediate present."

"My opinion is, sir, that for at least forty days you must fight, no
matter how great the odds may appear to be. Every ditch and hedgerow,
every road and lane, every hill and copse must be defended. If London
falls, England falls, and with it the Empire."

"But how are we to do it?" exclaimed Lord Kitchener. "With these
infernal airships flying about above it, and dropping young earthquakes
from the clouds? There are no braver men on earth than ours, but it
isn't human nature to keep steady under that kind of punishment. Look
what they've done already in London! What is there to prevent them, for
instance, from dropping a shell through the roof of this house, and
blowing the lot of us to eternity in little pieces? It's not the
slightest use tr