is adjourned," he announced harshly.

Cross himself did not move.

"Adjourned or not it may be, Mr. Fenn," he said, "but it's no place of
yours to speak for it. You've thrust yourself into that chair, but that
don't make you chairman, now or at any other time."

Fenn choked down the words which had seemed to tremble on his lips. His
enemies he knew, but there were others here who might yet be neutral.

"If I have assumed more than I should have done, I am sorry," he
said. "I brought you news which I was in a hurry to deliver. The rest
followed."

The little company rose to their feet and moved towards the door,
exchanging whispered comments concerning the news which Catherine had
brought. She herself crossed the room and confronted Fenn.

"There is still something to be said about that news," she declared.

Fenn's attempt at complete candour was only partially convincing.

"There is not the slightest reason," he declared, "why anything
concerning Julian Orden should be concealed from any member of the
Council who desires information. If you will follow me into my private
room, Miss Abbeway, and you, Furley, I shall be glad to tell you our
exact position. And if the Bishop will accompany you," he added, turning
to the latter, "I shall be honoured."

Furley made no reply, but, whispering something in Catherine's ear, took
up his hat and left the room. The other two, however, took Fenn at his
word, followed him into his room, accepted the chairs which he placed
for them, and waited while he spoke through a telephone to the private
exchange situated in the building.

"They tell me," he announced, as he laid down the instrument, "that
Bright has this moment returned and is now on his way upstairs."

Catherine shivered.

"Is Mr. Bright that awful-looking person who came to the last Council
meeting?"

"He is probably the person you mean," Fenn assented. "He takes very
little interest in our executive work, but he is one of the most
brilliant scientists of this or any other generation. The Government
has already given him three laboratories for his experiments, and nearly
every gas that is being used at the Front has been prepared according to
his formula."

"A master of horrors," the Bishop murmured.

"He looks it," Catherine whispered under her breath.

There was a knock at the door, a moment or two later, and Bright
entered. He was a little over medium height, with long and lanky figure,
a pronounced stoo