ncil of Labour, to which we all
belong, is eager and anxious to welcome you."
"Has any one given me away?" Julian asked.
Catherine shook her head.
"The truth was discovered this evening, when your rooms were searched,"
she explained.
"What is the constitution of this Council of Labour?" Julian enquired, a
little dazed by this revelation.
"It is the very body of men which you yourself foreshadowed," the Bishop
replied eagerly. "Twenty of the members are elected by the Trades Unions
and represent the great industries of the Empire; and there are three
outsiders--Miss Abbeway, Miles Furley and myself. If you, Julian, had
not been so successful in concealing your identity, you would have been
the first man to whom the Council would have turned for help. Now that
the truth is known, your duty is clear. The glory of ending this war
will belong to the people, and it is partly owing to you that the people
have grown to realise their strength."
"My own position at the present moment," Julian began, a little
grimly!!!!!
"You have no one to blame for that but yourself," Catherine interrupted.
"If we had known who you were, do you suppose that we should have
allowed these men to deal with you in such a manner? Do you suppose that
I should not have told you the truth about that packet? However, that is
over. You know the truth now. We five are all members of the Council who
are sitting practically night and day, waiting--you know what for. Do
not keep us in suspense any longer than you can help. Tell us where to
find this letter?"
Julian passed his hand over his forehead a little wearily.
"I am confused," he admitted. "I must think. After all, you are engaged
in a conspiracy. Stenson's Cabinet may not be the strongest on earth, or
the most capable, but Stenson himself has carried the burden of this war
bravely."
"If the terms offered," the Bishop pointed out, "are anything like what
we expect, they are better than any which the politicians could ever
have mooted, even after years more of bloodshed. It is my opinion that
Stenson will welcome them, and that the country, generally speaking,
will be entirely in favour of their acceptance."
"Supposing," Julian asked, "that you think them reasonable, that you
make your demand to the Prime Minister, and he refuses. What then?"
"That," Fenn intervened, with the officious air of one who has been left
out of the conversation far too long, "is where we come in. At ou
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