will accept the post of spokesman--whether you will be the
ambassador who shall approach the Government."

"But they may not elect me," he objected.

"They will," she replied confidently. "It was you who showed them their
power. It is you whose inspiration has carried them along: It is you who
shall be their representative. Don't you realise," she went on, "that it
is the very association of such men as yourself and Miles Furley and the
Bishop with this movement which will endow it with reality in the eyes
of the bourgeoisie of the country and Parliament?"

Their host returned, followed by his butler carrying a tray with
refreshments, and the burden of serious things fell away from them. It
was only after Catherine had departed, and the two men lingered for a
moment near the fire before retiring, that either of them reverted to
the great subject which dominated their thoughts.

"You understand, Julian," the Bishop said, with a shade of anxiety in
his tone, "that I am in the same position as yourself so far as regards
the proposals which may lie within that envelope? I have joined this
movement--or conspiracy, as I suppose it would be called--on the one
condition that the terms pronounced there are such as a Christian and a
law-loving country, whose children have already made great sacrifices in
the cause of freedom, may honourably accept. If they are otherwise, all
the weight and influence I may have with the people go into the other
scale. I take it that it is so with you?"

"Entirely," Julian acquiesced. "To be frank with you," he added, "my
doubts are not so much concerning the terms of peace themselves as the
power of the German democracy to enforce them."

"We have relied a good deal," the Bishop admitted, "upon reports from
neutrals."

Julian smiled a little grimly.

"We have wasted a good many epithets criticising German diplomacy," he
observed, "but she seems to know how to hold most of the neutrals in
the hollow of her hand. You know what that Frenchman said? 'Scratch a
neutral and you find a German propaganda agent!'"

The Bishop led the way upstairs. Outside the door of Julian's room, he
laid his hand affectionately upon the young man's shoulder.

"My godson," he said, "as yet we have scarcely spoken of this great
surprise which you have given us--of Paul Fiske. All that I shall say
now is this. I am very proud to know that he is my guest to-night. I am
very happy to think that from tomorrow we sha