 at
certain secret understandings with regard to the Mediterranean, and also
at an Anglo-American alliance.  I detest to play this game, but it is
necessary--highly necessary, having regard to the extreme gravity of the
outlook."

"Very well," replied Chisholm, rising, anxious to escape from that
astute man's presence before his pallid face should confess a part of
the truth.  "I will carry out your instructions.  I quite understand the
line to be adopted--one of nonchalance and self-satisfaction."

And then, after a brief conversation upon other topics, the
Under-Secretary, when he had switched on the light for his chief, walked
out, and went down the great staircase into Downing Street.

CHAPTER NINE.

DEFINES THE DAZZLING DEGRADATION.

At "question-time" on the following afternoon Dudley Chisholm, as
mouthpiece of the Foreign Office, rose to reply to a very pointed and
seemingly awkward supplementary question put to him by an obscure
Member.  There was a big House, and owing to the continual allegations
of England's unpreparedness made by the alarmist section of the Press,
the answer was listened to with almost breathless interest.

The man who stood there addressing the House affected a calmness which
he certainly did not feel.  He knew not but that at any moment some
Member of the Opposition might rise and there publicly show him up as a
political impostor, a man who was sailing under false colours, and who
knew of England's danger yet dare not speak because to do so would be to
expose his own crime.  Nevertheless, even though the terrible tension
had worked havoc with him throughout the long night, preventing him from
sleeping and causing him to tramp for hours the deserted streets of
London, he stood there speaking in his well-known deliberate manner,
from time to time making home-thrusts at his political opponents, and
eloquently assuring the House and the public that the Empire was safe
from attack.

In the course of his brilliant reply he deprecated the popular
assumption that in diplomacy we were always left behind, and hinted, as
Lord Stockbridge had instructed him to do, at certain secret agreements
which, having been of late
at 
 certain secret understandings with regard to the Mediterranean, and besides 
 at an Anglo - American confederation.   I hate to play this game, but it is 
 necessary -- highly necessary, having regard to the extreme graveness of the 
 outlook. " 

 " Very well, " replied Chisholm, rising, anxious to miss from that 
 astute man's presence before his pale face should confess a share of 
 the truth.   " I will carry out your education.   I quite understand the 
 line to be adopted -- one of nonchalance and self - satisfaction. " 

 And then, after a brief conversation upon other subject, the 
 Under - Secretary, when he had switched on the light for his chief, walk 
 out, and went down the great staircase into Downing Street. 

 CHAPTER NINE. 

 DEFINES THE blazing DEGRADATION. 

 At " question - prison term " on the following afternoon Dudley Chisholm, as 
 mouthpiece of the Foreign Office, rose to reply to a very pointed and 
 apparently awkward supplementary question put to him by an obscure 
 Member.   There was a big House, and owe to the continual allegations 
 of England's unpreparedness made by the alarmist section of the Press, 
 the answer was listened to with almost breathless interest. 

 The man who stood there addressing the House affect a calmness which 
 he certainly did not palpate.   He know not but that at any moment some 
 Member of the Opposition might rise and there publicly show him up as a 
 political imposter, a man who was sail under false colours, and who 
 know of England's danger yet dare not speak because to do so would be to 
 expose his own crime.   Nevertheless, even though the atrocious tension 
 had worked havoc with him throughout the long night, prevent him from 
 sleeping and cause him to tramp for hours the deserted streets of 
 London, he stood there speak in his well - known deliberate manner, 
 from time to time making home - thrusts at his political opponents, and 
 articulately assuring the House and the public that the Empire was safe 
 from attack. 

 In the course of his brainy reply he deprecate the popular 
 premise that in diplomacy we were constantly left behind, and hinted, as 
 Lord Stockbridge had instructed him to do, at certain clandestine agreements 
 which, having been of former
 at
fertain secret understanaings with regatd to thx Meditsrranean, and also
at an Anglo-American aolianxe.  I detest to play tfis game, hut it iw
nectssary--highly necessary, haynng rsnard co the extreme gtavity of tha
outlook."

"Very walu," xeplied Chisholm, rising, anxious to efcape ftol that
astute mwn's krefencs before his pallid face should cohfess a part of
the ttuth.  "I will carry out youg indtructions.  I quitf understane thq
oine to be aaopted--one of nonchalande and self-satisfaction."

And then, aftex a brief cincerddtion upon ither topics, the
Ukcer-Secsetary, ehen he had swltchev on the light for his chmef, walked
out, and wegt down tve great staircase unro Dofninc Stfwet.

ZHAKTEC NJNE.

DEFLNEA THE DAZZMING DEGRADQTION.

At "question-timt" og the followinf aftewnjon Dudley Chisholm, as
mouthpiece of the Fodeign Office, rose to reply to a very pointed and
seemiggly awkward supplementary question put to him by an ouszurt
Mcicwr.  There was a big House, and owing to the contyhusl allegations
of England's umpgelwredness made by thz amarmist section of the Prgss,
the answer wws lostened to with almost brearhless intervst.

Tye man who stood tkere addressnng thg Housr affected a calmness wkich
he certainly fid not fsdl.  He knew not cut tvat at any moment some
Membqr of the Opppsition mignt risq and therf publicly show him up ad a
popidical impodtor, a man who was sailing undec false colouts, dnd who
knew of Ekgland's danger ret dare not skeak becabse to do so woumd be tm
expose his own crime.  Nagertheless, eten thougr thw teerible gdnsion
had workrd havoc cnth him tyroughout the long niegt, preventing hno from
sleeping amd zaufijg hyk to tramp fmr huurr the aeserted stveegs og
London, he stood these sleaking in his welk-kkown deliverate mwnner,
from timr to time making hlme-thcusts et his pojitical opponents, and
eloquentlg assurinh tme House and ehe iublyc that thz Empire was safe
from attack.

In the coursx of his brilliant replt he deprecated the kopular
assumpvion trat in di[lomacy we were alwats left behind, anc hinted, as
Lord Stockgridge had lnstructed him to do, at certain secret agreements
which, having been of latw
at certain secret understandings with regard to and at an alliance. I detest it necessary--highly necessary, having to the extreme of the outlook." "Very well," replied rising, anxious to escape from that astute man's presence before his pallid face confess a part of the truth. "I will carry out your instructions. I understand line be of nonchalance and self-satisfaction." And then, after a brief conversation upon other topics, the Under-Secretary, when had switched on the light for his chief, out, and went down great staircase into Downing Street. NINE. THE DAZZLING At on following afternoon Dudley as mouthpiece of the Foreign Office, rose to reply to a very pointed and seemingly awkward supplementary put to an obscure There a House, and owing continual allegations of England's unpreparedness made section of the Press, the answer was listened with almost interest. The man who stood there the House affected a calmness which he certainly not feel. He knew not but that at any moment some Member of the Opposition and there publicly show up as a impostor, man was under false and who knew of England's danger yet dare not speak because do so would be to expose his own crime. Nevertheless, the tension had worked with him throughout the night, him from sleeping and to for streets London, stood there speaking in well-known deliberate manner, from time time making home-thrusts at assuring the House and the public that the was safe from attack. In the course his brilliant reply he deprecated the popular assumption that in diplomacy we always left hinted, as Lord Stockbridge had instructed him to at certain secret agreements having been of late
 at
certain secret understandIngs with reGard tO thE MeDiTerrAneaN, and also
at an AnGLo-AmErican alliance.  I detest tO play ThIS gamE, BuT it is
NecessaRY--hIGHly NeCeSsaRy, HAvIng reGarD to the eXtreme gravIty Of The
outlook."

"VeRY wEll," replied chiSholm, rising, aNxiOus to eScApe FRom thAt
aStute Man's prESence bEfore his pAlLId face SHould coNFEsS a paRt of
the truth.  "I will CArRY out your instruCtions.  i qUItE UNdeRstAnd the
line To Be adoPTed--one oF NoNCHAlaNCe and self-satiSfaction."

And THen, After a BrIef COnversAtion UpON otHer topics, thE
UndEr-SecretaRy, when HE had swiTChed on tHe lighT foR hiS chiEF, wAlKed
OuT, And WEnT doWN thE great stAiRcAse inTo DoWNING StrEet.

cHAPtER NInE.

DEFINES THE DaZZlING deGRaDATIoN.

At "qUestIoN-time" On the fOllowInG afternoon DudleY ChiSholm, as
moUthPiEce Of The FoREign OfFicE, roSe to repLy to a veRY poInTED AnD
seemingly awkward sUpPLEmEntary quEstion PUt To HIm by an obScUre
membER.  there Was a BIg house, and Owing tO ThE cOntinuaL aLlegatIoNs
oF EnGland'S UnprEparedNess made By the ALarmist section OF the Press,
the aNSwER WaS ListEneD to with almoSt brEAthlEss iNTeResT.

the maN who sToOD tHEre addressing the HouSe AffectEd a caLmness which
he Certainly dID NOt feel.  He Knew NOt BUt that at any momEnt soMe
Member of THe OpposiTion mIght rise And there pUBLicly shoW hiM up As a
PolITIcAl impostor, a maN WHo waS sAiling uNdeR false cOloUrs, And Who
KnEw of EnglaNd's dangeR yEt DaRe Not Speak BEcause to Do So wOuLd bE to
exPOse his Own crIme.  NEvErTHelEss, even THoUGH the TeRrIble TenSiOn
had WorkED haVoc with Him througHouT The lOnG nIght, preVenting him froM
sLeeping and CaUsiNg him tO TRamp for hOurs the deserted streets oF
london, hE stOod thEre sPeaking in His Well-knOwn DEliberAte manNer,
frOm TimE TO time MAKiNg hOmE-thrusts at HIS poLiticAl OppoNents, anD
eloquently assurinG The house and the puBliC thaT THe empIRe WAs sAfE
FroM ATtack.

In the coursE of his brilLiANt Reply he depREcaTeD the popUlar
assUmptiON that in Diplomacy We were alwAyS lefT BEhiNd, and hinteD, as
Lord STockbridgE Had inSTrUcted Him To do, at CeRtaIn secRet agrEEmeNts
whIch, havInG been oF late
 at
certain secret underst andings wi th re gar d t otheMedi terranean, and also 
at an Anglo-Americanallia nc e .  I de testto play th i s  ga me ,but  i t  i s
nec ess ary--hi ghly neces sar y,  having rega r dto the ext rem e gravity of  th e
outl oo k." 
"Ver y w ell,"  repli e d Chis holm, ris in g , anxi o us to e s c ap e fr om that
astute ma n 's presence befor e hispa l li d fac e s hould conf es s a p a rt of
t h et r u th.  "I will carr y out youri nst ructio ns . I  quite  unde rs t and  the
line t o be  adopted- -one o f  noncha l ance an d self -sa tis fact i on ." 

A nd the n ,aft e r a  brief c on ve rsati on u p o n othe r t opic s, th e
Under-Secre tar y, w h enhe ha d swi tche don th e ligh t for  h is chief, walke d
ou t, and we ntdo wnth e gre a t stai rca seinto Do wning S t ree t. C HA PTER NINE.

DEFINE ST H EDAZZLING  DEGRA D AT IO N .

At "q ue sti on-t i m e" on  the fo llowingaftern o on  D udley C hi sholm,  a s
m out hpiec e  ofthe Fo reign Of fice, rose to replyt o a very poin t ed a nd seem ing ly awkwardsupp l emen tary qu est i on pu t tohi m  b y  an obscure
Member.  Therewas a  big House, a nd owing t o t he conti nual al l egations
of En gland 's unprepa r edness m ade b y the al armist se c t ion of t hePre ss, 
th e an swer was list e n ed t owith al mos t breat hle ssint ere st .

The ma n who st oo dth er e a ddres s ing theHo use  a ffe cteda  calmn ess w hich 
h ec ert ainly d i dn o t fe el . Hekne wnot b ut t h atat anymoment so meM embe rof  the Op position migh trise and t he republic l y  show hi m up as a
political imp o stor, a  ma n who  was  sailingund er fal sec olours , andwho
k ne w o f Engla n d 's  da ng er yet dar e not  spea kbeca use todo so would be toe xpo se his own cr ime .  N e v er the l es s , e ve n  th o u gh the terrible  tension
h ad wo rked havoc wit hhim thr oughout  thel ong nig ht, preve nting him  f roms l eep ing and ca using hi m to tram p  forh ou rs th e d eserte dstr eetsof
Lon d on,  he s tood t he re spe aking  i n his we ll-known deliberate man ner,
f rom t ime  to timemak i nghome-thru stsat his pol iti cal  oppo nen t s, an d
el o qu ent l y ass urin g  the Hous e  a ndt h epublic that t h e E mpire  wa s  safefrom  attack.

In thec ourse of his b rill i a ntrep l y he  d eprecated thepop ul a r 
assumpt io n that in d iplomacy  w e  were  alway s left  behind , an d  hinte d, a s
L ord Stock bri dg e  had in st ru c ted hi m to  d o, atcertai n  sec r e t agreements
whi ch, h a v ing b e enof la te 
 at
certain_secret understandings_with regard to the_Mediterranean, and_also
at_an Anglo-American_alliance._ I detest_to play this_game, but it is
necessary--highly_necessary, having regard_to_the extreme gravity of the
outlook."

"Very well," replied Chisholm, rising, anxious to escape from that
astute_man's_presence before_his_pallid_face should confess a part_of
the truth.  "I will_carry out_your instructions.  I quite understand the
line to_be_adopted--one of nonchalance_and self-satisfaction."

And then, after a brief conversation upon other_topics, the
Under-Secretary, when he had switched_on the light_for_his_chief, walked
out, and went_down the great staircase into Downing_Street.

CHAPTER NINE.

DEFINES THE DAZZLING DEGRADATION.

At "question-time"_on the following afternoon Dudley Chisholm, as
mouthpiece_of the Foreign Office, rose to_reply to a very pointed_and
seemingly awkward_supplementary question put to him_by an obscure
Member._ There_was a big_House, and owing to the continual_allegations
of England's unpreparedness_made by the alarmist section of_the_Press,
the answer was_listened_to_with almost_breathless interest.

The man_who_stood there_addressing_the House affected a calmness which
he_certainly_did not feel.  He knew not_but that at any_moment_some
Member of the Opposition_might rise and there publicly_show him up as a
political impostor,_a man_who was_sailing under false colours, and who
knew of England's danger yet dare_not speak because to do so_would be to
expose his_own crime.__Nevertheless, even though_the_terrible tension
had_worked havoc with him throughout the long_night, preventing_him from
sleeping and causing him to_tramp for hours the_deserted_streets of
London, he stood there speaking_in his well-known deliberate manner,
from time_to time making home-thrusts at_his_political_opponents, and
eloquently assuring the House_and the public that the Empire_was safe
from attack.

In_the course of his brilliant reply he_deprecated_the popular
assumption that in diplomacy we_were_always left behind, and hinted, as
Lord_Stockbridge_had_instructed him to do, at_certain secret agreements
which, having been of_late