“That is not the worst of it,” chimed in Sir Borrall Carnes, who, as President of the Admiralty Division, knew more about shipping and seamen than all the rest. “German seamen swarm in our mercantile marine, and German pilots can do as they please with hundreds upon hundreds of British vessels.” “It’s monstrous! It’s madness!” declared Sir Gwilliam. “Yes, yes,” assented the Chief Justice. “I am disposed to endorse all you say. But that’s the business of the Admiralty and the Board of Trade. We, as guardians of civil order, and bound to preserve the King’s peace, must confine ourselves to our proper functions.” As his lordship ended, the electric light went out, and loud exclamations were followed by a curious silence, broken in a moment by the voice of Mr Justice Barling. “Why are his Majesty’s judges like the heathen?” he was asking. From a shadowed corner came the prompt reply of Mr Harrowden: “Because they sit in darkness.” “Lights, please; lights of some sort,” demanded Lord Malvern, testily. Alert attendants soon procured them--lamps and candles, always in readiness for an emergency, were brought in and placed on the great baize-covered table. At a sign from the Chief Justice there was a general move to the surrounding chairs. “The business of the meeting must not be delayed any longer,” said his lordship, looking round before he took the presidential chair. “Probably all who were summoned are now present?” “All but Sir Robert Hill,” said an attendant, who had checked the arrivals at the door. “It is very desirable that the Chief Commissioner should be here,” remarked the Master of the Rolls. A knock came on the door, and the attendant, opening it, had a whispered conversation with some one who could not be seen from the table. The attendant looked round: “My lord, Major Rollin, one of the Assistant Commissioners, is here.” “Let him come in,” said the Chief Justice, dropping wearily into his chair. The Assistant Commissioner advanced into the room, and it was noticed by all that, though self-possessed, he was extremely pale. “I regret to say, my lord, that Sir Robert cannot possibly be here.” The judges exchanged glances. Major Rollin hesitated a moment, and then continued: “The fact is, we have had a very urgent message over the wires from Windsor. A large demonstration of the Leaguers is being organised near the Castle, and every man that we can spare must be despatched there. The Chief Commissioner is now making the necessary arrangements. Your lordship will perhaps excuse me?” The Assistant Commissioner bowed and was gone almost before his hearers realised to the full the ominous information he had given them. At that moment the telephone bell began to ring. The face of the attendant, as he listened to the message, was watched by all with some anxiety. “Well?” demanded Sir Gwilliam. “What is the message?”