That is the "secret history" of the Government's sudden and inexplicable conversion to the necessity of the Minimum Wage Bill and to the propriety of imposing the Personal Property Tax. A fortnight later the Prime Minister outlined the programme in the course of a speech at Newcastle. The announcement was received almost with stupefaction. For the first time in history, property--money, merchandise, personal belongings--was to be saddled with an annual tax apart from, and in addition to, the tax it paid on the incomes derived from it. It was an entire wedge of the extreme policy that must end in Partition. It was more than the poorer classes had dared to hope; it was more than the tax-paying classes had dared to fear. It marked a new era of extended privilege for the one; it marked the final extinction of hope even among the hopeful for the other. "It could not have happened more opportunely for us even if we had arranged it in every detail," declared Hampden, going into Salt's room with the tidings in huge delight, a fortnight later. "No," agreed Salt, looking up with his slow, pleasant smile. "Not even if we had arranged it." CHAPTER X THE ORDER OF ST MARTIN OF TOURS Sir John Hampden paused for a moment with arrested pen. He had been in the act of crossing off another day on the calendar that hung inside his desk, the last detail before he pulled the roll-top down for the night, when the date had caught his eye with a sudden meaning. "A week to-day, Salt," he remarked, looking up. "A week to-day," repeated Salt. "That gives us seven more days for details." Hampden laughed quietly as he bent forward and continued the red line through the "14." "That is one way of looking at it," he said. "Personally, I was rather wishing that it had been to-day. I confess that I cannot watch the climax of these two years approaching without feeling keyed up to concert pitch. I suppose that you never had any nerves?" "I suppose not. If I had, the Atlantic water soon washed them out." "But you are superstitious?" he asked curiously. It suddenly occurred to him how little he really knew of the man with whom he was linked in such a momentous hazard. "Oh yes. Blue water inoculates us all with that. Fortunately, mine does not go beyond trifles, such as touching posts and stepping over paving stones--a hobby and not a passion, or I should have to curb it." "Do you really do things like that? Well, I remember Northland, the great nerve specialist, telling me that most people have something of the sort--a persistent feeling of impending calamity unless they conform to some trivial impulse. I am exempt." "Yes," commented Salt; "or you would hardly be likely to cross off the date before the day is over." "Good Heavens!" exclaimed Hampden. "What an age we live in! Is it tannin or the dregs of paganism? And you think it would be tempting Providence to do it while there are five more hours to run?"