“The Government,” the Bishop replied, “are the agents of the people. The people in this case wish to deal direct.”
“Because the Government is composed wholly of politicians, politicians who, in far too many speeches, have pledged themselves to too many definite things. Still, the Government will have its chance.”
“Explain to me,” Julian asked, “why, if you are a patriotic society, you are in secret and illegal communication with Germany?”
“The Germany with whom we are in communication,” the Bishop assured his questioner, “is the Germany who thinks as we do.”
“Then you are on a wild-goose chase,” Julian declared, “because the Germans who think as you do are in a hopeless minority.”
“I have you, Julian,” he said. “That very belief which you have just expressed is our justification, because it is the common belief throughout the country. I can prove to you that you are mistaken--can prove it, with the help of that very packet which is responsible for your incarceration here.”
“That packet,” the Bishop declared, “contains the peace terms formulated by the Socialist and Labour parties of Germany.”
“Worth precisely the paper it is written on?” Julian scoffed.
“And ratified,” the Bishop continued emphatically, “by the three great men of Germany, whose signatures are attached to that document--the Kaiser, the Chancellor and Hindenburg.”
“Do you seriously mean,” he asked, “that those signatures are attached to proposals of peace formulated by the Socialist and Labour parties of Germany?”
“I do indeed,” was the confident reply. “If the terms are not what we have been led to expect, or if the signatures are not there, the whole affair is at an end.”
“You are telling me wonderful things, sir,” Julian confessed, after a brief pause.
“I am telling what you will discover yourself to be the truth,” the Bishop insisted. “And, Julian, I am appealing to you not only for the return of that packet, but for your sympathy, your help, your partisanship. You can guess now what has happened. Your anonymity has come to an end. The newly formed Council of Labour, to which we all belong, is eager and anxious to welcome you.”
“Has any one given me away?” Julian asked.
“The truth was discovered this evening, when your rooms were searched,” she explained.