sented the defendant Duchess with three special creations, to
be worn, marked, learned, and extensively reported at various critical
stages of the trial; and as for the cinematograph agents, their industry
and persistence was untiring. Films representing the Duke saying good-
bye to his favourite canary on the eve of the trial were in readiness
weeks before the event was due to take place; other films depicted the
Duchess holding imaginary consultations with fictitious lawyers or making
a light repast off specially advertised vegetarian sandwiches during a
supposed luncheon interval. As far as human foresight and human
enterprise could go nothing was lacking to make the trial a success.

Two days before the case was down for hearing the advance reporter of an
important syndicate obtained an interview with the Duke for the purpose
of gleaning some final grains of information concerning his Grace's
personal arrangements during the trial.

"I suppose I may say this will be one of the biggest affairs of its kind
during the lifetime of a generation," began the reporter as an excuse for
the unsparing minuteness of detail that he was about to make quest for.

"I suppose so--if it comes off," said the Duke lazily.

"If?" queried the reporter, in a voice that was something between a gasp
and a scream.

"The Duchess and I are both thinking of going on strike," said the Duke.

"Strike!"

The baleful word flashed out in all its old hideous familiarity. Was
there to be no end to its recurrence?

"Do you mean," faltered the reporter, "that you are contemplating a
mutual withdrawal of the charges?"

"Precisely," said the Duke.

"But think of the arrangements that have been made, the special
reporting, the cinematographs, the catering for the distinguished foreign
witnesses, the prepared music-hall allusions; think of all the money that
has been sunk--"

"Exactly," said the Duke coldly, "the Duchess and I have realised that it
is we who provide the material out of which this great far-reaching
industry has been built up. Widespread employment will be given and
enormous profits made during the duration of the case, and we, on whom
all the stress and racket falls, will get--what? An unenviable notoriety
and the privilege of paying heavy legal expenses whichever way the
verdict goes. Hence our decision to strike. We don't wish to be
reconciled; we fully realise that it is a grave step to take, but unless
we get some re