e sees now that the rapid
growth among us of selfish irresponsibility and repudiation of national
obligations was the root cause of that change in public behaviour which
I saw clearly enough, once it had been suggested to me by Constance
Grey's question.

I saw that, among the tens of thousands of noisy promenaders of both
sexes who filled the streets, and impeded traffic at all crossings, the
class which had always been rowdily inclined was now far more rowdy, and
that its ranks were reinforced, doubled in strength, by recruits from a
class which, a few years before, had been proverbially noted for its
decorous and decent reserve. And this was Sunday Night. I learned
afterwards that the clergy had preached to practically empty churches. A
man we met in _The Times_ office told us of this, and my companion's
comment was:

"Yes, even their religion has less meaning for them than their pleasure;
and, with religion a dead letter, the spirit that won Trafalgar and
armed the Thames against Napoleon, must be dead and buried."

The news we received at _The Times_ office was extraordinary. It seemed
there was no longer room for the smallest doubt that a large portion of
East Anglia was actually occupied by a German army. Positive details of
information could not be obtained.

"The way the coastal districts have been hermetically sealed against
communication, and the speed and thoroughness with which the occupation
has been accomplished, will remain, I believe, the most amazing episode
in the history of warfare," said the solemn graybeard, to whom I had
been presented by Constance Grey. (If he had known that I was the
assistant editor of _The Mass_, I doubt if this Mr. Poole-Smith would
have consented to open his mouth in my presence. But my obscurity and
his importance combined to shelter me, and I was treated with confidence
as the friend of a respected contributor.)

"Already we know enough to be certain that the enemy has received
incalculably valuable assistance from within. I am afraid there will
presently be only too much evidence of the blackest kind of treachery
from British subjects, members of one or other among the anti-National
coteries. But in the meantime, we hear of extraordinary things
accomplished by aliens employed in this country, many of them in
official capacities. We have learned through the Great Eastern Railway
Company, and through one or two shipping houses, of huge consignments of
stores, and, I m