."

"They concern my conscience," was the grave reply. "Ours is an earnest
spiritual effort for peace, a taking away from the hands of the
politicians of a great human question which they have proved themselves
unable to handle. We should look, therefore, with peculiar care to the
means we adopt."

Nicholas Fenn nodded. He lit a very pungent cigarette from a paper
packet by his side.

"You and I, Bishop," he said, "are pacifists in the broadest meaning of
the word, but that does not mean that we may not sometimes have to
use force to attain our object. We have a department which alone is
concerned with the dealing of such matters. It is that department which
has undertaken the forwarding and receipt of all communications between
ourselves and our friends across the North Sea. Its operations are
entirely secret, even from the rest of the Council. It will deal with
Julian Orden. It is best for you not to interfere, or even to have
cognisance of what is going on."

"I cannot agree," the Bishop protested. "An act of unchristian violence
would be a flaw in the whole superstructure which we are trying to build
up."

"Let us discuss some other subject," Fenn proposed.

"Pardon me," was the firm reply. "I have come here to discuss this one."

Nicholas Fenn looked down at the table. His expression was not
altogether pleasant.

"Your position with us, sir," he said, "although much appreciated, does
not warrant your interference in executive details."

"Nevertheless," the Bishop insisted, "you must please treat me
reasonably in this matter, Mr. Fenn. Remember I am not altogether
extinct as a force amongst your followers. I have three mass meetings
to address this week, and there is the sermon next Sunday at Westminster
Abbey, at which it has been agreed that I shall strike the first note
of warning. I am a helper, I believe, worth considering, and there is no
man amongst you who risks what I risk."

"Exactly what are you asking from me?" Fenn demanded, after a moment's
deliberation.

"I wish to know the whereabouts and condition of Julian Orden."

"The matter is one which is being dealt with by our secret service
department," Fenn replied, "but I see no reason why I should not give
you all reasonable information. The young man in question asked for
trouble, and to a certain extent he has found it."

"I understand," the Bishop reminded his companion, "that he has very
nearly, if not altogether, compromised himself