wn at the club," I said, "talking to Malcolmson about the plot--what
you'd call the situation I suppose. You can hardly be expected to
admit that there is a plot. Now, do tell me what you think about the
situation."

"Damn the situation!" said Gorman.

"That," I said, "seems the sensible view to take. Is it the one usually
held? Is that what they're saying up there?"

I pointed to the ceiling with my thumb. Somewhere above my head, it
might be supposed, statesmen with furrowed brows were taking anxious
counsel together for the safety of the nation, retiring now and then
when utterly exhausted, to damn the situation in private rooms.

"Some of them are a bit fussed," said Gorman. "Silly asses! But it isn't
that wretched business that I wanted to speak to you about."

"Good gracious! Do you mean to say that you can talk of anything else?
that you didn't ring me up to tell me what will happen?"

"Nothing will happen," said Gorman. "Two or three muddled-headed young
fools at the Curragh will get court-martialled. That's all. What I
wanted to see you about is this new invention of Tim's. There's really
something in it."

"Gorman," I said. "You're fiddling while Rome is burning. How can you
reconcile it to your conscience to play with cinematographs when a
horrible conspiracy is threatening life and liberty?"

"Surely," said Gorman, "you don't really believe that we plotted, as
they call it, to murder people in Belfast?"

"I don't know whether you did or not," I said. "But that's not the
conspiracy I'm alluding to. Look here."

I pulled out of my pocket the three papers which I had meant for Lady
Kingscourt and showed Gorman the articles about the fashionable ladies
seducing soldiers.

"You can't expect our side," I said, "to sit down under this kind of
thing without a struggle. We shall make counter accusations. I shall do
it myself if nobody else does. I'm warning you beforehand, Gorman, so
that you won't be surprised when you find your character in rags."

Gorman looked at his watch.

"I know you like talking that sort of nonsense," he said, "and I don't
mind listening, not a bit; but just let me ask you this before you
start. Will you come down with me this evening and see Tim's invention?
If you will I'll order a motor from Harrod's or somewhere, and we'll run
down after dinner. There's no use going in broad daylight, for we can't
see the thing properly till after dark."

"I shall be delighted," I said.