Part 36 (1/2)
”Of course; why else has he done it? It's really clever; that's what I can't get over, he has done a clever thing!”
”Who can have put it into his head?”
”It is the most unjustifiable stretch of the royal prerogative that ever I heard of.”
”There's no prerogative about it; it's sheer revolution and rebellion.”
”An attack on the Const.i.tution, I call it.”
Thus they talked.
”Strange!” murmured Professor Teller, irritating them with his philosophic tone and his detached air,--”strange that when it threatens itself with extinction monarchy becomes powerful.”
”It is no question of extinction,” said the Prime Minister tetchily; ”we should still have his successor to deal with; and Prince Max, I can tell you, gentlemen, is a very dark horse. You all know what happened three months ago; and now, within the last week, we have learned that he is publis.h.i.+ng a book--a revolutionary book with his own name to it. You may take it from me that if he comes to the throne our present scheme for the evolution of the Cabinet system will be over. Anything may happen!
Read his book and you will understand.”
”Has any one yet seen it?”
”A privately procured copy has been shown me; it was by the merest chance we heard of it. I could only read it very hurriedly in the small hours; it had to go back where it came from.”
”Is it a serious matter?”
”Perfectly appalling.”
”And are you going to allow it to be published?”
”How can we prevent? It is being printed abroad.”
And then spoke the Prefect of the Police, holding technical place upon the Council as Minister of Secret Service.
”Over the present edition, gentlemen, you may make your minds quite easy. I have received intelligence that last night the establishment at which it was being printed was burned to the ground.”
The Premier cast a keen and confidential glance at his colleague.
”How much does that involve?” he asked.
”Only the insurance company, I should suppose.”
”I meant of the book?”
”Oh! everything except the ma.n.u.script. There will be no publication this year at any rate.”
”I make you my compliments,” said the Prime Minister, ”on the particularity and speed with which your department has become informed.
That at all events gives us time.”
”And meanwhile?”
”I must see the King immediately. It is no use our remaining here to discuss a situation that is not yet explained. The first thing to find out is whether this has gone any further; but I do not think his Majesty really means it as anything more than a threat.”