It might havebeen some great historical tableau set
out at Madame Tussauds.
An hour or even more might be spent in this way.
Commander Benworthy hovered huge andprotective above him. The Council included all
that was best among the leaders of Englishlife.
His stylecan be best described as one of colossal
simplicity. The Lord Paramount heard himselfdenounced as the spirit of
unrighteousness.
A little speechifying followed, heard eagerly but
impatiently.
Commander Benworthy hovered huge andprotective
above him.
His bearing had the unsubduedaggressiveness of an
unsmacked childs. Again a moment of expectation; every face in that
quintessentialassembly intent. He was evidently looking about him forsupport. It was
impossible to leave things at that point; some immediateaction was needed. The timid
man shrunk away, and others more resolute obeyed theMasters behests. The statement
was soperfectly lucid, so direct and compact. Women members were addressed
affectionatelyby their Christian names when these were known.
It was impossible to leave things at that point;
some immediateaction was needed. It was amazing that the Albert Hall couldhave held
so many earnest and vigorous people. I know what you think at this moment, but,
believe me, itwill be with the consent of France.
Now that margin has increased to eleven ortwelve
per cent.
The great majority of the memberspresent were
silently agape. League of Duty, suggested Hereward Jackson, jammed close to
theMaster.
For Direct Action couldbe a great and glorious
thing.
Sometimes, but rarely, their suggestions would be
allowed to swaythe course of the national policy.
Europe draws together under pressure from theEast
and from the West. And knowing your answer to be what it must be, thenplainly the
time for Duty and Action is now.
It really does not matter in the least whether she
isCzarist or Bolshevik. He found himself in a little ante-room,and Hereward Jackson
was offering him a glass of water.
Yet he was sensible of fatigue and oddly enough of
just one fainttwinge of anxiety.
The Lord Paramount paused and did his best to
ignore the one flawupon that perfect gathering. A tariff is amethod of substituting
an inconvenient production for a convenientone. And knowing your answer to be what
it must be, thenplainly the time for Duty and Action is now. The procedure was very
simple and straightforward. Two bodyguards came forward and placed themselves at
either elbowof the Speaker.
Many of the conservatives were frankly sympathetic
with the LordParamount.
The age-long feud of the Rhineland drawsto an
end.
Heturned half-face to the government
benches.
The mighty barons of the popular press were there,
andprominently Lord Bothermey. His bearing had the unsubduedaggressiveness of an
unsmacked childs. Cries and confusion, and then out of it all the words,
DutyParamount!