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the course of events had been nicknamed the Government of
the afternoon； was obliged to intervene with promptitude
and decision。 A strong force of Bluejackets was
despatched to Regent's Park to take over the temporarily
abandoned duties of the strikers。 Bluejackets were
chosen in preference to land forces； partly on account of
the traditional readiness of the British Navy to go
anywhere and do anything； partly by reason of the
familiarity of the average sailor with monkeys； parrots；
and other tropical fauna； but chiefly at the urgent
request of the First Lord of the Admiralty； who was
keenly desirous of an opportunity for performing some
personal act of unobtrusive public service within the
province of his department。
〃If he insists on feeding the infant jaguar himself；
in defiance of its mother's wishes； there may be another
by…election in the north；〃 said one of his colleagues；
with a hopeful inflection in his voice。 〃By…elections
are not very desirable at present； but we must not be
selfish。〃
As a matter of fact the strike collapsed peacefully
without any outside intervention。 The majority of the
keepers had become so attached to their charges that they
returned to work of their own accord。
And then the nation and the newspapers turned with a
sense of relief to happier things。 It seemed as if a new
era of contentment was about to dawn。 Everybody had
struck who could possibly want to strike or who could
possibly be cajoled or bullied into striking； whether
they wanted to or not。 The lighter and brighter side of
life might now claim some attention。 And conspicuous
among the other topics that sprang into sudden prominence
was the pending Falvertoon divorce suit。
The Duke of Falvertoon was one of those human HORS
D'OEUVRES that stimulate the public appetite for
sensation without giving it much to feed on。 As a mere
child he had been precociously brilliant； he had declined
the editorship of the ANGLIAN REVIEW at an age when most
boys are content to have declined MENSA； a table； and
though he could not claim to have originated the Futurist
movement in literature； his 〃Letters to a possible
Grandson；〃 written at the age of fourteen； had attracted
considerable notice。 In later days his brilliancy had
been less conspicuously displayed。 During a debate in
the House of Lords on affairs in Morocco； at a moment
when that country； for the fifth time in seven years； had
brought half Europe to the verge of war； he had
interpolated the remark 〃a little Moor and how much it
is；〃 but in spite of the encouraging reception accorded
to this one political utterance he was never tempted to a
further display in that direction。 It began to be
generally understood that he did not intend to supplement
his numerous town and country residences by living
overmuch in the public eye。
And then had come the unlooked…for tidings of the
imminent proceedings for divorce。 And such a divorce！
There were cross…suits and allegations and counter…
allegations； charges of cruelty and desertion； everything
in fact that was necessary to make the case one of the
most complicated and sensational of its kind。 And the
number of distinguished people involved or cited as
witnesses not only embraced both political parties in the
realm and several Colonial governors； but included an
exotic contingent from France； Hungary； the United States
of North America； and the Grand Duchy of Baden。 Hotel
accommodation of the more expensive sort began to
experience a strain on its resources。 〃It will be quite
like the Durbar without the elephants；〃 exclaimed an
enthusiastic lady who； to do her justice； had never seen
a Durbar。 The general feeling was one of thankfulness
that the last of the strikes had been got over before the
date fixed for the hearing of the great suit。
As a reaction from the season of gloom and
industrial strife that had just passed away the agencies
that purvey and stage…manage sensations laid themselves
out to do their level best on this momentous occasion。
Men who had made their reputations as special descriptive
writers were mobilised from distant corners of Europe and
the further side of the Atlantic in order to enrich with
their pens the daily printed records of the case； one
word…painter； who specialised in descriptions of how
witnesses turn pale under cross…examination； was summoned
hurriedly back from a famous and prolonged murder trial
in Sicily； where indeed his talents were being decidedly
wasted。 Thumb…nail artists and expert kodak manipulators
were retained at extravagant salaries； and special dress
reporters were in high demand。 An enterprising Paris
firm of costume builders presented the defendant Duchess
with three special creations； to be worn； marked；
learned； and extensively reported at various critical
stages of the trial； and as for the cinematograph agents；
their industry and persistence was untiring。 Films
representing the Duke saying good…bye to his favourite
canary on the eve of the trial were in readiness weeks
before the event was due to take place； other films
depicted the Duchess holding imaginary consultations with
fictitious lawyers or making a light repast off specially
advertised vegetarian sandwiches during a supposed
luncheon interval。 As far as human foresight and human
enterprise could go nothing was lacking to make the trial
a success。
Two days before the case was down for hearing the
advance reporter of an important syndicate obtained an
interview with the Duke for the purpose of gleaning some
final grains of information concerning his Grace's
personal arrangements during the trial。
〃I suppose I may say this will be one of the biggest
affairs of its kind during the lifetime of a generation；〃
began the reporter as an excuse for the unsparing
minuteness of detail that he was about to make quest for。
〃I suppose so … if it comes off；〃 said the Duke
lazily。
〃If？〃 queried the reporter； in a voice that was
something between a gasp and a scream。
〃The Duchess and I are both thinking of going on
strike；〃 said the Duke。
〃Strike！〃
The baleful word flashed out in all its old hideous
familiarity。 Was there to be no end to its recurrence？
〃Do you mean；〃 faltered the reporter； 〃that you are
contemplating a mutual withdrawal of the charges？〃
〃Precisely；〃 said the Duke。
〃But think of the arrangements that have been made；
the special reporting； the cinematographs； the catering
for the distinguished foreign witnesses； the prepared
music…hall allusions； think of all the money that has
been sunk … 〃
〃Exactly；〃 said the Duke coldly； 〃the Duchess and I
have realised that it is we who provide the material out
of which this great far…reaching industry has been built
up。 Widespread employment will be given and enormous
profits made during the duration of the case； and we； on
whom all the stress and racket falls； will get … what？
An unenviable notoriety and the privilege of paying heavy
legal expenses whichever way the verdict goes。 Hence our
decision to strike。 We don't wish to be reconciled； we
fully realise that it is a grave step to take； but unless
we get some reasonable consideration out of this vast
stream of wealth and industry that we have called into
being we intend coming out of court and staying out。
Good afternoon。〃
The news of this latest strike spread universal
dismay。 Its inaccessibility to the ordinary methods of
persuasion made it peculiarly formidable。 If the Duke
and Duchess persisted in being reconciled the Government
could hardly be called on to interfere。 Public opinion
in the shape of social ostracism might be brought to bear
on them； but that was as far as coercive measures could
go。 There was nothing for it but a conference； with
powers to propose liberal terms。 As it was； several of
the foreign witnesses had already departed and others had
telegraphed cancelling their hotel arrangements。
The conference； protracted； uncomfortable； and
occasionally acrimonious； succeeded at last in arranging
for a resumption of litigation； but it was a fruitless
victory。 The Duke； with a touch of his earlier
precocity； died of premature decay a fortnight before the
date fixed for the new trial。
THE ROMANCERS
IT was autumn in London； that blessed season between
the harshness of winter and the insincerities of summer；
a trustful season when one buys bulbs and sees to the
registration of one's vote； believing perpetually in
spring and a change of Government。
Morton Crosby sat on a bench in a secluded corner of
Hyde Park； lazily enjoying a cigarette and watching the
slow grazing promenade of a pair of snow…g