THE FOURTH DIMENSION
the least necessity for any solicitor. Five minutes' quiet talk would have settled everything."
I returned to the correspondence. The Great Buchonian regretted that, owing to pressure of business, none of their directors could accept Mr. W. Sargent's invitation to run down and discuss the difficulty. The Great Buchonian was careful to point out that no animus underlay their action, nor was money their object. Their duty was to protect the interests of their line, and these interests could not be protected if a precedent were established whereby any of the Queen's subjects could stop a train in mid-career. Again (this was another branch of the correspondence, not more than five heads of departments being concerned), the Company admitted that there was some reasonable doubt as to the duties of express-trains in all crises, and the matter was open to settlement by process of law till an authoritative ruling was obtained—from the House of Lords, if necessary.
"That broke me all up," said Wilton, who was reading over my shoulder. "I knew I 'd struck the British Constitution at last. The House of Lords—my Lord! And, anyway, I 'm not one of the Queen's subjects."
"Why, I had a notion that you 'd got yourself naturalised."
Wilton blushed hotly as he explained that very many things must happen to the British Constitution ere he took out his papers.
"How does it all strike you?" he said. "Is n't the Great Buchonian crazy?"
"I don't know. You 've done something that no one
[349]
