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asperity： 'a child was injured。'
'And that fitly brings me to my second point；' said Somerset。
'For I observed you to employ the word 〃indiscriminate。〃
Now； surely； a scavenger's barrow and a child （if child there
were） represent the very acme and top pin…point of
indiscriminate； and； pardon me； of ineffectual reprisal。'
'Did I employ the word？' asked Zero。 'Well； I will not
defend it。 But for efficiency； you touch on graver matters；
and before entering upon so vast a subject； permit me once
more to fill our glasses。 Disputation is dry work；' he
added； with a charming gaiety of manner。
Once more accordingly the pair pledged each other in a
stalwart grog； and Zero； leaning back with an air of some
complacency； proceeded more largely to develop his opinions。
'The indiscriminate？' he began。 'War； my dear sir； is
indiscriminate。 War spares not the child； it spares not the
barrow of the harmless scavenger。 No more；' he concluded；
beaming； 'no more do I。 Whatever may strike fear； whatever
may confound or paralyse the activities of the guilty nation；
barrow or child； imperial Parliament or excursion steamer； is
welcome to my simple plans。 You are not；' he inquired； with
a shade of sympathetic interest； 'you are not； I trust； a
believer？'
'Sir； I believe in nothing；' said the young man。
'You are then；' replied Zero； 'in a position to grasp my
argument。 We agree that humanity is the object； the glorious
triumph of humanity； and being pledged to labour for that
end； and face to face with the banded opposition of kings；
parliaments； churches； and the members of the force； who am I
… who are we； dear sir … to affect a nicety about the tools
employed？ You might； perhaps； expect us to attack the Queen；
the sinister Gladstone； the rigid Derby； or the dexterous
Granville； but there you would be in error。 Our appeal is to
the body of the people； it is these that we would touch and
interest。 Now； sir； have you observed the English
housemaid？'
'I should think I had；' cried Somerset。
'From a man of taste and a votary of art； I had expected it；'
returned the conspirator politely。 'A type apart； a very
charming figure； and thoroughly adapted to our ends。 The
neat cap； the clean print； the comely person； the engaging
manner； her position between classes； parents in one；
employers in another； the probability that she will have at
least one sweet…heart； whose feelings we shall address： …
yes； I have a leaning … call it； if you will； a weakness …
for the housemaid。 Not that I would be understood to despise
the nurse。 For the child is a very interesting feature： I
have long since marked out the child as the sensitive point
in society。' He wagged his head； with a wise； pensive smile。
'And talking； sir； of children and of the perils of our
trade； let me now narrate to you a little incident of an
explosive bomb； that fell out some weeks ago under my own
observation。 It fell out thus。'
And Zero； leaning back in his chair； narrated the following
simple tale。
ZERO'S TALE OF THE EXPLOSIVE BOMB。
I DINED by appointment with one of our most trusted agents；
in a private chamber at St。 James's Hall。 You have seen the
man： it was M'Guire； the most chivalrous of creatures； but
not himself expert in our contrivances。 Hence the necessity
of our meeting； for I need not remind you what enormous
issues depend upon the nice adjustment of the engine。 I set
our little petard for half an hour； the scene of action being
hard by； and the better to avert miscarriage； employed a
device； a recent invention of my own； by which the opening of
the Gladstone bag in which the bomb was carried； should
instantly determine the explosion。 M'Guire was somewhat
dashed by this arrangement； which was new to him： and
pointed out； with excellent； clear good sense； that should he
be arrested； it would probably involve him in the fall of our
opponents。 But I was not to be moved； made a strong appeal
to his patriotism； gave him a good glass of whisky； and
despatched him on his glorious errand。
Our objective was the effigy of Shakespeare in Leicester
Square： a spot； I think； admirably chosen； not only for the
sake of the dramatist； still very foolishly claimed as a
glory by the English race； in spite of his disgusting
political opinions； but from the fact that the seats in the
immediate neighbourhood are often thronged by children；
errand…boys； unfortunate young ladies of the poorer class and
infirm old men … all classes making a direct appeal to public
pity； and therefore suitable with our designs。 As M'Guire
drew near his heart was inflamed by the most noble sentiment
of triumph。 Never had he seen the garden so crowded；
children； still stumbling in the impotence of youth； ran to
and fro； shouting and playing； round the pedestal； an old；
sick pensioner sat upon the nearest bench； a medal on his
breast； a stick with which he walked （for he was disabled by
wounds） reclining on his knee。 Guilty England would thus be
stabbed in the most delicate quarters； the moment had；
indeed； been well selected； and M'Guire； with a radiant
provision of the event； drew merrily nearer。 Suddenly his
eye alighted on the burly form of a policeman； standing hard
by the effigy in an attitude of watch。 My bold companion
paused； he looked about him closely； here and there； at
different points of the enclosure； other men stood or
loitered； affecting an abstraction； feigning to gaze upon the
shrubs； feigning to talk； feigning to be weary and to rest
upon the benches。 M'Guire was no child in these affairs； he
instantly divined one of the plots of the Machiavellian
Gladstone。
A chief difficulty with which we have to deal； is a certain
nervousness in the subaltern branches of the corps； as the
hour of some design draws near； these chicken…souled
conspirators appear to suffer some revulsion of intent； and
frequently despatch to the authorities； not indeed specific
denunciations； but vague anonymous warnings。 But for this
purely accidental circumstance； England had long ago been an
historical expression。 On the receipt of such a letter； the
Government lay a trap for their adversaries； and surround the
threatened spot with hirelings。 My blood sometimes boils in
my veins； when I consider the case of those who sell
themselves for money in such a cause。 True； thanks to the
generosity of our supporters； we patriots receive a very
comfortable stipend； I myself； of course； touch a salary
which puts me quite beyond the reach of any peddling；
mercenary thoughts； M'Guire； again； ere he joined our ranks；
was on the brink of starving； and now； thank God！ receives a
decent income。 That is as it should be； the patriot must not
be diverted from his task by any base consideration； and the
distinction between our position and that of the police is
too obvious to be stated。
Plainly； however； our Leicester Square design had been
divulged； the Government had craftily filled the place with
minions； even the pensioner was not improbably a hireling in