not to dip their hands now into innocent blood. Such a crime would besmirch not only those who performed it, but their children's children for a thousand years.

'It is known that "Welling and the other members of this bestial Cabinet have gone to an Air Force base. We ask the Air Force to surrender them to face the justice of the people.

'All citizens are asked to keep calm and to remain at their posts. The restrictions imposed by Welling on travel outside city boundaries have now no legal or other validity, but citizens are urged not to attempt any panic flight out of London. The Emergency Committee is making arrangements for collecting potatoes, fish, and whatever other food is available and transporting it to London, where it will be fairly rationed out. If the country only shows the Dunkirk spirit, we can pull through. Hardship must be expected, but we can pull through.'

There was a pause. The voice continued:

'Stand by for further emergency bulletins. Meanwhile we shall play you some gramophone records.'

Roger turned off his set. 'Meanwhile,' he said, 'we shall play you some gramophone records. I never believed that story of Nero and his fiddle until now.'

Millicent Pirrie said: 'It was true, then - what you said.'

'At least,' Pirrie said, 'the story has now received wide circulation. That's much the same thing, isn't it?'

'They're mad!' Roger said. 'Stark, raving, incurably mad. How Welling must be writhing.'

'I should think so,' Millicent said indignantly.

'At their inefficiency,' Roger explained. 'What a way to carry on! At my guess, the Emergency Committee's a triumvirate, and composed of a professional anarchist, a parson, and a left-wing female schoolteacher. It would take that kind of combination to show such an ignorance of elementary human behaviour.'