6

The B.M.G.s decided to hold a council of war in Steenhold's upper flat. The Purple House was arranged for autocracy and not for conferences. There was no accommodation for camping or sleeping in the place, but Rogers, Dreed and Redwood remained to sit up all night and keep an eye on Frobisher. The rest were to go home or sleep at Steenhold's flat. Roll–call was to be at number sixteen in the morning before nine.

At Camborne Square they sat late and discussed the situation from every point of view. Could they consider they had captured or were going to capture the Purple House? What was the constitution of the Popular Socialist Party?

"What is our status there?" said Irwell. "Are we technically burglars? Or trespassers?"

"We are the Popular Socialist Party, I take it—at home," said Rud. "The Purple House isn't a private house. It's Headquarters."

"But it's Bohun's house."

"He's a trustee—at most he's a trustee. He must have divested himself in a sort of way."

"I doubt if it will be matter for litigation," said Bodisham.

"We shall have to fight for that house, whatever the legal position may be," said Chiffan. "And we'd better get ready for that. Knives and kicking and that sort of thing. You may bet on that. Pity we haven't Rogers here. He's our Big Fist, our Organiser of Violence."

"I agree with you," said Bodisham. "I haven't the slightest doubt there will have to be some rough work before we get hold of the Purple House. If we do get hold of it. Horry may not make much show in the way of brains, but you can bet he will show fight—and a pretty nasty sort of fight…"

Presently Rud found his mind wandering from the finer points of strategy.

"None of the Party have ever disappeared?" he asked suddenly.

"Not that I ever heard of," said Rogers.

"You've never heard anything, Colin?"

"Never heard a thing," said Dreed. "All this secret prison business is as new to me as it is to you."

"Nor you, Irwell?"

"Nothing."

(Intimidation. Rough handling?…Torture? In London. In 1941! What sort of game were we playing?)

They were looking at him.

"It's just a crazy schoolboy's imagination," said Rud. "I'm—curious. Go on with what you were saying. We are going to demand a general meeting of the Party—and force a sort of want of confidence motion. Good."

"I have some ideas about that meeting," said Steenhold. "There was an Enquiry in Washington—but never mind that now. But I have an idea. A lovely idea."