The problem immediately before the Chief Inspector was that of managing the Assistant Commissioner of his department, his immediate superior.
At headquarters the Chief Inspector was admitted at once to the Assistant Commissioner's private room.
"I daresay you were right," said the Assistant Commissioner, "in telling me at first that the London anarchists had nothing to do with this.
The Assistant Commissioner's delivery was leisurely, as it were cautious.
The Assistant Commissioner cut his hesitation short.
Bertie was too busy wondering how he could get away to Tulagi to the Commissioner's house, to see much of the view.
"It's all right, old man, the Commissioner will deal with him, and if you die, depend upon it, he will be hanged."
Harriwell pressed him to stay on longer, but Bertie insisted on sailing immediately on the Arla for Tulagi, where, until the following steamer day, he stuck close by the Commissioner's house.
The book is the Report of the Royal Commissioners on The Laws of Marriage.
Report, page XXX.--Conclusion of the Commissioners. In spite of the arguments advanced before them in favor of not interfering with Irregular Marriages in Scotland, the Commissioners declare their opinion that "Such marriages ought not to continue." (Report, page XXXIV.)
It is only fair to add that, of the witnesses giving evidence--oral and written--before the Commissioners, fully one-half regard the Irregular Marriages of Scotland from the Christian and the civilized point of view, and entirely agree with the authoritative conclusion already cited--that such marriages ought to be abolished.
We hope to have, before long, a board of fact, composed of
commissioners of fact, who will force the people to be a people of fact, and of nothing but fact.