The Face and the Mask | Page 6

then he sat down and
told his friend just what was troubling him.
"Ah," said Sedlitz, "that accounts for it. There has been an unkempt
ruffian marching up and down watching this house. They are on your
track, Simkins, my boy, and when they discover that you are a reporter,
and therefore necessarily a traitor, you will be nabbed some dark
night."
"Well, that's encouraging," said Simkins, with his head in his hands.
"Are these Anarchists brave men, and would they risk their lives in any
undertaking?" asked Sedlitz.
"Oh, I don't know. They talk enough, but I don't know what they would
do. They are quite capable, though, of tripping me up in a dark lane."
"Look here," said Sedlitz, "suppose you let me try a plan. Let me give
them a lecture on, the Chemistry of Anarchy. It's a fascinating subject."
"What good would that do?"
"Oh, wait till you have heard the lecture. If I don't make the hair of
some of them stand on end, they are braver men than I take them to be.
We have a large room in Clement's Inn, where we students meet to try
experiments and smoke tobacco. It is half club, and half a lecture- room.
Now, I propose to get those Anarchists in there, lock the doors, and tell
them something about dynamite and other explosives. You give out
that I am an Anarchist from America. Tell them that the doors will be
locked to prevent police interference, and that there will be a barrel of
beer. You can introduce me as a man from America, where they know
as much about Anarchism in ten minutes as they do here in ten years.
Tell them that I have spent my life in the study of explosives. I will
have to make-up a little, but you know that I am a very good amateur
actor, and I don't think there will be any trouble about that. At the last
you must tell them that you have an appointment and will leave me to
amuse them for a couple of hours."

"But I don't see what good it is all going to do, though I am desperate,"
said Simkins, "and willing to try anything. I have thought some of
firing a bomb off myself at an Anarchist meeting."
When the Friday night of meeting arrived the large hall in Clement's
Inn was filled to the doors. Those assembled there saw a platform at
one end of the apartment, and a door that led from it to a room at the
back of the hall. A table was on the platform, and boxes, chemical
apparatus, and other scientific-looking paraphernalia were on it. At the
hour of eight young Simkins appeared before the table alone.
"Fellow Anarchists," he said, "you are well aware that I am tired of the
great amount of talk we indulge in, and the little action which follows it.
I have been fortunate enough to secure the co-operation of an Anarchist
from America, who will tell you something of the cause there. We have
had the doors locked, and those who keep the keys are now down at the
entrance of the Inn, so that if a fire should occur, they can quickly come
and let us out. There is no great danger of fire, however, but the
interruption of the police must be guarded against very carefully. The
windows, as you see, are shuttered and barred, and no ray of light can
penetrate from this room outside. Until the lecture is over no one can
leave the room, and by the same token no one can enter it, which is
more to the purpose.
"My friend, Professor Josiah P. Slivers, has devoted his life to the
Chemistry of Anarchy, which is the title of this lecture. He will tell you
of some important discoveries, which are now to be made known for
the first time. I regret to say that the Professor is not in a very good
state of health, because the line of life which he has adopted has its
drawbacks. His left eye has been blown away by a premature explosion
during his experiments. His right leg is also permanently disabled. His
left arm, as you will notice, is in a sling, having been injured by a little
disaster in his workshop since he came to London. He is a man, as you
will see, devoted body and soul to the cause, so I hope you will listen to
him attentively. I regret that I am unable to remain with you to-night,
having other duties to perform which are imperative. I will therefore, if
you will permit me, leave by the back entrance after I have introduced

the Professor to you."
At this moment the stumping of