“That’s so. Why shouldn’t a man call himself a Brother of Liberty and meet twice a week in a cellar and talk about rivers of blood⁠—it won’t hurt either him or us. And if there is any trouble any time, we know where to lay our hands on him.”

“But sometimes, I suppose,” said Bundle slowly, “a society may be more dangerous than anyone imagines?”

“Very unlikely,” said Battle.

“But it might happen,” persisted Bundle.

“Oh, it might ,” admitted the Superintendent.

There was a moment or two’s silence. Then Bundle said quietly: