“There is a lot of discontent—­social discontent.”

“The Labour Department?”

“You are learning,” said Ostrog with a touch of surprise.  “Yes.  It is chiefly the discontent with the Labour Department.  It was that discontent supplied the motive force of this overthrow—­that and your awakening.”

“Yes?”

Ostrog smiled.  He became explicit.  “We had to stir up their discontent, we had to revive the old ideals of universal happiness—­all men equal—­all men happy—­no luxury that everyone may not share—­ideas that have slumbered for two hundred years.  You know that?  We had to revive these ideals, impossible as they are—­in order to overthrow the Council.  And now—­”

“Well?”

“Our revolution is accomplished, and the Council is overthrown, and people whom we have stirred up—­remain surging.  There was scarcely enough fighting....  We made promises, of course.  It is extraordinary how violently and rapidly this vague out-of-date humanitarianism has revived and spread.  We who sowed the seed even, have been astonished.  In Paris, as I say—­we have had to call in a little external help.”

“And here?”

“There is trouble.  Multitudes will not go back to work.  There is a general strike.  Half the factories are empty and the people are swarming in the ways.  They are talking of a Commune.  Men in silk and satin have been insulted in the streets.  The blue canvas is expecting all sorts of things from you....  Of course there is no need for you to trouble.  We are setting the Babble Machines to work with counter suggestions in the cause of law and order.  We must keep the grip tight; that is all.”

Graham thought.  He perceived a way of asserting himself.  But he spoke with restraint.

“Even to the pitch of bringing a negro police,” he said.

“They are useful,” said Ostrog.  “They are fine loyal brutes, with no wash of ideas in their heads—­such as our rabble has.  The Council should have had them as police of the ways, and things might have been different.  Of course, there is nothing to fear except rioting and wreckage.  You can manage your own wings now, and you can soar away to Capri if there is any smoke or fuss.  We have the pull of all the great things; the aeronauts are privileged and rich, the closest trades union in the world, and so are the engineers of the wind-vanes.  We have the air, and the mastery of the air is the mastery of the earth.  No one of any ability is organising against us.  They have no leaders—­only the sectional leaders of the secret society we organised before your very opportune awakening.  Mere busybodies and sentimentalists they are and bitterly jealous of each other.  None of them is man enough for a central figure.  The only trouble will be a disorganised upheaval.  To be frank—­that may happen.  But it won’t interrupt your aeronautics.  The days when the People could make revolutions are past.”