His fear, such as it was, took a new form, as presently through the thinning fog he became aware that the earth was approaching.  The first clear indication of this was the sound of a clock striking.  He counted the strokes carefully, and immediately forgot what it was that he had counted.  Then, as he watched with straining eyes for buildings or towers to make their appearance, the movement stopped; there was a faint jarring sensation, then the sound of trampling feet, then a heavy shock.  He had forgotten that stages were used.

The Cardinal stood up.

“Come, Monsignor,” he said, and gave his hand to him.

So the two stood a moment longer.  Then the footsteps sounded on the boat; a shadow fell across the glass of the stern-door.  The door opened, letting in a rush of foggy air, and two men in uniform came swiftly inside.

“Your name and your business, gentlemen?” said the foremost shortly, in excellent English.

“I am come on behalf of the Holy Father,” said the Cardinal steadily.  “My name is Cardinal Bellairs.  This is my secretary, Monsignor Masterman.  He is not an envoy.”

“Exactly,” said the man.  “That is all in order.  You were seen by our guard-boats.  Will you step this way?”

A bridge had been thrown across from the raft to the racing-boat, and the latter was now attached to an immense stage whose sides ran down into the fog.  The stage-platform was crowded with men, some in official uniform, some in blouses; but a way was kept clear for the visitors, and they passed across without any actual show of hostility or resentment.  Monsignor noticed but one detail—­that no salutation of any kind was given; and as they took their seats in the lift, with the two officials close beside them, he heard guttural conversation break out, and, he thought, one loud laugh.  The doors were latched, and the lift dropped.

The speed was so great that it would have been impossible to see anything of the town into which they descended, even had the fog been absent.  As it was, Monsignor saw nothing except the sudden darkening of the air round them.  Then as the speed slackened he saw the side of some great building not twenty yards away.  Then the lift stopped and the doors were opened.

A group of men stood there, with something of an expectant air in their stolid faces.  All these were in uniform of some description; one stood a little in advance of the rest and held a paper in his hand.

“Cardinal Bellairs?” he said, also in English.  “And Monsignor Masterman?”

The Cardinal bowed.

“We had information from Rome last night.  I understand you have a communication from the Powers?”

“From the Holy Father, whom the European Powers have appointed to represent them.”

“It is the same thing,” said the man brusquely.  “The Council are waiting to receive you.  Kindly follow me.”

The official who had brought them down stepped forward.