"Am I in London, or have I been whisked by magic to one of those outposts of civilization where men and women of European race are often compelled to band together for protection against savages?
One reads of such things comfortably while dawdling over breakfast, and one wonders idly why people go to such places.

But that something of the sort could happen in London--why, it is simply fantastic!" "It is unpleasantly real, for all that, Mrs.Paxton," said Forbes, leading the way up the stairs.

"What else can we do?
If the authorities surrounded the house with a cordon of soldiers London would be in an uproar.

We want to avoid that, at all costs.

I have been in communication with the Home Office, and am advised that, if we decide to put up with the inconvenience, it is better, and actually less risky, to hold out here than seek safety by flight.