Mycroft Holmes tried to remain calm, but his footsteps gave him away. The hard heels of his leather shoes tapped out a string of dull notes against the expensive dark wood floor, much to the displeasure of the elderly man beside the round table, who was holding a teacup and wearing old-fashioned black-rimmed glasses. "My ears are not yet so old that I cannot hear what the Yugoslav Federation has been up to, but I never expected anyone to overlook NATO's military buildup over the past few months. I admit that even if the Yugoslav Federation chose Saturday to start the war, leaving NATO forces unable to respond, it would still have to bear the consequences. NATO had taken no action before only because the United States called a halt... or because that speech at United Nations Headquarters frightened the elected politicians."
"We are humble vessels of the public will, Sir Holmes." The old man, whose aged skin sagged like that of a pug, retained his usual calm demeanor. "Before the Queen and the Prime Minister make their decision, we ought to provide guidance. This is Her Majesty's government; the decision should be made by Her Majesty, not the President of the United States. At least, that is how it should appear." He said, "Calm down. You are the head of the Civil Service, not a minister. You should seize this opportunity to influence the Brexit process and prevent untrained elected officials from damaging the nation's long-term interests. Of course, I would not accuse you so readily, since I do not know the full details. However, interventionism has permeated every aspect of the system. That inevitably makes one question whether you are reliable."
"That is the greatest insult, Sir Abingdon!" Mycroft Holmes said. "I believe the Information Freedom Movement Committee