10If the fugitive criminal who has been committed to prison is not surrendered and conveyed out of the United Kingdom within two months after such committal, or, if a writ of habeas corpus is issued, after the decision of the court upon the return to the writ, it shall be lawful for any judge of the High Court, upon application made to him by or on behalf of the criminal, and upon proof that reasonable notice of the intention to make such application has been given to the Secretary of State, to order the criminal to be discharged out of custody, unless sufficient cause is shown to the contrary.