def locked_process(self):

        if self.locked:

            raise RuntimeError('The process has already been locked,'

                               ' something\'s out of order.')

            # XXX: This code has no purpose in a single-threaded process

            for i in range(1, timeout + 2):

                if i > timeout:

                    raise RuntimeError('Ledger process is already locked')

                if not self.locked: