“Free speech doesn’t mean treason and sedition,” Eddie began.
“It means the other man’s opinion.”
There was a pause during which Eddie became more perturbed and Mr. Cord settled back to his habitual calm.
“Wouldn’t you suppress anything?” Verriman asked at length, willing to know the worst. “Not even such a vile sheet as Liberty?”
“Do you ever see it, Eddie?”
“Read a rotten paper like that? Certainly not. Do you?”
“I subscribe to it.” And, bending down, Mr. Cord unlocked a drawer in his desk and produced the issue of the preceding day.
“I notice you keep it locked up,” said Eddie, and felt that he had scored.
“I have to,” replied Mr. Cord, “or else Crystal gets hold of it and cuts it all up into extracts—she must have sent you some—before I get a chance to read it. Besides, it shocks Tomes. You ought to talk to Tomes, Eddie. He thinks about as you do—”
At this moment the door opened and Tomes himself entered.