“Surely that is the secretary’s duty.”
The Frenchman was stung into accepting the challenge.
“I will post up one if everyone else will do the same,” he said.
The chairman looked slowly round him.
“I agree to put up one,” he said deliberately.
There was another silence, during which the two Vanes consulted each other’s countenances. The same thought had occurred to each. What was to prevent them from taking a copy of the treasonable document and discreetly disposing of it in private?
The Hon. Gerald St. John shrugged his shoulders. “If Stuart is going to post one up, I shall do the same, though I don’t agree with it.”
The Chevalier Vane rose to his feet with considerable emotion.
“Give me a copy, and I will do my duty,” he said sublimely. “I answer for my brother as well.”
Mr. St. Maur had meanwhile been deciding on his private course of action. Convinced that the present proceedings must be taken seriously by the authorities, he had resolved to earn his own pardon by a whole-souled repentance. He lowered his eyes to the ground, as he said: