“Well, I’m quite decided now,” said Dr Pryce.
“You damned thief!” shrieked the parrot once more. Sir John banged the bell again and again.
“Thomas!” he shouted, “take that infernal bird inside. We can’t hear ourselves speak. Now,” he added more suavely, “we are ready for your vote, Dr Pryce, and the election turns on it.”
CHAPTER II
Mr Bassett had made the commonest mistake of political speakers; he had supposed that the argument which appealed most strongly to himself would appeal most strongly to his audience. He had appealed to fear. Dr Soames Pryce was not a timid man, and he resented what he regarded as an attempt to scare him.
“I vote against the election of Mr Smith to this club,” said Dr Pryce, bluntly.
“After all you have said?” exclaimed Mr Bassett. “You surprise me very much.”
“One moment, Mr Bassett,” said the President. “I must declare then that Mr John Smith is not elected.”
Mr Bassett paused with the pen in his hand. “Am I to write ‘not elected,’ gentlemen? We have all admitted that Smith is a good, hospitable fellow, and we have business dealings with him. We might let him down as easily as possible. May I write ‘postponed for further consideration’? It commits us to nothing, and it’s not quite so harsh.”