Lawton rose and smiled good-naturedly at Norris, whose crimsoned face bespoke repentance of his sudden outburst.
The other members followed Lawton’s example, and soon there was no one left in the room except Norris and “Silent” Bancroft.
For some moments neither man spoke. Then Bancroft rose and rolling his cigar between his fingers thoughtfully studied its glowing ashes.
“Say, Norris,” he began slowly, “do you—do you attend primaries?”
“Er—no.”
“Um,—I thought not,” remarked the old gentleman as he walked toward the door.