‘You look here,’ exclaimed the elder, with concentrated savageness which did credit to his powers of command. What you choose has nothing to do with it, and that you’ll please to understand. At half-past nine to-morrow morning you’re ready for me in this room; hear that? I’ll have an end to this kind of thing, or I’ll know the reason why. Speak a word of impudence to me and I’ll knock half your teeth out!’
He was capable of doing it. ‘Arry got to his morning meal in silence.
In the course of the morning Mr. Keene called. Mutimer received him in the dining-room, and they smoked together. Their talk was of the meetings to be held in the evening.
‘There’ll be nasty doings up there,’ Keene remarked, indicating with his head the gathering place of Comrade Roodhouse’s adherents.
‘Of what kind?’ Mutimer asked with indifference.
‘There’s disagreeable talk going about. Probably they’ll indulge in personalities a good deal.’
‘Of course they will,’ assented the other after a short pause. ‘Westlake, eh?’
‘Not only Westlake. There’s a more important man.’
Mutimer could not resist a smile, though he was uneasy. Keene understood the smile; it was always an encouragement to him.
‘What have they got hold of?’