“No; tell me of no conditions,” said Mr. Bernard; “I deny your right to impose any, and I will not hear them. As long as my partners and I are in business, we will keep the management of our own concerns. So say nothing of conditions.”
“Answer us Yes or No, then,” repeated the first speaker. “Will you pull down the machinery, or will you not?”
“I will not. So you have my answer. My reasons are at your service whenever you choose to ask for them in a proper time and manner.”
The crowd murmured at the mention of reasons; but a man who flitted about among them, urged them to bring forward their second demand. This man was Jones; and his object was to shorten the scene, and get the people to disperse.
“Your reply is taken down, Sir——”
“Where it will never be forgotten,” growled a deep voice.
“And we proceed to request that all the people in the works may attend the funeral of James Fry to-morrow, and not return to work till the next day, with the exception of the smallest number necessary to keep the furnaces.”
“For what purpose?”
“For the purpose of expressing their abhorrence of the means by which the boy came by his death.”
“What could make you suppose my partner and I should grant your request?”