"Then you have no figures, facts, anything, Mr. Brent?" he said presently. "Nothing to support your newspaper articles?"
"Nothing of that sort," answered Brent. "My articles refer wholly to the general principle of the thing."
The inspector smiled.
"I'm afraid governments—national or municipal—aren't run on general principles, Mr. Brent," he remarked.
"No!" said Brent. "They seem to be run on the lack of them."
The official inquiry came to an end on that—amidst good-humoured laughter at Brent's apparently ingenuous retort. The inspector announced that he would issue his report in due course, and everybody knew what it would be. The good old ways, the time-honoured customs would have another lease of life. Once more, Simon Crood had come out on top.
But as he was leaving the Moot Hall, Brent felt his arm touched and turned to see Hawthwaite. The superintendent gave him a knowing look.
"To-morrow!" he whispered. "Be prepared! All's done; all's ready!"