Nothing behindhand, the lad replied:
“And I am glad to see you, Master Bleekwood. Indeed, I have had quite a deal of interest in you from the moment I first heard your name.”
“That,” said the man in the brown velvet coat, “is exceedingly kind of you.” His eyes went nervously about, as though he feared his words might be overheard. “But,” resumed he, “let us find a more secluded place; it is exceedingly annoying that there should be so many here just now.”
“How does it happen so?” asked Ben, as they went down the room, and took seats at a table which had been occupied by Master Bleekwood alone.
“People interested in our matters going to York to attend Congress,” nodded the other.
“Ah,” said Ben, wisely.
“I see you understand,” said Bleekwood. Then, after a glance over the company, he went on: “It will be no great while, now, before we have the movement upon a most excellent footing. And when that is finally accomplished, the object of our labors will be accomplished shortly after.”
“No doubt,” said Ben, with the same air of knowledge. “Not the slightest doubt in the world.”
The cadaverous Master Bleekwood coughed behind his hand.
“I am quite pleased to find you so very confident,” said he. “I am delighted, in fact. You see,” and he bent confidentially toward Ben, “I am not at all the sort of person to be engaged in this matter—least of all the matter of to-night. My nerves are not of the strongest, and the condition of things is quite a pressure upon them.”