There was a moment's silence, and then the congratulations broke out.
"Oh, good!"
"Shall be glad to see the old boy!"
"Finished his work, I suppose?"
"Or perhaps it's something to do with this Collins business?"
It was Mr. Brimby who had made this last remark. Amory turned to him slowly.
"What is this Collins business?" she asked.
Mr. Brimby dropped his sorrowing head.
"Ah, poor fellow," he murmured. "I'm afraid he went to work on the wrong principles. A little more conciliation ... but it's difficult to blame anybody in these cases. The System's at fault. Let us not be harsh. I quite agree with Wilkinson that the 'Pall Mall' to-night is very harsh."
"Cowardly," said Mr. Wilkinson grimly. "Rubbing it in because they have some sort of a show of a case. They're always mum enough on the other side."