"The question you ask, sir, naturally and logically involves the reason why we were confined to our apartments," replied Shoreham,—and this seemed to be the place where the oration could be properly introduced.
"Dry up, Lew!" called Windham, in a whisper loud enough to be heard by all in the room, calling forth a burst of laughter.
"If we were properly and justly incarcerated"—
Mr. Bridges exploded again.
"Never mind that, Mr. Shoreham," interposed the chairman of the committee.
"No rogue e'er felt the halter draw
With good opinion of the law,"
chuckled the civil engineer.
"We were acting on principle, sir," said Shoreham warmly.