"Sit down!" yelled somebody behind him.
Luke turned, but the interrupter did not reveal himself.
"I want to say one word about this motion," Luke began. He swept the room with a steady gaze and then let his eyes rest on the chairman.
Perhaps because their candidate had never seemed more lazy or unconcerned, the Committee offered no immediate objection. It was Venable that, without meeting Luke's glance, interposed.
"Considering the topic under discussion," said he, "it would be more in accord with the usual procedure if Mr. Huber were not in the hall."
"Good for you!" cried a man in the back row of chairs.
"No! Give him a chance!" cried another.
Luke raised his hand to quiet them.
"Considering that this is supposed to be a meeting of the Executive Committee of the League," he said, "it would be more in accord with the usual procedure if any motions made to it were made by members of the Committee. Mr. Yeates is not even a member of the League."
"Sit down!" said the voice from the back row.