“I second that motion,” cried several voices.
“Put the motion,” whispered Gibbons to the bewildered chairman.
Scimmins rose to his feet.
“You have all heard the motion,” he said. “All in favour say aye.”
A seemingly universal shout of “Aye” arose. The chairman was on the point of resuming his seat when Gibbons, in a quick aside, said: “Contrary.”
“All to the contrary,” called out the chairman, hovering between sitting and standing.
There was no dissent, for Marsten had left to see what had become of his friend, and the timorous men had stolen away when they detected signs of disturbance.
“Motion’s carried,” said Scimmins, seating himself with every indication of relief.
“Unanimously,” added Gibbons loudly, unable to conceal his satisfaction with the result.