 behind him.
    Richard was not disposed to argue with his brother this time. He waited in
the dining-room next morning till the champion of liberty presented himself;
then, scarcely looking at him, said with quiet determination:
    »Pack your clothes some time to-day. You're going to Wanley to-morrow
morning.«
    »Not unless I choose,« remarked 'Arry.
    »You look here,« exclaimed the elder, with concentrated savageness which did
credit to his powers of command. »What you choose has nothing to do with it, and
that you'll please to understand. At half-past nine to-morrow morning you're
ready for me in this room; hear that? I'll have an end to this kind of thing, or
I'll know the reason why. Speak a word of impudence to me and I'll knock half
your teeth out!«
    He was capable of doing it. 'Arry got to his morning meal in silence.
    In the course of the morning Mr. Keene called. Mutimer received him in the
dining-room, and they smoked together. Their talk was of the meetings to be held
in the evening.
    »There'll be nasty doings up there,« Keene remarked, indicating with his
head the gathering place of Comrade Roodhouse's adherents.
    »Of what kind?« Mutimer asked with indifference.
    »There's disagreeable talk going about. Probably they'll indulge in
personalities a good deal.«
    »Of course they will,« assented the other after a short pause. »Westlake,
eh?«
    »Not only Westlake. There's a more important man.«
    Mutimer could not resist a smile, though he was uneasy. Keene understood the
smile; it was always an encouragement to him.
    »What have they got hold of?«
    »I'm afraid there'll be references to the girl.«
    »The girl?« Richard hesitated. »What girl? What do you know about any girl?«
    »It's only the gossip I've heard. I thought it would be as well if I went
about among them last night just to pick up hints, you know.«
    »They're talking about that, are they? Well, let them. It isn't hard to
invent lies.«
    »Just so,« observed Mr. Keene sympathisingly. »Of course I know they'd
twisted the affair.«
    Mutimer glanced at him and smoked in silence.
    »I think I
