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"It seems to me," he said, "that it preaches such radical changes in our government that it is seditious. To be frank, Mr. Moreton, I think the government ought to suppress it." "But we don't break the law. The government can't suppress us." "Then the laws ought to be changed so that it can." "That's all we advocate, Mr. Verriman, the changing of the law.
Crystal raised her voice. "Certainly, Tomes. Say we shall be delighted to have him at eight." Both men turned to her. "Why did you do that, Crystal? Verriman here to-night?" Crystal did not answer the identity of their tones, their words, and their irritation with her should have told them the answer, but didn't.
Then, as the door opened, Mr. Cord's eyes concentrated on it and his manner became a shade sharper. "Ah, Mr. Moreton, good morning. Mr. Verriman Mr. Moreton." Ben was a good-looking young man, but it was his expression at once illuminated and determined that made him unusual.
Ben found Verriman's assumption that the profits of capital were bound up with patriotism, family life, and the Christian religion almost as irritating as Verriman found Ben's assumption that the government of labor as a class would be entirely without the faults that have always marked every form of class government.
Cord had seen Eddie Verriman the night before at the ball, and had thought him a very fine figure of a man, so now, putting two and two together, he said to himself, "Is he here to ask my blessing?" Aloud he said nothing, but just nodded; it was a belief that had translated itself into a habit to let the other man explain first. "I know I'm interrupting you, Mr. Cord," Verriman began. Mr.
Verriman asked at length, willing to know the worst. "Not even such a vile sheet as Liberty?" "Do you ever see it, Eddie?" "Read a rotten paper like that? Certainly not. Do you?" "I subscribe to it." And, bending down, Mr. Cord unlocked a drawer in his desk and produced the issue of the preceding day. "I notice you keep it locked up," said Eddie, and felt that he had scored.
"I don't want to see such fellows," Verriman began. "Stay and protect me, Eddie. He may have a bomb in his pocket." "You don't really believe that he's come to " "No, Eddie, I don't. I think he's come like young Lochinvar to dance a little late at the wedding. To try to persuade me to accept that lazy, good-looking brother of his as a son-in-law. He'll have quite a job over that."
"You enjoyed the party?" "No, not a bit." "But you stayed till morning." "I stopped and took a swim." "You enjoyed that, I suppose?" His daughter glanced at him and turned crimson; but she did not have to answer, for at that moment Tomes came, in response to her ring, and she said: "We won't wait lunch for Mr. Verriman, Tomes."
However, I must tell you that Mr. Verriman doesn't approve of Liberty. At least, I believe I understood you right, Eddie." And Mr. Cord, having thus assured himself a few minutes to regain his poise, leaned back comfortably in his chair. "What's wrong with the paper, Mr. Verriman?" said Ben, pleasantly. Eddie did not love the adventure of mental combat, but he was no coward.
"I stay with the man who agrees to them, and if you both decline them well, I'll go off and try and open the oyster by myself." There was a long momentous pause, and then Tomes's discreet knock on the door. "Mr. Verriman on the telephone, madam." "I can't come," said Crystal. "Ask him to send a message." "Don't you see, Crystal, what your plan would do?" said her father.
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