‘What does this mean?’ Richard asked abruptly, handing the letter to his visitor.

Keene perused the crabbed writing, and uttered sundry ‘Ah’s’ and ‘Hum’s.’

‘Do you know anything about it?’ Mutimer continued, in a tone between mere annoyance and serious indignation.

‘I think I had better tell you what took place last night,’ said the journalist, with side glances.  He had never altogether thrown off the deferential manner when conversing with his patron, and at present he emphasised it.  ’Those fellows carry party feeling too far; the proceedings were scandalous.  It really was enough to make one feel that one mustn’t be too scrupulous in trying to stop their mouths.  If I’m not mistaken, an action for defamation of character would lie against half-a-dozen of them.’

Mutimer was unfortunately deficient in sense of humour.  He continued to scowl, and merely said:  ‘Go on; what happened?’

Mr. Keene allowed the evening’s proceedings to lose nothing in his narration.  He was successful in exciting his hearer to wrath, but, to his consternation, it was forthwith turned against himself.

’And you tried to make things better by going about telling what several of them would know perfectly well to be lies?’ exclaimed Mutimer, savagely.  ‘Who the devil gave you authority to do so?’

‘My dear sir,’ protested the journalist, ’you have quite mistaken me.  I did not mean to admit that I had told lies.  How could I for a moment suppose that a man of your character would sanction that kind of thing?  Pooh, I hope I know you better!  No, no; I merely in the course of conversation ventured to hint that, as you yourself had explained to me, there were reasons quite other than the vulgar mind would conceive for—­for the course you had pursued.  To my own apprehension such reasons are abundant, and, I will add, most conclusive.  You have not endeavoured to explain them to me in detail; I trust you felt that I was not so dull of understanding as to be incapable of—­of appreciating motives when sufficiently indicated.  Situations of this kind are never to be explained grossly; I mean, of course, in the case of men of intellect.  I flatter myself that I have come to know your ruling principles; and I will say that beyond a doubt your behaviour has been most honourable.  Of course I was mistaken in trying to convey this to those I talked with last night; they misinterpreted me, and I might have expected it.  We cannot give them the moral feelings which they lack.  But I am glad that the error has so quickly come to light.  A mere word from you, and such a delusion goes no farther.  I regret it extremely.’