‘My idea is,’ he said, ’to make the mines at Wanley the basis of great industrial undertakings, just as any capitalist might, but to conduct these undertakings in a way consistent with our views.  I would begin by building furnaces, and in time add engineering works on a large scale.  I would build houses for the men, and in fact make that valley an industrial settlement conducted on Socialist principles.  Practically I can devote the whole of my income; my personal expenses will not be worth taking into account.  The men must be paid on a just scheme, and the margin of profit that remains, all that we can spare from the extension of the works, shall be devoted to the Socialist propaganda.  In fact, I should like to make the executive committee of the Union a sort of board of directors—­and in a very different sense from the usual—­for the Wanley estate.  My personal expenditure deducted, I should like such a committee to have the practical control of funds.  All this wealth was made by plunder of the labouring class, and I shall hold it as trustee for them.  Do these ideas seem to you of a practical colour?’

Mr. Westlake nodded slowly twice.  His wife kept her listening attitude unchanged; her eyes ‘dreamed against a distant goal.’

‘As I see the scheme,’ pursued Richard, who spoke all along somewhat in the lecture-room tone, the result of a certain embarrassment, ’it will differ considerably from the Socialist experiments we know of.  We shall be working not only to support ourselves, but every bit as much set on profit as any capitalist in Belwick.  The difference is, that the profit will benefit no individual, but the Cause.  There’ll be no attempt to carry out the idea of every man receiving the just outcome of his labour; not because I shouldn’t he willing to share in that way, but simply because we have a greater end in view than to enrich ourselves.  Our men must all be members of the Union, and their prime interest must be the advancement of the principles of the Union.  We shall be able to establish new papers, to hire halls, and to spread ourselves over the country.  It’ll be fighting the capitalist manufacturers with their own weapons.  I can see plenty of difficulties, of course.  All England ’ll be against us.  Never mind, we’ll defy them all, and we’ll win.  It’ll be the work of my life, and we’ll see if an honest purpose can’t go as far as a thievish one.’

The climax would have brought crashing cheers at Commonwealth Hall; in Mr. Westlake’s study it was received with well-bred expressions of approval.

‘Well, Mutimer,’ exclaimed the idealist, ’all this is intensely interesting, and right glorious for us.  One sees at last a possibility of action.  I ask nothing better than to be allowed to work with you.  It happens very luckily that you are a practical engineer.  I suppose the mechanical details of the undertaking are entirely within your province.’

‘Not quite, at present,’ Mutimer admitted, ’but I shall have valuable help.  Yesterday I had a meeting with a man named Rodman, a mining engineer, who has been working on the estate.  He seems just the man I shall want; a Socialist already, and delighted to join in the plans I just hinted to him.’