hailed the agitator's appearance with
three ringing cheers. A little later came a supporter whom Richard had
not expected to see--Mr. Westlake. Only this morning intelligence of
what was going on had reached his ears. At once he had scouted the
accusations as incredible; he deemed it a duty to present himself on
Mutimer's side. Outside this small cluster was an indefinable mob, a
portion of it bitterly hostile, a part indifferent; among the latter
a large element of mere drifting blackguardism, the raff of a city,
anticipating with pleasure an uproar which would give them unwonted
opportunities of violence and pillage. These gentle men would with equal
zeal declare for Mutimer or his opponents, as the fortune of the day
directed them.

The core of the hostile party consisted of those who followed the banner
of Comrade Roodhouse, the ralliers to the 'Tocsin.' For them it was a
great occasion. The previous evening had seen a clamorous assembly in
the room behind the Hoxton coffee-shop. Comrade Roodhouse professed to
have full details of the scandal which had just come to light. According
to him, there was no doubt whatever that Mutimer had known from the
first the character of the bogus Company, and had wittingly used the
money of the East-Enders to aid in floating a concern which would
benefit himself and a few others. Roodhouse disclosed the identity of
Mr. Robert Delancey, and explained the relations existing between Rodman
and Mutimer, ignoring the fact that a lawsuit had of late turned their
friendship to mutual animosity. It was an opportunity not to be missed
for paying back the hard things Mutimer had constantly said of the
'Tocsin' party. Comrade Roodhouse was busy in the crowd, sowing
calumnies and fermenting wrath. In the crowd were our old acquaintances
Messrs. Cowes and Cullen, each haranguing as many as could be got
to form a circle and listen, indulging themselves in measureless
vituperation, crying shame on traitors to the noble cause. Here, too,
was Daniel Dabbs, mainly interested in the occasion as an admirable
provocative of thirst. He was much disposed to believe Mutimer guilty,
but understood that it was none of his business to openly take part
with either side. He stood well on the limits of the throng; it was not
impossible that the debate might end in the cracking of crowns, in
which case Mr. Dabbs, as a respectable licensed victualler whose weekly
profits had long since made him smile at the foll