Donovan Brown's for example. It was he who suggested the petition, which
is not likely to do much good, as the thing cannot be done in any such
fashion However, I have promised Brown to get as many signatures as I
can; so you may as well sign it, Erskine. It says nothing in blank verse
about the holiness of slaying a tyrant, but it is a step in the right
direction. You will not stick at such a trifle--unless the reviews have
frightened you. Come, your name and address."

Erskine shook his head.

"Do you then only commit yourself to revolutionary sentiments when there
is a chance of winning fame as a poet by them?"

"I will not sign, simply because I do not choose to," said Erskine
warmly.

"My dear fellow," said Trefusis, almost affectionately, "if a man has a
conscience he can have no choice in matters of conviction. I have read
somewhere in your book that the man who will not shed his blood for the
liberty of his brothers is a coward and a slave. Will you not shed a
drop of ink--my ink, too--for the right of your brothers to the work
of their hands? I at first sight did not care to sign this petition,
because I would as soon petition a tiger to share his prey with me as
our rulers to relax their grip of the stolen labor they live on. But
Donovan Brown said to me, 'You have no choice. Either you believe that
the laborer should have the fruit of his labor or you do not. If you
do, put your conviction on record, even if it should be as useless as
Pilate's washing his hands.' So I signed."

"Donovan Brown was right," said Sir Charles. "I will sign." And he did
so with a flourish.

"Brown will be delighted," said Trefusis. "I will write to him to-day
that I have got another good signature for him."

"Two more," said Sir Charles. "You shall sign, Erskine; hang me if you
shan't! It is only against rascals that run away without paying their
men their wages."

"Or that don't pay them in full," observed Trefusis, with a curious
smile. "But do not sign if you feel uncomfortable about it."

"If you don't sign after me, you are a sneak, Chester," said Sir
Charles.

"I don't know what it means," said Erskine, wavering. "I don't
understand petitions."

"It means what it says; you cannot be held responsible for any meaning
that is not expressed in it," said Trefusis. "But never mind. You
mistrust me a little, I fancy, and would rather not meddle with my
petitions; but you will think better of that as you grow used to me