e," replied Paul. "No election ever fought would keep them
out of bed after eleven o'clock."

"That's well." And he took out a bundle of papers from his pocket and
laid them on the table.

"You don't expect me to read them to-night?" said Paul. "I tell you, I
couldn't. My brain's too fagged."

"No," replied Standring, "they need not be read tonight, but I put them
there in case you should want to refer to them. They are proofs of
what I'm going to tell you." Paul noted that this young fellow's voice
was set and stern; he realised that the matter he wished to discuss was
serious. He was a pale-faced, quiet-looking young fellow, this Enoch
Standring, not given to talking much, or to assert himself to any great
degree. Up to a year before he had been a book-keeper in one of the
mills, and Paul, recognising in him what others had failed to see, had
given him a position of trust in his own employ. Directly the circular
to which I have referred was sent out to the voters of Brunford, Paul
had instructed him to discover what it meant and who was the man who
was responsible for it. Enoch Standring had something of the
sleuthhound in his nature. For three days and nights he had worked.
Almost without sleep, and with but little food, he had laboured
quietly, unobtrusively, never arousing suspicions, but always
effectively. And now he was prepared to give the result of that work.

"You must cast your mind back a bit, Mr. Stepaside," he said, "and then
ask yourself one thing. Is there anyone in Brunford who has a grudge
against you?"

"Yes," said Paul. "It's known, is that grudge. It is well known that
several years ago Ned Wilson and I had a quarrel which neither of us
have forgotten."

"Yes," said Enoch, "and remember what's happened since. There was a
riot, and you were dragged into it in spite of yourself."

"I know," said Paul. "But surely you don't mean----"

"I mean nothing," replied Standring. "I only ask you to bear it in
mind. You were dragged into it in spite of yourself. Although you
tried to dissuade the chaps who were engaged in it from doing anything
rash, it seemed as though you were the ringleader. For that you were
sent to Strangeways Gaol for six months. Who employed Bolitho for the
prosecution? I needn't go into particulars about it; but that's one
fact. Then there's something else. When you came out, you decided to
start manufacturing, and you got the promise of a factory, with