On the whole, he had been a loyal
supporter of Ferrier's; but in two or three recent speeches there had
been signs of coquetting with the extremists.
Ferrier, having mentioned the letter, relapsed into silence. Sir James,
with a little contemptuous laugh, inquired what the nature of the
letter might be.
"Oh, well, he wants certain pledges." Ferrier drew the letter from his
pocket, and handed it to his friend. Sir James perused it, and handed
it back with a sarcastic lip.
"He imagines you are going to accept that programme?"
"I don't know. But it is clear that the letter implies a threat if I
don't."
"A threat of desertion? Let him."
"That letter wasn't written off his own bat. There is a good deal behind
it. The plot, in fact, is thickening. From the letters of this morning I
see that a regular press campaign is beginning."
He mentioned two party papers which had already gone over to the
dissidents--one of some importance, the other of none.
"All right," said Chide; "so long as the _Herald_ and the _Flag_ do
their duty. By-the-way, hasn't the _Herald_ got a new editor?"
"Yes; a man called Barrington--a friend of Oliver's.
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