He added that he was convinced
that the present case was the result of a misunderstanding, and he
hoped the gentleman who had been asked to meet the committee would
comprehend that he was there rather to assist the government of the
club in maintaining discipline, than for any other reason.
He looked at Fenton and smiled as he concluded, and the artist bowed to
him with a glance of answering friendliness. Thus far all had been
pleasant, so pleasant indeed that the corpulent Secretary had ceased
smiling. The remarks of Mr. Staggchase had been conciliatory and
gracious, and showed so distinct a leaning toward the accused, that the
Secretary felt himself to be personally attacked in this slighting way
of holding charges which he had given. He drew his thin lips together
and cleared his throat in a preparatory cough, rustling his papers as
if to call attention to them.
"If the Secretary is ready," Mr. Staggchase said, "he may read the
memorandum of the matter about which we wished to consult Mr. Fenton."
"The charge against Mr. Fenton," the Secretary responded, with
deliberate insolence, "is that on the evening of March 13th he brought
Mr. Erastus Snaffle into the club house, knowing that that individual
had already been several times in the club within the time specified by
the by-laws, and knowing him to be a man unfit to be introduced into a
gentleman's club at any time.
Pages:
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228