Cyril McNeile

“ The leader of the Black Gang, Mr. Latter: the gang that came into existence to exterminate things like you. Ever since the war you poisonous reptiles have been at work stirring up internal trouble in this country. Not one in ten of you believe what you preach: your driving force is money and your own advancement. ”

“ After a while Latter joined them, and he too, for a moment, had looked down into the street where little knots of men lounged round doorways with their hands in their pockets, and the apathy of despair on their faces. ”

“ Drummond was saying. "But if you can do with me for a few days..."
"As long as you like, Mr. Drummond," answered Lady Manton. "And now let me introduce you to my guests."
It was not until just before dinner that Mr. Latter had an opportunity of a few private words with Drummond. They met in the hall, and for a moment no one else was within earshot.
"You were in Sir Bryan Johnstone's office yesterday," said the M.P. hoarsely. "Are you connected with the police?"
"Intimately," answered Hugh. "Even now, Mr. Latter, you are completely surrounded by devoted men who are watching and guarding you." ”

“ If dear old McIver and his minions are outside the house, it's much simpler for me to be in. And now, Mr. Latter—to come to business."
He stood in front of the bound man, whose eyes were rolling horribly.
"We believe in making the punishment fit the crime. This afternoon you planned to destroy the livelihood of several thousand men with explosive, simply that you might make money. Here," he held up the square slab, "is a pound of the actual gun-cotton, which was removed from Delmorlick himself before he started on a journey to join my other specimens. ”

“ And the fools in London prate of economic laws and inflated currencies. What does an abstract cause matter to those men; they want food."
He had glanced at Delmorlick, to find the eyes of the other man fixed on him gravely. He had hardly noticed it at the time—he had been too anxious to get away; now, as he sat at dinner, he found strangely enough that it was the other man's face which seemed to have made the biggest impression on his mind. A new arrival in the place, so Delmorlick had told him—but red-hot for the cause of freedom and anarchy. ”

“ For a moment or two Charles Latter stared at the imperturbable face at the foot of his bed: it seemed to him that a strange tension was creeping into the conversation—a something he could not place which made him vaguely alarmed.
"Do you think this mysterious Black Gang would approve of your business this afternoon?" asked Drummond quietly.
Mr. Latter started violently.
"How should I know of what the scoundrels would approve?" he cried angrily. "And anyway, they can know nothing about it."
"You feel quite confident in Mr. Delmorlick's discretion with regard to the friends he selects?" ”

“ Only this one thing I will mention." He laid an impressive hand on Latter's arm. "Be very careful what you say to that man with the mutton-chop whiskers and the face like a sheep."
And the startled M.P. was too occupied staring suspiciously at the worthy Sheffield magnate and pillar of Nonconformity who had just descended the stairs with his hostess to notice a sudden peculiar shaking in Drummond's shoulders as he turned away.
••••••
Mr. Charles Latter was not a pleasant specimen of humanity even at the best of times, and that evening he was not at his best. ”