'Because I feel strongly. When I become a master, I shall, if I know anything of myself, have my men's interest at heart; but none of them shall ever presume to dictate to me. If a master cannot exercise his own authority in firm self-reliance, let him give up business.' 'Have masters a right to oppress us, sir?--to grind us down?--to work us into our coffins?' cried Sam Shuck. The gentleman raised his eyebrows, and a half smile crossed his lips. 'Since when have you been oppressed, and ground down into your coffins?' Some of the men laughed--at Sam's oily tongue. 'If you _are_--if you have any complaint of that sort to make, let me hear it now, and I will convey it to Mr. Hunter. He is ever ready, you know, to----What do you say, Shuck? The nine hours' concession is all you want? If you can get the masters to give you ten hours' pay for nine hours' work, so much the better for you. _I_ would not: but it is no affair of mine. To be paid what you honestly earn, be it five pounds per week or be it one, is only justice; but to be paid for what you don't earn, is the opposite thing. I think, too, that the equalization of wages is a mistaken system, quite wrong in principle: one which can bring only discontent in the long run. Let me repeat that with emphasis--the equalization of wages, should it ever take place, can bring only discontent in the long run.' There was a pause. No one spoke, and the speaker resumed-- 'I conclude you have met here to discuss this agitation at the Messrs. Pollocks?' Pollocks' men are a-going to strike,' said Slippery Sam. 'Oh, they are, are they?' returned the gentleman, some mockery in his tone. 'I hope they may find it to their benefit. I don't know what the Messrs. Pollocks may do in the matter; but I know what I should.' 'You'd hold out to the last against the men?' 'I should; to the last and the last: were it for ten years to come. Force a measure upon _me_! coerce _me_!' he reiterated, drawing his fine form to its full height, while the red flush mantled in his cheeks. 'No, my men, I am not made of that yielding stuff. Only let me be persuaded that my judgment is right, and no body of men on earth should force me to act against it.' The speaker was Austin Clay, as I daresay you have already guessed. He had not gone to the meeting to interrupt it, or to take part in it, but in search of Peter Quale. Hearing from Mrs. Quale that her husband was at the Bricklayers' Arms--a rare occurrence, for Peter was not one who favoured public-houses--Austin went thither in search of him, and so found himself in the midst of the meeting. His business with Peter related to certain orders he required to give for the early morning. Once there, however, the temptation to have his say was too great to be resisted. That over, he went out, making a sign to the man to follow him. 'What are those men about to rush into, Quale?' he demanded, when his own matter was over.