“I do not see why I should not employ the only word which thoroughly expresses my meaning, even though it be used by a costermonger also. Mr. Black stated that I allowed my name to be put on the Direction. I asked him when? He declared at the time we were staying at Berrie Down. I reminded him, that the last occasion on which we met in Hertfordshire was one day I called at the Hollow, when I told him, in Mr. Dudley’s presence, I would have nothing to do with the Company. Then he said, he had made a mistake—it was when he saw me at my house in London. I told him he had never seen me at my house in London—that, at the time he inquired there for me, I was in Paris. Then he declared it must have been at Palinsbridge station; at any rate, he knew I had promised to let him have my name, and that it was too absurd for me, after having seen myself advertised for twelve months, to try to repudiate connection with the ‘Protector’ now.” “And he was quite right there,” observed Mr. Stewart. “I regret to differ from you,” here put in Mr. Raidsford; “but I cannot agree with that opinion.” Mr. Stewart looked over at the speaker with an expression which seemed to say, that it was a matter of supreme indifference to him whether Mr. Raidsford agreed or not, but still he condescended to explain that “Lord Kemms had suffered judgment to go by default.” “Mr. Black’s very remark!” said Lord Kemms. “He drew his shoulders up to his ears, and stuffed his hands under the waistband of his trousers——” “Really, Frank, you are needlessly descriptive,” expostulated Mr. Stewart. “And said,” proceeded Lord Kemms, unheeding the interruption, “you know, my Lord, it is of no sort of manner of use your kicking up an infernal row about the matter now. You have suffered judgment to go by default; and whether you intended your name to be on our board or not, cannot make any difference at this time of day; so you had better let us come to some arrangement. Speaking on behalf of the other directors, I am certain the Company will do what it can to meet your views.” “Could a man have spoken any fairer than that?” inquired Mr. Stewart. “Fairer! I never heard anything so perfectly cool and impertinent in my life!” exclaimed Lord Kemms. “First, to use my name, and then dare to say, ‘I need not try to set myself right with the public!’” “What do you suppose the public cares about the affair?” asked Mr. Croft. “To whom, do you imagine, it signifies in the least whether your name is on the Direction or not?” “It signifies to me,” replied his Lordship. “Why?” demanded Mr. Stewart. “Because I do not choose to be mixed up with speculations of the kind; because I refused to be associated with your Company; because I won’t be overreached in this way; because other names may have been used in the same manner, and it is time promoters were taught such liberties cannot be taken with impunity.”