In fact, the room was lit up for the occasion, curtains were tacked over the two windows, and flags were arranged on the walls, each flag bearing a device in tinsel. On one were the words:-- "The Horny Hand is the Nation's Need." On another:-- "Labour Conquers All." While over the president's chair, or, as Sim had christened himself, "the Grand Brother," was a roughly-drawn representation of the familiar skull and cross bones. On the table were two stage swords, drawn from their sheaths, and laid crosswise; and at the door were a couple of sentries, over the said door being tacked the motto--"Free and Equal." It was a great night, and every man of Sim's partisans looked solemn, but mugs of ale and long clay pipes were not excluded from the two tables, at which sat about a dozen men, as many more standing where they could find room. There was a ridiculous aspect to the affair, but mingled with it was a grim look of determination, and many a stern face there wore an aspect that Richard Glaire would not have cared to see, even though he might have scoffed at the meeting, and called the men fools and idiots. Sim Slee was the great gun of the evening, and he wore his plaid vest very much open, to display a clean shirt, at the edge of whose front fold it was observable that Mrs Slee's "scithers" had been at work, to take off what she termed the "dwiny" ends; but the buttons refused to remain on terms of intimacy with their holes, with the consequence that the front gaped widely. But Sim Slee was too important and excited to notice this, for he was busy over a book before him, and papers, and constantly in communication with the tall, heavy-looking man in black, Mr Silas Barker, the deputation from London, who was to help the brotherhood through their difficulties, and who had promised to coach and assist Sim in the great speech he was to make that evening. At last all seemed about settled, and Sim rose to tap the table with a small wooden hammer, when he sat down again suddenly, for three loud knocks were heard at the door. "Who knocks without?" said the first sentry. "Brotherly love," said a voice without. "What does it bring?" said the second sentry. "Ruin and death," was the reply. "Enter ruin and death," said the first sentry; the door was opened, two men entered, Sim Slee looked solemn, and everybody seemed very much impressed. The door being closed, and silence procured, Sim Slee rose, and there was a great deal of tapping on the table, to which Sim bowed, frowned, and thrust one hand into his vest. At least he meant so to do, but it went inside the gaping shirt. "Brother paytriots and sitterzens," he commenced, "I think as we are all assembled here." Just then a knocking was heard without.