"All I can say is that if this Mr.Quarrier is going in for extreme views about women, I'll have nothing to do with him." "What do you mean by 'extreme views' ?" screeched a thin man in dirty clothing.
Thereupon began a furious controversy, lasting half an hour.

(It may be noted that a card hung in several parts of the room, requesting members not to converse in audible tones.) Mr.Liversedge had gone to work like a man of decision.

Between six and eight on the previous evening he had seen the members of that "secret caucus" whose existence outraged Mr.Chown--in other words, the half-dozen capable citizens who practically managed the affairs of Liberal Polterham--and had arrived at an understanding with them which made it all but a settled thing that Denzil Quarrier should be their prospective candidate.

Tobias was eager to back out of the engagement into which he had unadvisedly entered.

Denzil's arrival at this juncture seemed to him providential--impossible to find a better man for their purpose.