I like your being with me." The meeting was held in what had been a skating-rink and drill-hall.

On the platform in the centre was the chairman, with Barode Barouche on his right.

There was some preliminary speech-making from the chairman.
A resolution was moved supporting Barouche, his party and policy, and there were little explosions of merriment at strokes of unconscious humour made by the speakers; and especially by one old farmer who made his jokes on the spot, and who now tried to embalm Barouche with praise.
He drew attention to Barouche's leonine head and beard, to his alert eyes and quizzical face, and said he was as strong in the field of legislation as he was in body and mind.

Carnac noticed that Barouche listened good-naturedly, and now and then cocked his head and looked up at the ceiling as though to find something there.
There was a curious familiarity in the action of the head which struck Carnac.

He and his mother were seated about five rows back from the front row on the edge of the aisle.