"There is no secret about it, I suppose ?" "No, there is no secret," the mayor replied.

"According to the act of parliament and the request of her majesty's minister I drew up a list of fifty of the most useless and disreputable of the inhabitants of this town, and I rejoice to say that the place is rid of them all.

The respectable citizens are all grateful to me for the manner in which I have fulfilled the task laid upon me, and as to the clamor of a few angry women, it causes me not a moment's annoyance." "I don't know why you are telling me all this, Richard," his wife said calmly.

"I did not cast any reflections as to the manner in which you made your choice.

I only said I wished to see the list." "I do not see that the list concerns you," the mayor said.