"I couldn't find a decent seat left in the press gallery," said he, "but I managed to get this place, from which I shall be able to see things properly.

It will certainly be a big sitting.

Just look at the number of people there are on every side!" The narrow and badly arranged galleries were packed to overflowing.

There were men of every age and a great many women too in the confused, serried mass of spectators, amidst which one only distinguished a multiplicity of pale white faces.

The real scene, however, was down below in the meeting-hall, which was as yet empty, and with its rows of seats disposed in semi-circular fashion looked like the auditorium of a theatre.