When he discovered that their talk was of the iniquities of the National Board of Education, and therefore likely to last beyond midnight, Captain Quinn led the way into the smoking-room, which was unoccupied.

A sufficient supply of whisky and a syphon of soda-water were set before them.

The Captain stretched himself in a comfortable chair, and lit his pipe.
'A fine woman, Miss Goold,' he said meditatively.

Hyacinth murmured an assent.
'A very fine woman, and apparently pretty comfortably off.

I wonder why on earth she does it.' He looked at Hyacinth as if he expected some sort of explanation to be forthcoming.
'Does what ?' asked Hyacinth at length.
'Oh, all this revolutionary business: the _Croppy_, seditious speeches, and now this rot about helping the Boers.