"And by the way," he added, "there's a law--by-law--something or other, that I understand may interest you"-- he looked up at Neergard, who had sunk back in his chair--"about unpaid assessments--" Neergard now for the first time was looking directly at him.
"Unpaid assessments," repeated Ruthven.

"It's a, detail--a law--never enforced unless we--ah--find it convenient to rid ourselves of a member.
It's rather useful, you see, in such a case--a technical pretext, you know.

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