For a long time the red-haired revolutionary had reigned without a rival; it was upon the night of the sunset that his solitude suddenly ended.

The new poet, who introduced himself by the name of Gabriel Syme was a very mild-looking mortal, with a fair, pointed beard and faint, yellow hair.

But an impression grew that he was less meek than he looked.

He signalised his entrance by differing with the established poet, Gregory, upon the whole nature of poetry.

He said that he (Syme) was poet of law, a poet of order; nay, he said he was a poet of respectability.