These peace proposals, which look so well on
paper, are a decoy. They were made to be broken. Those
signatures are affixed to be repudiated. I say that Freistner has
been a prisoner for weeks, and I deny that Fenn has received a
single communication from him during that time. Fenn asserts that
he has, but has destroyed them. I repeat that he is a liar."
"That's plain speaking," Cross declared. "Now, then, Fenn, lad,
what have you to say about it?"
Fenn leaned forward, his face distorted with something which might
have been anger, but which seemed more closely to resemble fear.
"This is just part of the ratting!" he exclaimed. "I never keep a
communication from Freistner. I have told you so before. The
preliminary letters I had you all saw, and we deliberated upon
them together. Since then, all that I have had have been friendly
messages, which I have destroyed."
There was a little uncertain murmur. Julian proceeded.
"You see," he said, "Mr. Fenn is not able to clear himself from my
first accusation. Now let us hear what he will do with this one.
Mr. Fenn started life, I believe, as a schoolmaster at a parish
school, a very laudable and excellent occupation. He subsequently
became manager to a firm of timber merchants in the city and
commenced to interest himself in Labour movements. He rose by
industry and merit to his present position--a very excellent
career, but not, I should think, a remunerative one. Shall we put
his present salary down at ten pounds a week?"
"What the devil concern is this of yours?" the goaded man shouted.
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