"Can't have," struck in the third Committee-man; "we hadn't seen it
ourselves until an hour ago."
"I should never have permitted it," said the man with the refined face;
"I blame the editor greatly."
"Come to that----" said the little-eyed man, "it's a plain piece of
news. If it makes a stir, that's not our fault. The paper imputes
nothing, it states. Position of the lady happens to do the rest. Can't
help it, and moreover, sir, speaking for self, don't want to. We'll have
no loose morals in public life down here, please God!" There was real
feeling in his words; then, catching sight of Courtier's face, he added:
"Do you know this lady?"
"Ever since she was a child. Anyone who speaks evil of her, has to
reckon with me."
The man with the refined face said earnestly:
"Believe me, Mr. Courtier, I entirely sympathize. We had nothing to
do with the paragraph. It's one of those incidents where one benefits
against one's will. Most unfortunate that she came out on to the green
with Lord Miltoun; you know what people are."
"It's the head-line that does it;" said the third Committee-man;
"they've put what will attract the public."
"I don't know, I don't know," said the little-eyed man stubbornly; "if
Lord Miltoun will spend his evenings with lonely ladies, he can't blame
anybody but himself."
Courtier looked from face to face.
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