I've been preaching against your idleness and vanity and vices, and the strangling grip you have on the throats of the people, ever since I was a young man.

If one of your lot chose to do in another of your lot--a common story of seduction and crime--" At this slur in his daughter's honour Sir Anthony broke out fiercely, and, for a moment, I feared lest he would throw himself on Gedge and wring his neck.

I managed to check his outburst and bring him to reason.

He resumed his attitude on the hearthrug.
"As I was saying," Gedge continued, rather frightened, "from my sociological point of view I considered the affair no business of mine.
I speak of it now, because ever since war broke out your class and the parasitical bourgeoisie have done your best to reduce me to starvation.
I thought it would be pleasant to get a bit of my own back.

Just a little bit," he added, rubbing his hands.
"If you think you've done it, you'll find yourself mistaken." Gedge shrugged his shoulders and pulled his beard.