One might have imagined that the sole aim of brewery companies was to make money, and that the patriotism of old-world brewers, that patriotism which impelled them to supply an honest English beer to the honest English working-man at a purely nominal price, was scorned and forgotten.

One was, indeed, forced to imagine this.

In vain the Marquis pointed out that the shareholders had received a fifteen per cent, dividend for years and years past, and that really, for once in a way, they ought to be prepared to sacrifice a temporary advantage for the sake of future prosperity.

The thought of those regular high dividends gave rise to no gratitude in shareholding hearts; it seemed merely to render them the more furious.

The baser passions had been let loose in the Cannon Street Hotel.