It was only when the dusty baker came along and repeated this procedure, preserving the same silence, that Carmichael's curiosity was enlivened.

This curiosity, however, was only of the evanescent order.

Undoubtedly they were socialists and this was a little conclave, and the peculiar manner of their meeting, the silence and mystery, were purely fictional.

Socialism at that time revolved round the blowing up of kings, of demolishing established order.

Neither kings were blown up nor order demolished, but it was a congenial topic over which to while away an evening.