He rose to his feet, so unsteadily that his chair fell over with a bang.

He never heeded it, but others in the room turned at the sound, and a hush fell in the chamber.

Dominating this came Richard's voice, strident with intensity, if thick of utterance.
"Down with Popery, and God save the Protestant Duke!" he cried.

"Down with Popery!" And he looked at Trenchard for applause, and assurance that Trenchard no longer thought there was cause to quarrel with him.
Behind him there was a stir in the room that went unheeded by the boy.
Men nudged their neighbours; some looked frightened and some grinned at the treasonable words.
A swift change came over Trenchard.

His drunkenness fell from him like a discarded mantle.