"Why not ?" "Comrade Witherspoon," said Gregory, with a feverish gaiety, "is anxious to know why nobody eats him (laughter).

In our society, at any rate, which loves him sincerely, which is founded upon love--" "No, no!" said Witherspoon, "down with love." "Which is founded upon love," repeated Gregory, grinding his teeth, "there will be no difficulty about the aims which we shall pursue as a body, or which I should pursue were I chosen as the representative of that body.

Superbly careless of the slanders that represent us as assassins and enemies of human society, we shall pursue with moral courage and quiet intellectual pressure, the permanent ideals of brotherhood and simplicity." Gregory resumed his seat and passed his hand across his forehead.

The silence was sudden and awkward, but the chairman rose like an automaton, and said in a colourless voice-- "Does anyone oppose the election of Comrade Gregory ?" The assembly seemed vague and sub-consciously disappointed, and Comrade Witherspoon moved restlessly on his seat and muttered in his thick beard.

By the sheer rush of routine, however, the motion would have been put and carried.