We shall have another delivery
tomorrow. It takes very generally."
The pale young man read the draft of the proclamation; it was
canvassed and criticised sentence by sentence; altered,
approved: finally put to the vote, and unanimously carried.
On the morrow it was to be posted in every thoroughfare of the
metropolis, and circulated in every great city of the
provinces and populous district of labour.
"And now," said Gerard, "I shall to-morrow to the north, where
I am wanted. But before I go I propose, as suggested
yesterday, that we five together with Langley, whom I counted
on seeing here to-night, now form ourselves into a committee
for arming the people. Three of us are permanent in London;
Wilkins and myself will aid you in the provinces. Nothing can
be decided on this head till we see Langley, who will make a
communication from Birmingham that cannot be trusted to
writing. The seven o'clock train must have long since
arrived. He is now a good hour behind his time."
"I hear foot-steps," said Maclast.
"He comes," said Gerard.
The door of the chamber opened and a woman entered. Pale,
agitated, exhausted, she advanced to them in the glimmering
light.
"What is this?" said several of the council.
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