"
Naturally, the effect of Jordan's words was to kill a good deal
of Durville's fleeting sympathy, for the latter had suffered a
good deal from the restraint of his liberties, following the escapade
for which Dick had reported him.
The meeting in Anstey's room resulted in the secret gathering
of a dozen men. Eight of these were friends of Dick, who would
still like to see the class action reversed or ended. But Anstey
had been clever enough also to invite four men who were numbered
among Prescott's adversaries. One of these was Douglass, the
cadet who had been elected to succeed Dick as class president.
"Now, gentlemen," began Anstey, in his soft voice of ordinary
conversation, "I don't believe we have any need of a presiding
officer in this little meeting. With your permission, I will
state why I have asked you to come here.
"For months, now, we have had a member of this class in Coventry.
Barely more than a majority believed in that Coventry, but once
action had been taken by the class, the disapproving minority
stood loyally by class action. I have been among those of the
minority to abide by majority action, and I can assure you that
I have suffered very nearly as much as has Mr. Prescott, whose
case I am now discussing.
"The majority has had its way for months. Is it not now time,
if the class will not grant full justice, at least to grant something
to the wishes of the minority?"
"What do you mean?" asked one of Dick's opponents.
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