Page:The council of seven.djvu/246

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were themselves at the brink of enlightenment. As slowly and with a touch of pomp they descended the Club steps, for the awed eyes of ordinary workaday citizens were upon them, a shower of small white leaflets fell from the sky. It was a part and only a trivial part of the U. P. propaganda but the general effect was remarkably like a stage snowstorm. Indeed, Sir Munt emitted a quiet "very pretty" as he stooped augustly to retrieve one of these handbills which had fluttered and rotated to its long home at the bottom of the Club steps.

Sir Munt always liked to speak of himself as a practical man. Therefore, with an air of supreme non-*chalance, the chief magistrate paused amid the citizens to adjust his eyeglasses.

The handbill gave the following information:


TORCHLIGHT PROCESSION OF THE CHARWOMEN OF ENGLAND!!!

To-morrow (Thursday) Evening the Delegates to the Charwomen's Conference will march to the Statue of John Bright in the Great Market Square to demand a Compulsory Pint of U. P. Stout with the mid-day meal.

The Right Honorable Sir Augustus Bimley, K.C.M.G., P.C., Britain's First and Still the Best Bookmaker M.P. will assume the Plinth at nine o'clock precisely (weather permitting).

After the Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of Blackhampton has offered a short prayer,