Fiction > Book editions > London, 1885 - Dynamiter

THE SUPEKFLUOUS MANSION. 119
simple plans. You are not/ lie inquired, with a shade of
sympathetic interest, ' you are not, I trust, a believer 1 '
' Sir, I believe in nothing,' said the young man.
' You are then,' replied Zero, ' in a position to grasp
my argument. We agree that humanity is the object,
the glorious triumph of humanity ; and being pledged to
labour for that end, and face to face with the banded
opposition of kings, parliaments, churches, and the
members of the force, who am I — who are we, dear sir —
to affect a nicety about the tools employed ? You might
perhaps, expect us to attack the Queen, the sinister
Gladstone, the rigid Derby, or the dexterous Granville ;
but there you would be in error. Our appeal is to the
body of the people ; it is these that we would touch and
interest. Now, sir, have you observed the English
housemaid ? '
' I should think I had,' cried Somerset.
' From a man of taste and a votaiy of art, I had ex-
pected it,' returned the conspirator politely. ' A type
apart ; a very charming figure ; and thoroughly adapted
to our ends. The neat cap, the clean print, the comely
person, the engaging manner ; her position between
classes, parents in one, emj^loyers in another ; the pro-
bability that she will have at least one sweetheart,
whose feelings we shall address : — yes, I have a leaning —
call it, if you will, a weakness— for the housemaid. Not
tliat I would be understood to despise the nurse. For
the child is a very interesting feature : I have long since
marked out the child as the sensitive point in society.
He wagged his head, with a wise, pensive smile. ' And
talking, sir, of children and of the perils of our trade,
let me now narrate to you a little incident of an explo-
sive bomb, that fell out some weeks ago under my own
observation. It fell out thus.'
And Zero leaning back in his chair narrated the
following simple tale.