They'll never believe me. For in their day, you
see, there'll be no squires, and no parks. The land 'll be the
people's, and all this kind of thing--_your_ gates, _your_ servants,
_your_ fine house, _your_ game-coverts, and all the rest of it--will
be like a bit of history out of Noah's Ark.'
The Squire looked at him attentively.
'You're a queer kind of chap,' he said, half contemptuously. 'I
suppose you're one of those revolutionary fellows the papers talk
about?'
'That's it. Only there are a good many of us. When the time comes,'
he nodded pleasantly, 'we shall know how to deal with you.'
'It'll take a good deal longer than you think,' said the Squire
coolly; 'unless indeed you borrow the chap from Russia who's
invented the machine for cutting off five hundred heads at once, by
electricity. That might hasten matters a little!'
He had by now entirely recovered his chaffing, reckless temper, and
was half enjoying the encounter.
'Oh, not so long,' said the other. 'You're just passing a Franchise
Bill that will astonish you when you see the results! You perhaps
may just live it out--yes, you may die peaceably in that house
yonder.
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