Section 52The old plutocrat was feeble and sick, but his mind was allthere, and his eyes seemed to be boring Peter through. Peterrealized that he would have to be very careful—the leastlittle slip would be fatal here.
“Now, Gudge,” theold man began, “I want you totell me all about it. To begin with, how did you come to be amongthese Reds? Begin at the beginning.”
So Peter told how he had happened to get interested in theradical movement, laying particular stress upon the dangerousnessof these Reds, and his own loyalty to the class which stood fororder and progress and culture in the country. “It ought tobe stopped, Mr. Ackerman!” he exclaimed, with a fine show offeeling; and the old banker nodded. Yes, yes, it ought to bestopped!
“Well,” said Peter, “I said to myself,‘I’m going to find
