--surely it
is that of disinfectants. Only think what depends upon it! People who
make disinfectants ought to regard themselves as invested with a sacred
trust. The whole community looks to them for protection against disease.
The abuse of such confidence cannot be too severely condemned, all
the more so, that there is absolutely no legal remedy against the
adulteration of disinfectants. Did you know that, Miss. Lord? The law
guards against adulteration of food, but it seems--I have been making
inquiry into the matter--that no thought has ever been given by the
legislature to the subject of disinfectants!'

Nancy saw that Jessica was watching the speaker with jealous eyes, and,
in spite of prudence, she could not help behaving to Mr. Barmby more
graciously than usual; a small revenge for the treatment she had
suffered at the hands of Miss. Morgan.

'I could point out a great number of such anomalies,' pursued Samuel.
'But this matter of disinfectants is really one of the gravest. My
father has written to _The Times_ about it, and his letter will probably
be inserted to-morrow. I am thinking of bringing it before the attention
of our Society.'

'Do Mr. Peachey's people adulterate their disinfectants?' inquired
Nancy.

'I was going to tell you. Some acquaintances of ours have had a severe
illness in their house, and have been using disinfectants made by
Ducker, Blunt & Co. Fortunately they have a very good medical man, and
through him it has been discovered that these pretended safeguards are
all but absolutely worthless. He had the stuff analysed. Now, isn't
this shameful? Isn't this abominable? For my own part, I should call it
constructive murder.'

The phrase came by haphazard to Samuel's tongue, and he uttered it with
gusto, repeating it twice or thrice.

'Constructive murder--nothing short of that. And to think that these
people enjoy a positive immunity--impunity.' He corrected himself
quickly; then, uncertain whether he had really made a mistake, reddened
and twisted his gloves. 'To think'--he raised his voice--'that they are
capable of making money out of disease and death! It is one of the worst
illustrations of a corrupt spirit in the commercial life of our times
that has yet come under my observation.'

He remained for a couple of hours, talking ceaselessly. A glance which
he now and then cast at Miss. Morgan betrayed his hope that she would
take her leave before the necessary time of his own departur