第24章

’Itisimpossible！，saidtheyoungerpolitician，foldinghishandstogetherandthrowinghimselfbackinthechair。

’Listentomebeforeyouanswermewithsuchcertainty。Therearethreeorfourgentlemenwho，aftertheworkofthelastthreeyears，bearinginmindthemannerinwhichourdefeathasjustbeenaccomplished，feelthemselvesdisinclinedtojoinMrGreshamunlessyouwilldosoalso。ImayspeciallynameMrMonkandMrFinn。Imightperhapsaddmyself，wereitnotthatIhadhopedthatinanyeventImightatlengthregardmyselfasexemptfromfurtherservice。Theoldhorseshouldbelefttograzeouthislastdays，nepeccetadextremumridendus。Butyoucan’tconsideryourselfabsolvedonthatscore。’

’Thereareotherreasons。’

’ButtheQueen’sserviceshouldcountbeforeeverything。GreshamandCantripwiththeirownfriendscanhardlymakeaMinistryasthingsarenowunlessMrMonkwilljointhem。IdonotthinkthatanyotherChancelloroftheExchequerisatpresentpossible。’

’IwillbeseechMrMonknottoletanyfeelingastomestandinhisway。Whyshouldit？’

’Itisnotonlywhatyoumaythinkandhemaythink，——butwhatotherswillthinkandsay。TheCoalitionwillhavedoneallthatoughttohavebeenexpectedfromitifourpartyinitcannowjoinMrGresham。’

’Byallmeans。ButIcouldgivethemnostrength。TheymaybesureatanyrateofwhatlittleIcandoforthemoutofoffice。’

’MrGreshammadehisacceptanceofoffice，——well，Iwillnotsaystrictlyconditionalonyourjoininghim。Thatwouldhardlybecorrect。Buthehasexpressedhimselfquitewillingtomaketheattemptwithyouraid，anddoubtfulwhetherhecansucceedwithoutit。HesuggeststhatyoushouldjoinhimasPresidentoftheCouncil。’

’Andyou？’

’IfIwerewantedatallIshouldtakePrivySeal。’

’Certainlynot，myfriend。Iftherewereanyquestionofmyreturnwecouldreversetheoffices。ButIthinkImaysaythatmymindfixed。IfyouwishitIwillseeMrMonkanddoallthatIcantogethimtogowithyou。But，formyself，——Ifeelthatitwouldbeuseless。’

Atlast，attheDuke’spressingrequest，heagreedtotaketwenty-fourhoursbeforehegavehisfinalanswertotheproposition。

CHAPTER77

THEDUCHESSINMANCHESTERSQUARE。

TheDukesaidnotawordtohiswifeastothisnewproposition，andwhensheaskedhimwhattidingstheiroldfriendhadbroughtastothestateofaffairs，healmosttoldafibinhisanxietytoescapefromherpersecution。’Heisinsomedoubtwhathemeanstodohimself，’saidtheDuke。TheDuchessaskedmanyquestions，butgotnosatisfactoryreplytoanyofthem。NordidMrsFinnlearnanythingfromherhusband，whom，however，shedidnotinterrogateveryclosely。Shewouldbecontentedtoknowwhenthepropertimemightcomeforladiestobeinformed。TheDuke，however，wasdeterminedtotakehistwenty-fourhoursallalone，——oratanyratenottobedriventohisdecisionbyfeminineinterference。

InthemeantimetheDuchesswenttoManchesterSquareintentonperformingcertaingoodofficesonbehalfofthepoorwidow。Itmaybedoubtedwhethershehadclearlymadeuphermindwhatitwasthatshecoulddo，thoughshewasclearthatsomedebtwasduebyhertoMrsLopez。Andsheknewtooinwhatdirectionassistancemightbeserviceable，ifonlyinthiscaseitcouldbegiven。ShehadheardthatthepresentmemberforSilverbridgehadbeenthelady’sloverbeforeMrLopezhadcomeuponthescene，andwiththosefemininewilesofwhichshewasaperfectmistressshehadextractedfromhimaconfessionthathismindwasunaltered。ShelikedArthurFletcher，——asindeedshehadforatimelikedFerdinandLopez，——andfeltthatherconsciencewouldbeeasierifshecouldassistinthisgoodwork。ShebuiltcastlesintheairastothepresenceofthebrideandbridegroomatMatching，thinkinghowshemightthusrepairtheevilshehaddone。Butherheartmisgaveheralittleasshedrewneartothehouse，andrememberedhowveryslightwasheracquaintanceandhowextremelydelicatethemissiononwhichshehadcome。Butshewasnotthewomantoturnbackwhenshehadonceputherfoottoanywork。andshewasdrivenuptothedoorinManchesterSquarewithoutanyexpressedhesitationonherownpart。’Yes——

hismistresswasathome，’saidthebutler，stillshrinkingatthesoundofthenamewhichheheard。TheDuchesswasthenshownupstairs，andwasleftaloneforsomeminutesinthedrawing-

room。Itwasalargehandsomeapartmenthungroundwithvaluablepictures，andhavingsignsofconsiderablewealth。SinceshehadfirstinvitedLopeztostandforSilverbridgeshehadheardmuchabouthim，andhadwonderedhowhehadgainedpossessionofsuchagirlasEmilyWharton。Andnow，asshelookedabouther，herwonderwasincreased。SheknewenoughofsuchpeopleastheWhartonsandtheFletcherstobeawarethatasaclasstheyaremoreimpregnable，morecloselyguardedbytheirfeelingsandprejudicesagainststrangersthananyother。Nonekeeptheirdaughterstothemselveswithgreatercare，orarelesswillingtoseetheirrulesoflifechangedorabolished。Andyetthisman，halfforeigner，halfJew，——andasitnowappeared，wholepauper，hadsteppedinandcarriedoffaprizeofwhichsuchaoneasArthurFletcherwascontending！TheDuchesshadneverseenEmilybutonce，——soastoobserveherwell，——andhadthenthoughthertobeaveryhandsomewoman。IthadbeenatthegardenpartyatRichmond，andLopezhadtheninsistedthathiswifeshouldbewelldressed。ItwouldperhapshavebeenimpossibleinthewholeofthatassemblytofindamorebeautifulwomanthanMrsLopezthenwas，——oronewhocarriedherselfwithafinerair。Nowwhensheenteredtheroominherdeepmourningitwouldhavebeendifficulttorecognizeher。Herfacewasmuchthinner，hereyesapparentlylarger，andhercolourfaded。Andtherehadcomeasettledseriousnessonherfacewhichseemedtorobherofheryouth。ArthurFletcherhaddeclaredthatashesawhernowshewasmorebeautifulthanever。ButArthurFletcher，inlookingather，sawmorethenhermerefeatures。Tohiseyestherewasatendernessaddedbyhersorrowwhichhaditsownattractionforhim。Andhewassowellversedineverylineofhercountenance，thathecouldseetheretheoldlovelinessbehindthesorrow。thelovelinesswhichwouldcomeforthagain，asbrightasever，ifthesorrowcouldberemoved。ButtheDuchess，thoughsherememberedthewoman’sbeautyasshemightthatofanyotherlady，nowsawnothingbutathingofwoewrappedincustomarywidow’sweeds。’Ihope，’shesaid，’Iamnotintrudingincomingtoyou。butIhavebeenanxioustorenewouracquaintanceforreasonswhichIamsureyouwillunderstand。’

Emilyatthemomenthardlyknewhowtoaddressheraugustvisitor。Thoughherfatherhadlivedallhislifeinwhatiscalledgoodsociety，hehadnotconsortedmuchwithdukesandduchesses。Sheherselfhadindeedononeoccasionbeenforanhourortwotheguestofthisgrandlady，butonthatoccasionshehadhardlybeencalledupontotalktoher。NowshedoubtedhowtonametheDuchess，andwithsomeshowofhesitationdecidedatlastuponnotnamingheratall。’Itisverygoodofyoutocome，’shesaidinafalteringvoice。

’ItoldyouthatIwouldwhenIwrote，youknow。Thatismanymonthsago，butIhavenotforgottenit。Youhavebeeninthecountrysincethat，Ithink？’

’Yes。InHertfordshire。Hertfordshireisourcounty。’

’Iknowallaboutit，’saidtheDuchess，smiling。Shegenerallydidcontrivetolearn’allabout’peoplewhomshechosetotakebythehand。’WehaveaHertfordshiregentlemansittingfor，——I

mustnotsayourboroughofSilverbridge。’ShewasanxioustomakesomeallusiontoArthurFletcher，butitwasdifficulttotravelonthatSilverbridgeground，asLopezhadbeenherchosencandidatewhenshestillwishedtoclaimtheboroughasanappanageofthePalliserfamily。Emily，however，kepthercountenanceanddidnotshowbyanysignthatherthoughtswererunninginthatdirection。’Andthoughwedon’tpresumetoregardMrFletcher，’continuedtheDuchess，’asinanywayconnectedwithourlocalinterests，hehasalwayssupportedtheDuke，andIhopehasbecomeafriendofours。Ithinkheisaneighbourofyoursinthatcounty。’

’Ohyes。Mycousinismarriedtohisbrother。’

’Iknewtherewassomethingofthatkind。Hetoldmethattherewassomeclosealliance。’TheDuchessasshelookedatthewomantowhomshewantedtobekinddidnotasyetdaretoexpressawishthattheremightbeatsomenoverydistanttimeacloseralliance。Shehadcomethereintendingtodoso。andhadstillsomehopethatshemightdoitbeforetheinterviewwasover。

Butatanyrateshewouldnotdoityet。’HaveInotheard，’shesaid，’somethingofanothermarriage？’

’Mybrotherisgoingtomarryhiscousin，SirAluredWharton’sdaughter。’

’Ah——IthoughithadbeenoneoftheFletchers。Itwasourmemberwhotoldme，andspokeasiftheywereallhisverydearfriends。’

’Theyareourverydearfriends，——very。’PoorEmilystilldidn’tknowwhethertocallherDuchess，myLady，orGrace，——andyetshefelttheneedofcallingherbysomespecialname。

’Exactly。Isupposeditwasso。TheytellmeMrFletcherwillbecomequiteafavouriteoftheHouse。Atthispresentmomentnobodyknowsonwhichsideanybodyisgoingtositto-morrow。ItmaybethatMrFletcherwillbecomethedireenemyofalltheDuke’sfriends。’

’Ihopenot。’

’OfcourseI’mspeakingofpoliticalenemies。Politicalenemiesareoftenthebestfriendsintheworld。andIcanassureyoufrommyownexperiencethatpoliticalfriendsareoftenthebitterestenemies。Ineverhatedanypeoplesomuchassomeofoursupporters。’TheDuchessmadeagrimace，andEmilycouldnotrefrainfromsmiling。’Yes，indeed。There’sanoldsayingthatmisfortunemakesstrangebedfellows，butpoliticalfriendshipmakesstrangeralliancesthanmisfortune。PerhapsyouhaveneverheardofSirTimothyBeeswax。’

’Never。’

’Well——don’t。But，asIwassaying，thereisnoknowingwhomaysupportwhomnow。IfIwereaskedwhowouldbePrimeMinisterto-morrow，Ishouldtakehalf-dozennamesandshaketheminabag。’

’Isitnotsettledthen？’

’Settled！No，indeed。Nothingissettled。’Atthatmomentindeedeverythingwassettled，thoughtheDuchessdidnotknowit。’AndsowenoneofuscantellhowMrFletchermaystandwithuswhenthingsarearranged。IsupposehecallshimselfaConservative？’

’Oh，yes！’

’AlltheWhartonsare，Isuppose，Conservatives，——andalltheFletchers。’

’Verynearly。PapacallshimselfaTory。’

’Averymuchbetternametomythinking。WeareallWhigs，ofcourse。APalliserwhoisnotaWhigwouldbeheldtohavedisgracedhimselfforever。Arenotpoliticsodd？AfewyearsagoIonlybarelyknewwhatthewordmeant，andthatnotcorrectly。Ihavebeensoeageraboutit，thattherehardlyseemstobeanythingelseworthlivingfor。Isupposeit’swrong，butastateofpugnacityseemstomethegreatestblisswhichwecanreachhereonearth。’

’Ishouldn’tliketobealwaysfighting。’

’That’sbecauseyouhaven’tknownSirTimothyBeeswaxandtwoorthreeothergentlemenwhomIcouldname。Thedaywillcome，I

daresay，whenyouwillcareforpolitics。’

Emilywasabouttoanswer，hardlyknowingwhattosay，whenthedoorwasopenedandMrsRobycameintotheroom。TheladywasnotannouncedandEmilyhadheardnoknockatthedoor。Shewasforcedtogothroughsomeceremonyofintroduction。’Thisismyaunt，MrsRoby，’shesaid，’AuntHarriet，theDuchessofOmnium。’

MrsRobywasbesideherself，——notallwithjoy。Thatfeelingwouldcomeafterwardswhenshewouldboasttoherfriendsofhernewacquaintance。Atpresenttherewastheembarrassmentofnotquiteknowinghowtobehaveherself。TheDuchessbowedfromherseat，andsmiledsweetly，——asshehadlearnedtosmilesinceherhusbandhadbecomePrimeMinister。MrsRobycurtsied，andthenrememberedthatinthesedaysonlyhousemaidsoughttocurtsey。

’AnythingtoourMrRoby？’saidtheDuchess，continuinghersmile，——’oursaswastillyesterdayatleast。’Thisshesaidinanabsurdwailofmocksorrow。

’Mybrother-in-law，yourGrace，’saidMrsRobydelighted。

’Ohindeed。AndwhatdoesMrRobythinkaboutit，Iwonder？ButIdaresayyouhavefound，MrsRoby，thatwhenacrisiscomes，——

arealcrisis，——theladiesaretoldnothing。Ihave。’

’Idon’tthink，yourGrace，thatMrRobyeverdivulgespoliticalsecrets。’

’Doesn’theindeed！Whatadullmanyourbrother-in-lawmustbetolivewith，——thatisaspolitician！Good-bye，MrsLopez。Youmustcomeandseemeandletmecometoyouagain。Ihope，youknow，——Ihopethetimemaycomewhenthingsmayoncemorebebrightwithyou。’Theselastwordsshemurmuredalmostinawhisper，assheheldthehandofthewomanshewishedtobefriend。ThenshebowedtoMrsRoby，andlefttheroom。

’Whatwasitshesaidtoyou？’askedMrsRoby。

’Nothinginparticular，AuntHarriet。’

’Sheseemstobeveryfriendly。Whatmadehercome？’

’Shewrotetomesometimeagotosayshewouldcall。’

’Butwhy？’

’Icannottellyou。Idon’tknow。Don’taskmeaunt，aboutthingsthatarepassed。Youcannotdoitwithoutwoundingme。’

’Idon’twanttowoundyou，Emily，butIreallythinkitisnonsense。Sheisaverynicewoman——thoughtIdon’tthinksheoughttohavesaidthatMrRobyisdull。DidMrWhartonknowthatshewascoming？’

’Heknewthatshesaidshewouldcome，’repliedEmilyverysternly，sothatMrsRobyfoundherselfcompelledtopassontosomeothersubject。MrsRobyhadheardthewishexpressedthatsomething’oncemoremightbebright’，andwhenshegothometoldherhusbandthatshewassurethatEmilyLopezwasgoingtomarryArthurFletcher。’Andwhythed——shouldn’tshe？’saidDick。’Andthatpoormandestroyinghimselfnotmorethantwelvemonthsago！

Icouldn’tdoit，’saidMrsRoby。’Idon’tmeantogiveyouthechance，’saidDick。

TheDuchesswhenshewentawaysufferedunderasenseoffailure。

Shehadintendedtobringaboutsomesortofcrisisoffemaletendernessinwhichshemighthaverushedintofuturehopesandjoyousanticipations，andwiththefreedomwhichwillcomefromebullitionsoffeeling，havetoldthewidowthatthepeculiarcircumstancesofherpositionwouldnotonlyjustifyherinmarryingthisothermanbutabsolutelycalleduponhertodoit。

Unfortunatelyshehadfailedinherattempttobringtheinterviewtoaconditioninwhichthiswouldhavebeenpossible，andwhileshewasstillmakingtheattemptthatodiousaunthadcomein。’Ihavebeenonmymission，’shesaidtoMrsFinnafterwards。

’Haveyoudoneanygood？’

’Idon’tthinkI’vedoneanyharm。Women，youknow，aresoverydifferent。TherearesomewhowoulddelighttohaveanopportunityofopeningtheirheartstoaDuchess，andwhomightalmostbetalkedintoanythinginanecstasy。’

’Hardlywomenofthebestsort，LadyGlen。’

’Notofthebestsort。Butthenonedoesn’tcomeacrosstheverybest，veryoften。Butthatkindofthingdoeshaveaneffect，andasIonlywantedtodogood，Iwishshehadbeenoneofthesortfortheoccasion。’

’Wasshe——offended？’

’Ohdear，no。Youdon’tsupposeIattackedherwithahusbandatthefirst。Indeed，Ididn’tattackheratall。Shedidn’tgivemeanopportunity。SuchaNiobeyouneversaw。’

’Wassheweeping？’

’Notactualtears，buthergown，andhercap，andherstringswereweeping。Hervoicewept，andherhair，andhernose，andhermouth。Don’tyouknowthatlookofsubduedmourning？Andyettheysaythatthatmanisdyingforlove。Howbeautifulitistoseethatthereissuchathingasconstancyleftintheworld。’

WhenshegothomeshefoundthatherhusbandhadjustreturnedfromtheoldDuke’shouse，wherehehadmetMrMonk，MrGresham，andLordCantrip。’It’sallsettledatlast，’hesaidcheerfully。

CHAPTER78

THENEWMINISTRY。

Whentheex-PrimeMinisterwasleftbyhimselfafterthedepartureofhisoldfriendhisfirstfeelinghadbeenoneofregretthathehadbeenweakenoughtodoubtatall。Hehadlongsincemadeuphismindthatafterallthathadpassedhecouldnotreturntoofficeasasubordinate。ThatfeelingastotheimproprietyofCaesardescendingtoserveunderotherswhichhehadbeenfoolishenoughtoexpress，hadbeenstrongwithhimfromtheverycommencementofhisMinistry。Whenfirstaskedtotaketheplacewhichhehadfilledthereasonstrongagainstithadbeentheconvictionthatitwouldprobablyexcludehimfrompoliticalworkduringthelatterhalfofhislife。ThemanwhohaswrittenQ。C。

afterhisname，mustabandonhispracticebehindthebar。Ashethenwas，althoughhehadalreadydrivenbytheunhappycircumstanceofhispeeragefromtheHouseofCommonswhichhelovedsowell，therewasstillopentohimmanyfieldsofpoliticalwork。Butifheshouldonceconsenttostandonthetoprungoftheladder，hecouldnot，hethought，takealowerplacewithoutdegradation。Tillheshouldhavebeenplacedquiteatthetopnoshiftinghisplacefromthishighertothatlowerofficewouldinjurehiminhisownestimation。Theexigenciesoftheserviceandnotdefeatwouldproducesuchchangesasthat。

ButhecouldnotgodownfrombeingPrimeMinisterandserveundersomeotherchiefwithoutacknowledginghimselftohavebeenunfitfortheplacehehadfilled。Ofallthathehadquiteassuredhimself。AndyetheallowedtheoldDuketotalkhimintoadoubt！

Ashesatconsideringthequestionheacknowledgedthattheremighthavebeenroomfordoubt，thoughinthepresentemergencytherecertainlywasnone。Hecouldimaginecircumstancesinwhichtheexperienceofanindividualinsomespecialbranchofhiscountry’sservicemightbeofparamountimportancetothecountryastomakeitincumbentonamantosacrificeallpersonalfeeling。Butitwasnotsowithhim。Therewasnothingnowwhichhecoulddo，whichanothermightnotdoaswell。ThatblessedtaskofintroducingdecimalsintoallcommercialrelationsofBritishlife，whichhadoncekepthimaloftintheair，floatingasuponeagle’swings，hadbeendeniedhim。IfeverdoneitmustbedonefromtheHouseofCommons，andthepeopleofthecountryhadbecomedeaftothecharmsofthegreatreform。Othello’soccupationwas，intruth，altogethergone，andtherewasnoreasonbywhichhecouldjustifytohimselfthestepdownintheworldwhichtheoldDukehadproposedtohim。

EarlyonthefollowingmorningheleftCarltonTerraceonfootandwalkedtoMrMonk’shouse，whichwasclosetoStJames’sStreet。Hereateleveno’clockhefoundhislateChancelloroftheExchequerinthatstateoftediousagitationinwhichamaniskeptwhodoesnotyetknowwhetherheisorisnottobeoneoftheactorsintheplayjustabouttobeperformed。TheDukehadneverbeforebeeninMrMonk’sveryhumbleabode，andnowcausedsomesurprise。MrMonkknewthathemightprobablybesentfor，buthadnotexpectedanyoftheex-PrimeMinistersofthedaywouldcometohim。Peoplehadsaidthatnotimprobablyhehimselfmightbetheman，——buthehimselfhadindulgedinnosuchdream。Officehadhadnogreatcharmsforhim——andiftherewasonemanofthelateGovernmentwhocouldlayitdownwithoutpersonalregret，itwasMrMonk。’IwishyoutocomewithmetotheDuke’shouseinStJames’sSquare，’saidthelatePrimeMinister。’Ithinkweshallfindhimathome。’

’CertainlyIwillcomeatthismoment。’Therewasnotawordspokentillthetwomenwereinthestreettogether。’OfcourseIamalittleanxious，’saidMrMonk。’Haveyouanythingtotellmebeforewegetthere？’

’Youofcoursemustreturntooffice，MrMonk。’

’WithyourGrace——Icertainlywilldoso。’

’Andwithout，iftherebetheneed。Theywhoarewantedshouldbeforthcoming。ButperhapsyouwillletmepostponewhatIhavetosaytillweseetheDuke。Whatacharmingmorning——isitnot？Howsweetitwouldbedowninthecountry。’Marchhadgoneoutlikealamb，andeveninLondonintheearlyAprildaysweresweet——tobefollowed，nodoubt，bytheusualnippinginclemencyofMay。’Inevercangetoverthefeeling，’saidtheDuke，’thatParliamentshouldsitforthewintermonths，insteadofinsummer。IfwemetonthefirstofOctober，howgloriousitwouldbetogetawayfortheearlyspring！’

’NothinglessstrongthangrousecouldbreakupParliament，’saidMrMonk。’andthenwhatwouldthepheasantsandfoxessay？’

’Itisgivingalmosttoomuchforouramusements。IusedtothinkthatIshouldliketomoveforareturntothenumberofhuntingandshootinggentlemeninbothHouses。Ibelieveitwouldbeasmallminority。’

’Buttheirsonsshoot，andtheirdaughtershunt，andalltheirhangers-onwouldbeagainstit。’

’Customisagainstus，MrMonk。thatisit。Hereweare。Ihopemyfriendwillnotbeout，lookingupyoungLordsoftheTreasury。’TheDukeofStBungaywasnotinsearchofcadetsfortheGovernment，buthewasatthisverymomentclosetedwithMrGresham，andMrGresham’sespecialfriendLordCantrip。Hehadbeenatthisworksolongandsoconstantlythathisveryservantshadtheirministerial-crisismannersandfeltandenjoyedtheimportanceoftheoccasion。Thetwonewcomersweresoonallowedtoentertheaugustconclave，andthefivegreatsenatorsgreetedeachothercordially。’Ihopewehavenotcomeinopportunely，’saidtheDukeofOmnium。MrGreshamassuredhimalmostwithhilaritythatnothingcouldbelessinopportune——

andthentheDukewassurethatMrGreshamwastobethenewPrimeMinister，whoevermightjoinhimorwhoevermightrefusetodoso。’Itoldmyfriendhere，’continuedourDuke，layinghishandupontheoldman’sarm，’thatIwouldgivehimhisanswertoapropositionhemadewithmewithintwenty-fourhours。ButI

findthatIcandosowithoutthatdelay。’

’ItrustyourGrace’sanswermaybefavourabletous，’saidMrGresham，——whoindeeddidnotdoubtmuchthatitwouldbeso，seeingthatMrMonkhadaccompaniedhim。

’Idonotthinkitwouldbeunfavourable，thoughIcannotdoasmyfriendhasproposed。’

’Anypracticablearrangement——’beganMrGresham，withafrown，however，onhisbrow。

’Themostpracticablearrangement，Iamsure，willbeforyoutoformyourGovernment，withouthamperingyourselfwithabeatenpredecessor。’

’Notbeaten，’saidLordCantrip。

’Certainlynot，’saidtheotherDuke。

’ItisbecauseofyoursuccessthatIaskyourservices，’saidMrGresham。

’Ihavenonetogive，——nonethatIcannotbetterbestowoutofofficethanin。Imustaskyou，gentlemen，tobelievethatIamquitefixed。ComingherewithmyfriendMrMonk，Ididnotstatemypurposetohim。butIbeggedhimtoaccompanyme，fearinglestinmyabsenceheshouldfeelitincumbentonhimselftosailinthesameboatashislatecolleague。’

’Ishouldprefertodoso，’saidMrMonk。

’OfcourseitisnotformetosaywhatmaybeMrGresham’sideas，butasmyfriendheresuggestedtomethat，wereItoreturntooffice，MrMonkwoulddosoalso，Icannotbewronginsurmisingthathisservicesaredesired。’MrGreshambowedassent。’IshallthereforetakethelibertyoftellingMrMonkthatIthinkheisboundtogivehisaidinthepresentemergency。WereIashappilyplacedasheisinbeingthepossessorofaseatintheHouseofCommons，ItooshouldhopethatImightdosomething。’

Thefourgentlemen，w