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ThePrincetouchedBrottonthearm。
“Willyoucomeroundtotheclub，andtakeahandatbridge？“hesaid。
Brottlaughedshortly。
“Iimagine，“hesaid，“thatIshouldbeanembarrassingguesttoyoujustnowat，saytheMallborough，orevenattheSt。James。
Ibelievethearistocracyarelookingforwardtothepossibilityofmycomingintopowerwithsomethingliketerror。“
“Iamnotthoroughlyversed；inthepoliticsofthiscountry，“thePrincesaid，“butIhavealwaysunderstoodthatyourviewswereverymuchadvanced。Dorsetsolemnlybelievesthatyouarepledgedtoexterminatethelargelandedproprietors，andIdonotthinkhewouldbesurprisedtohearthatyouhadaguillotineupyoursleeve。“
ThetwomenwerestrollingalongPallMall。ThePrincehadlitalargecigar，andwasapparentlyonthebestoftermswithhimselfandtheworldingeneral。Brott，onthecontrary，wasmostunlikehimself，preoccupied，andapparentlyillatease。
“TheDukeandhisclassare，ofcourse，mynaturalopponents，“Brottsaidshortly。“Bythebye，Prince，“headded，suddenlyturningtowardshim，andwithacompletechangeoftone，“itiswithinyourpowertodomeafavour。“
“Youhaveonlytocommand，“thePrinceassuredhimgood-naturedly。
“Myroomsareclosehere，“Brottcontinued。“Willyouaccompanymethere，andgrantmethefavourofafewminutes’conversation？“
“Assuredly！“thePrinceanswered，flickingtheendoffhiscigar。
“Itwillbeapleasure。“
Theywalkedontowardstheirdestinationinsilence。Brott’ssecretarywasinthelibrarywithahugepileoflettersandtelegramsbeforehim。HewelcomedBrottwithrelief。
“WehavebeensendingalloverLondonforyou，sir，“hesaid。
Brottnodded。
“Iambetteroutofthewayforthepresent，“heanswered。“Denymetoeverybodyforanhour，especiallyLetheringham。Thereisnothinghere，Isuppose，whichcannotwaitsolongasthat？“
Thesecretarylookedalittledoubtful。
“Ithinknot，sir，“hedecided。
“Verygood。Goandgetsomethingtoeat。Youlookfagged。AndtellHysontobringupsomeliqueurs，willyou！Ishallbeengagedforashorttime。“
Thesecretarywithdrew。Aservantappearedwithalittletrayofliqueurs，andinobediencetoanimpatientgesturefromhismaster，leftthemuponthetable。Brottclosedthedoorfirmly。
“Prince，“hesaid，resuminghisseat，“IwishedtospeakwithyouconcerningtheCountess。“
SaxeLeinitzernodded。
“Allright，“hesaid。“Iamlistening！“
“Iunderstand，“Brottcontinued，“thatyouareoneofheroldestfriends，andalsooneofthetrusteesofherestates。Ipresumethatyoustandtoherthereforetosomeextentinthepositionofanadviser？“
“Itisperfectlytrue，“thePrinceadmitted。
“I，too，amanoldfriend，asshehasdoubtlesstoldyou，“Brottsaid。“AllmylifeshehasbeentheonewomanwhomIhavedesiredtocallmywife。Thatdesirehasneverbeensostrongasatthepresentmoment。“
ThePrinceremovedhiscigarfromhismouthandlookedgrave。
“But，mydearBrott，“hesaid，“haveyouconsideredtheenormousgulfbetweenyour-views？TheCountessownsgreathereditaryestates，shecomesfromafamilywhichisalmostRoyal，sheherselfisanaristocrattothebackbone。Itisaclassagainstwhichyouhavedeclaredwar。Howcanyoupossiblycometogetheroncommonground？“
Brottwassilentforamoment。LookingathimsteadilythePrincewassurprisedatthechangeintheman’sappearance。Hischeeksseemedblanchedandhisskindrawn。Hehadlostflesh，hiseyeswerehollow，andhefrequentlybetrayedinsmallmannerismsanervousnesswhollynewandunfamiliartohim。
“Youspeakasamanofsense，Prince，“hesaidafterawhile。“Youareabsolutelycorrect。Thismatterhascausedmeagreatdealofanxiousthoug
