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〃Most politicians are something or other at heart； but no one would
be rash enough to insure a politician against heart failure。
Particularly when he happens to be in office。〃
〃Anyhow； I don't see that the Opposition leaders would have acted
any differently in the present case；〃 said Francesca。
〃One should always speak guardedly of the Opposition leaders；〃 said
Lady Caroline； in her gentlest voice； 〃one never knows what a turn
in the situation may do for them。〃
〃You mean they may one day be at the head of affairs？〃 asked
Serena； briskly。
〃I mean they may one day lead the Opposition。 One never knows。〃
Lady Caroline had just remembered that her hostess was on the
Opposition side in politics。
Francesca and her partner scored four tricks in clubs； the game
stood irresolutely at twenty…four all。
〃If you had followed the excellent lyrical advice given to the Maid
of Athens and returned my heart we should have made two more tricks
and gone game；〃 said Lady Caroline to her partner。
〃Mr。 Youghal seems pushing himself to the fore of late；〃 remarked
Francesca； as Serena took up the cards to deal。 Since the young
politician's name had been introduced into their conversation the
opportunity for turning the talk more directly on him and his
affairs was too good to be missed。
〃I think he's got a career before him；〃 said Serena； 〃the House
always fills when he's speaking； and that's a good sign。 And then
he's young and got rather an attractive personality； which is
always something in the political world。〃
〃His lack of money will handicap him； unless he can find himself a
rich wife or persuade someone to die and leave him a fat legacy；〃
said Francesca； 〃since M。P。's have become the recipients of a
salary rather more is expected and demanded of them in the
expenditure line than before。〃
〃Yes； the House of Commons still remains rather at the opposite
pole to the Kingdom of Heaven as regards entrance qualifications；〃
observed Lady Caroline。
〃There ought to be no difficulty about Youghal picking up a girl
with money；〃 said Serena； 〃with his prospects he would make an
excellent husband for any woman with social ambitions。〃
And she half sighed； as though she almost regretted that a previous
matrimonial arrangement precluded her from entering into the
competition on her own account。
Francesca； under an assumption of languid interest； was watching
Lady Caroline narrowly for some hint of suppressed knowledge of
Youghal's courtship of Miss de Frey。
〃Whom are you marrying and giving in marriage？〃
The question came from George St。 Michael； who had strayed over
from a neighbouring table； attracted by the fragments of small…talk
that had reached his ears。
St。 Michael was one of those dapper bird…like illusorily…active
men； who seem to have been in a certain stage of middle…age for as
long as human memory can recall them。 A close…cut peaked beard
lent a certain dignity to his appearance … a loan which the rest of
his features and mannerisms were continually and successfully
repudiating。 His profession； if he had one； was submerged in his
hobby； which consisted of being an advance…agent for small
happenings or possible happenings that were or seemed imminent in
the social world around him； he found a perpetual and unflagging
satisfaction in acquiring and retailing any stray items of gossip
or information； particularly of a matrimonial nature； that chanced
to come his way。 Given the bare outline of an officially announced
engagement he would immediately fill it in with all manner of
details； true or； at any rate； probable； drawn from his own
imagination or from some equally exclusive source。 The MORNING
POST might content itself with the mere statement of the
arrangement which would shortly take place； but it was St。
Michael's breathless little voice that proclaimed how the
contracting parties had originally met over a salmon…fishing
incident； why the Guards' Chapel would not be used； why her Aunt
Mary had at first opposed the match； how the question of the
children's religious upbringing had been compromised； etc。； etc。；
to all whom it might interest and to many whom it might not。
Beyond his industriously…earned pre…eminence in this special branch
of intelligence； he was chiefly noteworthy for having a wife
reputed to be the tallest and thinnest woman in the Home Counties。
The two were sometimes seen together in Society； where they passed
under the collective name of St。 Michael and All Angles。
〃We are trying to find a rich wife for Courtenay Youghal；〃 said
Serena； in answer to St。 Michael's question。
〃Ah； there I'm afraid you're a little late；〃 he observed； glowing
with the importance of pending revelation； 〃I'm afraid you're a
little late；〃 he repeated； watching the effect of his words as a
gardener might watch the development of a bed of carefully tended
asparagus。 〃I think the young gentleman has been before you and
already found himself a rich mate in prospect。〃
He lowered his voice as he spoke； not with a view to imparting
impressive mystery to his statement； but because there were other
table groups within hearing to whom he hoped presently to have the
privilege of re…disclosing his revelation。
〃Do you mean … ？〃 began Serena。
〃Miss de Frey；〃 broke in St。 Michael； hurriedly； fearful lest his
revelation should be forestalled； even in guesswork； 〃quite an
ideal choice； the very wife for a man who means to make his mark in
politics。 Twenty…four thousand a year； with prospects of more to
come； and a charming place of her own not too far from town。 Quite
the type of girl； too； who will make a good political hostess；
brains without being brainy； you know。 Just the right thing。 Of
course； it would be premature to make any definite announcement at
present … 〃
〃It would hardly be premature for my partner to announce what she
means to make trumps；〃 interrupted Lady Caroline； in a voice of
such sinister gentleness that St。 Michael fled headlong back to his
own table。
〃Oh； is it me？ I beg your pardon。 I leave it；〃 said Serena。
〃Thank you。 No trumps；〃 declared Lady Caroline。 The hand was
successful； and the rubber ultimately fell to her with a
comfortable margin of honours。 The same partners cut together
again； and this time the cards went distinctly against Francesca
and Ada Spelvexit； and a heavily piled…up score confronted them at
the close of the rubber。 Francesca was conscious that a certain
amount of rather erratic play on her part had at least contributed
to the result。 St。 Michael's incursion into the conversation had
proved rather a powerful distraction to her ordinarily sound
bridge…craft。
Ada Spelvexit emptied her purse of several gold pieces and infused
a corresponding degree of superiority into her manner