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〃He has neither prospects nor profession。〃
〃But； oh！ Charlie； you could find him both。〃
〃I do not like him。 I do not care for the connection。〃
〃But consider Ida！ You know how frail her health is。 Her whole
soul is set upon him。 You would not have the heart； Charles； to separate
them？〃
There was a tap at the door。 Lady Clara swept towards it and threw it
open。
〃Yes； Thomas？〃
〃If you please； my lady； the Prime Minister is below。〃
〃Show him up； Thomas。〃
〃Now； Charlie； you must not excite yourself over public matters。 Be
very good and cool and reasonable； like a darling。 I am sure that I may
trust you。〃
She threw her light shawl round the invalid's shoulders； and slipped
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away into the bed…room as the great man was ushered in at the door of the
dressing…room。
〃My dear Charles；〃 said he cordially； stepping into the room with all
the boyish briskness for which he was famous； 〃I trust that you find
yourself a little better。 Almost ready for harness； eh？ We miss you
sadly； both in the House and in the Council。 Quite a storm brewing over
this Grecian business。 The Times took a nasty line this morning。〃
〃So I saw；〃 said the invalid； smiling up at his chief。 〃Well； well； we
must let them see that the country is not entirely ruled from Printing
House Square yet。 We must keep our own course without faltering。〃
〃Certainly； Charles； most undoubtedly；〃 assented the Prime Minister；
with his hands in his pockets。
〃It was so kind of you to call。 I am all impatience to know what was
done in the Council。〃
〃Pure formalities； nothing more。 By…the…way； the Macedonian
prisoners are all right。〃
〃Thank Goodness for that！ 〃
〃We adjourned all other business until we should have you with us
next week。 The question of a dissolution begins to press。 The reports
from the provinces are excellent。〃
The Foreign Minister moved impatiently and groaned。
〃We must really straighten up our foreign business a little；〃 said he。
〃I must get Novikoff's Note answered。 It is clever； but the fallacies are
obvious。 I wish； too； we could clear up the Afghan frontier。 This illness
is most exasperating。 There is so much to be done； but my brain is
clouded。 Sometimes I think it is the gout； and sometimes I put it down to
the colchicum。〃
〃What will our medical autocrat say？〃 laughed the Prime Minister。
〃You are so irreverent； Charles。 With a bishop one may feel at one's ease。
They are not beyond the reach of argument。 But a doctor with his
stethoscope and thermometer is a thing apart。 Your reading does not
impinge upon him。 He is serenely above you。 And then； of course； he
takes you at a disadvantage。 With health and strength one might cope
with him。 Have you read Hahnemann？ What are your views upon
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Hahnemann？〃
The invalid knew his illustrious colleague too well to follow him down
any of those by…paths of knowledge in which he delighted to wander。 To
his intensely shrewd and practical mind there was something repellent in
the waste of energy involved in a discussion upon the Early Church or the
twenty… seven principles of Mesmer。 It was his custom to slip past such
conversational openings with a quick step and an averted face。
〃I have hardly glanced at his writings；〃 said he。 〃By…the…way； I
suppose that there was no special departmental news？〃
〃Ah！ I had almost forgotten。 Yes； it was one of the things which I
had called to tell you。 Sir Algernon Jones has resigned at Tangier。
There is a vacancy there。〃
〃It had better be filled at once。 The longer delay the more
applicants。〃
〃Ah； patronage； patronage！〃 sighed the Prime Minister。 〃Every
vacancy makes one doubtful friend and a dozen very positive enemies。
Who so bitter as the disappointed place…seeker？ But you are right；
Charles。 Better fill it at once； especially as there is some little trouble in
Morocco。 I understand that the Duke of Tavistock would like the place
for his fourth son； Lord Arthur Sibthorpe。 We are under some obligation
to the Duke。〃
The Foreign Minister sat up eagerly。
〃My dear friend；〃 he said； 〃it is the very appointment which I should
have suggested。 Lord Arthur would be very much better in Tangier at
present than inin〃
〃Cavendish Square？〃 hazarded his chief； with a little arch query of his
eyebrows。
〃Well； let us say London。 He has manner and tact。 He was at
Constantinople in Norton's time。〃
〃Then he talks Arabic？〃
〃A smattering。 But his French is good。〃
〃Speaking of Arabic； Charles； have you dipped into Averroes？〃
〃No； I have not。 But the appointment would be an excellent one in
every way。 Would you have the great goodness to arrange the matter in
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my absence？〃
〃Certainly； Charles； certainly。 Is there anything else that I can do？〃
〃No。 I hope to be in the House by Monday。〃
〃I trust so。 We miss you at every turn。 The Times will try to make
mischief over that Grecian business。 A leader…writer is a terribly
irresponsible thing； Charles。 There is no method by which he may be
confuted； however preposterous his assertions。 Good…bye！ Read
Porson！ Goodbye！〃
He shook the invalid's hand； gave a jaunty wave of his broad…brimmed
hat； and darted out of the room with the same elasticity and energy with
which he had entered it。
The footman had already opened the great folding door to usher the
illustrious visitor to his carriage； when a lady stepped from the drawing…
room and touched him on the sleeve。 From behind the half… closed
portiere of stamped velvet a litt