BORROWDEAN SHOWS HIS "HAND"

"To be plain with you," Borrowdean remarked, "Mannering's defection would
be irremediable. He alone unites Redford, myself, and--well, to put it
crudely, let us say the Imperialistic Liberal Party with Manningham and
the old-fashioned Whigs who prefer the ruts. There is no other leader
possible. Redford and I talked till daylight this morning. Now, can
nothing be done with Mannering?"

"To be plain with you, too, then, Sir Leslie," Berenice answered, "I do
not think that anything can be done with him. In his present frame of
mind I should say that he is better left alone. He has worked himself up
into a thoroughly sentimental and nervous state. For the moment he has
lost his sense of balance."

Borrowdean nodded.

"Desperate necessity," he said, "sometimes justifies desperate measures.
We need Mannering, the country and our cause need him. If argument will
not prevail there is one last alternative left to us. It may not be such
an alternative as we should choose, but beggars must not be choosers. I
think that you will know what I mean."

"I have no idea," Berenice answered.

"You are aware," he continued, "that there is in Mannering's past history
an episode, the publication of which would entail somewhat serious
consequences to him."

"Well?"

It was a most eloquent monosyllable, but Borrowdean had gone too far to
retreat.

"I propose that we make use of it," he said. "Mannering's attitude is
rankly foolish, or I would not suggest such a thing. But I hold that we
are entitled, under the circumstances, to make use of any means whatever
to bring him to his senses."

Berenice smiled. They were standing together upon a small hillock in the
park, watching the golf.

"Charlatanism in politics does not appeal to me," she said, drily. "Any
party that adopted such means would completely alienate my sympathies.
No, my dear Sir Leslie, don't stoop to such low-down means. Mannering is
honest, but infatuated. Win him back by fair means, if you can, but don't
attempt anything of the sort you are suggesting. I, too, know his
history, from his own lips. Any one who tried to use it against him,
would forfeit my friendship!"

"Success then would be bought too dearly," Borrowdean answered, with
a gallantry which it cost him a good deal to assume. "May I pass on,
Duchess, in connexion with this matter, to ask you a somewhat more
personal question?"

"I think," Berenice said, calmly, "that