Mannering raised his eyebrows, and said nothing.

"I must confess," Borrowdean continued, "that I scarcely expected to find
it necessary for me to come here and remind you that it was I who am
responsible for your reappearance in politics."

"I am not likely," Mannering said, slowly, "to forget your good offices
in that respect."

"I felt sure that you would not," Borrowdean answered. "Yet you must not
altogether blame me for my coming! I understand that the list of your
proposed Cabinet is to be completed to-morrow afternoon, and as yet I
have heard nothing from you."

"Your information," Mannering said, "is quite correct. In fact, my list
is complete already. If your visit here is one of curiosity, I have no
objection to gratify it. Here is a list of the names I have selected."

He handed a sheet of paper to Borrowdean, who glanced it eagerly down.
Afterwards he looked up and met Mannering's calm gaze. There was an
absolute silence for several seconds.

"My name," Borrowdean said, hoarsely, "is not amongst these!"

"It really never occurred to me for a single second to place it there,"
Mannering answered.

Borrowdean drew a little breath. He was deathly pale.

"You include Redford," he said. "He is a more violent partizan than I
have ever been. I have heard you say a dozen times that you disapprove of
turning a man out of office directly he has got into the swing of it. Has
any one any fault to find with me? I have done my duty, and done it
thoroughly. I don't know what your programme may be, but if Redford can
accept it I am sure that I can."

"Possibly," Mannering answered. "I have this peculiarity, though. Call it
a whim, if you like. I desire to see my Cabinet composed of honourable
men."

Borrowdean started back as though he had received a blow.

"Am I to accept that as a statement of your opinion of me?" he demanded.

"It seems fairly obvious," Mannering answered, "that such was my
intention."

"You owe your place in public life to me," Borrowdean exclaimed.

"If I do," Mannering answered, "do you imagine that I consider myself
your debtor? I tell you that to-day, at this moment, I have no political
ambitions. Before you appeared at Blakely and commenced your underhand
scheming, I was a contented, almost a happy man. You imagined that my
reappearance in political life would be beneficial to you, and with that
in view, and that only, you set yourself to get me back. You succeeded!
We won't sa