e heard you sing comic songs in most melodious tones, and I have had
to send for a cab to take you home."

"But never in public," said Mr. Grayburn uneasily.

"Just so. I see my failing. Mr. Grayburn, allow me to congratulate you
on your high moral standard. Drink as much as you like, only don't let
any one know it."

"Look here, Mr. Leicester," said the other. "I am as sorry for this as
any man, and if I only considered myself--well, things would be
different. But I'm only one. There are these teetotalers to think of,
and they are a strong party here. I tell you the people are mad with
you; if you appeared outside the hotel now, you'd be hooted. If you
appeared at a meeting you'd be hissed off the platform; nay, more, I
don't believe you'd be safe to go into the streets. You'd be pelted with
rotten eggs, and the refuse of the town."

He had stung Leicester at last. All the cheap veneer of cynicism was
gone now, and he did not know what to say.

"Just look at this," went on Mr. Grayburn. "This is an account of last
night's meeting, brought out by the editor of the opposition paper. It
seems that he and the reporter got into the ante-room, and the reporter
is a clever caricaturist in his way. Here you are in various attitudes:
First, Mr. Leicester rising to address the meeting. Second, Mr.
Leicester endeavouring to proceed. Third, Mr. Leicester finishing his
speech. Fourth, Mr. Leicester in the ante-room. How could we stand by
you in face of pictures like these?"

As Leicester looked at the sheet which Mr. Grayburn exhibited, he
realised the meaning of the other's words. Each picture showed him in a
state of drunken helplessness, and under each picture was a quotation
from what he had said, so spelt as to bear out the fact of his
intoxication.

"Did I say this?" he stammered.

"You did, Mr. Leicester; that, and more."

He was silent for a moment, and then through the open windows of the
room he heard shouting in the street.

"Wha'! Rafford Lester drunk! Cood'n be drunk. Sober 's judge. Friend o'
temperance. Hooray for pardy sbriety!"

A shout of laughter followed, brutal, derisive, laughter, and he,
Leicester, was the cause of it. He walked to the window and saw a crowd
of people outside the hotel; they were looking towards him. No sooner
did they see him than they began to shout and laugh derisively.

"You wish me to resign," he said quietly.

"My committee, which met this morning, asked me to wait on yo