take?"

"Nothing of the kind, sir; they actually complimented his abilities, and
spoke of his rare capacity. It was one of those bursts of hypocrisy we
have every now and then in public life, to show the world how virtuous
we are. They raked up an old story of thirty years ago of some elopement
or other, and affected to see in this escapade a reason against his
being employed to represent the Crown."

"I 'm not surprised--not at all surprised. There is a strong moral
feeling in the heart of the nation, that no man, however great his
abilities, can outrage with impunity."

"If they dealt with him thus hardly in the Lords, we can fancy how he
will be treated in the Lower House, where Rigby Norton has given notice
of a motion respecting his appointment. As Lord Rigglesworth writes, 'R.
N. has got up your whole biography, and is fully bent on making you the
theme of one of his amusing scurrilities. Is it wise, is it safe to risk
this? He 'll not persevere--he could not persevere--in his motion, if
you send in your resignation. We could not--at least so Gore, our whip,
says--be sure of a majority were we to divide; and even a majority of,
say thirty, to proclaim you moral, would only draw the whole press to
open your entire life, and make the world ring with your, I suppose,
very common and every-day iniquities.'"

"I declare I do not see what can be alleged against this advice. It
seems to me most forcible and irrefragable."

"Very forcible, as regards the position of the Cabinet; but, as Lord
Culduff says, ruin, positive ruin to him."

"Ruin of his own causing."

Temple shrugged his shoulders in a sort of contemptuous impatience; the
sentiment was one not worth a reply.

"At all events, has he any other course open to him?"

"He thinks he has; at least, he thinks that, with your help and
co-operation, there may be another course. The attack is to come from
below the gangway on the Opposition side. It was to sit with these men
you contested a county, and spent nigh twenty thousand pounds. You have
great claims on the party. You know them all personally, and have much
influence with them. Why, then, not employ it in his behalf?"

"To suppress the motion, you mean?"

Temple nodded.

"They 'd not listen to it, not endure it for a moment. Norton would n't
give up an attack for which he had prepared himself if he were to find
out, in the interval, that the object of it was an angel. As I heard
him say one day at '