envy your philosophy."

"It's not philosophy at all; it's just common sense, learned in the only
school for that commodity in Europe,--the City of London. We don't make
Latin verses as well as you at Eton or Rugby, but we begin life somewhat
'cuter than you, notwithstanding. If we speculate on events, it is not
like theoretical politicians, but like practical people, who know that
Cabinet Councils decide the funds, and the funds make fortunes. _You_,
and the men like you, advocated a free Greece and a united Italy for
sake of fine traditions. _We_ don't care a rush about Homer or Dante,
but we want to sell pig-iron and printed calicoes. Do you see the
difference now?"

"If I do, it's with no shame for the part you assign us."

"That's as it may be. There may be up there amongst the stars a planet
where your ideas would be the right thing. Maybe Doctor Cumming knows of
such a place. I can only say Tom Cutbill does n't, nor don't want to."

For a while neither spoke a word; the conversation had taken a
half-irritable tone, and it was not easy to say how it was to be turned
into a pleasanter channel.

"Any news of Jack?" asked Cutbill, suddenly.

"Nothing since he sailed."

Another and a longer pause ensued, and it was evident neither knew how
to break the silence.

"These ain't bad cigars," said Cutbill, knocking the ash off his cheroot
with his finger. "You get them here?"

"Yes; they are very cheap."

"Thirty, or thirty-five centimes?"

"Ten!"

"Well, it ain't dear! Ten centimes is a penny--a trifle less than a
penny. And now, Bramleigh, will you think it a great liberty of me, if I
ask you a question,--a sort of personal question?"

"That will pretty much depend upon the question, Mr. Cutbill. There are
matters, I must confess, I would rather not be questioned on."

"Well, I suppose I must take my chance for that! If you are disposed to
bristle up, and play porcupine because I want to approach you, it can't
be helped--better men than Tom Cutbill have paid for looking into a
wasp's nest. It's no idle curiosity prompts my inquiry, though I won't
deny there is a spice of curiosity urging me on at this moment. Am I
free to go on, eh?"

"I must leave you to your own discretion, sir."

"The devil a worse guide ever you 'd leave me to. It is about as humble
a member of the Cutbill family as I'm acquainted with. So that without
any reference to my discretion at all, here 's what I want. I want
to know how