and especially to make a very
profound and exhaustive study of the strange civilisations of China and
Japan. He intended further to give a very considerable time to a
leisurely investigation of the South American Republics. 'Why,' said
Wynter, M.P., when one of Sir Rupert's friends told him of these plans,
'why, such a scheme will take several years.' 'Very likely,' the friend
answered; and Wynter said, 'Oh, by Jove!' and whistled.

The scheme did take several years. At various intervals Sir Rupert wrote
to his constituents long letters spangled with stirring allusions to the
Empire, to England's meteor flag, to the inevitable triumph of the New
Toryism, to the necessity a sincere British statesman was under of
becoming a complete master of all the possible problems of a
daily-increasing authority. He made some sharp thrusts at the weakness
of the Government, but accused the Opposition of a lack of patriotism in
trading upon that weakness; he almost chaffed the leader in the Lower
House and the leader in the Lords; he made no allusion to Sidney
Blenheim, then rapidly advancing along the road of success. He concluded
each letter by offering to resign his seat if his constituents wished
it.

His constituents did not wish it--at least, not at first. The
Conservative committee returned him a florid address assuring him of
their confidence in his statesmanship, but expressing the hope that he
might be able speedily to return to represent them at Westminster, and
the further hope that he might be able to see his way to reconcile his
difficulties with the existing Government. To this address Sir Rupert
sent a reply duly acknowledging its expression of confidence, but taking
no notice of its suggestions. Time went on, and Sir Rupert did not
return. He was heard of now and again; now in the court of some rajah in
the North-West Provinces; now in the khanate of some Central Asian
despot; now in South America, from which continent he sent a long letter
to the 'Times,' giving an interesting account of the latest revolution
in the Gloria Republic, of which he had happened to be an eye-witness;
now in Java; now in Pekin; now at the Cape. He did not seem to pursue
his idea of going round the world on any settled consecutive plan.

Of his large means there could be no doubt. He was probably one of the
richest, as he was certainly one of the oldest, baronets in England, and
he could afford to travel as if he were an accredited repres