s positively unholy."

"One should eat then with the Government, and drink with the
Opposition," Lord Arranmore remarked.

"Or, better still," Mr. Hennibul said, "do both with the Speaker. By
the bye, did you know that they are going to make me a judge?"

"I heard that your friends wanted to get rid of you!" Arranmore
answered.

"To make yourself obnoxious--thoroughly obnoxious," Mr. Hennibul
murmured, "is the sure road to advancement."

"That's right, give me a few tips," Lord Arranmore begged, sipping his
wine.

"My dear fellow, I don't know what you're going in for yet."

"Neither do I. What about the stage? I used to be rather good at
private theatricals. Elderly Wyndhamy parts, you know."

Mr. Hennibul shook his head.

"Twenty years too late," he declared. "Even the suburbs turn up their
noses at a lord now."

"I must do something," Arranmore declared, meditatively.

"Don't see the necessity," Hennibul remarked.

Lord Arranmore lifted his glass and looked thoughtfully at the wine for
a moment.

"Ah, well," he said, "you were born lazy, and I was born restless. That
is the reason you have done something, and I haven't."

"If you want my advice--my serious advice," the K. C. said, quietly,
"you will make yourself a nuisance to that right woman, whoever she is,
until she marries you--if only to get rid of you."

"All sorts of things in the way," Lord Arranmore declared. "You see, I
was married abroad."

Mr. Hennibul looked up quickly.

"Nonsense!"

"Quite true, I assure you."

"Is she alive?"

"No--but her son is.

"Great Heavens. Why, he's Lord Kingston?"

"Of course he is."

"How old is he?"

"Twenty-eight--or somewhere thereabouts."

"What is he doing? Where is he? Why don't we know him?"

"He doesn't approve of me," Lord Arranmore said. "Fact, really! We are
scarcely on speaking terms."

"Why not?"

"Says I deserted his mother. So I did! Played the blackguard
altogether. Left 'em both to starve, or next door to it!"

Mr. Hennibul fetched out his handkerchief and dabbed his forehead.

"You are serious, Arranmore?"

"Rather! You wouldn't expect me to be frivolous on this hock."

"That young man must be talked to," Mr. Hennibul declared. "He ought
to be filling his proper place in the world. It's no use carrying on a
grudge against his own father. Let me have a try at him."

"No!" Lord Arranmore said, quietly. "I am obliged to you, Hennibul, but
the matter is one which do