lay, and when the dust and smoke have cleared away the
force which has created it is found to have removed to a considerable
distance. This manouvre, sir, is known as the covering of a retreat and
this manoeuvre has been executed with an admirable adroitness by Her
Majesty's Opposition this evening." He knew, of course, that he was
beaten, he knew that in an hour's time the reins of Government would
have passed from his own hands to those of his rival, but he took defeat
with his own sardonic gaiety and made a claim for victory with his
expiring breath.

I had a curious little instance of this indomitable vein in him one
summer morning when the House had risen after sunrise and I overtook him
on his way to his official residence. The street was empty and he was
crawling along leaning heavily on his walking stick and clasping his
left hand on the small of his back with a gesture which bespoke him as
being in severe pain. He heard my footstep behind him and turned; his
careless and apparently unseeing glance had crossed my face a score of
times and he could not fail to have known at least that he was known to
me. At the second at which he became aware of me, he drew himself to
his full height and stepped out with the assured gait of a man in full
possession of health and strength. He twirled his walking stick quite
gaily and he maintained that attitude until I had passed him by. I had
not the heart to look back afterwards. I saw him once again and once
only. One afternoon whilst I was sitting writing in my lodgings I
received a telegram from Mr Robinson, afterwards Sir John--then the
inspiring genius of the _Daily News_, instructing me to repair to the
office. On arriving there, I received instructions to repair at once
to the House of Lords and there, no other journalist being present, I
witnessed the formal installation of Lord Beaconsfield. There were four
peers present in their robes of scarlet and ermine and their beaver
bonnets and the Lord Chancellor was seated on the woolsack. An attendant
brought a scarlet cloak, and a very shabby and faded garment it was
indeed, and adjusted it about the shoulders of the neophyte. The second
attendant handed to him a black beaver which he assumed, then he was led
in a sort of solemn dance to the four quarters of the House, at each
of which he made an obeisance. Finally he was conducted to the Lord
Chancellor and the ceremony came to an end. Everybody supposed that
Disraeli's car