he Empire. Very few people believed that it
existed. It was worse than stupid to suggest that the Government would
resign. The country was utterly weary of General Elections and was
planning its summer holiday. Public sympathy was hopelessly alienated by
that kind, of talk. On the other hand, the fashionable Delilah story
was a brilliant invention. There is nothing dearer to the heart of the
English middle classes and working men than the belief that every woman
with a dress allowance of more than L200 a year is a courtesan. The
suggestion that these immoral Phrynes were bartering their charms for
power to thwart the will of the people was just the sort of thing to
raise a tempest of enthusiasm.

Almost anything might have happened if the Government had had the
courage to follow up its advantage. Fortunately--from Malcolmson's point
of view--it did not venture to shut up all women of title, under
fifty years of age, in houses of correction; a course which would have
convinced the general public that Home Rule was a sound thing. It spent
a fortnight or so contradicting everybody who said anything, including
itself, and then apologised for being misunderstood.

However, that anti-climax was still some way off.

I stuffed the three Liberal papers into my pocket and went to call on
Lady Kingscourt. She is the only peeress I am intimate with who moves in
really fashionable circles and is both rich and beautiful. It would have
been interesting to hear what she said when I pointed out to her that
she had been seducing subalterns. She was not at home when I reached her
house. The butler told me that she had gone to a bazaar got up to raise
funds for the Soldiers' and Sailors' Families' Association, in itself a
suspicious circumstance. If I were Lady Kingscourt and my character was
attacked as hers was, I should keep clear of any charity with the word
soldier in its name. I was sorry to miss her, though I scarcely expected
that she would have tried to fascinate me. It is a good many years since
I resigned my commission.

The next person I thought of seeing was Gorman. It was nearly five
o'clock, so I went to the House of Commons.

Gorman, when I found him, seemed very much pleased to see me, and was in
a hospitable mood. He took me to a room, which must have originally been
meant for a cellar, and gave me tea.

"I've been ringing you up on the telephone all day," he said, "and
couldn't get you. Where have you been?"

"Do