on of citizenship was military training
combined with a fairly high standard of rates and taxes. I do not know
how the Young Liberals received his creed, but it had no sort of
success with the Prime Minister.

"We must disavow him," said Caerlaverock.

"He is too valuable a man to lose," said the Prime Minister. "We must
hope that it is only a temporary aberration. I simply cannot spare him
in the House."

"But this is flat treason."

"I know, I know. It is all too horrible, and utterly unexpected. But
the situation wants delicate handling, my dear Caerlaverock. I see
nothing for it but to give out that he was ill."

"Or drunk?" I suggested.

The Prime Minister shook his head sadly. "I fear it will be the same
thing. What we call illness the ordinary man will interpret as
intoxication. It is a most regrettable necessity, but we must face it."

The harassed leader rose, seized the evening paper, and departed as
swiftly as he had come. "Remember, illness," were his parting words.
"An old heart trouble, which is apt to affect his brain. His friends
have always known about it."

I walked home, and looked in at the Club on my way. There I found
Deloraine devouring a hearty tea and looking the picture of virtuous
happiness.

"Well, this is tremendous news," I said, as I sat down beside him.

"What news?" he asked with a start.

"This row about Vennard and Cargill."

"Oh, that! I haven't seen the papers to-day. What's it all about?"
His tone was devoid of interest.

Then I knew that something of great private moment had happened to
Tommy.

"I hope I may congratulate you," I said.

Deloraine beamed on me affectionately. "Thanks very much, old man.
Things came all right, quite suddenly, you know. We spent most of the
time at the Alvanleys together, and this morning in the Park she
accepted me. It will be in the papers next week, but we mean to keep
it quiet for a day or two. However, it was your right to be told--and,
besides, you guessed."

I remember wondering, as I finished my walk home, whether there could
not be some connection between the stroke of Providence which had
driven three Cabinet Ministers demented and that gentler touch which
had restored Miss Claudia Barriton to good sense and a reasonable
marriage.

IV

The next week was an epoch in my life. I seemed to live in the centre
of a Mad Tea-party, where every one was convinced of the madness, and
yet resolutely pro