"I am going to do the trick. London
has been waiting for an organizer--a leader--for a hundred years. The
right kind of a man, going the right way to work, can stand London on
its head, as surely as I can burn this cigar. And I'm going to have a
try at it."

"It is very interesting," remarked the Duke, with vagueness. "But--are
the ladies waiting for us? And if so, aren't we keeping them up
unconscionably?"

As if in comment upon his words, there was the sound of a faint rap at
the door. Then it opened, and through the dense blue haze of the room
they saw some shadowed forms softly indistinct save where the light from
the ceiling outside shone down upon a group of coiffured heads. A
noise of mingled coughing and laughter specifically completed the
introduction.

"Oh, I'm--it's unendurable in there," spoke the voice of the hostess.
"We WERE coming in to smoke with you," she called out through the cloud,
"since you wouldn't stop with us."

"Come along!" answered Thorpe, cheerily. He strode to the end of the
room and raised a window. From the same corner he turned on some added
lights.

Under this more effective illumination, the lady of the house advanced,
with Miss Madden and the Hon. Winifred close behind her. "Frank has gone
to bed," she explained to the Duke, who had risen. Then she turned to
her husband a bright-eyed glance: "You don't mind--our coming?" she
asked.

"Mind!" he called out, with robust impressiveness. "Mind!" As if to
complete the expression of his meaning, he threw his arm loosely
about her, where she stood, and brought her to his side. They remained
standing thus, before the fireplace, after the others were all seated.

"Mr. Thorpe has been outlining to me the most wonderful plans," said the
Duke, looking from one face to another, with a reserved smile. "It
seems that philanthropy fails unless it is combined with very advanced
politics. It is a new idea to me--but he certainly states it with
vigour. Do you understand it, Edith?"

"Oh, perfectly," replied the wife, smilingly. "I am his first convert.
Behold in me the original disciple."

"The worst of that is," commented Thorpe, with radiant joviality, "she
would subscribe to any other new doctrine of mine just as readily." He
tightened the arm encircling her by a perceptible trifle. "Wouldn't you,
sweetheart?" he demanded.

She seemed in nowise embarrassed by these overt endearments.
There was indeed the dimmest suggestion in her face