It was Friday, and he was glad to remember it, a Private Members’ Day. There were no questions. There was all Saturday and Sunday before him. He would arrange for the Inauguration the very next week. He was already advised that the officials had been permitted by the highest authority, in view of Demaine’s recent privations when he was blown out to sea in the little boat, treacherously abandoned by the foreign vessel and rescued by the willing hands, etc., to omit the final accolade with the ebony cudgel which had now for so many generations formed the last and most picturesque feature of the ritual. He took up his telephone and asked the next room to put him on to the Reptons. He held the receiver while a servant told him that his message should be immediately communicated, and then in a few seconds, heard, to his great astonishment, not the tremulous tones of Maria, but the masterly voice of Sir Charles, as incisive and direct as of old, saying, “What is it?” in the tone of a man who must come at once to business and has many things to do. “Oh!” cried Dolly into the machine, quite taken aback. “That’s you, Repton, is it?” “Yes, of course,” came the answer shortly. “Well?” “Oh nothing. Are you feeling better?” “I don’t know what you mean.” This in restrained, quite unmistakable tones. “My headache’s gone, if that’s what you mean.” “Ye-es,” said the Prime Minister, wondering what on earth to say. “Yes.... Oh it’s gone, has it?” “Yes it has; I’ve told you that already.” Then after a pause, “Look here, I’m really very busy. I’ve got three men here about that absurd concession. You gave me a free hand, and I can’t wait. Hope I’m not rude. It’s really very kind to ask after my health. You’ll be in the House at twelve?” And the telephone suddenly rang off. Dolly was in a stupor; he did what he always did, when things perplexed him: he sent for Edward. “Edward,” he said, “that cracked Dissenter has got three men in his house and is talking about the oil concession to them! Oh lord!” The Prime Minister was evidently frightened and troubled, but he did not seem less frightened and more troubled than the occasion warranted. He couldn’t make Repton out: there seemed to be another change. Edward answered simply: “Why that makes three more who know,--that’s all.” “Do get a taxi,” said the Prime Minister, “and see what you can do.” And he waited anxiously till Edward returned. “Well?” said Dolly as he entered. “Well!” said Edward. “He wasn’t very polite, but--but--are you quite sure that you weren’t worried when you saw him on Tuesday?” “Worried,” said Dolly, “I should think I was!” “Well that’s what I mean,” said Edward a little uneasily. “Didn’t you ... didn’t you perhaps exaggerate a little?”