‘By the bye,’ said Buckhurst, when the hubbub had a little subsided, ‘I am afraid you will not half like it, Coningsby; but, old fellow, I had no idea you would be back this morning; I have asked Millbank to breakfast here.’ A cloud stole over the clear brow of Coningsby. ‘It was my fault,’ said the amiable Henry Sydney; ‘but I really wanted to be civil to Millbank, and as you were not here, I put Buckhurst up to ask him.’ ‘Well,’ said Coningsby, as if sullenly resigned, ‘never mind; but why should you ask an infernal manufacturer?’ ‘Why, the Duke always wished me to pay him some attention,’ said Lord Henry, mildly. ‘His family were so civil to us when we were at Manchester.’ ‘Manchester, indeed!’ said Coningsby; ‘if you knew what I do about Manchester! A pretty state we have been in in London this week past with your Manchesters and Birminghams!’ ‘Come, come, Coningsby,’ said Lord Vere, the son of a Whig minister; ‘I am all for Manchester and Birmingham.’ ‘It is all up with the country, I can tell you,’ said Coningsby, with the air of one who was in the secret. ‘My father says it will all go right now,’ rejoined Lord Vere. ‘I had a letter from my sister yesterday.’ ‘They say we shall all lose our estates, though,’ said Buckhurst; ‘I know I shall not give up mine without a fight. Shirley was besieged, you know, in the civil wars; and the rebels got infernally licked.’ ‘I think that all the people about Beaumanoir would stand by the Duke,’ said Lord Henry, pensively. ‘Well, you may depend upon it you will have it very soon,’ said Coningsby. ‘I know it from the best authority.’ ‘It depends on whether my father remains in,’ said Lord Vere. ‘He is the only man who can govern the country now. All say that.’ At this moment Millbank entered. He was a good looking boy, somewhat shy, and yet with a sincere expression in his countenance. He was evidently not extremely intimate with those who were now his companions. Buckhurst, and Henry Sydney, and Vere, welcomed him cordially. He looked at Coningsby with some constraint, and then said: ‘You have been in London, Coningsby?’ ‘Yes, I have been there during all the row.’ ‘You must have had a rare lark.’ ‘Yes, if having your windows broken by a mob be a rare lark. They could not break my grandfather’s, though. Monmouth House is in a court-yard. All noblemen’s houses should be in court-yards.’ ‘I was glad to see it all ended very well,’ said Millbank. ‘It has not begun yet,’ said Coningsby. ‘What?’ said Millbank. ‘Why, the revolution.’ ‘The Reform Bill will prevent a revolution, my father says,’ said Millbank. ‘By Jove! here’s the goose,’ said Buckhurst.