“But what do you want us to do?” said his Lordship, peevishly; for he had the dislike great men generally feel to have their joke capped. It is for them to be smart, if they please, but not for the Mr. Davenport Dunns of this world to take up the clew of the facetiousness. Mr. Dunn seemed somewhat posed by the abrupt directness of this question. Lord Jedburg went on:-- “You surely never supposed that we could send you material assistance. You are far too conversant with the working of our institutions to expect such. These things are possible in France, but they won't do here. No, Dunn; perfectly impossible here.” “And yet, my Lord, it is precisely in France that they ought to be impossible. Ministers in that country have no responsibility except towards their sovereign. If they become suddenly enriched, one sees at once how they have abused the confidence of their master.” “I'll not enter upon that question,” said his Lordship, smartly. “Tell me, rather, something about Ireland; how shall we fare there in a general election?” “With proper exertions you may be able to hold your own,” was the dry rejoinder. “Not more? Not any more than this?” “Certainly not, my Lord, nor do I see how you could expect it. What you are in the habit of calling concessions to Irish interests have been little other than apologies for the blunders of your colleagues. You remove some burden imposed by yourselves, or express sorrow for some piece of legislation your own hands have inflicted--” “Come, come, Mr. Dunn, the only course of lectures I attend are delivered in the House of Commons; besides, I have no time for these things.” There was a tone of prompt decision in the way he uttered this that satisfied Dunn he had gone fully as far as was safe. “Now as to Ireland, we shall look for at least sixty, or perhaps seventy, sure votes. Come, where's your list, Dunn? Out with it, man! We are rather rich in patronage just now. We can make a Bishop, a Puisne Judge, three Assistant Barristers, a Poor Law Commissioner, not to say that there are some fifty smaller things in the Revenue. Which will you have?” “All, my Lord,” said Dunn, coolly,--“all, and some colonial appointments besides, for such of our friends as find living at home inexpedient.” His Lordship lay back in his chair, and laughed pleasantly. “There's Jamaica just vacant; would that suit you?” “The Governorship? The very thing I want, and for a very old supporter of your Lordship's party.” “Who is he?” “The Earl of Glengariff, my Lord, a nobleman who has never received the slightest acknowledgment for a political adherence of fifty-odd years.” “Why, the man must be in second childhood. If I remember aright, he was--” “He is exactly four years your Lordship's senior; he says you fagged for him his last half at Eton.” “Pooh, pooh! he mistakes; it was of my father he was thinking. But to the point: what can he do for us?” “I was alluding to what he had done, my Lord,” said Dunn, pointedly.