As Eugene approached, a sudden thought seemed to strike him. He stopped deliberately, and with great care lit a cigar. "Why wasn't I smoking, I wonder!" he said. "The sight of Bob Territon reminded me." Then as he reached them, raising his voice, he went on: "Ladies and gentlemen, I am sorry to interrupt you, and with bad news." "What is the matter, dear," asked Mrs. Lane, a gentle old lady, who having once had the courage to leave the calm of her father's country vicarage to follow the doubtful fortunes of her husband, was now reaping her reward in a luxury of which she had never dreamed. "With the arrival of the 4.15 this afternoon," Eugene continued, "our placid life will be interrupted, and one of Mr. Eugene Lane, M.P.'s, celebrated Saturday to Monday parties (I quote from _The Universe_) will begin." "Who's coming?" asked Miss Bernard. Miss Bernard was the acknowledged beauty referred to in the opening lines of this chapter, whose love Eugene had been lucky enough to secure. Had Eugene not been absurdly rich himself, he might have been congratulated further on the prospective enjoyment of a nice little fortune as well as the lady's favor. "Is Rickmansworth coming?" put in Lady Claudia, before Eugene had time to reply to his _fiancée_. "Be at peace," he said, addressing Lady Claudia; "your brother is not coming. I have known Rickmansworth a long while, and I never knew him to be polite. He inquired by telegram (reply not paid) who were to be here. When I wired him, telling him whom I had the privilege of entertaining, and requesting an immediate reply (not paid), he answered that he thought I must have enough Territons already, and he didn't want to make another." Neither Lady Claudia nor her brother Robert, who was the young man with the beer, seemed put out at this message. Indeed, the latter went so far as to say: "Good! Have some beer, Eugene?" "But who is coming?" repeated Miss Kate. "Really, Eugene, you might pay a little attention to me." "Can't, my dear Kate--not in public. It's not good form, is it, Lady Claudia?" "Eugene," said Mrs. Lane, in a tone as nearly severe as she ever arrived at, "if you wish your guests to have either dinner or beds, you will at once tell me who and how many they are." "My dear mother, they are in number five, composed as follows: First, the Bishop of Bellminster." "A most interesting man," observed Miss Chambers. "I am glad to hear it, Aunt Jane," responded Eugene. "The Bishop is accompanied by his wife. That makes two; and then old Merton, who was at the Colonial Office you know, and Morewood the painter make four." "Sir George Merton is a Radical, isn't he?" asked Lady Claudia severely. "He tries to be," said Eugene. "Shall I order a carriage to take you to the station? I think, you know, you can stand it, with Haddington's help."