He was a little man, and walked with a strutting air; his clothes were of the utmost extravagance of fashion, and glistened with gold and silver thread; his peruke was curled and powdered elaborately; and in the hat he held in his hand was a small flashing mirror among the feathers—the last whim of the mode; but there was a pride and containment in his sharp features, a power and purpose in his keen eyes, that overshadowed any fopperies of dress. He began speaking at once, and abruptly, but with much grace in the delivery. "My lords, I am just come from the directors of the Bank. I have been closeted with them all day, and they have promised me they will do what they can. I asked for two hundred thousand pounds. I told them it was the very least there was any use in offering to His Majesty. And I told them it must be in gold or silver"—he waved his hand—"no paper, I said, for Flanders." He seated himself, with another flourishing gesture, on the chair near Portland. Under all his affectations was noticeable a deep pride and satisfaction; the Bank on which everything now depended was his scheme; that of his rival, Harley, had ended in dismal failure. He felt that his brilliant career would be more brilliant still if his project saved the Government now. "Two hundred thousand!" said Shrewsbury forlornly. The Land Bank had promised two and a half million, and the King’s last entreaty had been for eight hundred thousand; but Portland caught even at this. "It would be something," he said; "it would cover His Majesty’s most pressing wants——" "It is all," answered Mr. Montague, "that I dare ask for—in hard money—at such a time." "We are fortunate if we obtain it," remarked Somers. "Is it promised?" "No, Sir John," admitted the Chancellor; "for they cannot do it without another call of twenty per cent. on their subscribers, and they may not decide that themselves, but must submit it to the vote in a general court——" "Why," interrupted the Duke, "there must be six hundred with a right to vote at such a meeting!" "About that number, I think, your Grace," said Mr. Montague. "Why, good-bye then to our hopes of even this beggarly sum!" cried Shrewsbury. "Are six hundred likely to agree to lending even sixpence to the Government?" "Beggarly sum!" repeated Mr. Montague. "My Lord Portland here can tell you what long debate and diplomacy it took to secure even the promise of that amount——" "Yes, I know, Mr. Montague," answered the Earl grimly; "and I think the sum worth any sacrifice. We _must_ have it. Could you have seen His Majesty, gentlemen, as I left him at Attere, surrounded by starving troops on the verge of mutiny, sending off agents to endeavour to raise a few thousands on his word in Amsterdam, you would not consider two hundred thousand paltry."