There could be no doubt of Thrale's earnestness, and Maxwell, who was not only a very capable editor, but also an able and intellectual man, was impressed. Unfortunately, the interests of his proprietors at that moment necessitated a great effort to prop up the very unstable Liberal Government, which had been in power for four years and was now on its last legs. It was so essential from the proprietors' point of view--three of them were on the Government front bench--that the dissolution should be postponed until such time as the Ministry could go to the country with a reasonable prospect of success. A tentative English Church Disestablishment Bill was to be introduced in the coming session, and it was hoped that if the Government had to go to the country they could make a platform on that one clear issue. It was a good Bill, designed to win the Nonconformist vote, without completely alienating the High Church party. In other words, the Government was eager at that moment to please the majority of the electors, which is, presumably, the highest object of a representative government. "If it had been at any other time," said Maxwell, and pushed his chair back. Thrale understood that the interview was at an end. He rose from his chair and picked up his hat. "We shall be glad to print any articles you care to send us," said Maxwell, with his kind smile, "but I can't undertake a campaign, you understand, at the present moment." It was nearly four o'clock, but Thrale just managed to catch Groves of the Evening Chronicle. 2 Groves had his hat on, and was just off to tea at his club when Thrale's name was sent in to him. He told the messenger that he would see Mr Thrale in the waiting-room downstairs. Thrale had had some experience of newspaper methods, and he inferred that the reception was equivalent to a refusal to see him. He knew what those interviews in downstairs waiting-rooms implied. It was not the first time that he had been treated like an insurance agent or a tradesman and told, in effect, "Not to-day, thank you." In this case he was mistaken in his inference. Groves had had an eye on Thrale's articles for some time past, and though he thought it a diplomatic essential to keep his man waiting for ten minutes, he had no intention of offending him. Groves came into the waiting-room with a slightly abstracted air. "Sorry to keep you waiting Mr Thrale," he said. "The fact is, that I wanted to finish before I left. Did you want to see me about anything particular?" "Yes," returned Thrale; "I have some facts about the new plague which ought to be given publicity at once." Groves pursed his thick lips and shook his head. "Well, well," he said, "will you come and have tea with me at the club?" He took Thrale's assent for granted, and went out abruptly, leaving his guest to follow.