‘There’s a great policy in saying in “an article” all that could be said in “a debate,” and showing, after all, how little it comes to. Even the feeble grievance-mongers grow ashamed at retailing the review and the newspapers; but, what is better still, if the article be smartly written, they are sure to mistake the peculiarities of style for points in the argument. I have seen some splendid blunders of that kind when I sat in the Lower House! I wish Atlee was in Parliament.’ ‘I am not aware that he can speak, my lord.’ ‘Neither am I; but I should risk a small bet on it. He is a ready fellow, and the ready fellows are many-sided--eh, Maude?’ Now, though his lordship only asked for his niece’s concurrence in his own sage remark, Walpole affected to understand it as a direct appeal to her opinion of Atlee, and said, ‘Is that your judgment of this gentleman, Maude?’ ‘I have no prescription to measure the abilities of such men as Mr. Atlee.’ ‘You find him pleasant, witty, and agreeable, I hope?’ said he, with a touch of sarcasm. ‘Yes, I think so.’ ‘With an admirable memory and great readiness for an _apropos_?’ ‘Perhaps he has.’ ‘As a retailer of an incident they tell me he has no rival.’ ‘I cannot say.’ ‘Of course not. I take it the fellow has tact enough not to tell stories here.’ ‘What is all that you are saying there?’ cried his lordship, to whom these few sentences were an ‘aside.’ ‘Cecil is praising Mr. Atlee, my lord,’ said Maude bluntly. ‘I did not know I had been, my lord,’ said he. ‘He belongs to that class of men who interest me very little.’ ‘What class may that be?’ ‘The adventurers, my lord. The fellows who make the campaign of life on the faith that they shall find their rations in some other man’s knapsack.’ ‘Ha! indeed. Is that our friend’s line?’ ‘Most undoubtedly, my lord. I am ashamed to say that it was entirely my own fault if you are saddled with the fellow at all.’ ‘I do not see the infliction--’ ‘I mean, my lord, that, in a measure, I put him on you without very well knowing what it was that I did.’ ‘Have you heard--do you know anything of the man that should inspire caution or distrust?’ ‘Well, these are strong words,’ muttered he hesitatingly. But Lady Maude broke in with a passionate tone, ‘Don’t you see, my lord, that he does not know anything to this person’s disadvantage; that it is only my cousin’s diplomatic reserve--that commendable caution of his order--suggests his careful conduct? Cecil knows no more of Atlee than we do.’ ‘Perhaps not so much,’ said Walpole, with an impertinent simper. ‘_I_ know,’ said his lordship, ‘that he is a monstrous clever fellow. He can find you the passage you want or the authority you are seeking for at a moment; and when he writes, he can be rapid and concise too.’ ‘He has many rare gifts, my lord,’ said Walpole, with the sly air of one who had said a covert impertinence. ‘I am very curious to know what you mean to do with him.’