MR. CLUTTERBUCK'S ELECTION [Illustration] NEW SIX-SHILLING NOVELS THE MAGIC OF MAY By "Iota," Author of "The Yellow Aster," etc. "A document of the hour."--_Times._ THE THIEF ON THE CROSS By Mrs. Harold Gorst, Author of "This Our Sister," etc. "'The Jungle' of London."--_Daily Graphic._ THE KISS OF HELEN By Charles Marriott, Author of "The Wondrous Wife." "A book to read slowly and remember long." _Evening Standard._ THE FIFTH QUEEN CROWNED By Ford Madox Hueffer, Author of "The Fifth Queen," etc. "A wonderful picture of the time."--_Daily Mail._ A GENTLEMAN OF LONDON By Morice Gerard, Author of "Rose of Blenheim," etc. "A pleasure to read."--_Globe._ MR. CLUTTERBUCK'S ELECTION BY H. BELLOC AUTHOR OF "EMANUEL BURDEN" LONDON EVELEIGH NASH FAWSIDE HOUSE 1908 To GILBERT CHESTERTON _Idem Sentire de Republicâ_ ... MR. CLUTTERBUCK'S ELECTION CHAPTER I Towards the end of the late Queen Victoria's reign there resided in the suburban town of Croydon a gentleman of the name of Clutterbuck, who, upon a modest capital inherited from his father, contrived by various negotiations at his office in the City of London to gain an income of now some seven hundred, now more nearly a thousand, pounds in the year. It will be remembered that a war of unprecedented dimensions was raging, at the time of which I speak, in the sub-continent of South Africa. The President of the South African Republic, thinking the moment propitious for a conquest of our dominions, had invaded our territory after an ultimatum of incredible insolence, and, as though it were not sufficient that we should grapple foe to foe upon equal terms, the whole weight of the Orange Free State was thrown into the scale against us. The struggle against the combined armies which had united to destroy this country was long and arduous, and had we been compelled to rely upon our regular forces alone things might have gone ill. As it was, the enthusiasm of Colonial manhood and the genius of the generals prevailed. The names of Kitchener, Methuen, Baden-Powell, and Rhodes will ever remain associated with that of the Commander-in-Chief himself, Lord Roberts, who in less than three years from the decisive victory of Paardeburg imposed peace upon the enemy. Their territories were annexed in a series of thirty-seven proclamations, and form to-day the brightest jewel in the Imperial crown. These facts--which must be familiar to many of my readers--I only recall in order to show what influence they had in the surprising revolutions of fortune which enabled Mr. Clutterbuck to pass from ease to affluence, and launched him upon public life.