"Exactly," said the SAGE OF QUEEN ANNE'S GATE. "I spoke for an hour and a half, and BALFOUR puts what I had meant to say in a phrase. What is all this action in Mashonaland, this spending of money, and making of war, but the Extension of RHODES?" MAGUIRE undertook to defend Chartered Company against attack of SAGE. "Terrible work, TOBY," he said, mopping his heated brow. "Much rather approach LOBENGULA'S kraal itself than stand up and face the House." Had to be done, however, and MAGUIRE not the man to run away from anything approaching a fight. Still he observed precaution of getting as near the door as possible, speaking from remote end of bench, almost outside limits of bar. Also he found some subtle comfort, strength, and consolation in standing on one leg whilst he addressed the Speaker. Sometimes it was the right leg, sometimes the left. Whether on one or the other--not for a moment on two--he described to the charmed House how the cherished object of Mr. RHODES, the one desire upon which all the energies of the Chartered Company were bent, was that the men of Matabele should "marry and settle down." _Business done._--Discussion of affairs in Matabeleland. _Friday._--Debate on M'LAREN'S Amendment to Employers' Liability Bill brought to conclusion at midnight. Thought it would be all over before dinner; dragged on hour after hour with ever deepening depression. Seems as if already, in this first fortnight of Autumn Session, energy's sapped; dulness certainly dominant. "The fact is," said THE SQUIRE OF MALWOOD, "there is no fight about the House now JOSEPH is awa'. Hear he is coming back towards end of next week, balmy from the Bahamas, breezy from the Atlantic. I shouldn't at all wonder if, upon his arrival, a genial change was wrought in things generally." _Business done._--Government defeat averted by majority of 19. * * * * * QUEER QUERIES.