“Isn't it, by Jove?” He laughed boyishly. “I manage, however, to squeeze in a bit of work now and then. The mater has always got plenty on hand for me, and I do things for Raggles. He has been awfully decent. The first time I met him or any of the chiefs after the election I was in a blue funk. But no one seemed to blame me; they all said they were sorry; and now Raggles is looking out for a constituency for me to nurse for the next General Election. Then things _will_ hum, I promise you!” He waved his cigar with the air of a young paladin about to conquer the world. In spite of my own depression, I could not help smiling with gladness at the sight of him. With his extravagantly cut waistcoat, his elaborately exquisite white tie, his perfectly fitting evening clothes, with his supple ease of body, his charming manner, the preposterous fellow made as gallant a show as any ruffling blade in powder and red-heeled shoes. He had acquired, too, an extra touch of manhood since I had seen him last. I felt proud of him, conscious that to the making of him I had to some small degree contributed. “You must come out and lunch with Maisie and me one day this week,” said he. “She would love to see you.” “Wait till you're married,” said I, “and then we'll consider it. At present Maisie is under the social dominion of her parents.” “Well--what of it?” “Just that,” said I. Then the truth dawned on him. He grew excited and said it was damnable. He wasn't going to stand by and see people believe a lot of scandalous lies about me. He had no idea people had given me the cold shoulder. He would jolly well (such were his words) take a something (I forget the adjective) megaphone and trumpet about society what a splendid fellow I was. “I'll tell everybody the whole silly-ass story about myself from beginning to end,” he declared. I checked him. “You're very generous, my dear boy,” said I, “but you'll do me a favour by letting folks believe what they like.” And then I explained, as delicately as I could, how his sudden championship could be of little advantage to me, and might do him considerable harm. In his impetuous manner he cut short my carefully-expressed argument. “Rubbish! Heaps of people I know are already convinced that I was keeping Lola Brandt and that you took her from me in the ordinary vulgar way--” “Yes, yes,” I interrupted, shrinking. “That's why I order you, in God's name, to leave the whole thing alone.” “But confound it, man! I've come out of it all right, why shouldn't you? Even supposing Lola was a loose woman--” I threw up my hand. “Stop!” He looked disconcerted for a moment. “We know she isn't, but for the sake of argument--” “Don't argue,” said I. “Let us drop it.” “But hang it all!” he shouted in desperation. “Can't I do something! Can't I go and kick somebody?” I lost my self-control. I rose and put both my hands on his shoulders and looked him in the eyes.