I saw that Roddy was discontented, and was considerably surprised. His Parliamentary honours weighed heavily upon him. He had joined the St Stephen's Club in the manner of all staunch Conservative members, and I attributed some of his dissatisfaction to the fact that he was nightly compelled to dine with the old fogies there, so as to be within reach for divisions. The Club is only across the road from the House, standing at the corner of the Embankment, and connected with Palace Yard by a subterranean passage. When the division-bell rings in the House it also rings in the club dining-room, and anxious members leave their soup, dash through the tunnel and vote, and come back to finish it. Indeed, it is no uncommon thing for this to be repeated several times in the course of dinner, causing much puffing and grumbling on the part of the stout and gouty members who, overtaken in this helter-skelter to vote, are very often shut out and find they have had their scramble for nothing. Then on returning to table they have to withstand the chaff of the younger and more active legislators, of whom Roddy was a very fair specimen. "Going down to the House to-night?" I inquired. "No. It's Wednesday, thank Heaven! I've been down there this afternoon, but we rose at six. Where are you toddling?" "Anywhere," I answered. "I want to look in at the Naval and Military for a letter first." "From a charmer, eh?" he asked, with a merry twinkle. "No," I answered briefly. "You're a rum chap, Clifton," he said. "You never seem to take girls up the river, to the theatre, or to the races, as other men do. I'm beginning to think that you don't like womankind." "Well, I don't know. I fancy I've had as many little affairs of the heart as most men," I answered. "Somebody was saying the other day that you were likely to be engaged to May Symonds. Is it true?" "Whoever said so is certainly premature," I laughed. "Then you don't deny it, old chap?" I shrugged my shoulders, smiled, and together we ascended the club steps. After a drink we lit cigars and went forth again, strolling along to the Empire, where in the lounge we idled about, chatting with many men we knew, watching the acrobats, the conjurors, the eccentric singers, the ballet, and the other variety items which went to make up the attractive programme. Leaning upon the plush-covered backs of the circle seats, we smoked and chatted as we watched the ballet, and subsequently entered the bar, where there had congregated about a dozen men all more or less known to me. We joined them, my friend the irrepressible young Tory Member being hailed by a youthful sprig of the Stock Exchange as "The Prime Minister," whereat there was a round of hearty laughter. We had chatted for some moments when suddenly Roddy started as if he had encountered some one whose presence was disagreeable in the extreme, and turning to me, said in a hurried half-whisper--