“Here, then, is the more cogent reason. The court has not forgotten--what possibly the world may have forgotten--some of those passages in your life for which you, perhaps, have no other remorse than that they are not likely to recur; and as you have given no hostages for good behavior, in the shape of a wife, the court, I say, is sure to veto your appointment. You see it all as clearly as I do.” “So far as I do see,” said Culduff, slowly: “the first objection is my want of fortune, the second, my want of a wife?” “Exactly so.” “Well, my Lord, I am able to meet each of these obstacles; my agent has just discovered coal on one of my Irish estates, and I am now in town to make arrangements on a large scale to develop the source of wealth. As to the second disability, I shall pledge myself to present the Viscountess Culduff at the next drawing-room.” “Married already?” “No, but I may be within a few weeks. In fact, I mean to place myself in such a position, that no one holding your office can pass me over by a pretext, or affect to ignore my claim by affirming that I labor under a disability.” “This sounds like menace, does it not?” said the other as he threw his cigar impatiently from him. “A mere protocol, my Lord, to denote intention.” “Well, I'll submit your name. I'll go further,--I'll support it. Don't leave town for a day or two. Call on Beadlesworth and see Repsley; tell him what you 've said to me. If you could promise it was one of his old maiden sisters that you thought of making Lady Culduff, the thing could be clenched at once. But I take it you have other views?” “I have other views,” said he, gravely. “I'm not indiscreet, and I shall not ask you more on that head. By the way, is n't your leave up, or nearly up?” “It expired on Wednesday last, and I want it renewed for two months.” “Of course, if we send you on this mission, you 'll not want the leave. I had something else to say. What was it?” “I have not the very vaguest idea.” “Oh! I remember. It was to recommend you not to take your wife from the stage. There's a strong prejudice in a certain quarter as to that--in fact, I may say it couldn't be got over.” “I may relieve you of any apprehensions on that score. Indeed, I don't know what fact in my life should expose me to the mere suspicion.” “Nothing, nothing--except that impulsive generosity of your disposition, which might lead you to do what other men would stop short to count the cost of.” “It would never lead me to derogate, my Lord,” said he, proudly, as he took his hat, and bowing haughtily left the room. “The greatest ass in the whole career, and the word is a bold one,” said the Minister, as the door closed. “Meanwhile, I must send in his name for this mission, which he is fully equal to. What a happy arrangement it is, that in an age when our flunkies aspire to be gentlemen, there are gentlemen who ask nothing better than to be flunkies!” CHAPTER XV. WITH HIS LAWYER.