It would appear in the first case, that in honour of our distinguished neighbour, Lord Tupping, Mrs. Stanley Terrill would give a reception at her house; that amongst others the following eminent people would be present. Sir Harry Tanneur, the Mayor of Brockley, the Vicar, Captain Hal Tanneur (9th R.W. Kents) and others too numerous to mention. Bewildered that the citadel of the Duke’s fiancée should shelter the arch enemy, Mr. Nape had commenced a long and scathing satire entitled "The Pier Master" (a happy description of Sir Harry), when peremptory orders came for its suppression and the substitution of laudatory notices concerning the forthcoming function. It had required all the Duke’s powers of persuasion to induce Tuppy to accept the invitation. "It’s a plant," said Tuppy furiously, "it’s the old Tanner bird showin’ off the captive at his chariot’s wheel: he’s dazed that poor dear lady into givin’ a party—I’m not goin’. High Jupiter! Devastin’ Ulysses!" he swore, "did that dear old thing Guy Tuppin’ go down on the stricken field of Crecy, all mucked about with two handed sword an’ maces an’ things, for this! Did——" "You cannot escape a tea-party by reference to your alleged ancestors," said the Duke calmly, "in the stricken field time of business Tanner can give you a stone and a beating. Tuppy, you’ve got to go." So Mr. Nape sat, though his soul revolted, engaged in writing pleasantly and amiably and heartily, a fore-notice of the reception which was to introduce Lord Tupping to his awe-stricken neighbours. His task was made all the more difficult by the knowledge that already public interest had been aroused in the attempt to jockey the Duke from the suburbs. That letters signed "Fair-play" and "Pro Bono Publico" had begun to arrive, that a meeting of the Ratepayers’ Association had been projected, and that there were not wanting other signs of the Duke’s growing popularity in the neighbourhood. Mr. Nape had suddenly found himself a political force; he had the satisfaction of knowing that he was behind the scenes; crowning joy of all, he had been referred to as a "wire puller" and had displayed the significant phrase, with an affectation of nonchalance, to Hank. "He means a leg puller," said Hank. "We don’t think you treat this matter seriously enough," said Mr. Nape severely; "we have a certain duty to our party; a certain responsibility to our public; the whole district is ripe for change; the job of dismissing the water-cart man has roused considerable feeling; the appointment of the workhouse master’s son to the position of rate collector is a scandal—people are asking how long, how long?" "How long?" demanded the Duke. "How long," repeated Mr. Nape. "I mean how long have they been asking that remarkable question?" Mr. Nape coughed modestly. "It coincided with the appearance of our little leaderette on ’Subconscious Corruption,’" he admitted.