'From Brown, a gentleman who lives at Clapham, and whose other name is Clarkson. Fricker's weak spot is that he's a screw; he never lets the subordinates stand in enough. So he gets given away. I pointed that out to him over the Swallow Islands business, but he won't learn from me.' Mr. Liffey spoke like an unappreciated philanthropist. The Swallow Islands affair had been what Fricker called a 'scoop'--a very big thing; but there had been some trouble afterwards. 'Say all you like about Fricker----' 'Oh, Fricker's really neither here nor there. The public are such asses that I can't seriously injure Fricker, though I can make an article out of him. But the other----' 'Don't mention any public men,' implored Mrs. Bonfill, as though she had the fair fame of the country much at heart. 'Any public men?' There was the hint of a sneer in Liffey's voice. 'I suppose we needn't mention names. He's not a big fish, of course, but still it would be unpleasant.' 'I'm not here to make things pleasant for Farringham and his friends.' 'I speak as one of your friends--and one of his.' 'This isn't quite fair, you know,' smiled Liffey. 'With the article in type, too!' 'We've all been in such a fidget about it.' 'I know!' he nodded. 'Glentorly like a hen under a cart, and Constantine fussing in and out like a cuckoo on a clock! Thank God, I'm not a politician!' 'You're only a censor,' she smiled with amiable irony. 'I'm making a personal matter of it,' she went on with the diplomatic candour that had often proved one of her best weapons. 'And the public interest? The purity of politics? Cæsar's wife?' Liffey, in his turn, allowed himself an ironical smile. 'He will resign his place--not his seat, but his place. Isn't that enough? It's the end of his chosen career.' 'Have you spoken to him?' 'No. But of course I can make him. What choice has he? Is it true there's to be a question? I heard that Alured Cummins meant to ask one.' 'Between ourselves, it's a point that I had hardly made up my mind on.' 'Ah, I knew you were behind it!' 'It would have been just simultaneous with my second article. Effective, eh?' 'Have you anything quite definite--besides the speculation, I mean?' 'Yes. One clear case of--well, of Fricker's knowing something much too soon. I've got a copy of a letter our gentleman wrote. Clarkson gave it me. It's dated the 24th, and it's addressed to Fricker.' 'Good gracious! May I tell him that?' 'I proposed to tell him myself,' smiled Liffey, 'or to let Cummins break the news.' 'If he knows that, he must consent to go.' She glanced at Liffey. 'My credit's at stake too, you see.' It cost her something to say this. 'You went bail for him, did you?' Liffey was friendly, contemptuous, and even compassionate. 'I thought well of him, and said so to George Glentorly. I ask it as a friend.' 'As a friend you must have it. But make it clear. He resigns in three days--or article, letter, and Alured Cummins!'