"You must _assert_ yourself, dear," she declares. "Be _rude_ to people, and go on being rude! Then they will take notice of you and give you nice big posts to keep you quiet. Do you know what the Premier said about you the other night at dinner, to Lady Bindle? (She told Dicky Lever, and he told the Twins.) 'Inglethwaite? A dear fellow, a sound party man, and runs his Department admirably. But--he strikes only on the box!' Pig!" It was about this time that Robin became a member of our establishment. I had no idea what his political views were--it was just like me not to have asked him, Kitty said--but felt confident that whatever side he supported he would do so hot and strong. But at first he gave no indication of his leanings. It was not until we sat one night over our wine, in company with John Champion (member for a big northern constituency, and regarded by many, notwithstanding various eccentricities, as the coming man of the party) that he first gave definite utterance to his views. The cigars had gone round, and we had just performed that mysterious national rite which, whether it owes its existence to economy or politeness, invariably ends in several people burning their fingers with the same match. "I suppose, Mr Fordyce," said Champion, who had not met Robin before, but obviously liked him, "that in common with all Scotsmen you are at heart a Radical." "Am I?" said Robin, with native caution. "Most of your countrymen are," said Champion, with a sigh. "'They think too much'--you know the rest of the quotation, I expect." Robin nodded. I was a little scandalised at this flagrant tribute to the enemy, and said so. Champion laughed. "You are a whole-hearted old war-horse, Adrian. I envy you. Sometimes, I wish that I----" "For mercy's sake don't go and say that you are a Radical at heart too," I cried. "N-n-o. But isn't it rot, the whole business?" "What whole business?" "Ask Mr Fordyce there. He will tell you. I see it in his eye." "What is rot, Robin?" I asked. "Party government?" "Yes," said Robin, quite explosively for him. "It is such a scandalous waste of power and material." He laid down his cigar. "Man, it's just pitiful. Consider! A party is returned to office. With great care and discrimination a Cabinet is chosen. It is composed of men who are mainly honest and patriotic. They are not necessarily men of genius, but they are all men of undoubted ability, and they are genuinely anxious to do their duty by the country. Now observe." (As a matter of fact he said "obsairrve.") "How is this energy and ability expended? About half of it--fifty per cent--goes in devising means to baffle the assaults of the Opposition and so retain a precarious hold on office. Sir, it's just ludicrous! Instead of concentrating their efforts upon--upon--I want a metaphor, Mr Champion." "Upon steering the ship of State," said Champion, with a twinkle in his eye.