ed to poll Lord Grubminster in a wheeled chair; he was
unconscious but had heard as much of the debate as a good many. Colonel
Fantomme on the other hand could not come to time; the mesmerist had
thrown him into a trance from which it was fated he should never awake:
but the crash of the night was a speech made against the opposition by
one of their own men, Mr Trenchard, who voted with the government.

"The rest may be accounted for," said Lady St Julians to Lady Deloraine
the morning after; "it is simply vexatious; it was a surprise and will
be a lesson: but this affair of this Mr Trenchard--and they tell me that
William Loraine was absolutely cheering him the whole time--what does it
mean? Do you know the man?"

"I have heard Charles speak of him, and I think much in his favour,"
said Lady Deloraine; "if he were here, he would tell us more about it.
I wonder he does not come: he never misses looking in after a great
division and giving me all the news."

"Do you know, my dear friend," said Lady St Julians with an air of some
solemnity, "I am half meditating a great stroke? This is not a time
for trifling. It is all very well for these people to boast of their
division of last night, but it was a surprise, and as great to them as
to us. I know there is dissension in the camp; ever since that Finality
speech of Lord John, there has been a smouldering sedition. Mr Tadpole
knows all about it; he has liaisons with the frondeurs. This affair of
Trenchard may do us the greatest possible injury. When it comes to a
fair fight, the government have not more than twelve or so. If this
Mr Trenchard and three or four others choose to make themselves of
importance--you see? The danger is imminent, it must be met with
decision."

"And what do you propose doing?"

"Has he a wife?"

"I really do not know. I wish Charles would come, perhaps he could tell
us."

"I have no doubt he has," said Lady St Julians. "One would have met him,
somehow or other in the course of two years, if he had not been married.
Well, married or unmarried, with his wife, or without his wife,--I shall
send him a card for Wednesday." And Lady St Julians paused, overwhelmed
as it were by the commensurate vastness of her idea and her sacrifice.

"Do not you think it would be rather sudden?" said Lady Deloraine.

"What does that signify? He will understand it; he will have gained his
object; and all will be right."

"But are you sure it is his object? We