;
he'll submit to whatever threatens to stop the supplies. Don't you know
these men better than I do, who pass lives of absenteeism from their
country; how little they care how or whence money comes, provided they
get it? They neither know, nor want to know, about good or bad seasons,
whether harvests are fine, or trade profitable; their one question is,
'Can you answer my draft at thirty-one days?'"

"Ah, yes; there is too much, far too much, of what you say in the
world," said Bramleigh, sighing.

"These are not the men who want to do something for Ireland," said the
other, quizzically.

"Sir, it may save us both some time and temper if I tell you I have
never been 'chaffed.'"

"That sounds to me like a man saying, I have never been out in the
rain; but as it is so, there 's no more to be said."

"Nothing, sir. Positively nothing on that head."

"Nor indeed on any other. Men in my line of life could n't get
on without it. Chaff lubricates business just the way grease oils
machinery. There would be too much friction in life without chaff,
Bramleigh."

"I look upon it as directly the opposite. I regard it as I would a
pebble getting amongst the wheels, and causing jar and disturbance,
sir."

"Well, then," said Cutbill, emptying the last drop into his glass,
"I take it I need not go over all the details you will find in those
papers. There are plans, and specifications, and estimates, and
computations, showing what we mean to do, and how; and as I really could
add nothing to the report, I suppose I may wish you a good night."

"I am very sorry, Mr. Cutbill, if my inability to be jocular should
deprive me of the pleasure of your society; but there are still many
points on which I desire to be informed."

"It's all there. If you were to bray me in a mortar you could n't get
more out of me than you 'll find in those papers; and whether it 's the
heat of the room, or the wine, or the subject, but I am awfully sleepy,"
and he backed this assurance with a hearty yawn.

"Well, sir, I must submit to your dictation. I will try and master
these details before I go to bed, and will take some favorable moment
to-morrow to talk them over."

"That's said like a sensible man," said Cutbill, clapping him familiarly
on the shoulder, and steadying himself the while; for as he stood up to
go, he found that the wine had been stronger than he suspected. "When we
see a little more of each other," said he, in the oracular tone