u doubtless know, has exceptional facilities for exercising
hospitality, and it would have afforded me real pleasure if your first
visit to the Guildhall could have been paid under my--hm--ha--auspices."

"You are very kind," said Horace, very much on his guard; "I could not
wish to pay it under better."

"I flatter myself," said the ex-Lord Mayor, "that, while in office, I
did my humble best to maintain the traditions of the City, and I was
fortunate enough to have the honour of receiving more than the average
number of celebrities as guests. But I had one great disappointment, I
must tell you. It had always been a dream of mine that it might fall to
my lot to present some distinguished fellow-countryman with the freedom
of the City. By some curious chance, when the opportunity seemed about
to occur, the thing was put off and I missed it--missed it by the
nearest hair-breadth!"

"Ah, well, Sir Lawrence," said Ventimore, "one can't have _everything_!"

"For my part," put in Lady Pountney, who had only caught a word or two
of her husband's remarks, "what _I_ miss most is having the sentinels
present arms whenever I went out for a drive. They did it so nicely and
respectfully. I confess I enjoyed that. My husband never cared much for
it. Indeed, he wouldn't even use the State coach unless he was
absolutely obliged. He was as obstinate as a mule about it!"

"I see, Lady Pountney," the Professor put in, "that you share the common
prejudice against mules. It's quite a mistaken one. The mule has never
been properly appreciated in this country. He is really the gentlest and
most docile of creatures!"

"I can't say I like them myself," said Lady Pountney; "such a mongrel
sort of animal--neither one thing nor the other!"

"And they're hideous too, Anthony," added his wife. "And not at all
clever!"

"There you're mistaken, my dear," said the Professor; "they are capable
of almost human intelligence. I have had considerable personal
experience of what a mule can do," he informed Lady Pountney, who seemed
still incredulous. "More than most people indeed, and I can assure you,
my dear Lady Pountney, that they readily adapt themselves to almost any
environment, and will endure the greatest hardships without exhibiting
any signs of distress. I see by your expression, Ventimore, that you
don't agree with me, eh?"

Horace had to set his teeth hard for a moment, lest he should disgrace
himself by a peal of untimely mirth--but b