. "We all know what all
that flummery means. Men in office, Mark, never do make a distinct
promise,--not even to themselves of the leg of mutton which is
roasting before their kitchen fires. It is so necessary in these days
to be safe; is it not, Harold?

"Most expedient," said Harold Smith, shaking his head wisely. "Well,
Robarts, who is it now?" This he said to his private secretary,
who came to notice the arrival of some bigwig. "Well, yes. I will
say good morning, with your leave, for I am a little hurried. And
remember, Mr. Robarts, I will do what I can for you; but you must
distinctly understand that there is no promise."

"Oh, no promise at all," said Sowerby--"of course not." And then, as
he sauntered up Whitehall towards Charing Cross, with Robarts on his
arm, he again pressed upon him the sale of that invaluable hunter,
who was eating his head off his shoulders in the stable at
Chaldicotes.

CHAPTER XIX

Money Dealings

Mr. Sowerby, in his resolution to obtain this good gift for the vicar
of Framley, did not depend quite alone on the influence of his near
connexion with the Lord Petty Bag. He felt the occasion to be one
on which he might endeavour to move even higher powers than that,
and therefore he had opened the matter to the duke--not by direct
application, but through Mr. Fothergill. No man who understood
matters ever thought of going direct to the duke in such an affair as
that. If one wanted to speak about a woman or a horse or a picture
the duke could, on occasions, be affable enough. But through Mr.
Fothergill the duke was approached. It was represented, with some
cunning, that this buying over of the Framley clergyman from the
Lufton side would be a praiseworthy spoiling of the Amalekites. The
doing so would give the Omnium interest a hold even in the cathedral
close. And then it was known to all men that Mr. Robarts had
considerable influence over Lord Lufton himself. So guided, the Duke
of Omnium did say two words to the Prime Minister, and two words
from the duke went a great way, even with Lord Brock. The upshot of
all this was, that Mark Robarts did get the stall; but he did not
hear the tidings of his success till some days after his return to
Framley.

Mr. Sowerby did not forget to tell him of the great effort--the
unusual effort, as he of Chaldicotes called it--which the duke had
made on the subject. "I don't know when he has done such a thing
before," said Sowerby; "and yo