een him and Marsham had become still more strained.

Further statements were drawn up for the newspapers. As the afternoon
wore on the grounds and hall of Lytchett betrayed the presence of a
number of reporters, hurriedly sent thither by the chief London and
provincial papers. By now the news had travelled through England.

Marsham worked hard, saving Sir James all he could. Another messenger
arrived from Lord Broadstone, with a pathetic letter for Sir James.
Chide's face darkened over it. "Broadstone must bear up," he said to
Marsham, as they stood together in Chide's sanctum. "It was not his
fault, and he has the country to think of. You tell him so. Now, are
you off?"

Marsham replied that his fly had been announced.

"What'll they offer you?" said Chide, abruptly.

"Offer me? It doesn't much matter, does it?--on a day like this?"
Marsham's tone was equally curt. Then he added: "I shall be here again
to-morrow."

Chide acquiesced. When Marsham had driven off, and as the sound of the
wheels died away, Chide uttered a fierce inarticulate sound. His hot
Irish heart swelled within him. He walked hurriedly to and fro, his
hands in his pockets.

"John!--John!" he groaned. "They'll be dancing and triumphing on your
grave to-night, John; and that fellow you were a father to--like the
rest. But they shall do it without me, John--they shall do it
without me!"

And he thought, with a grim satisfaction, of the note he had just
confided to the Premier's second messenger refusing the offer of the
Attorney-Generalship. He was sorry for Broadstone; he had done his best
to comfort him; but he would serve in no Government with John's
supplanters.

* * * * *

Meanwhile Marsham was speeding up to town. At every way-side station,
under the evening light, he saw the long lines of placards: "Sudden
death of Mr. Ferrier. Effect on the new Ministry." Every paper he bought
was full of comments and hasty biographies. There was more than a
conventional note of loss in them. Ferrier was not widely popular, in
the sense in which many English statesmen have been popular, but there
was something in his personality that had long since won the affection
and respect of all that public, in all classes, which really observes
and directs English affairs. He was sincerely mourned, and he would be
practically missed.

But the immediate effect would be the triumph of the Cave, a new
direction given to current po