om the heap before
him.

"It was just about that very enterprise I came to speak to your Lordship
this morning," said Dunn, drawing his chair closer. "I need not tell you
how far the assurance of Government support has aided our success. The
report of the Parliamentary Committee as to the Harbor of Refuge, the
almost certain promise of her Majesty's marine residence, the flattering
reception your Lordship gave to the deputation in the matter of the
American packet-station, have all done us good and efficient service.
But we want more, my Lord,--we want more!"

"The deuce you do! Why, my good friend, these marks of our preference
for your scheme have cost us some hundred angry addresses and
recriminations from all parts of the kingdom, where, we are told, there
is more picturesque scenery, more salubrious air, deeper water, and
better anchorage. If you built a villa for every member of the Cabinet,
and settled it on us in freehold there, it would not repay us for all we
have suffered in your cause."

"We should be both proud and happy to accommodate your Lordship's
colleagues on Jedburg Crescent," said Dunn, bowing with a well-assumed
seriousness.

"But what do you want us to do?" said his Lordship, peevishly; for he
had the dislike great men generally feel to have their joke capped. It
is for them to be smart, if they please, but not for the Mr. Davenport
Dunns of this world to take up the clew of the facetiousness.

Mr. Dunn seemed somewhat posed by the abrupt directness of this
question. Lord Jedburg went on:--

"You surely never supposed that we could send you material assistance.
You are far too conversant with the working of our institutions to
expect such. These things are possible in France, but they won't do
here. No, Dunn; perfectly impossible here."

"And yet, my Lord, it is precisely in France that they ought to be
impossible. Ministers in that country have no responsibility except
towards their sovereign. If they become suddenly enriched, one sees at
once how they have abused the confidence of their master."

"I'll not enter upon that question," said his Lordship, smartly. "Tell
me, rather, something about Ireland; how shall we fare there in a
general election?"

"With proper exertions you may be able to hold your own," was the dry
rejoinder.

"Not more? Not any more than this?"

"Certainly not, my Lord, nor do I see how you could expect it. What you
are in the habit of calling concessions to