the _Revue des
Deux Mondes_, and assuming it all to be true, they ask defiantly, "How
are you going to deal with that? Why did you not foresee the other?" and
such like. How little they know, as that fellow Atlee says, that a man
evolves his Turkey out of the necessities of his pocket, and captures his
Constantinople to pay for a dinner at the "Freres." What fleets of Russian
gunboats have I seen launched to procure a few bottles of champagne! I
remember a chasse of Kersch, with the cafe, costing a whole battery of
Krupp's breech-loaders!'

'Are our own journals more correct?'

'They are more cautious, Maude--far more cautious. Nine days' wonders with
us would be too costly. Nothing must be risked that can affect the funds.
The share-list is too solemn a thing for joking.'

'The Premier was very silent to-night,' said she, after a pause.

'He generally is in company: he looks like a man bored at being obliged to
listen to people saying the things that he knows as well, and could tell
better, than they do.'

'How completely he appears to have forgiven or forgotten the Irish fiasco.'

'Of course he has. An extra blunder in the conduct of Irish affairs is only
like an additional mask in a fancy ball--the whole thing is motley; and
asking for consistency would be like requesting the company to behave like
arch-deacons.'

'And so the mischief has blown over?'

'In a measure it has. The Opposition quarrelled amongst themselves; and
such as were not ready to take office if we were beaten, declined to press
the motion. The irresponsibles went on, as they always do, to their own
destruction. They became violent, and, of course, our people appealed
against the violence, and with such temperate language and good-breeding
that we carried the House with us.'

'I see there was quite a sensation about the word "villain."'

'No; miscreant. It was miscreant--a word very popular in O'Connell's day,
but rather obsolete now. When the Speaker called on the member for an
apology, we had won the day! These rash utterances in debate are the
explosive balls that no one must use in battle; and if we only discover one
in a fellow's pouch, we discredit the whole army.'

'I forget; did they press for a division?'

'No; we stopped them. We agreed to give them a "special committee to
inquire." Of all devices for secrecy invented, I know of none like a
"special committee of inquiry." Whatever people have known beforehand,
their faith wil