he
dominant note. An aroma of good tobacco hung about. Peter liked to smell
good tobacco, though he smoked none, good or bad.

Urquhart came in at seven o'clock. He was going to dine somewhere at
eight, so he hadn't much time.

"Glad to see you, Margery. Quite time you came."

Peter thought it nice of him to speak so pleasantly, seeming to ignore
the last time Peter had come to see him. He had been restrained and
embarrassed then; now he was friendly, in the old casual, unemphasised
way.

"How splendid about you and Lucy," said Peter. "A very suitable alliance,
I call it."

"So do I," said Denis, lighting a cigarette. "She's so much the nicest
person I know. I perceived that the day you introduced us."

"Of course," said Peter. "You would."

"Do you mind," said Denis, "if I dress? We can talk meanwhile. Rotten
luck that I'm booked for dinner, or we could have had it together. You
must come another day."

While he dressed he told Peter that he was going to stand at the next
elections. Peter had known before that Denis was ultimately destined to
assist in the government of his country, and now it appeared that the
moment had arrived.

"Do you _really_ take a side?" Peter enquired. "Or is it just a funny
game?"

"Oh, of course it's a game too; most things are. But, of course, one's
a Conservative and all that, if one's a person of sense. It's the only
thing to be, you know."

"I rather like both sides," said Peter. "They're both so keen, and so
sure they're right. But I expect Conservatives are the rightest, because
they want to keep things. I hate people who want to make a mess and break
things up and throw them away. Besides, I suppose one couldn't really be
on the same side as what's his name--that man everyone dislikes so--could
one? or any of those violent people."

Urquhart said one certainly couldn't. Besides, there were Free Trade
and Home Rule, and dozens of other things to be considered. Obviously
Conservatives were right.

"I ought to get in," he said, "unless anything upsets it. The Unionist
majority last time was two hundred and fifty."

Peter laughed. It was rather nice to hear Denis talking like a real
candidate.

When Denis was ready, he said, "I'm dining in Norfolk Street. Can you
walk with me part of the way?"

Peter said it was on the way to Brook Street, where he lived. Denis
displayed no interest in Brook Street. As far as he intended to cultivate
Peter's acquaintance, it was to