case," he said bluntly, "we won't talk. I don't advise you to
desert anyone; you quite mistake me. I advise you to know yourself.
And I tell you my opinion of you--you were cut out by Nature for a
statesman, not a lover! There's something dried-up in you, Eustace; I'm
not sure there isn't something dried-up in all our caste. We've had
to do with forms and ceremonies too long. We're not good at taking the
lyrical point of view."

"Unfortunately," said Miltoun, "I cannot, to fit in with a theory of
yours, commit a baseness."

Lord Dennis began pacing up and down. He was keeping his lips closed
very tight.

"A man who gives advice," he said at last, "is always something of a
fool. For all that, you have mistaken mine. I am not so presumptuous as
to attempt to enter the inner chamber of your spirit. I have merely told
you that, in my opinion, it would be more honest to yourself, and fairer
to this lady, to compound with your conscience, and keep both your
love and your public life, than to pretend that you were capable of
sacrificing what I know is the stronger element in you for the sake of
the weaker. You remember the saying, Democritus I think: 'each man's
nature or character is his fate or God'. I recommend it to you."

For a full minute Miltoun stood without replying, then said:

"I am sorry to have troubled you, Uncle Dennis. A middle policy is no
use to me. Good-bye!" And without shaking hands, he went out.

CHAPTER XXII

In the hall someone rose from a sofa, and came towards him. It was
Courtier.

"Run you to earth at last," he said; "I wish you'd come and dine with
me. I'm leaving England to-morrow night, and there are things I want to
say."

There passed through Miltoun's mind the rapid thought: 'Does he know?'
He assented, however, and they went out together.

"It's difficult to find a quiet place," said Courtier; "but this might
do."

The place chosen was a little hostel, frequented by racing men, and
famed for the excellence of its steaks. And as they sat down opposite
each other in the almost empty room, Miltoun thought: Yes, he does know!
Can I stand any more of this? He waited almost savagely for the attack
he felt was coming.

"So you are going to give up your seat?" said Courtier.

Miltoun looked at him for some seconds, before replying.

"From what town-crier did you hear that?"

But there was that in Courtier's face which checked his anger; its
friendliness was transparent.

"