on't you? You have no objection on
principle to this kind of thing?"--his waving hand indicated the
well-spread table.

"I? Certainly not. Why should I object to civilisation?"

"I'm not quite sure that I have got at your point of view yet,"
answered Dyce, good-humouredly. "You know mine. The tools to him who
can use them. A breakfast such as this puts us at an advantage over the
poorer world for the rest of the day. But the advantage isn't stolen.
How came we here? Is it merely the cost of the railway ticket that
transports me from my rasher in a London lodging to reindeer's tongue
and so on in the breakfast-room at Rivenoak? I fancy not."

He paused. Was it wise to hint before Constance that he had lived
rather poorly? He hoped, and believed, that she knew nothing definite
as to his circumstances.

"Why, no," she assented, with a smile. "I, for example, have perhaps
some part in it."

Dyce gazed at her, surprised at this frankness.

"You certainly have. And it reminds me that I may seem very ungrateful;
I have hardly said 'thank you.' Shake hands, and believe that I am
_not_ ungrateful."

She hesitated. Not till the hand had been extended to her for an
appreciable moment, did she give her own. In doing so, she wore a hard
smile.

"So, this evening," went on Dyce, "I meet my supporters. Lady Ogram
gave me an account of them yesterday. Tell me what you think. May I be
myself with these people? Or must I talk twaddle. I dislike twaddle, as
you know, but I don't want to spoil my chances. You understand how I
look at this business? My object in life is to gain influence, that I
may spread my views. Parliament, I take it, is the best means.
Considering the nature of the average elector, I don't think one need
worry about the method one pursues to get elected. I won't tell lies;
that goes against the grain with me. But I must be practical."

Constance watched him, and seemed to weigh his remarks.

"As for twaddle," she said, "I shouldn't advise much of it in Mrs.
Toplady's hearing."

"You are right. That would never do. I suppose that woman may be of
real use to me?"

"Yes, I think so," replied Constance, seriously. "You are of course
aware that a man doesn't become parliamentary candidate by just walking
into a town and saying--'Behold me! Your votes!' There is such a thing
as party organisation."

Dyce looked at her with involuntary respect. He reminded himself that
"twaddle" was as little likely to have