a far
more cheery voice he said,--

"If I was capable of the effort,--if Doctor Geimirstad thought it safe
for me to venture,--I could set all this to right. These people are
all talking 'without book,' Neville,--the ever-recurring blunder of an
Opposition when they address themselves to a foreign question: they
go upon a newspaper paragraph, or the equally incorrect 'private
communication from a friend.' Men in office alone can attain to
truth--exact truth--about questions of foreign policy."

"The debate is taking a serious turn, however," interposed Neville.
"They reiterate very bold assertions, which none of our people are in
a position to contradict. Their confidence is evidently increasing with
the show of confusion in our ranks. Something must be done to meet them,
and that quickly."

"Well, I suppose I must go," sighed Upton; and as he held out his wrist
to have his pulse felt, he addressed a few words to the doctor.

"He calls it 'a life period,' Neville. He says that he won't answer for
the consequences."

The doctor muttered on.

"He adds that the trismus may be thus converted into 'Bi-trismus.' Just
imagine Bi-trismus!"

This was a stretch of fancy clear and away beyond Neville's
apprehension, and he began to feel certain misgivings about pushing a
request so full of danger; but from this he was in a measure relieved
by the tone in which Upton now addressed his valet with directions as to
the dress he intended to wear. "The loose pelisse, with the astrakhan,
Giuseppe, and that vest of _cramoisie_ velvet; and if you will just
glance at the newspaper, Neville, in the next room, I 'll come to you
immediately."

The newspapers of the morning after this interview afford us the
speediest mode of completing the incidents; and the concluding sentences
of a leading article will be enough to place before our readers what
ensued:--

"It was at this moment, and amidst the most enthusiastic cheers of the
Treasury bench, that Sir Horace Upton entered the House. Leaning on the
arm of Mr. Neville, he slowly passed up and took his accustomed place.
The traces of severe illness in his features, and the great debility
which his gestures displayed, gave an unusual interest to a scene
already almost dramatic in its character. For a moment the great
chief of Opposition was obliged to pause in his assault, to let this
flood-tide of sympathy pass on; and when at length he did resume, it was
plain to see how much the to