med, it was in a lighter and more
flippant tone: "To make short of it, I saw that I could not keep office
on these conditions, but I did not choose to go out as a beaten man. For
my pride's sake I desired that my reasons should be reserved for myself
alone; for my actual benefit it was necessary that I should have a hold
over my colleagues in office. These two conditions were rather difficult
to combine, but I accomplished them.

"I had interested the King so much in my views as to what the Foreign
Office ought to be that an interchange of letters took place, and his
Majesty imparted to me his fullest confidence in disparagement of the
present system. This correspondence was a perfect secret to the whole
Cabinet; but when it had arrived at a most confidential crisis, I
suggested to the King that Cloudeslie should be consulted. I knew well
that this would set the match to the train. No sooner did Cloudeslie
learn that such a correspondence had been carried on for months without
his knowledge, views stated, plans promulgated, and the King's pleasure
taken on questions not one of which should have been broached without
his approval and concurrence, than he declared he would not hold the
seals of office another hour. The King, well knowing his temper, and
aware what a terrific exposure might come of it, sent for me, and asked
what was to be done. I immediately suggested my own resignation as a
sacrifice to the difficulty and to the wounded feelings of the Duke.
Thus did I achieve what I sought for. I imposed a heavy obligation on
the King and the Premier, and I have secured secrecy as to my motives,
which none will ever betray.

"I only remained for the debate of the other night, for I wanted a
little public enthusiasm to mark the fall of the curtain."

"So that you still hold them as your debtors?" asked Glencore.

"Without doubt, I do; my claim is a heavy one."

"And what would satisfy it?"

"If my health would stand England," said Upton, leisurely, "I'd take a
peerage; but as this murky atmosphere would suffocate me, and as I don't
care for the latter without the political privileges, I have determined
to have the 'Garter.'"

"The Garter! a blue ribbon!" exclaimed Glencore, as though the
insufferable coolness with which the pretension was announced might
justify any show of astonishment.

"Yes; I had some thoughts of India, but the journey deters me,--in fact,
as I have enough to live on, I 'd rather devote the