Our Friend the Charlatan

ent off very

igent persons had begun to talk of contesting the Tory seat, and with these the lady at Rivenoak held active communication. They gathered about her this evening; enjoyed the excellent meal provided for them; inspected Mr. Dyce Lashmar, and listened attentively even to his casual remarks. Mr. Lashmar might or might not prove to be the candidate of their choice; there was plenty of time to think about that; in the meantime, no one more suitable stood before them, and, having regard to Lady Ogram's social authority, considerable from one point of view, they were very willing to interest themselves in a man of whom she thought so highly. Very little was definitely known about him. He was understood to b

ns was courteous amiability almost in excess; to the more intelligent she behaved with a humourous frankness which was very captivating. At a certain moment of the evening, she found occasion to sit down by Constance Bride, and Constance would have been more than human had she altogether resisted the charm o

being in town before long. If so, I hope you will let me have a long talk with you,

or future reflection. At this moment, she was occupied with the news that Lady Ogram tho

had ever passed between them. Such expansion was absolutely necessary to the agitated old lady, and she deemed it good fortune that a confidante in whom she put so

should rather like to see him in the flesh. Mr.

been thinking it might help us if a real live lord casually walked a

s faith in Dyce Lashmar as a "coming man" was unaffected and sturdy. She mused upon this. Rivenoak had often supplied entertainment to her sportive mi

er thought it would be unwise to reveal all the interest she felt in this late-discovered representative of her family. Had he not better write to Mr. Rooke, saying that his client, a widowed lady living at her country house, hope

marvel of untiring graciousness and cordiality. The reaction came when she found herself at liberty to feel weary, but no eye save that of the confidential maid beheld her collapse. Even whilst being undressed like a help

ell," he gave his friend a more benignant smile than he had bestowed upon her since the old days of semi-sentimental intimacy. He would much have liked to talk over the

morr

they were! How sensible and well-meaning! What excellent material for the formation of a really civilised State? They had evidently been impressed with him, and, on going home, would make him the subject of the

lour of an autumn elm-leaf, Iris Woolstan; to her, too, how much he was beholden. Good, foolish, fidgetty Iris Woolstan! Never again could he be impatient with her. Of course he must pay back her money as soon as possible. Brave little creature, light-heartedly sending him her cheque for three hundred pounds; why, there was something heroic in it. Yes, he acknowledged himself lucky in his woman friends; few men cou

linen and ceremonial black. Hearing that Lashmar was to spend a couple of days more at Riveno

he full advantage of your talk. Afterwards, if you approve, we will look in upon an old friend of mine who would have

. Toplady took her leave before mid-day. Miss Bride showed herself only at breakfast and luncheon, when she was friendly, indeed, but not much disposed for talk. Dyce had anticipated a growt

ut yourself," he remarked, when s

there

re of your own thoughts-apart fr

e consumption," said Constance

at all times, indeed, from use of the pen, and ultimately the duty was postponed till to-morrow. His exertions of the evening before had left a sense of fatigue; it was enough to savour the recollection of triumph. He mused a little, from time to time, on Constance, whose b

t Mr. Breakspeare's newspaper office. The editor received him in a lar

mar?" was his greeting, as

osophical grasp of the world's history, a scientific conception of human life; again, thorough familiarity with the questions of the day, a mind no less acute in the judgment of detail than broad in its vision of principles: moreover, genuine sympathy with the aspirations of the average m

'm afraid," Dyce remarked

f his nose, where he had somehow caught a spot of ink. "B

may be recognised by such of

y incubus. Thus do we open the great campaign! If you would care to, pray keep that proof; some day it may amuse you to look at it, and to recall these early days

an acquaintance, and turned at length into a by-way of dwelling-houses, which did not, indeed, suggest opulence,

d his mistake in marriage; but none the less was she aware that he enjoyed the comfort of his home-to her a sufficient recompense. Like many a man, Breakspeare would have been quite satisfied with his wife, if, at the same time, he could have had another. He heartily approved the domestic virtues; it would have exasperated h

ally: "Meminisse juvabit." The meal was more than tolerable; the guest thoroughly enjoyed himself, talking with as little affectation as his

said the journalist, "I suppose you

tter decide which is to be my hotel, when I have

ng the political colour of leading trades-folk. When they rose, the host reminded Dyce

beer at his elbow. Martin is homely, but a man of

he evening was cool enough to make a fire agreeable a churchwarden between his lips, and a brown jug of generous capacity on the table beside him. As the door opened, he turned a meditative head, and blinked myopically at his visitors before rising. His movements were very deliberate;

e found in thee.-Be seated, Mr. Lashmar, be seated. Friend Breakspeare, put your toes on the fender. Mr. Lashmar, my dr

asure, Mr

bell summoned t

beakers. I know not if you smoke, Mr. Lashmar?-Why, th

d his pouch, which he o

ending, which I should like you

Mr. Lashmar? A new nine-gallon, tapped before breakfast this morning, now running clear and cool as a mountain burn. What would life be without this? Elsewhere our ale degenerates; not many honest brewers are left. Druggist's wine and the fire of

e-menacing smile this way or that, and a remark always claimed his courteous attention, but in general his eyes were fixed on the glow of the fireplace, 'whilst he pursued a humorous ramble from thought to thought, topic to topic. Evidentl

were young. In those days there was such a thing as zeal for progress and progress didn't necessarily mean money. You know my view of the matter,

ed. "It's the curse of th

f a woman's heart. Thought and talk drowned by a scream; nerves worried into fiddle-strings. We had our vain illusion; we were generous in our manly way. Open the door! Let the women come forth and breathe fresh air! Justice for wives, an open field for those who will not or cannot wed! We meant well, but it was a letting out of the waters. There's your idle lady with the pretty face, who wants to make laws for the amusement of breaking

ing. Breakspeare, too, smiled, but with only half-assent; he reserved his bigamous alternative. Martin Blaydes took a lo

e result of the predominance of little fools who never admired anything but art in millinery. Revival of delight in manslaying-what woman could ever resist a uniform? Let them be; let them be. Why should they spoil our ale and tobacco? Friend Breakspeare, how's your wife? Now there, Mr. Lashmar, there is a woman

s his habit was when a friend sat with him, Mr. Blaydes presently reached down a volu

o approach and handle the creature, also at what times and from what cause it is dangerous, or the reverse; what is the meaning of its several cries, and by what sounds it may be soothed or infuriated. Furthermore, when, by constantly living with the huge brute, he has become perfect in all this, he calls it philosophy, and makes a system or art of it, which fort

yeoman's service-turned against the enemy. For it is not I who speak for the many at Hollingford

too late an hour constrained Lashmar

u again, Mr. Blaydes," he exclaimed hea

ur company. This ale, I try to believe, will last my time. If a company corrupt it, I forswear all fermented liquor, and go

t, as he and Lashmar walked to the nearest place where

ered Dyce. "I hope often

s reception of a canvasser-a lady, by Jove!-at the last election; but I'll keep it till we meet again, as you are in a hur

elf murmuring the name of Constance, and forming a resolve to win her to intimacy on the morrow. Yes, he liked Constance after all. Then came a memo

rthful description of his evening, and gaily report

im," said Constance. "And I k

You agree

ate talk about women. We've had enough of it: it has become a nuisance-a

ed Lashmar. "Just wha

is companion. "There are plenty

taking, and went at a brisk pace from the room. Dyce conti

wheeling forth her bicycle. He ran, and

ldn't we have a walk together?

ance answered, pleasantly. "The

st this

ning is too fine and

talk with such generous confidence, such true comradeship; it was even his intention to tell Constance that he looked more for her sympathy a

d that it amused her to notice the slight coldness 'which Lashmar put

irs room he had not yet entered. His hostess sat before a wood-fire (though the day was warm) and he

ntime, you'll be busy. Go and see Mrs. Toplady, and get to know all the useful people you can.

oment pain-troubled, wer

asily deceived in people, and-even before she spoke to me of you-I had made up my mind that' in some way or other, she

s intimacy; but the drift of Lady Ogram's talk, exciting his curiosit

. But, give her a chance, and she'll do things that people will talk about. She has powers of organising; I don't know whether you understand how well she is getting to be kno

away, and, involuntarily, he turne

im upon me. Not in the ordinary sense. Perhaps I'm not quite an ordinary woman, and I see things in a way of my own. She has a claim upon me, because she's one of the few women who have nothing of the baby or the idiot in them, and I've been looking out for

ar to him; but what did the old woman mean by her "position of trust?" How was

or to-morrow morning, as you like. Write to me, mind, as well as to Miss Bride, and let me know of all the ac

much, knew not how to express himself; it was plain, more

atch the evening t

. A pleasa

ly her visage was more cadaverous in line and hue than he had yet seen it. Almost

ght of the marriage itself. Impossible that he could have misunderstood. And how had Lady Ogram hit upon such an idea? It was plain as daylight that t

on in a sphere of knowledge which