The Man Who Rose Again

a large club, and even when the place was most frequented large numbers were seldom present. Three of the men were chatting cursorily about a defeat of the

est was evidently less than thirty. All of them gave evidence of being young men of leisure,

ment resign, thi

nother

rdly be called a

not resign unless the

ch i

y resigned and went to the country, they would be returned again. The brewers, for whom the Government

reason why the Gove

s. The man who sat apart, however, took no note of the conversation. He could by listening carefully have heard all that was said, but his mind seemed elsewhere. Neither did he speak

r hovered near, as if to remind the party that he was very sl

, and rang a bell which stoo

ame towards

y," he

s,

arge

s,

e haste

while the others glanced a

to-night?" said

don't. He's on

's had, I should have

t? He's ruinin

he's been drinking. He's alway

never

do himself justice now, unless he's had

. No constitution could stand it. In ti

it's a

oda-water. He poured a small quantity of soda into the whisky. His hand was

nearly drained it. Then he sat bac

ill soon be asleep,

t h

on't you think one oug

would not

f such brilliance, too. Do you remembe

-lending Jew. Each had to address the meeting in turn, and Telsize came first. He made a rattling speech; he voiced all their pet opinions, and every one was made to understand that if he were adopted it would not cost them a penny to fight the election. The meeting wanted to vote straight away and adopt Telsize without hearing Leicester, especially when they heard that he would contribute practically nothing to the funds. However,

truth about him is sure to come out, an

efused him because she had h

icester is an agnostic. Not only that, but his views about marriage would not be likely to com

e sound of their voices could reach him plainly. They were greatly surprised, therefore, when he to whom they had referred as Radford Leicester rose from his ch

of Moody and Sankey's meetings or whether some strange

old

sip of a Dorcas society usually is. When I opened my eyes I was a bit surprised. I found I was in the smoking-room of my club, where women are not admit

and sat down, each man looking r

gly. "I am rather in the humour for it. What is the pr

as carefully articulated. He gave no sign of dri

know that his son is walking in his father's footsteps, while Sprague's mother i

ned towards

can't deny that you assist your mother at her drawing-room meetings, neither can y

ioned there," said Sprag

there," said Le

say that?" a

act is afloat, especially if it is a trifle malicious, it was born in a reli

fortable. They had no idea that the qui

drummed out of my constituency. Let's see, how many whiskies have I had to-night? Surely, surely, you fellows, who are

at those who know you best, and like you best, are thinking. You may keep the fact of your ha

en I have such

de what we say among ourselves. We can't close our eyes or our ears. We've

what

t th

nds as I am holding out mine. Are yours steadier than mine? I

s are nerves, and whisky will beat you, if you go on drinking so. I

ster. "While my head and my heels

eople talking, and there is som

w m

u k

so deeply interested in my soul, I'll tell you. I never propo

cease going to h

ter la

on the old man's moral and religious corns. I knocked the sawdust out of his dolls. I was feeling a bit cynical, and I attacked the mot

ve a high opinio

on of women," re

t to do with

e talked about; a man who is courted and petted; a man who is quoted in the papers. Given positi

you sa

use I

o you

you call my cynicism generally. But let the best of the women believe that a man will give them the position they covet and then he can believe what he likes and d

el on women,"

my views to a test

do you

pretty plain," r

and each of them resented it at the same time. They felt almost angry that the

your views to the test, when you kno

'm not a marrying man, as you know; still I am willing to sacrifice my own feelings for the good of my fellows. So, then, pick out your most pious and high-principled young wom

'll hav

mentioned. Now it is believed, rightly or wrongly, that I am going to have what is commonly called a brilliant career. Well, choose your most

d t

n like you would not think of a wager; but if I don't succeed-well, I

w light. The plan he had sketche

onsense," s

" laughed

ith his own spirit. For the moment th

ion that women are uniformly selfish, vain, and sordid. I maintain that what they want is a man who will give them position, name, prominence.

y prepared to stand by his words. As for the others, t

If either of us had a sister we would not like

he downfall of Radford Leicester, the atheist, the cynic, the drunkard. But I am willing to risk it. All I say is, name the woman. Let her be the best you can think of; let her

h whisky you'd not propose

h, and then you back out like cowards. I say there is no woman but who has her price. You quote that lying gossip about Miss Blackstone refusing me because of my heresies and my whisky drinking. I tell you it is a lie in

ive Cast

escaped his lips both Purvis and Sprague gave a start. Even Leicester was silent fo

after heiress in London. She fulfils all my conditions, and, more than that, she has refused both Sprague and Purvis. I suppose,

em had been refused by Miss Olive Castlemaine, it was just as true that she had been

have strong opinions both about men and things. She had taken a degree at St. Andrews University, she was a Girton girl, and had attained to a high position there. Without being a "blue stocking" she was a cultured woman, and was acquainted with the language and literature of more than one country. But, more than all, she had caused many society women to raise their eyebrows at the menti

chief shareholder in, one of the most prosperous and respectable firms in London. She lived with her father in one of those fine old houses, surround

which characterised many of the women she knew, and had a healthy disgust for those who talked lightly about not being bound by those great social institutions wh

name known in English history, and possessed of great wealth, was still a member of what is called the "middle classes." He simply stood high up in his own class. He was not of those who mingled freely with the men who guide the destinies of the nation. Rich men came to his house, men great in the world of finance; but men great in the world of politi

had been unfortunate were Harold Sprague and Herbert Purvis. They were both mediocre but respectable young men. Both had been in

cept?" sai

eered Leicester, and he looked from one