Then Frank Ayres suddenly said: "Have you ever thought of standing for Parliament ?" Paul, who had been sauntering between flowerless beds with his companion, stood stock still.

The Chief Whip of a political party is a devil of a fellow.

To the aspiring young politician he is much more a devil of a fellow than the Prime Minister or any Secretary of State.

If a Chief Whip breathes the suggestion that a man might possibly stand for election as a Member of Parliament, it means that at any suitable vacancy, or at a general election, he will, with utter certainty, have his chance as a candidate with the whole force of his party behind him.
It is part of the business of Chief Whips to find candidates.
"Of course," said Paul, rather stupidly.

"Eventually.