"My dear, you never told us." "There were so many other things to talk about this morning," he said gently; "but of course I would have told you later.

I only mention it now"-- he turned to the Chief Whip--"in answer to your direct and very pertinent question." Now between a political free-lance adopting a parliamentary career in order to fight for his own hand, as all Paul's supporters were frankly aware that he was doing, and a wealthy, independent and brilliant young politician lies a wide gulf.

The last man on earth, in his private capacity, to find his estimate of his friends influenced by their personal possessions was the fine aristocrat Lord Francis Ayres.

But he was a man of the world, the very responsible head of the executive of a great political party.

As that executive head he was compelled to regard Paul from a different angle.