Ready as he was to meet challenge, he presently realized that his son had a readiness equally potent.

He was even pleased to see the glint of a smile at the lips of the slim young politician, in whom there was more than his own commingling of temperament, wisdom, wantonness and raillery.
After a moment, Carnac said: "Isn't that a leading question to an unmarried man ?" Barouche laughed inwardly.

Surely it was the reply he himself would have made.

Carnac had showed himself a born politician.

The audience cheered, but the questioner remained standing.