I was not even aware that he was Baron Duvillard's agent in the African Railways matter; and there was never any question of that affair between us." This was so improbable, so contrary to everything Barroux knew of the business, that for a moment he felt quite scared.

Then he waved his hand as if to say that others might as well look after their own affairs, and reverted to himself.

"Oh! as for me," he said, "Hunter called on me more than ten times, and made me quite sick with his talk of the African Railways.

It was at the time when the Chamber was asked to authorise the issue of lottery stock.* And, by the way, my dear fellow, I was then here at the Home Department, while you had just taken that of Public Works.

I can remember sitting at that very writing-table, while Hunter was in the same armchair that I now occupy.