A London dinner-party loves novelty, and is always ready to test the stranger within its gates.

Fenwick slipped into the battle as a supporter of Lord Findon's argument, and his host with smiling urbanity welcomed him to the field.

But in a few minutes the newcomer had ravaged the whole of it.

The older men were silenced, and Fenwick was leaning across the table, gesticulating with one hand, and lifting his port-wine with the other, addressing now Lord Findon and now the Ambassador--who stared at him in amazement--with an assurance that the world only allows to its oldest favourites.

Lord Findon in vain tried to stop him.
'Didn't know this was to be a dinner with speeches,' murmured the financier, after a few minutes, in his neighbour's ear.