The man's insolent request had wounded him at many points.

It was grievous to him that he should have as a guest in his own house a man whom he had been forced to insult.

It was grievous to him that he himself should not have been held in personal respect high enough to protect him from such an insult.

It was grievous to him that he should be openly addressed,--addressed by an absolute stranger,--as a borough-mongering lord, who would not scruple to give away a seat in Parliament as seats were given away in former days.
And it was especially grievous to him that all these misfortunes should have come upon him as a part of the results of his wife's manner of exercising his hospitality.

If this was to be Prime Minister he certainly would not be Prime Minister much longer! Had any aspirant to political life ever dared so to address Lord Brock, or Lord De Terrier, or Mr.Mildmay, the old Premiers whom he remembered?
He thought not.