"Should I do?" he asked at length, and even then his voice shook. Mr. Mudge appeared, however, not to notice his agitation. He was looking down at the carpet, and tracing the pattern with the ferrule of his walking-stick.
"Of course," he said, with a smile, as though Callon had been merely uttering a joke. He did not even lift his eyes to Callon's face. "Of course. I only wish you were serious."
"But I am," cried Callon.
Mr. Mudge looked at his companion now, and with surprise.
"Are you? But you wouldn't have the time to spare. You are standing for a constituency."
Callon shrugged his shoulders.
"Oh, I am not so very keen about Parliament. And there are reasons why I would welcome the work."
Mr. Mudge answered with alacrity.
"Then we will consider it settled. Dine with me tonight at my house, and we will talk the details over."
Callon accepted the invitation, and Mudge rose from his seat. Callon, however, detained him.