Lord Southend felt that he must be courageous. After all the women were there.
"In two words? Literally?"
Disney nodded, smiling grimly at Mina's clasped hands and imploring face.
"Literally—if you can." There was a gratuitous implication that Southend and the rest of the world were apt to be loquacious.
"Well, then," said Southend, "I will. What we want is——" After one glance at Lady Evenswood, he got it out. "What we want is—a viscounty."
For a moment Mr Disney sat still. Then again he rose slowly.
"Have I tumbled into Bedlam?" he asked.
"It was done in the Bearsdale case," suggested Lady Evenswood. "Of course there was a doubt there——"
"Anyhow a barony—but a viscounty would be more convenient," murmured Southend.
Mina was puzzled. These mysteries were beyond her. She had never heard of the Bearsdale case, and she did not understand why—in certain circumstances—a viscounty would be more convenient. But she knew that something was being urged which might meet the difficulty, and she kept eager eyes on Mr Dis