"I trust your Grace's answer may be favourable to us," said Mr. Gresham,—who indeed did not doubt much that it would be so, seeing that Mr. Monk had accompanied him.
"I do not think that it will be unfavourable, though I cannot do as my friend has proposed."
"Any practicable arrangement—" began Mr. Gresham, with a frown, however, on his brow.
"The most practicable arrangement, I am sure, will be for you to form your Government without hampering yourself with a beaten predecessor."
"Not beaten," said Lord Cantrip.
"Certainly not," said the other Duke.
"It is because of your success that I ask your services," said Mr. Gresham.
"I have none to give,—none that I cannot better bestow out of office than in. I must ask you, gentlemen, to believe that I am quite fixed. Coming here with my friend Mr. Monk, I did not state my purpose to him; but I begged him to accompany me, fearing lest in my absence he should feel it incumbent on himself to sail in the same boat with his late colleague."
"I should prefer to do so," said Mr. Monk.
"Of course it is not for me to say what may be Mr. Gresham's ideas; but as my friend here suggested to me that, were I to return to office, Mr. Monk would do so also, I cannot be wrong in surmising that his services are desired." Mr. Gresham bowed assent. "I shall therefore take the liberty of telling Mr. Monk that I think he is bound to give his aid in the present emergency. Were I as happily placed as he is in being the possessor of a seat in the House of Commons, I too should hope that I might do something."