“Quantities; and very valuable ones. Her grandfather knew everybody, and was in the Ministry.”
“Was he?” said Raymond, surprised.
“Lord Lorimer?” said Mrs. Poynsett. “Not when I knew them. He was an old-fashioned Whig, with some peculiar crotchets, and never could work with any Cabinet.”
“Beatrice told me he was,” said Cecil, stiffly.
“I rather think he was Master of the Buckhounds for a little while in the Grey Ministry,” said Mrs. Poynsett, “but he gave it up because he would not vote with ministers on the poor laws.”
“I knew I was not mistaken in saying he was in the Ministry,” said Cecil.
“The Master of the Buckhounds is not in the Cabinet, Cecil,” said her husband.
“I never said he was. I said he was in office,” returned the infallible lady.
Mrs. Poynsett thought it well to interrupt by handing in an envelope franked by Sir Robert Peel; but Cecil at once declared that the writing was different from that which Bee already owned.
“Perhaps it is not the same Sir Robert,” said Mrs. Poynsett.