Farnborough, standing there tea-cup in hand, joined again in the discussion that was going on about some unnamed politician of the day, with whose character and destiny the future of England might quite conceivably be involved.
Before a great while this unnamed person would be succeeding his ailing and childless brother. There were lamentations in prospect of his too early translation to the Upper House.
The older men had been speaking of his family, in which the tradition of public service, generations old, had been revived in the person of this younger son.
'I have never understood,' Lord John was saying, 'how a man with such opportunities hasn't done more.'
'A man as able, too,' said Borrodaile, lazily. 'Think of the tribute he wrung out of Gladstone at the very beginning of his career. Whatever we may think of the old fox, Gladstone had an eye for men.'
'Be quiet, will you!' Lady Sophia administered a little whack to the Bedlington. 'Sh! Joey! don't you hear they're talking about our cousin?'
'Who?' said Filey, bending over the lady with a peace-offering of cake.
'Why, Geoffrey Stonor,' answered Sophia.
'Is it Stonor they mean?'
'Well, of course.'