Lord Kesterton hesitated. Lady Eleanor certainly was very attractive, and it is always pleasant to please a pretty woman. Seeing him hesitate, she increased her coaxing tenfold.
"Well, suppose that I tell you as a great secret," he said at last, "will you give me your word not to repeat it to anybody?"
"Of course I will. I should never think of doing such a thing."
Lord Kesterton lowered his voice to a confidential pitch. "The new Under Secretary for War is our honourable friend the member for Chayford."
Lady Eleanor's eyes sparkled with delight; it was her rôle to stand behind the scenes of Governments and to give little jerks to the ropes—at least, she thought it was; and now both her curiosity and her love of power were gratified.
"I am so glad!" she exclaimed, "he is such a pleasant man—and very clever too, don't you think?"
Like all women, Lady Eleanor Gregory considered the word clever was complimentary; like all men, Lord Kesterton considered it quite the reverse.
"Clever?" he replied, "my dear young lady, what a word to apply to a brilliant politician I Why, he is already one of the ablest men in the Liberal party, and he has only been in the House three years."
"I am so glad you told me. It will interest Harry most tremendously!"
Lord Kesterton started. "But you gave me your word that you would not tell anybody."