He wrote out a few words on a slip of paper, signed it, and handed it over to his relative.
The Prime Minister took it with a funny little laugh and threw it into the fire.
"Don't be a fool, Bill," he said. "Of course I can trust you."
He wrote on a sheet of notepaper:
"My dear Mr. Bailey,
"I can well understand, but, as you will easily see, it is impossible before Empire Day. I have, however, received commands upon the matter with regard to that date, and I trust Mr.—— "
"Empire Day's in the season, isn't it?" he added anxiously.
"At the beginning of the season," replied William Bailey solemnly, "just before the middle class begin marrying into the plutocracy."
"You're quite right," said the Prime Minister seriously, "only I wanted to get the date more or less right. One must have time, and there's going to be a list on Empire Day—anyhow it's after Easter"—then he went on writing.
"What's the name?" he said in the middle of his writing.