"Why, where have you been during the day?"
"I've been busy in my room," he replied warily.
"But haven't you heard?"
"I've heard nothing."
"What, not that there has been a dissolution of Parliament?"
"What?"
"Just that. We'll all have to hurry off to our constituencies now—that is, those of us who have been fools enough to meddle with politics. I'm off in two hours."
"Well, you will be all right. You'll get returned again, I suppose?"
"Yes, thanks to my wife, I believe I shall. She's far more popular in the constituency than I, and people will vote for me for her sake. I suppose you'll be off to Taviton to-night?"
"Not I."