"Yes," said Sir William with an expression of disgust, "I believe that it is so. My womenkind are not going to have anything to do with it, I am thankful to say."
"Oh, yes, I saw about that Crusade," said Wentworth, joining them, "in the Torch."
"Don't believe too firmly what the Torch says—or indeed any newspaper—ha, ha!" said Pateley.
"I should be glad not to believe all that I see in the Arbiter, this morning," Sir William said. "Upon my word, Pateley, that paper of yours is becoming incendiary."
"I don't know that we are being particularly incendiary," said Pateley, with the comfortable air of one disposing of the subject. "It is only that the world is rather inflammable at this moment."
"Well, we have had conflagrations enough at the present," said Sir William. "We want the country to quiet down a bit."
"Oh! it will do that all in good time," said Pateley. "I am bound to say things are rather jumpy just now. By the way, Sir William, I wonder if you know of any investment you could recommend?"
Wentworth discreetly turned away and strolled back to Lady Gore's sofa.
"I rather want to know of a good thing for my two sisters who are living together at Lowbridge. I have got a modest sum to invest that my father left them, and I should like to put it into something that is pretty certain, but, if possible, that will give them more than 2 ½ per cent."