‘I’m going to the House of Commons,—won’t you come?’

‘What are you going there for?’

Directly she spoke of it I knew why she was going,—and she knew that I knew, as her words showed.

‘You are quite well aware of what the magnet is. You are not so ignorant as not to know that the Agricultural Amendment Act is on to-night, and that Paul is to speak. I always try to be there when Paul is to speak, and I mean to always keep on trying.’

‘He is a fortunate man.’

‘Indeed,—and again indeed. A man with such gifts as his is inadequately described as fortunate.—But I must be off. He expected to be up before, but I heard from him a few minutes ago that there has been a delay, but that he will be up within half-an-hour.—Till our next meeting.’

As I returned into the house, in the hall I met Percy Woodville. He had his hat on.

‘Where are you off to?’

‘I’m off to the House.’

‘To hear Paul Lessingham?’