"Of course, we shall not ask this Mr. Storms to the dinner. He would be
misplaced by his years for one thing. Besides, I'm sure Mr. Gwynn
wouldn't like it. I saw enough of Mr. Storms to doubt if, in their own
house, he dines at the same table with Mr. Gwynn."

"At any rate," remarked the cautious Mr. Harley, "it's safe to leave him
out this time. We'll establish his proper level, socially, by talking
with Mr. Gwynn."

Mr. Gwynn came back from New York on Thursday afternoon. His traffic
with Talon & Trehawke was successful, and he had bought the _Daily
Tory_.

Richard was put in charge of the Washington correspondence. He was given
a brace of assistants to protect, as he said, the subscribers; for be it
known that Richard of the many blemishes knew no more of newspaper work
than he did of navigation.

Mr. Gwynn found Mrs. Hanway-Harley's dinner invitation awaiting him; it
was for the next evening. He brought it to Richard.

"You will go, Mr. Gwynn," said that gentleman. "I will consider; and
to-morrow I will tell you what you are to say."

Richard has been referred to as a soul of many blemishes. The chief of
these was his cynicism, although that cynicism had a cause if not a
reason. With other traits, the same either virtues or vices according to
the occasion and the way they were turned, Richard was sensitive. He was
as thin-skinned as a woman and as greedy of approval. And yet his
sensitiveness, with nerves all on the surface, worked to its own defeat.