have no doubt I could settle it all with him in an hour's talk, but it
is out of the question for me to go to him unless I am asked, and to
ask me to come would be itself a settlement."

"What, then, is the danger you fear?"

"That he will offend all the important party leaders in order to
conciliate unimportant ones, perhaps sentimental ones, like your
friend French; that he will make foolish appointments without
taking advice. By the way, have you seen French to-day?"

"No," replied Madeleine; "I think he must be sore at your treatment
of him last evening. You were very rude to him."

"Not a bit," said Ratcliffe; "these reformers need it. His attack on
me was meant for a challenge. I saw it in his manner.

"But is reform really so impossible as you describe it? Is it quite
hopeless?"

"Reform such as he wants is utterly hopeless, and not even
desirable."

Mrs. Lee, with much earnestness of manner, still pressed her
question:

"Surely something can be done to check corruption. Are we for
ever to be at the mercy of thieves and ruffians? Is a respectable
government impossible in a democracy?"