some portion of the metropolitan daily press, as the only man who
could save the country. Let him be in the ministry, the Jupiter
had said, and there would be some hope of reform, some chance that
England's ancient glory would not be allowed in these perilous
times to go headlong into oblivion. And upon this the ministry,
not anticipating much salvation from Mr Supplehouse, but willing as
they usually are, to have the Jupiter at their back, did send for
that gentleman, and gave him some footing among them. But how can
a man to save a nation, and to lead a people, be content to fill
the chair of an under-secretary? Supplehouse was not content, and
soon gave it to be understood that his place was much higher than
any yet tendered to him. The seals of high office, or war to the
knife, was the alternative which he offered to a much-belaboured
Head of Affairs--nothing doubting that the Head of Affairs would
recognize the claimant's value, and would have before his eyes a
wholesome fear of the Jupiter. But the Head of Affairs, much
belaboured as he was, knew that he might swing his tomahawk. Since
that time he had been swinging his tomahawk, but not with so much
effect as had been anticipated. He also was very intimate with Mr
Sowerby, and was decidedly one of the Chaldecotes set. And there
were many others included in the stigma whose sins were political
or religious than moral. But they were gall and wormwood to Lady
Lufton, who regarded them as children of the Lost One, and grieved
with a mother's grief when she knew that her son was among them,
and felt all a patron's anger when she heard that her clerical
protege was about to seek such society. Mrs Robarts might well say
that Lady Lufton would be annoyed.

'You won't call at the house before you go, will you?' the wife
asked on the following morning. He was to start after lunch on