If I have money at my back--at once everything is different
with me. People will remember then promptly enough that I
am a Hadlow, as well as a Plowden. I will make the party
whips remember it, too. It won't be a Secretary's billet
in India at four hundred a year that they'll offer me,
but a Governorship at six thousand--that is, if I wish
to leave England at all. And we'll see which set of
whips are to have the honour of offering me anything.
But all that is in the air. It's enough, for the moment,
to realize that things have really come my way. And about
that--about the success of the affair--I suppose there can
be no question whatever?"

"Not the slightest," Thorpe assured him. "Rubber Consols
can go up to any figure we choose to name."

Lord Plowden proffered the cigar case again, and once more
helped himself after he had given his companion a light.
Then he threw himself back against the cushions,
with a long sigh of content. "I'm not going to say
another word about myself," he announced, pleasantly.
"I've had more than my legitimate innings. You mustn't
think that I forget for a moment the reverse of the medal.
You're doing wonderful things for me. I only wish it
were clearer to me what the wonderful things are that I
can do for you."

"Oh, that'll be all right," said the other, rather vaguely.

"Perhaps it's a little early for you to have mapped out in your