The Whip intimated that it would be of the greatest use.

"Of course," continued Mr. Blake, "I presume that the usual
acknowledgment would follow?"

"What acknowledgment?" asked the Whip sipping his port wearily, for
such negotiations were no new thing to him. "I mean, how do you spell
it?"

"With a P," said Mr. Blake boldly, acting on his usual principle of
asking for more than he hoped to get.

The Whip contemplated him through his eyeglass with a mild and
interested stare.

"Out of the question, my dear fellow," he said. "That box is full and
locked, and there's a long outside list waiting as well. Perhaps you
mean with a K. You know money isn't everything, as some of you
gentlemen seem to think, and if it were, you would have said fifty
instead of fifteen."

"K be damned!" replied Mr. Blake. "I'm not a mayor or an actor-
manager. Let's say B, that stands for Beginning as well as Baronet;
also it comes before P, doesn't it?"

"Well, let's see. You haven't a son, have you? Then perhaps it might
be managed," replied the Whip with gentle but pointed insolence, for
Mr. Blake annoyed him. "I'll make inquiries, and now, shall we join
the ladies? I want to continue my conversation with your daughter
about the corruption which some enemy, taking advantage of her