because you do work and can work, and because you have fitted
yourself for that continued course of lucid explanation which we
now call debate, that men on both sides have called upon you as
the best man to come forward in this difficulty. Excuse me, my
friend, again, if I say that I expect to find your manliness
equal to your capacity.'

'If I could only escape from it!'

'Psha;--nonsense!' said the Duke, getting up. 'There is such a
thing as conscience with so fine an edge that it will allow a man
to do nothing. You've got to serve your country. On such
assistance as I can give you you know that you may depend with
absolute assurance. Now let us get to work. I suppose you would
wish that I should take the chair at the Council.'

'Certainly;--of course,' said the Duke of Omnium, turning to the
table. The once practical suggestion had fixed him, and from
that moment he gave himself to the work in hand with all his
energies. It was not very difficult, nor did it take them a very
long time. If the future Prime Minister had not his names at his
fingers' ends, the future President of the Council had them.
Eight men were soon named whom it was thought well that the Duke
of Omnium should consult early in the morning as to their
willingness to fill certain places.

'Each one of them may have some other one or some two whom he may
insist on bringing with him,' said the elder Duke; 'and though of
course you cannot yield to the pressure in every such case, it
will be wise to allow yourself scope for some amount of