'I think he's right there,' said Roby. 'There ought to be
something like a fair division. Individuals might be content,
but the party would be dissatisfied. For myself, I'd have sooner
stayed out as an independent member, but Daubney said that he
thought I was bound to make myself useful.'

'I told the Duke from the beginning,' said Rattler, 'that I
didn't think that I could be of any service to him. Of course, I
would support him, but I had been too thoroughly a party man for
a new movement of this kind. But he said just the same?--that
he considered I was bound to join him. I asked Gresham, and when
Gresham said so too, of course I had no help for it.'

Neither of these excellent public servants had told a lie in
this. Some such conversations as those reported had passed;--
but a man doesn't lie when he exaggerates an emphasis, or even
when he gives by a tone a meaning to a man's words exactly
opposite to that which another tone would convey. Or, if he does
lie in doing so, he does not know that he lies. Mr Rattler had
gone back to his old office at the Treasury and Mr Roby had been
forced to content himself with the Secretaryship at the
Admiralty. But, as the old Duke had said, they were close
friends, and prepared to fight together any battle which might
keep them in the present position.

Many of the cares of office the Prime Minister did succeed in
shuffling off altogether on to the shoulders of his elder friend.
He would not concern himself with the appointment of ladies,
about whom he said he knew nothing, and as to whose fitness and