"No; My Lord, I Do Not" Between two and three o'clock Lord Silverbridge, in spite of his sorrow, found himself able to eat his lunch at his club.

The place was deserted, the Beargarden world having gone to the races.

As he sat eating cold lamb and drinking soda-and-brandy he did confirm himself in certain modified resolutions, which might be more probably kept than those sterner laws of absolute renunciation to which he had thought of pledging himself in his half-starved morning condition.
His father had spoken in very strong language against racing,--saying that those who went were either fools or rascals.

He was sure that this was exaggerated.

Half the House of Lords and two-thirds of the House of Commons were to be seen at the Derby; but no doubt there were many rascals and fools, and he could not associate with the legislators without finding himself among the fools and rascals.