"I know the place by name only." He looked at Lashmar with a new interest.

Constantly worrying about his own inactive life, and what he deemed his culpable supineness as a citizen, the pinched peer envied any man to whom the Lower House offered its large possibilities.
"The idea is quite novel to me," Lashmar continued.

"You know something of my views--my cast of mind; do you think I should do well to go in for practical politics ?" "I think any man does well who goes in for anything practical," was Lord Dymchurch's answer.

"Stand, by all means, and I wish you success.
Parliament isn't overcrowded with men of original views." "That's very kind of you .-- I don't want to presume upon your good-nature, but I wonder whether I could persuade you to dine with me, to meet a few friends of mine who are so good as to interest themselves in this matter?
Quite an informal little dinner; one or two ladies--the Member for Belper--a Home Office man people who see things rather in my own way--" He added place and date; then, with Mrs.Toplady's smile still on his lips, awaited the response.

That Lord Dymchurch would much have preferred to excuse himself was visible enough in the pleasant, open countenance, little apt for dissembling; but no less evident was the amiability which made it difficult for him to refuse a favour, and which, in this instance, allied itself with something like a sense of duty.