You will be offered a peerage within the next fortnight." Tallente stared at the speaker as though he had suddenly been bereft of his senses.
"What on earth are you talking about, sir ?" he demanded.
Mr.Horlock somewhat resented his visitor's tone.
"Surely my statement was sufficiently explicit ?" he said, a little stiffly.

"The peerage concerning which at first, I admit, I saw difficulties, is yours.

You can, without doubt, be of great service to us in the Upper House and--" "But I'd sooner turn shopkeeper!" Tallente interrupted.

"If I understand that it is your intention to offer me a peerage, let us have no misunderstanding about the matter.

It is refused, absolutely and finally." The Prime Minister stared at his visitor for a moment in amazement.
Then he unlocked a drawer in his desk, drew out several letters and threw them over to Tallente.
"And will you tell me what the devil you mean by authorising your secretary to write these letters ?" he demanded.
Tallente picked them up, read them through and gasped.
"Written by Palliser, aren't they ?" Mr.Horlock demanded.
"Without a doubt," Tallente acknowledged.