"We are all anxious to hear what the Prince has to say to us." "Your anxiety," the Duke continued, "and the anxiety of our friends must be restrained for a few minutes, for there are certain things which I am determined to say, and to say them now.

I must confess that it was at first a painful shock to me to realise that the time had come when it was necessary for us to take any heed of the uneducated rabble who seem born into the world discontented with their station in life, and instead of making honest attempts to improve it waste their time railing against us who are more fortunately placed, and in endeavours to mislead in every possible way the electorate of the country." The Prince sighed softly, and lit a cigarette.

Lady Carey and Felix were already smoking.
"However," the Duke continued, "I was convinced.

I have always believed in the principle of watching closely the various signs of the times, and I may say that I came to the conclusion that a combination of the thinking members of the aristocratic party throughout the world was an excellent idea.

I therefore became what is, I believe, called a general member of the Order, of which I believe you, Prince, are the actual head." "My dear James," the Duchess murmured, "the Prince has something to say to us." "The Prince," her husband answered coldly, "can keep back his information for a few minutes.