Now as appeals of this kind were being made frequently to the Duke, and as he was often driven to say some word, of which he himself hardly approved, to some one in protection of his Duchess, he was aware that the matter was an annoyance, and at times almost wished that her Grace was at--Longroyston.
And there was a third politician staying at Matching Priory who had never yet risen to the rank of a statesman, but who had his hopes.
This was Mr Bott, the member for St Helens, whom Lady Glencora had described as a man who stood about, with red hair,--and perhaps told tales of her to her husband.

Mr Bott was a person who certainly had had some success in life and who had won it for himself.

He was not very young, being at this time only just on the right side of fifty.
He was now enjoying his second session in Parliament, having been returned as a pledged disciple of the Manchester school.

Nor had he apparently been false to his pledges.

At St Helens he was still held to be a good man and true.