And now he was among the flowers and the greatness, the beauty, the politics, and the fashion of the Duchess's gatherings for the third time.

"It is very well done,--very well, indeed," said Mr.Boffin to him.

Lopez had been dining with Mr.and Mrs.Boffin, and had now again encountered his late host and hostess.
Mr.Boffin was a gentleman who had belonged to the late Ministry, but had somewhat out-Heroded Herod in his Conservatism, so as to have been considered to be unfit for the Coalition.

Of course, he was proud of his own staunchness, and a little inclined to criticise the lax principles of men who, for the sake of carrying on her Majesty's Government, could be Conservatives one day and Liberals the next.

He was a laborious, honest man,--but hardly of calibre sufficient not to regret his own honesty in such an emergency as the present.