"Yes," said he, in answer to some would-be facetious remark from his brother, "I think we have weathered that storm pretty well.

It does seem rather odd, my sitting cheek by jowl with Mr.Monk and gentlemen of that kidney; but they don't bite.

I've got one of our own set at the head of our own office, and he leads the House.

I think upon the whole we've got a little the best of it." This was listened to by Mr.Wharton with great disgust,--for Mr.Wharton was a Tory of the old school, who hated compromises, and abhorred in his heart the class of politicians to whom politics were a profession rather than a creed.
Mr.Roby senior, having escaped from the House, was of course the last, and had indeed kept all the other guests waiting half-an-hour,--as becomes a parliamentary magnate in the heat of the Session.

Mr.Wharton, who had been early, saw all the other guests arrive, and among them Mr.Ferdinand Lopez.