"How old are you ?" "Twenty-four." "You look older." A faint line, as of contemplation, rose between his eyes.

Was it fancy that a little smile was hovering about Miltoun's lips?
"I've got a foolish theory," came from those lips, "that one must know the conditions first.

I want to give at least five years to that." Lord Valleys raised his eyebrows.

"Waste of time," he said.

"You'd know more at the end of it, if you went into the House at once.