The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-09-07

Wilson was under-secretary to a perma
nent official in government employ. lie
found time to do a fair amount of work
for the reviews and newspapers. and
since TO these sources Of income he could
add small private fortune, he was very
we'll off indeed fer a bachelor of simple
tastes. His books and the theatre Were
not costly TO him, for he inherited his
library and as a dramatic critic. he was
OF course on the free list ] suspected
him of an inclination 10 get married, for
few men of his years would work as hard
and live as quietly as he did without some
sort of special purpose. and that is one
OF the -conmoneSt spurs to ambition IN
men who under thirty
His great colnrade. his one intimate
friend in London was SaumareZ, an am
bilious and pushing bari.stcr who had
married a fortune. and had tound a
seat in Parliament by way OF beginning a
progress toward the woolsack. The two
met together one night AT a club at
which Wilson commonly dined. The bar
rister was already at table, and, as his
friend entered the dinng-room, he beckon-
ed &c him smilingly.
1.-THE very man l wanted, he said. as
Wilson took a seat beside him. Il guess
ed ] should light on you here. Minna is
dining with her mother. and as ! am no
great favorite with the old lady, ] begged
off on a plea of business l want YOU par
. ticularly for the "Wednesday of next week.
sAre you free?"
YES said Wilson. What is it?"
Dinner" said Saunmarez Rather
special dinner. I've bagged the chief
1.-The chief OF WHAT" asked Wilson
81 The chief justice. my boy" Saumarez
answered. with a wink and a nod to indi-
cate the triumph which filled him.
You're sure he'll Gomez"
''Oh, yes said the barristcr. He'll
come. I've got a magnet for him. Did
you ever hear OF the Baron d ,Esse?''
why, ye.,'' said Wilson d1yly. 'SVo
1now a good deal of a gentleman of that
name at the r. o.
ST guessed you would returned the
other. But l suppose your knowledge
tsn't common property"
I'VE are taught not to tell tales out OF
school Wilson answered.
Exactly" said the barrster Il got to
know that the chief has a. sort of curl
-oeity about the Baron. Wants to meet
him. They're old school fellows to'Esse
was at Harrow, you know. l rather think
tho chief would 90 him a good turn if
he could, and happen to know he wants
3tr
who? The Baron?''
Ses; the Baron. I'll tell you some
thing, but I'll ask you to keep it dead
secret
THE wish is enough" said Wilson.
He goes everywhere, as you know
HE did at one time
Well. the Marlborough House has
dropped him, and it is on the cards that
he will be dropped in other places in the
course Of time. But he goes to - ana
and -, and there's no doubt about
the fact that everybody / have asked
IN ma tSS has h.
very high distinction on me in dining a;
my table
az don't said Wilson.
NO" returned Saumarez, you don't
snd / don't and / dare say the Chief
doesn't. but everybody else does, and you
know Jolly well that / should as soon
have thought of inviting the Prince him
self a Year ago
Whats true enough" said Wilson
but take a friends advice old man.
and don't become too intimate With a
fellow who's doomed to sink like stone
In water
II wa S going to tell YOU" sarmarez
answered. Its purely a business trans
action. It's matter Of genuine i'm
portance to me TO bring the Chief to my
house. and the Baron brings him He
lowered his voice to a whisper though he
was In no danger Of being overheard. u
pay the Baron to bring him
Great heavens!" cried Wilson Has
the man come TO that?
"IIe comes to me for twenty guineas.
That's the secret ! spoke about
shouldn't have told it even to an old
pal like YOU except for little bit of per
sonal vanity. i guessed you knew the
facts about him. and ! didn't want you
to think me blind enough to so about
picking up undesrables under the i'm
preston that ] was making my own
so-tune.
.ys,rt surely" said Wilson. "the Lord
22s's,'af Justice might meet him almost
anvwhere.
There's a sort Of shyness on the Bar
on's side. fancy" Saumarez answered
"a man In the Chiefs position is pretty
certain to know everything about an
affair like that. know I'm doing the
Baron q good turn in bringing him and
cha chiae tnaathAr. and that's how ]