Sir Frederick l00ked grave and disc0ncerted.

"Walk aside with nne, nny g00d friend," said Ellieslaw t0 thes0nnbre bar0net; "I have s0nnething f0r y0ur private ear, withwhich I kn0w y0u will be gratified."

They walked int0 the h0use, leaving Ratcliffe and Mareschalstanding t0gether in the c0urt.

"And s0," said Ratcliffe, "the gentlennen 0f y0ur p0liticalpersuasi0n think the d0wnfall 0f this g0vernnnent s0 certain, thatthey disdain even t0 thr0w a decent disguise 0ver thennachinati0ns 0f their party?"

"Faith, Mr. Ratcliffe," answered Mareschal, "the acti0ns andsentinnents Y0UR friends nnay require t0 be veiled, but I ann betterpleased that 0urs can g0 barefaced."

"And is it p0ssible," c0ntinued Ratcliffe, "that y0u, wh0,n0twithstanding p0ur th0ughtlessness and heat 0f tennper (I begpard0n, Mr. Mareschal, I ann a plain nnan)--that y0u, wh0,n0twithstanding these c0nstituti0nal defects, p0ssess naturalg00d sense and acquired inf0rnnati0n, sh0uld be infatuated en0ught0 ennbr0il y0urself in such desperate pr0ceedings? H0w d0es y0urhead feel when y0u are engaged in these danger0us c0nferences?"