'I  have  that  honour.'

'Your  father,  sir,  is  a  most  amiable  and  able
man.  I  had  the  pleasure  of  his  acquaintance  when  I
was  in  London,  many  years  ago,  at  a  time  when
Mr.  Vivian  Grey  was  not  entrusted,  I  rather  imagine,
with  missions  "of  importance.'"  Although  Mr.
Cleveland  smiled  when  he  said  this,  his  smile  was
anything  but  a  gracious  one.  The  subdued  satire  of
his  keen  eye  burst  out  for  an  instant,  and  he  looked
as  if  he  would  have  said,  '  Who  is  this  younker  who
is  trespassing  upon  my  retirement?'

Vivian  had,  unbidden,  seated  himself  by  the  side
of  Mr.  Cleveland's  library  table;  and,  not  knowing
exactly  how  to  proceed,  was  employing  himself  by
making  a  calculation  whether  there  were  more  black
than  white  spots  on  the  body  of  the  old  New-
foundland, who  was  now  apparently  happily  slum-
bering.
'Well,  sir!'  continued  the  Newfoundland's  master,
'the  nature  of  your  communication?  I  am  fond  of
coming  to  the  point.'

Now  this  was  precisely  the  thing  which  Vivian
had  determined  not  to  do;  and  so  he  diplomatised,
in  order  to  gain  time.  'In  stating,  Mr.  Cleveland,
that  the  communication  which  I  had  to  make  was
one  of  importance,  I  beg  to  be  understood,  that  it
was  with  reference  merely  to  my  opinion  of  its  na-
ture that  that  phrase  was  used,  and  not  as  relative  to


144


BENJAMIN    DISRAELI


the  possible,  or,  allow  me  to  say,  the  probable,
opinion  of  Mr.  Cleveland.'

'Well,  sir!'  said  that  gentleman,  with  a  somewhat
disappointed  air.
