Supposing I had been in your position, aud Jesse Coilings administrator of Mashonaland. Can you conceive of Coilings leading 600 armfcd horse men to a deliberate attack upon a friendly country without first asking my consent ?" "Jameson is extraordinarily like Coi lings," said Mr Rhodes, reflectively. "I have often observed it."

Once more the Colonial Secretary ignored the interruption. " I have always," he pur sued, " considered it extremely unfriendly of Mr Gladstone to have made his incursion shall I call it?—into the Irish question without taking me into his confidence. That is one of the things I never forget and never forgive." " I have always heard," eaid Mr Rhodes, " that you were most careful to consult Mr Gladstone about your ' raid' on the gentle men who toil not neither do they spin." "We are getting off the poilit," said Mr Chamberlain severely. " Pardon me," pursued Mr Rhodes. " We are both here, I thought, to discuss the results of an unauthorised programme, X

take it that you arc acquainted with the art of flyiug kites—l speak, of course, meta phorically." " Well, now, since you press me," said the great man, growing a little more congenial, " I must say that i'have done a little in that lino myself." "And you know the importance of being able to cut tho siring ?" " Wires, say wires," murmured tho great man beneath his breath. Then he added, with a brightening gleam of the eye : " Oh, yes; precisely. " Well, now, it ssems to me," said the other, "we are beginning to understand each other. If it comes off, it's splendid ;if it doesn't, we cut the strirg." " And we never know anything about it," added Mr Chamberlain, as though reluctant to conceal his skill, " until it comes off." "That, I presume,"said Mr Rhodes, "is the rule in the House of Commons."

"It used lo be," Mr Chamberlain. " Still, you m ; ght have sent me a wire." "There," replied Mr Rhodes, "you do yourself less than justice. In the first place, as you have just observed, I knew nothing about it. In the second place, it was emi nently desirable that you should know less. Suppose, my friend, that Jameson had inti mated to me that ou December 31 he pro posed to make this little expedition. 