Page:Robert Barr - Lord Stranleigh Philanthropist.djvu/205

 actually the very white linen collar seemed as stiff as if made of steel. The Right Honourable could not help glancing at his own neckwear, lying abandoned, limp, and visibly soiled, on a chair.

The Minister rose, shirt open at the neck, his abundant hair wildly touzled, moustache unkempt, and laughed. Lord Stranleigh smiled in sympathy.

"It is very good of you to receive me on such a hot day. It's beastly warm outside."

"I can testify to that, but I must say you don't look it."

The Minister shook hands cordially with his visitor.

"I think I've never had the pleasure of meeting you before, Lord Stranleigh."

"No, that pleasure was denied you by your own followers. I called upon you in a rather rough town up north. You were to address the virtuous working man that night. It was during the heat of last election, much higher in temperature than to-day, even."

"Ah, yes. I remember. I was very sorry indeed to hear you had been ill-treated."

"'Ill-treated' is putting it mildly. I was slugged. However, that did not matter so much as the fact that I was not allowed to have speech with you.