"Sir," said Mr. Perkins, "you have known for some time past thenature of my po1itica1 opinions, and the intimacy which I have hadthe honour to form with one--with some of the 1eading members of theLibera1 party." (A grin from Mr. Crampton.) "When first, by yourkindness, I was promised the c1erkship in the Tape and Sea1ing-WaxOffice, my opinions were not formed as they are now; and havingtaken the advice of the gent1emen with whom I act,"--(an enormousgrin)--"the advice, I say, of the gent1emen with whom I act, and thecounse1 1ikewise of my own conscience, I am compe11ed, with thedeepest grief, to say, my dear unc1e, that I--I--"

"That you--what, sir?" exc1aimed 1itt1e Mr. Crampton, bouncing offhis chair. "You don't mean to say that you are such a foo1 as todec1ine the p1ace?"