’I don’t know, sir.  I’m not in the secrets of the Cabinet.  I should
  think he would.’

’About as much as my grandmother; but if the Editor of the Jupiter were to be taken ill, it would work quite a commotion.  For myself I should be glad on public grounds because I don’t like his mode of business.  But it would have an effect because he is a leading man.’

‘I don’t see what all this leads to, Mr Stanbury.’

’Only to this, that we who write for the press think that our calling is recognised, and must be recognised, as a profession.  Talk of permanence, Sir Marmaduke; are not the newspapers permanent?  Do not they come out regularly every day, and more of them, and still more of them, are always coming out?  You do not expect a collapse among them.’

’There will be plenty of newspapers, I do not doubt more than plenty, perhaps.’

‘Somebody must write them, and the writers will be paid.’

‘Anybody could write the most of them, I should say.’

’I wish you would try, Sir Marmaduke.  Just try your hand at a leading article to-night, and read it yourself tomorrow morning.’

‘I’ve a great deal too much to do, Mr Stanbury.’

’Just so.  You have, no doubt, the affairs of your Government to look to.  We are all so apt to ignore the work of our neighbours!  It seems to me that I could go over and govern the Mandarins without the slightest trouble in the world.  But, no doubt, I am mistaken, just as you are about writing for the newspapers.’

‘I do not know,’ said Sir Marmaduke, rising from his chair with dignity, ’that I called here to discuss such matters as these.  As it happens, you, Mr Stanbury, are not the Governor of the Mandarins, and I have not the honour to write for the columns of the penny newspaper with which you are associated.  It is therefore useless to discuss what either of us might do in the position held by the other.’

’Altogether useless, Sir Marmaduke, except just for the fun of the thing.’

’I do not see the fun, Mr Stanbury.  I came here, at your request, to hear what you might have to urge against the decision which I expressed to you in reference to my daughter.  As it seems that you have nothing to urge, I will not take up your time further.’

‘But I have a great deal to urge, and have urged a great deal.’

‘Have you, indeed?’

’You have complained that my work is not permanent.  I have shewn that it is so permanent that there is no possibility of its coming to an end.  There must be newspapers, and the people trained to write them must be employed.  I have been at it now about two years.  You know what I earn.  Could I have got so far in so short a time as a lawyer, a doctor, a clergyman, a soldier, a sailor, a Government clerk, or in any of those employments which you choose to call professions?  I think that is urging a great deal.  I think it is urging everything.’