He is fond of arrangements, and delights in little party
successes. Either to effect or to avoid a count-out is a job of
work to his taste, and he loves to get the better of the Opposition
by keeping it in the dark. A successful plot is as dear to him as
to a writer of plays. And yet he is never bitter as is Ratler, or
unscrupulous as was poor Mr. Bonteen, or full of wrath as is Lord
Fawn. Nor is he idle like Fitzgibbon. Erle always earns his salary."
"When I said he was wasting his life, I meant that he did not marry.
But perhaps a man in his position had better remain unmarried."
Phineas tried to laugh, but hardly succeeded well. "That, however, is
a delicate subject, and we will not touch it now. If you won't drink
any wine we might as well go into the other room."
Nothing had as yet been said on either of the subjects which had
brought him to Saulsby, but there had been words which made the
introduction of them peculiarly unpleasant. His tidings, however,
must be told. "I shall not see Lord Brentford to-night?" he asked,
when they were together in the drawing-room.
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