"I don't see that the government of which I have the honour to be a member has anything to do with it," Julius grumbled.
"Exactly! That is, of course, my point. In less favoured countries anything of this nature might be expected to have a political flavour—political repercussions, even. But perhaps I should not have said that. Your own position, Sir Julius, must, of course, be to some extent affected by the death of the heir to your cousin."
Sir Julius had gone rather red. "I prefer not to discuss that," he said.
"Naturally. Although, of course, it is unfortunately the kind of topic which can hardly avoid discussion sooner or later. I was only going on to say that from a purely selfish point of view—if I might venture hypothetically to attribute selfishness to you—you may come to regar
