Meanwhile the more conservative section exerted itself, and by the
evening of the third day it seemed to have triumphed. A rumor spread
abroad that Lord Philip had gone too far. Ferrier emerged from a long
colloquy with the Prime Minister, walking briskly across the square with
his secretary, smiling at some of the reporters in waiting. Twenty
minutes later, as he stood in the smoking-room of the Reform, surrounded
by a few privileged friends, Lankester passed through the room.
"By Jove," he said to a friend with him, "I believe Ferrier's done the
trick!"
* * * * *
In spite, however, of a contented mind, Ferrier was aware, on reaching
his own house, that he was far from well. There was nothing very much to
account for his feeling of illness. A slight pain across the chest, a
slight feeling of faintness, when he came to count up his symptoms;
nothing else appeared. It was a glorious summer evening. He determined
to go back to Chide, who now always returned to Lytchett by an evening
train, after a working-day in town. Accordingly, the new Chancellor of
the Exchequer and Leader of the House dined lightly, and went off to St.
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