"
The gentleman again turned, and surveyed the baronet with freshened
interest. The honorary member of the Grill, whose accent already had
betrayed him as an American, laughed softly.
"To look at him now," he said, "one would not guess he was deeply
concerned with the affairs of state."
The others nodded silently.
"He has not lifted his eyes from that book since we first entered,"
added the youngest member. "He surely cannot mean to speak to-night."
"Oh, yes, he will speak," muttered the one with the black pearl,
moodily. "During these last hours of the session the House sits late,
but when the Navy bill comes up on its third reading he will be in
his place--and he will pass it."
The fourth member, a stout and florid gentleman of a somewhat
sporting appearance, in a short smoking-jacket and black tie, sighed
enviously.
"Fancy one of us being as cool as that, if he knew he had to stand up
within an hour and rattle off a speech in Parliament. I'd be in a
devil of a funk myself. And yet he is as keen over that book he's
reading as though he had nothing before him until bedtime."
"Yes, see how eager he is," whispered the youngest member.
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