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He had a flow of conversation, and seemed in no hurry to move. Captain Heseltine appeared with a summons for Dick, who sulkily obeyed. Puttock caught sight of Jewell, and, with an apology, pursued him. Benham sat talking to Daisy Medland. Presently he proposed they should go where they would see the people better, and Daisy, who was bored, eagerly acquiesced.
The worst of it was that Puttock had the reputation of being an uncommonly good hand at a bargain. "Yet Mr. Medland's a very clever man," he observed. "Oh, clever, yes; but I fear unstable, Mr. Benham." "I suppose so. After all a man's private life is some guide, isn't it?" "Some guide!" exclaimed Puttock. "Surely you understate the case. If a man's private life is discreditable "
Thus Eleanor Scaife, having rid her party of the Medlands for the moment, as she impatiently added was at liberty to listen to the conversation of Mrs. Puttock. Mrs. Puttock was always most civil to any of the Government House party, and she entertained Eleanor, who resolutely refused all invitations to dance, with plenty of gossip.
He did not consciously exaggerate, but he made as good a case as he could; and he talked to an ear inclined to listen. "He caught you and Puttock on false pretences utterly false pretences," Kilshaw ended. "Puttock saw it pretty soon." "I was too stupid, I suppose?" "Well, if you like," said Kilshaw, with a laugh. "I suppose when one doesn't appreciate a man's game, one calls him stupid."
Medland was away and did not return, but Kilshaw was at the Club, and Puttock, all the local politicians, and most other men of note; for the Club was nearly opposite the Hall, where the crowd was thickest, and where the result would soon be proclaimed.
But, Dick, tell me. How do Willie and Mr. Medland get on?" "Oh, pretty well, but You won't tell?" Alicia promised secrecy, and Dick, conscious of criminality, lowered his voice and continued, "I believe there's a row on in the Cabinet already. Willie said Puttock and Jewell were at loggerheads with Norburn, and Medland was inclined to back Norburn." "And Mr. Coxon?"
It was in vain for this unwieldy wretch to allege his utter incapacity; the boatswain's driver was commanded to whip him up with the cat-and-nine-tails; the smart of this application made him exert himself so much, that he actually arrived at the puttock shrouds; but when the enormous weight of his body had nothing else to support than his weakened arms, either out of spite or necessity, he quitted his hold, and plunged into the sea, where he must have been drowned, had not a sailor, who was in a boat alongside, saved his life, by keeping him afloat till he was hoisted on board by a tackle.
Puttock could not be there; but I told them I felt sure that with the new Ministry an era of real hope had dawned," and Mrs. Puttock looked inquiringly at the Premier, who was in his turn looking at the foaming wine that fell into his glass from Jackson's practised hand. "A new era?" he answered. "Oh, well, you didn't get much out of Perry. What do you want of me?"
"You won't try again?" he asked. "Impossible, until he has failed." "You think Puttock out of the question?" "Quite. He has not following enough: people wouldn't stand Medland being passed over. Really, I don't think you'll find Medland hard to get on with. He's a very able man. For myself, I like him." The Governor sat silent for a few minutes.
Puttock had fallen on his flank with skill and effect, and Norburn, who followed, had increased his leader's difficulties by a brilliant but indiscreet series of tilts against every section except that to which he himself belonged; Jewell had answered powerfully, and Coxon had coughed and fidgeted.
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