time and gave some direction to his brother, who
immediately made a note.

"And this—this," the indignant member went
on, "is the way in which the public money is
wasted. This is the system on which iny honourable
friend would congratulate us. But, gentlemen,
is this all? Are these nine men the only
representatives of a piece of outrageous expenditure
on the part of an extravagant government?
Is it not the case that we have public offices?
The work done or left undone at those offices is
proverbially light——"

"No," remarked a voice emanating from the
leaves of a blotting-book. It was the voice of
the profilist.

"An honourable member says  'No'"
continued the speaker. "What does he mean?"

"Simply that it's not the case," remarked the
other, still engaged with his drawing. "So
much to do that you can't do any sort of justice
to the papers and magazines, and when fellows
drop in for a chat you're as likely as not to be
called away in the very middle of an interesting
subject. It's beastly, I can tell you." And this
young gentleman, true to his cloth, continued to
utter negatives at intervals, while Mr. Carpew
went on with his speech.

"Gentlemen, in spite of what my honourable
friend has said, I will freely assert that the small
amount of business executed in our public offices
is proverbial, and the unnecessary number of
persons employed 'not' to do it is equally so.
Gentlemen, what think you? Is there no waste
in the articles of Stationery and Printing in
connexion with our Government Institutions? Did
any of you ever receive a Public Office letter?
And if so, did it ever strike you that the paper
was at all thick? Was there not more of it than
was necessary? And did not the envelope resemble
cardboard? What sort of pens——?"

"Nothing to compare to these," interrupted
the profilist, holding up one of those which lay
on the table, and instantly returning to his
previous occupation.

"The pens provided at this institution are not
public pens, nor are they provided at the public
expense. They are good pens, very good pens,
and I dare say our good secretary, Mr. Bradshaw,
will tell us that we can afford them. But can
the country afford them? Why should not the
steel pen" (a groan from the profilist), "why
should not the steel pen of commerce be good
enough? It was good enough for our merchant-
princes. Gentlemen, it may be said that these
are small matters, and they may be so; but let it
never be forgotten that great aggregates are made
up of small items. Let it ever be remembered
that we are to take care of the pence, and that
then the pounds will look after themselves."

At this point I remarked that C. J. Brogg
placed his finger on his brow, and became
immersed in thought.

"Gentlemen," continued our member, "we
shall do no good till a commission is appointed
to inquire into what goes on at our public
offices, with a special eye to the introduction of
straw paper and steel pens, and the reduction of
the number of clerks and supernumeraries——"

I here thought it necessary to rise to order. I
hinted that these especial allusions to a class
which was represented among us so satisfactorily
by the gentleman in the fourth chair (right)
might appear to that gentleman to wear an unmutual
aspect, and that perhaps such observations
might be suspended with advantage. Mr.
Brogg said "Hear, hear," very softly, and
a thrill of gratification passed through my
frame.

"At the suggestion of our worthy secretary,"
our third chair (right) went on, "I will say no
more on the subject of our Civil Service, and
those by whom it is misconducted, although I
might make allusion to such matters as the
frightful national expenditure in connexion with
the single item of messengers, to the wanton use
of the public stationery by the clerks for their own
private purposes, and to other matters equally
flagitious. But I will not thus add to the few
words which I have to say. I will simply, in
conclusion, request my honourable friend Mr. Best
—I beg pardon—I will simply request the second
chair (left), in case he should ever have to
approach this subject again—and it is not for
me to say that the hour is distant when his
brilliant and shining abilities shall give him an
opportunity of discussing such questions in an
assembly of which this is but a species of type—
I would request him, I say, to think twice
before he utters a panegyric on a police force,
the members of which are never to be found
when they are wanted; on the good ordering of
a town the mismanagement of whose street
traffic is a disgrace to civilisation."

Our member ceased somewhat abruptly and
sat down. What was my surprise when I
became aware that he had scarcely done so, before
the new member rose from his place, and at once
catching, nay riveting—my eye, proceeded to
make certain observations to which we all
listened with rapt attention. I had not expected
that Mr. Brogg would speak on this his first
evening among us, but I was not then aware of
the activity of that mighty intellect.

"Gentlemen," he began, "I hope it may not
appear presumptuous in me if I venture to offer
a few remarks in connexion with the admirable
and lucid expressions of opinion to which we
have just been listening. Gentlemen, if there
was any feeling not wholly pleasurable excited
by those masterly orations, I believe it to have
been attributable solely and entirely to an
unfounded impression that our two distinguished
friends were to some extent differing in opinion;
I say that such an impression is unfounded, and
I am willing to abide by the assertion. For, after
all, do not these two gentlemen virtually mean
the same thing? Are they not mutually desiring
each other's advantage? Does not Mr.——Mr.
——I beg pardon," said our new member, listening
to a whispered hint from his former tutor.