“Oh, no,” was the answer.  “My judgment is of no use to her; she is aware of that.  I hope you were pleased with what you saw of it.  Her last novel was not quite so successful as they had hoped, was it?”

“My dear fellow!” Mr. Quirk exclaimed, in astonishment (for he could not have the power of the log-rollers called in question).  “Not successful?  Most successful!—­most successful!  I don’t know that it produced so much money—­but what is that to people in their sphere?”

“Perhaps not much,” said Lionel, timidly (for what did he know about such esoteric matters?).  “I suppose the money they might get from a novel would be of little consideration—­but it would show that the book had been read.”

“And what, again, do they care for vulgar popularity?—­the approbation of the common herd—­of the bovine-headed multitude?  No, no, it is the verdict of the polished world they seek—­it is fame—­eclat—­it is recognition from their peers.  It may be only un succes d’estime—­all the more honorable!  And I must say Lady Adela is a very clever woman; the pains she takes to get ‘Kathleen’s Sweethearts’ mentioned even now are wonderful.  Indeed, I propose to give her an additional hint or two to-morrow.  Of course you know ——­ is doomed?” asked Mr. Quirk, naming a famous statesman who was then very seriously ill.

“Really?”

“Oh, yes.  Gout at the heart; hopeless complications; he can’t possibly last another ten days.  Very well,” continued Mr. Quirk, with much satisfaction, as if Providence were working hand in hand with him, “I mean to advise Lady Adela to send him a copy of ’Kathleen’s Sweethearts.’  Now do you understand?  No?  Why, man, if there’s any luck, when he dies and all the memoirs come out in the newspapers, it will be mentioned that the last book the deceased statesman tried to read was Lady Adela Cunyngham’s well-known novel.  Do you see?  Good business?  Then there’s another thing she must absolutely do with her new book.  These woman-suffrage people are splendid howlers and spouters; let her go in for woman-suffrage thick and thin—­and she’ll get quoted on a hundred dozen of platforms.  That’s the way to do it, you know!  Bless you, the publishers’ advertisements are no good at all nowadays!”

Lionel was not paying very much heed; perhaps that was why he rather indifferently asked Mr. Quirk whether he himself was in favor of extending the suffrage to women.

“I?” cried Mr. Quirk, with a boisterous horse-laugh.  “What do I care about it?  Let them suffer away as much as ever they like!”

“Yes, they’re used to that, aren’t they?” said Lionel.

“What I want to do is to put Lady Adela up to a dodge or two for getting her book talked about; that’s the important and immediate point, and I think I can be of some service to her,” said Mr. Quirk? and then he added, more pompously, “I think she is willing to place herself entirely in my hands.”