" Mr. Gresham had expressed an opinion,
somewhat off hand, that English people would never be got to talk about
quints, and so there was a difficulty. A little dinner was therefore
arranged, and Mr. Palliser, as was his custom in such matters, put the
affair of the dinner into his wife's hands. When he was told that she had
included Lord Fawn among the guests he opened his eyes. Lord Fawn, who
might be good enough at the India Office, knew literally nothing about the
penny.
"He'll take it as the greatest compliment in the world," said Lady
Glencora.
"I don't want to pay Lord Fawn a compliment," said Mr. Palliser.
"But I do," said Lady Glencora. And so the matter was arranged.
It was a very nice little dinner. Mrs. Gresham and Mrs. Bonteen were
there, and the great question of the day was settled in two minutes,
before the guests went out of the drawing-room.
"Stick to your farthing," said Mr. Gresham.
"I think so," said Mr. Palliser.
"Quint's a very easy word," said Mr. Bonteen.
"But squint is an easier," said Mr. Gresham, with all a prime minister's
jocose authority.
"They'd certainly be called cock-eyes," said Barrington Erie.
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