human
I have a commission from your father, Vin, said he.
gpt
I am to persuade you of the sweet reasonableness of his project—that you should for a time become the private secretary of Mr. Ogden.
human
The private secretary of a man who hasn’t an _h_!
gpt
What has that to do with it? the young nobleman said, coolly.
human
No. After all, there is something in what your father says. He believes that the next great political and social movement will be the emancipation of the wage-earner—the securing to the producer his fair share of the products of his labour. If that is so, it will be a big thing. It will be years before it comes off, no doubt; but then there will be a great wave of public opinion; and if you are prepared—if you are there—if you are identified with this tremendous social revolution, why, that magnificent wave will peacefully and calmly lift you into the Cabinet. I think that’s about his notion. Very well. If you are willing to take up this work, how could you begin better than by becoming private secretary to Josiah Ogden? There you would come into direct touch with the masses; you would get to know at first hand what they are thinking of, what they are hoping for; subsequently, you could speak with authority. Then there’s another thing, Vin. If you want to become a figure in public life in England, if you want to build a splendid monument for yourself, you should begin at the base. Capture the multitude; be as red-hot a Radical as they can desire; and they won’t mind what you do afterwards. You may accept office; you may be petted by Royalty; but they will rather like it—they will look on it as a compliment paid to one of themselves. And that is where Ogden would come in. He, too, is one of themselves—though he has his hired brougham when he comes to town, and his big dinners at the Menagerie Club. What have you got to do with his _h_’s? If I want to back a horse, or order a pair of boots, or have my hair cut, what does it matter to me whether the man has an _h_, or a superfluity of _h_’s? You make him useful to you; you get what you want; isn’t that enough?
gpt
Oh, no, it is not, Vincent rejoined—but respectfully, for he never forgot that Lord Musselburgh was his senior by very nearly five years.
human
You see, you don’t go into partnership with your hairdresser, and you don’t put your name over the bootmaker’s shop. And I shouldn’t learn much from Mr. Ogden, for I don’t believe in his machine-made politics—everything to be done by committees, and resolutions, and majorities. I expect to find him starting a Society for the Suppression of Punch and Judy Shows, so that the infantile mind of England may not be corrupted by exhibitions of brutality.
gpt
He is a very able man, let me tell you that, said Musselburgh, with decision.
human
And a capital speaker—a slogger, of course, but that is wanted for big crowds. And sometimes he turns out a neat thing. Did you notice what he said at Sheffield the other day—telling the working men not to be too grateful for rich men’s charities—for recreation grounds, drinking fountains, and the like? What he said was this—’When the capitalist has robbed Peter, it is easy for him to salve his conscience by throwing a crust to Paul’—not bad. I think you might do worse, Vin, than become Ogden’s private secretary. Pretty hard work, of course; but the modern young man, in politics, is supposed to be thoroughly in earnest: if he isn’t he will have to reckon with the evening papers, for they don’t like to be trifled with.
gpt
Do you remember, he said, with some little diffidence,
human
The perfervid old Scotchman—yes!
gpt
How did you come to know him?
human
I hardly recollect. Let me see. I think he first of all wrote to me, enclosing a note of introduction he had brought from a friend of mine in New York—a brother Scot. Then, as you saw, he called, and told me something further about a book he is going to bring out; and I gave him some little assistance—I don’t think he is above accepting a few sovereigns from any one to help him on his way through the world.
gpt
But—but he is a gentleman!—his name—his family—even his bearing—
human
Oh, yes, yes, I suppose so, Lord Musselburgh said, lightly.
gpt
Poor old fellow, I was glad to lend him a helping hand. I think his enthusiasm, his patriotism, was genuine; and it is a thing you don’t often meet with nowadays.
human
Yes—but—but—- Vincent said, with a good deal of embarrassment, and yet with some touch of half-indignant remonstrance,
gpt
Certainly, certainly! the other made answer—he did not happen to notice the expression on his friend’s face.
human
Something about Scotland—Scotch poetry—I think when he wrote he said something about a dedication, but that is an honour I hardly covet.
gpt
In any case, observed the young man,
human
Did I say that? I’m sure I don’t know. Of course it was on account of the book that I ventured to give him some little help—oh, yes, certainly—I should not have ventured otherwise. If he had been offended, I dare say he would have said so; but I fancy the old gentleman has had to overcome his pride before now. He seems to have led a curious, wandering life. By the way, Vin, weren’t you very much impressed by the young lady—I remember your saying something—