Ridley sat at his desk surrounded by an ordered confusion of papers and ledgers when Eversleigh strolled in. The latter raised his quizzing glass and let his eyes roam over the desk.

"How revolting, james!-•he sighed wearily. "Do I really keep you so busy? And do I insist that you work such long hours? It is a delightful afternoon, my dear boy. You would be much better employed viewing the ladies in Hyde Park."

James Ridley looked up and smiled absently. "Do you realize how often you say that to me, your Grace?" he asked. "I would not feel that I earned my more than generous salary if I did not put in a full day's work. And you know that you already insist that I take off both Saturday and Sunday, and' force me to take a two-hour luncheon break each day."

The duke moved into the room and leaned one elbow against a bookshelf. "Do I really, James?" he asked, crossing one booted leg over the other. "And when did you manage to wrest such favorable conditions from me?"

Ridley gave a cluck of exasperation, but did not venture a reply.

"And what letters clamor for my attention today?" Eversleigh asked.

"These, your Grace," Ridley replied, indicating a neat bundle on the top corner of his desk. "And please do not forget the speech that you are scheduled to give in the Upper House next week."

"Am I really? Ah, did I know about this before, James?" asked Eversleigh languidly.

"I have reminded you twice in the last week, your Grace," Ridley replied, pained.

"Have you indeed? You must have spoken at a time when my mind was occupied with more pressing matters," his employer commented.