them to a statement that they will accept the plans, you must let me know by telegraph, so that I can go down to Muddlebury on Wednesday night in time for their session on Thursday morning."
"Very good, my lord."
Wilson left the residence with an uneasy feeling that for once he had gone too far, and he cursed Stiles and his brethren, whereas he might better have cursed himself. On reaching Muddlebury he soon found that his mission was a failure. This District Council had a real live lord on the toasting-fork, and he was not going to be allowed to wriggle off until he was mighty well basted. Wilson telegraphed to Stranleigh, and on Wednesday night his lordship occupied a room in the Stranleigh Arms.
On Thursday morning at half-past ten he made his way to the Town Hall, hoping that the half-hour would have been sufficient for the Council to get through with its routine work. He carried a roll of building plans under his arm, and humbly he took off his hat as he tip-toed into the Council Chamber. The solemn public body was in full session, every member being present, as it had become known that Lord Stranleigh would be there in person to plead his cause.
The portly Hiram Greenleaves, leading grocer of the place, was chairman of the Council. Mr. Timmins, the Clerk, was one of the two solicitors who practised law in Muddlebury. The
