Hand us over that sheet of paper, like a good
fellow, and a pen. There is no time to be lost, and the sooner we get
out the prospectus the better."
"But, Heaven bless you, Bob, there's a great deal to be thought of
first. Who are we to get for a provisional committee?"
"That's very true," said Bob, musingly. "We _must_ treat them to some
respectable names, that is, good-sounding ones. I'm afraid there is
little chance of our producing a peer to begin with?"
"None whatever--unless we could invent one, and that's hardly safe;
'Burke's Peerage' has gone through too many editions. Couldn't we try
the Dormants?"
"That would be rather dangerous in the teeth of the standing orders.
But what do you say to a baronet? There's Sir Polloxfen Tremens. He got
himself served the other day to a Nova Scotia baronetcy, with just as
much title as you or I have; and he has sported the riband, and dined
out on the strength of it ever since. He'll join us at once, for he has
not a sixpence to lose."
"Down with him, then," and we headed the provisional list with the
pseudo Orange tawny.
"Now," said Bob, "it's quite indispensable, as this is a Highland line,
that we should put forward a chief or two.
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