236 WITH MR. CHAMBERLAIN IN THE 



here to-night within this hall — details of which by 

 to-morrow will be published for the knowledge and, 

 I hope, for the sympathy and the instruction of 

 many of our countrymen — this meeting itself is 

 doing something towards that ; and I think it is a 

 matter of which Birmingham may be proud that 

 my friend here near me, your eminent citizen, has 

 been able, by a good fortune which statesmen may 

 envy, and by an exertion of abilities which are 

 peculiar and singular, and not in many cases ex- 

 celled or equalled, that he has been able to render 

 a service to his country and to the blessed cause of 

 peace which will give him pleasure I hope to the 

 last hour of his life. (Loud cheers.) 

 The toast was drunk with enthusiasm. 



Some years before I went to America, I happened 

 to be dining with the late Henry Labouchere at 

 Pope's Villa, Twickenham, and among other in- 

 teresting people whose acquaintance I made that 

 night was Miss Braddon (Mrs. Maxwell). I 

 had always cherished a strong desire to meet 

 the author of Aurora Floyd and Lady Audley^s 

 Secrety novels which had enthralled me as a boy. 

 Miss Braddon was at that time engaged in the 

 preparation of a new book, the title of which I 

 forget for the moment, the salient features of which, 

 however, turned on the siege of Paris by the 

 Germans, and, as " Labby " was correspondent of 



