War-time Silhouettes | Page 5

well
have constituted a serious check in his upward career, but once more
Bale's native resourcefulness asserted itself. This crisis in his private
affairs took place when the country was torn by dissensions over Tariff
Reform. He had early learnt to fish in troubled waters, and the political
upheaval gave him his opportunity; he promptly crossed the floor of the
House and obtained, without paying for it, a baronetcy as his reward.
* * * * *
Sir Matthew Bale is tall and slender; his head is well placed on his
shoulders, he has clear-cut features, a firm mouth with excellent teeth,
and is clean-shaven. Although he is over fifty, he has plenty of hair,
originally sandy, but now tinged with grey, which he parts at the side
and brushes straight back from the forehead. He dresses with a certain
quiet elegance, and he has a way of drawing down his cuffs as he talks
to you, and of placing the tips of his fingers together so that you notice
his nicely kept nails. He speaks in a low tone, which he only raises
when he forgets himself, and relies for emphasis on little restrained
gestures adopted by him, together with other tricks of speech and
manner, from his wife's male relations. In this he is unconscious of
imitation, for he is by nature adaptable and his desire to be identified
with the aristocracy is instinctive.
He has now associated himself with the extreme Radical and Labour
wing, where it flatters his vanity to think he is regarded as an elegant
exotic. A constant saying of his is "Keep your eye on labour," but,
though they don't say so, the Labour Members keep their eye on him
and regard his advances with distrust.
He has been active on departmental committees, and has on occasion
served as chairman. It did not need a long experience to teach him that
whatever the ostensible object of these convenient arrangements may
be, their usual purpose is to throw dust in the eyes of the public, to
burke discussion, and to save the face of embarrassed ministers.
Therefore, whenever he was appointed, his first step was invariably to

make certain what the wish of the minister was who nominated him.
Possessing such qualities it was no surprise to those who knew the
considerations involved when he was made chairman of the
Government Committee "to consider and report on the measures to be
adopted during the war with reference to the commercial, industrial,
and financial interests of British subjects in neutral countries."
This was by far the most important committee over which Sir Matthew
had ever presided, and he cherished the hope that by means of it he
might secure the immediate desire of his heart, a Privy Councillorship;
once a "Right Honourable" he could aspire to anything--a seat in the
Cabinet, or, if Blum & Co. prospered, a peerage even. Sir Matthew's
heart leaped at the thought of a coronet.
* * * * *
About this time Oswald Tarleton was sent for by his chief, and
informed that he had been selected for the secretaryship of Sir Matthew
Bale's committee.
"This is a very weighty committee, Mr. Tarleton," said the permanent
secretary of the department. "The Government's policy in regard to
enemy trading and proceedings under the Defence of the Realm Act
will largely depend upon the result of its deliberations. In Sir Matthew
Bale I have every reason for believing that you will find a most able,
and at the same time a most agreeable, chairman."
Oswald Tarleton went off delighted. Although he had been for twenty
years a highly conscientious departmental official, and had received
nothing but praise for his services, he was too much a gentleman to
push himself, and this modesty had resulted in his never being given an
opportunity of showing how competent a public servant he really was.
Now, Tarleton is an honest man and something of an idealist. His first
interview with Sir Matthew Bale made him open his eyes wider than
ever in his life before.
The chairman settled himself in his chair opposite his secretary, pulled
down his cuffs, put the tips of his fingers together, and held forth.
"Mr. Tarleton, we have got to make a success of this committee. I need
hardly tell you how important it is and that upon it depend vital
questions of Government policy. I am not going too far in saying that
the future of the Government itself depends to a large extent upon the
guidance which we shall be able to afford them as the result of our

labours."
Sir Matthew, as a rule, expressed himself badly, but he had been at
pains to prepare a little set speech with which to impress his secretary,
who now sat looking