Part 172 (1/2)

RANDAL.--”To be sure I do.”

d.i.c.k.--”When Emanuel Trout comes into the booth, you will know how the election turns. As he votes, all the Hundred and Fifty will vote. Now I must go back. Good-night.

”You'll not forget that my expenses are to be paid. Point of honour.

Still, if they are not paid, the election can be upset,--pet.i.tion for bribery and corruption; and if they are paid, why, Lansmere may be your seat for life.”

RANDAL.--”Your expenses shall be paid the moment my marriage gives me the means to pay them,--and that must be very soon.”

d.i.c.k.--”So Levy says. And my little jobs--the private bills?”

RANDAL.--”Consider the bills pa.s.sed and the jobs done.”

d.i.c.k.--”And one must not forget one's country. One must do the best one can for one's principles. Egerton is infernally Blue. You allow Public Opinion--is--”

RANDAL.--”Yellow. Not a doubt of it.”

d.i.c.k.--”Good-night. Ha, ha! humbug, eh?”

RANDAL.--”Humbug! Between men like us,--oh, no. Good-night, my dear friend, I rely on you.”

d.i.c.k.--”Yes; but mind, I promise nothing if Leonard Fairfield does not stand.”

RANDAL.--”He must stand; keep him to it. Your affairs, your business, your mill--”

d.i.c.k.--”Very true. He must stand. I have great faith in Parson Dale.”

Randal glided back through the park. When he came on the terrace, he suddenly encountered Lord L'Estrange. ”I have just been privately into the town, my dear Lord, and heard a strange rumour, that Mr. Fairfield was so annoyed by some remarks in your Lords.h.i.+p's admirable speech, that he talks of retiring from the contest. That would give a new feature to the election, and perplex all our calculations; and I fear, in that case, there might be some secret coalition between Avenel's friends and our Committee, whom, I am told, I displeased by the moderate speech which your Lords.h.i.+p so eloquently defended,--a coalition by which Avenel would come in with Mr. Egerton, whereas, if we all four stand, Mr.

Egerton, I presume, will be quite safe,--and I certainly think I have an excellent chance.”

LORD L'ESTRANGE.--”SO Mr. Fairfield would retire in consequence of my remarks! I am going into the town, and I intend to apologize for those remarks, and retract them.”

RANDAL (joyously).--”n.o.ble!”

Lord L'Estrange looked at Leslie's face, upon which the stars gleamed palely. ”Mr. Egerton has thought more of your success than of his own,”

said he, gravely, and hurried on.

Randal continued on the terrace. Perhaps Harley's last words gave him a twinge of compunction. His head sunk musingly on his breast, and he paced to and fro the long gravel-walk, summoning up all his intellect to resist every temptation to what could injure his self-interest.

”Skulking knave!” muttered Harley. ”At least there will be nothing to repent, if I can do justice on him. That is not revenge. Come, that must be a fair retribution. Besides, how else can I deliver Violante?”

He laughed gayly, his heart was so light; and his foot bounded on as fleet as the deer that he startled amongst the fern.

A few yards from the turnstile he overtook Richard Avenel, disguised in a rough great-coat and spectacles. Nevertheless, Harley's eye detected the Yellow candidate at the first glance. He caught d.i.c.k familiarly by the arm. ”Well met! I was going to you. We have the election to settle.”

”On the terms I mentioned to your Lords.h.i.+p?” said d.i.c.k, startled. ”I will agree to return one of your candidates; but it must not be Audley Egerton.” Harley whispered close in Avenel's ear.

Avenel uttered an exclamation of amazement. The two gentlemen walked on rapidly, and conversing with great eagerness.

”Certainly,” said Avenel, at length, stopping short, ”one would do a great deal to serve a family connection,--and a connection that does a man so much credit; and how can one go against one's own brother-in-law,--a gentleman of such high standing, pull up the whole family! How pleased Mrs. Richard Avenel will be! Why the devil did not I know it before? And poor--dear--dear Nora. Ah, that she were living!”