Part 174 (2/2)
”Are we then to understand, Mr. Leslie, that your intention is not to resign?”
”Unless your Lords.h.i.+p actually urge me to the contrary, I should say, Let the election go on, and all take our chance. That seems to me the fair, manly, ENGLISH [great emphasis on the last adjective], honourable course.”
”Be it so,” replied Harley; ”'let all take their chance.' Mr. Leslie, we will no longer detain you. Go back to the polling-place,--one of the candidates should be present; and you, Baron Levy, be good enough to go also, and return thanks to those who may yet vote for Mr. Egerton.”
Levy bowed, and went out arm-in-arm with Randal. ”Capital, capital,”
said the baron. ”You have a wonderful head.”
”I did not like L'Estrange's look, nevertheless. But he can't hurt me now; the votes he got for me instead of for Egerton have already polled.
The Committee, indeed, may refuse to vote for me; but then there is Avenel's body of reserve. Yes, the election is virtually over. When we get back, Hazeldean will have arrived with the money for the purchase of my ancestral property; Dr. Riccabocca is already restored to the estates and t.i.tles of Serrano; what do I care further for Lord L'Estrange?
Still, I do not like his look.”
”Pooh, you have done just what he wished. I am forbidden to say more.
Here we are at the booth. A new placard since we left. How are the numbers? Avenel forty ahead of you; you thirty above Egerton; and Leonard Fairfield still last on the poll. But where are Avenel and Fairfield?” Both those candidates had disappeared, perhaps gone to their own Committee-room.
Meanwhile, as soon as the doors had closed on Randal and the baron, in the midst of the angry hubbub succeeding to their departure, Lord L'Estrange sprang upon the table. The action and his look stilled every sound.
”Gentlemen, it is in our hands to return one of our candidates, and to make our own choice between the two. You have heard Mr. Leslie and Baron Levy. To their statement I make but this reply,--Mr. Egerton is needed by the country; and whatever his health or his affairs, he is ready to respond to that call. If he has not canva.s.sed, if he does not appear before you at this moment, the services of more than twenty years plead for him in his stead. Which, then, of the two candidates do you choose as your member,--a renowned statesman, or a beardless boy? Both have ambition and ability; the one has identified those qualities with the history of a country, and (as it is now alleged to his prejudice) with a devotion that has broken a vigorous frame and injured a princely fortune. The other evinces his ambition by inviting you to prefer him to his benefactor, and proves his ability by the excuses he makes for ingrat.i.tude. Choose between the two,--an Egerton or a Leslie.”
”Egerton forever!” cried all the a.s.sembly, as with a single voice, followed by a hiss for Leslie.
”But,” said a grave and prudent Committee-man, ”have we really the choice? Does not that rest with the Yellows? Is not your Lords.h.i.+p too sanguine?”
”Open that door behind; a deputation from our opponents waits in the room on the other side the pa.s.sage. Admit them.”
The Committee were hushed in breathless silence while Harley's order was obeyed. And soon, to their great surprise, Leonard Fairfield himself, attended by six of the princ.i.p.al members of the Yellow party, entered the room.
LORD L'ESTRANGE.--”You have a proposition to make to us, Mr. Fairfield, on behalf of yourself and Mr. Avenel, and with the approval of your Committee?”
LEONARD (advancing to the table).--”I have. We are convinced that neither party can carry both its candidates. Mr. Avenel is safe. The only question is, which of the two candidates on your side it best becomes the honour of this const.i.tuency to select. My resignation, which I am about to tender, will free sufficient votes to give the triumph either to Mr. Egerton or to Mr. Leslie.”
”Egerton forever!” cried once more the excited Blues. ”Yes, Egerton forever!” said Leonard, with a glow upon his cheek. ”We may differ from his politics, but who can tell us those of Mr. Leslie? We may differ from the politician, but who would not feel proud of the senator? A great and incalculable advantage is bestowed on that const.i.tuency which returns to parliament a distinguished man. His distinction enn.o.bles the place he represents, it sustains public spirit, it augments the manly interest in all that affects the nation. Every time his voice hushes the a.s.sembled parliament, it reminds us of our common country; and even the discussion amongst his const.i.tuents which his voice provokes, clears their perceptions of the public interest, and enlightens themselves, from the intellect which commands their interests, and compels their attention. Egerton, then, forever! If our party must subscribe to the return of one opponent, let all unite to select the worthiest. My Lord L'Estrange, when I quit this room, it will be to announce my resignation, and to solicit those who have promised me their votes to transfer them to Mr. Audley Egerton.”
Amidst the uproarious huzzas which followed this speech, Leonard drew near to Harley. ”My Lord, I have obeyed your wishes, as conveyed to me by my uncle, who is engaged at this moment elsewhere in carrying them into effect.”
”Leonard,” said Harley, in the same undertone, ”you have insured to Audley Egerton what you alone could do,--the triumph over a perfidious dependent, the continuance of the sole career in which he has. .h.i.therto found the solace or the zest of life. He must thank you with his own lips. Come to the Park after the close of the poll. There and then shall the explanations yet needful to both be given and received.”
Here Harley bowed to the a.s.sembly and raised his voice: ”Gentlemen, yesterday, at the nomination of the candidates, I uttered remarks that have justly pained Mr. Fairfield. In your presence I wholly retract and frankly apologize for them. In your presence I entreat his forgiveness, and say, that if he will accord me his friends.h.i.+p, I will place him in my esteem and affection side by side with the statesman whom he has given to his country.”
Leonard grasped the hand extended to him with both his own, and then, overcome by his emotions, hurried from the room; while Blues and Yellows exchanged greetings, rejoiced in the compromise that would dispel all party irritation, secure the peace of the borough, and allow quiet men, who had detested each other the day before, and vowed reciprocal injuries to trade and custom, the indulgence of all amiable and fraternal feelings--until the next general election.
In the mean while the polling had gone on slowly as before, but still to the advantage of Randal. ”Not two-thirds of the const.i.tuency will poll,”
murmured Levy, looking at his watch. ”The thing is decided. Aha, Audley Egerton! you who once tortured me with the unspeakable jealousy that bequeaths such implacable hate; you who scorned my society, and called me 'scoundrel,' disdainful of the very power your folly placed within my hands,--aha, your time is up! and the spirit that administered to your own destruction strides within the circle to seize its prey!”
”You shall have my first frank, Levy,” said Randal, ”to enclose your letter to Mr. Thornhill's solicitor. This affair of the election is over; we must now look to what else rests on our hands.”
”What the devil is that placard?” cried Levy, turning pale.
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