Part 10 (1/2)

”Suppose you were to exert your paternal authority?”

”Just so! You are right. My paternal authority authorises me to force my boy to any thing I like. And we are always of the same opinion, that boy and I; and he obeys me in all things, that boy does; and I think he had better, so he had! but on that one subject he is most unreasonable, I tell you.”

”But it is on that very subject that he ought to yield to your superior wisdom.”

”You are right! indeed you are. I'll disinherit that boy, confound me if I do not!”

Slatzanek, who was aware that the old Baron had very little to leave, and whose sagacity taught him to expect little or no effect from so vague a threat of a remote contingency, inquired whether there was no other means of compelling the young man; to which the Baron replied that there was no lack of means, especially if the lad could but be induced to marry.

”You have no idea, sir, how strongly marriage tells upon a man,” said he, ”especially in our family. When I was a bachelor, I was the most liberal man you could meet with in three counties any summer's day; and at present----. But the boy won't marry!”

”How do we stand in this district?” said Slatzanek, addressing Mr.

Kriver.

”As bad as can be. Tengelyi is against us.”

”Tengelyi!” cried the Baron. ”Tengelyi indeed! A mere village notary!

Bless my soul! Tengelyi! How many Tengelyis does it take, do you think, to face _me_ at the election?”

”Alas!” said Slatzanek, ”votes are counted in this country, and not weighed; I know few men that are more powerful than this notary.”

”And Akosh Rety,” suggested Mr. Kriver, ”does not indeed oppose us, but that is all.”

”Ah!” cried the Baron; ”just like my own son! I said just now----”

”However, if the Kishlakis stand but by us, we are pretty certain of this district.”

”But we cannot rely on the Kishlakis,” said Kriver. ”Kalman is out of temper; he is jealous of the Count Harashy.”

”You don't say so! Miss Rety was proclaimed as his future wife.”

”Ay, but the Cortes did it,” whispered the recorder, ”and it struck me that Lady Rety was not at all pleased.”

”You are right,” said the Baron. ”It struck me too. I sat by Lady Rety, talking of the weather, when the Cortes bore Kalman about, and when I heard them shouting,--'Dear lady,' said I----”

”We must be careful,” said Slatzanek; ”I fear ours is a bad position.”

”As for me,” said Mr. Kriver, ”you are aware of my zeal; and I a.s.sure you that I will keep our party _au courant_ of all the enemy's manuvres.”

”And to know your adversary's plans is half the battle!” cried the Baron, clapping his hands.

”Oh! if the n.o.blemen in the county were all like my own tenants!” cried Slatzanek. ”They vote with me; if they do not, they lose their farms.

They are the men for an election!”

Here the conversation was interrupted by the arrival of the sheriff, and the labours of the committee commenced in due form with a provisional election of functionaries: Rety came in for the shrievalty; Mr. Kriver, the recorder, was appointed his Vice; and almost every one of the persons present obtained the promise of a place, either for himself or a friend. This done, the committee directed their attention to the means of fighting the battle of the real election; and, after a lengthened conversation on the usual electioneering tactics,--the favouring of a cla.s.s, the kidnapping of electors, and the devising of plans for the especial annoyance of the hostile party, it was finally resolved to arrange the reception of the Lord-Lieutenant, who was to conduct the election, in such a manner as to impress that great functionary with a favourable opinion of the Rety party. But the most arduous duty of the committee was the ”finding the ways and means” for the confirmation of their political friends, and the conciliation of such among the enemy's troops as had some scruples about the justice of the cause which they had espoused. But Slatzanek's talents of persuasion, and the Lady Rety's sarcastic remarks, prevailed against the prudential considerations of certain timid a.s.sessors and justices; and the subscription having terminated to the general satisfaction of Rety and his friends, the meeting dispersed.

CHAP. VI.