Part 69 (1/2)

I was now no longer at a loss for the reason of the Baronet's late sudden departure, and the desertion of his political friends at the election What are friends? What are elections? What is our country, compared to the smiles of a pri noanting to the honor of the house of Bray! It ht in tiht as justly be stiled princely and most puissant as many another Duke But at present it was full with satisfaction

This court docuh it was, spoke voluave me a distinct view of the black and dreadful abyss that was ied

On the same day, I read that the Idford candidate had been returned for the county of ; and that consequently Hector had lost his election

This was not all Heated by the illiberal practices which always attend such contentions, knowing the bribery that he had used himself, and convinced that he could prove the same corrupt means to have been resorted to by his opponent, he was not satisfied with the devastation he had already committed upon his fortune; but was determined to demand a _scrutiny_: and if he should be foiled in that effort, he was resolved to try the merits of the election before a committee of the house of coated; and which was afterward verified by facts

With respect to er, I had made my choice My fixed purpose was to vacate ht perhaps be questioned, since the pretended voters had in reality no voice, and their iinary representative was no more than a person non an office which, as I supposed, I should fill for the good of ive place to some person who, obedient to his leader, would do the reverse?

But one act of baseness cannot authorize another To bear about radation, a certainty that I was sheltering e which I considered as highly vicious, a subterfuge such as every ht to despise and spurn at, this was insufferable I had lost ant and unbounded in promise: but I had not lost a conscious rectitude of heart, without which existence was not to be endured

CHAPTER XIII

_The coer seen at a distance: Oratory abandoned with regret: The dangers that attend being honest: A new invitation from Hector: A journey deferred by an arrest, and another accidental sight of the stranger_

It is happy for , whether of ; and wholly unmixed with pleasure If he be unhappy hie should there be no one more fortunate for whom he has an affection: no friend that is ht

The season of the year had arrived when the comedy of Wilmot had been put into rehearsal, and was to be perfor occasion; and those who knew hih the few intimate friends who had read the piece had no doubt of its success

The partial failure of his tragedy had produced no jealousy of rivalshi+p: though, as its race In private life, he was beloved; and, as a public man, his merits had not yet created him enemies He has since, indeed, in that respect, not been so fortunate But he has never thought it just to coh it should be rectified, should not be resented

The evening of representation arrived, the house was crowded, the company brilliant, and the plaudits hich the author was honoured established his reputation, and confir the perfor the spectators in the pit, I discovered a man whose hair hite, whose locks were venerable, and who I ell convinced was the stranger whom I had found wounded at the entrance of Barnes common I was in a side-box, and he was near the opposite pit door; so that the distance made it rather doubtful: yet the more I looked the more I was convinced it was the same person The comedy was nearly ended when I first saw hio and satisfy myself how far my persuasion was true

I went round to the door; but the pit was so crowded that it ith difficulty I could make my way to the seat When I was therefor him by description of the persons near where he sat, they told entleman had been there; but that he complained of the heat, and had left the house iave rin However, as his person was very re persuaded he was actually the wounded stranger, I conceived hopes that I should again ht of hi no expectation of his return, I went in search ofin the success of Wile, I wholly forgot htful evening

These affairs however were not long to be forgotten The returns of the elections throughout Great Britain had all been made, and the new parliaret that I found myself excluded by ly have taken erly desirous of an opportunity to deliver e some of those useful truths which ed places

But I was too well acquainted with the customs and forms of the house to hope that this opportunity could now be found I had no parliamentary friends; no supporters; and there was not the least probability that a youth so wholly unknown _should catch the speaker's eye_, whose notice sobeen duly weighed, I had already applied for the chiltern hundreds and reat joy of Lord Bray; and his now bosoreater because it was an event of which they had not the least expectation The due forms of law had been observed, the seals had been removed from the locks of my late inestimable friend, his cousin the new peer was in possession of the e and the notes for money received, and he had no conception of any motives that could induce me to an act which must leave me entirely at his mercy

It cannot however be supposed, as I have already said, that I had any intention to retain the estate; which I had received from Mr Evelyn as a qualification, and a support It was now the property of Lord Bray; and obligation to hi that would not admit of a question I did not therefore wait for any notice from his lordshi+p, or his attorney, but desired Mr Hilary to inforive up the deeds, and receive back the e

This would have been a trifle It was not a sacrifice; but a riddance: by which, could it have ended here, I should have regained so of that elasticity of heart which independence only can feel Here, however, it could not end I was obliged to instruct Mr Hilary to add that I illing to give my own personal security, by bond or in any manner my creditor should please, for e that I had no immediate means of payment In other words, that my person was entirely at the disposal of hiht have reenteel presents_ to his craving electors; and that he had informed me that it was a necessary expence: but to this I could not condescend

The little business which, during his life, Mr Evelyn had in law Mr Hilary had always transacted He had a sincere regard for me, and a reverence for the memory of his late kinset Being well acquainted with the character of Lord Bray, he foresaw and warned er While a baronet, to behold hi passion: but that was now gratified; and, as he was proud, he was likewise revengeful In this case, however, to as useless I had no alternative, except by means that were dishonorable

Nor was the resentle, or so much to be apprehended as that of the Earl, hom he had entered into strict alliance My behaviour to Lord Idford had uniformly been what he deemed so very insolent that his antipathy may be said to have taken birth at my first act of disobedience: my refusal to dine at the second table Since then, as he conceived, it had been progressive in aggravation My scorn of his selfish politics, my attempt to continue the Letters of Themistocles, and write hirace, the pamphlet of which I was the author, the activity hich I had canvassed in favour of Mowbray, and to su to rival him with the wonity, and his other great qualities, were all of thes are ree a passion which is in itself so active: or that he should induce Lord Bray to pursue that kind of conduct to which he was already so er however must be faced; and Mr Hilary wrote, as my attorney, to state the circumstances above recited A week elapsed before he received an answer: but at the end of that time his lordshi+p's attorney replied, that personal security for so large a sum could not be accepted: iven: and that I was required immediately to pay as due, to the estate and heirs of the late Mr Evelyn