Part 58 (2/2)
”That is obvious; it would only disturb him. I did not preface it by a stipulation of confidence because that is idle. Of course you will keep the secret; it is your interest; it is a great possession. I know very well you will be most jealous of sharing it. I know it is as safe with you as with myself.”
And with these words Hatton wished him a hearty farewell and withdrew.
”He is right,” thought Morley; ”he knows human nature well. The secret is safe. I will not breathe it to Gerard. I will treasure it up. It is knowledge; it is power: great knowledge, great power. And what shall I do with it? Time will teach me.”
END OF THE FIFTH BOOK
BOOK VI
Book 6 Chapter 1
”Another week,” exclaimed a gentleman in Downing Street on the 5th of August, 1842, ”and we shall be prorogued. You can surely keep the country quiet for another week.”
”I cannot answer for the public peace for another four-and-twenty hours,” replied his companion.
”This business at Manchester must be stopped at once; you have a good force there?”
”Manchester is nothing; these are movements merely to distract. The serious work is not now to be apprehended in the cotton towns. The state of Staffords.h.i.+re and Warwicks.h.i.+re is infinitely more menacing. Ches.h.i.+re and Yorks.h.i.+re alarm me. The accounts from Scotland are as bad as can be.
And though I think the sufferings of '39 will keep Birmingham and the Welch collieries in check, we cannot venture to move any of our force from those districts.”
”You must summon a council for four o'clock. I have some deputations to receive which I will throw over; but to Windsor I must go. Nothing has yet occurred to render any notice of the state of the country necessary in the speech from the Throne.”
”Not yet,” said his companion; ”but what will to-morrow bring forth?”
”After all it is only a turn-out. I cannot recast her Majesty's speech and bring in rebellion and closed mills, instead of loyalty and a good harvest.”
”It would be a bore. Well, we will see to-morrow;” and the colleague left the room.
”And now for these deputations,” said the gentleman in Downing Street, ”of all things in the world I dislike a deputation. I do not care how much I labour in the Closet or the house; that's real work; the machine is advanced. But receiving a deputation is like sham marching: an immense dust and no progress. To listen to their views! As if I did not know what their views were before they stated them! And to put on a countenance of respectful candour while they are developing their exploded or their impracticable systems. Were it not that at a practised crisis, I permit them to see conviction slowly stealing over my conscience, I believe the fellows would never stop. I cannot really receive these deputations. I must leave them to Hoaxem,” and the gentleman in Downing Street rang his bell.
”Well, Mr Hoaxem,” resumed the gentleman in Downing Street as that faithful functionary entered, ”there are some deputations I understand, to-day. You must receive them, as I am going to Windsor. What are they?”
”There are only two, sir, of moment. The rest I could easily manage.”
”And these two?”
”In the first place, there is our friend Colonel Bosky, the members for the county of Calfs.h.i.+re, and a deputation of tenant farmers.”
”Pah!”
”These must be attended to. The members have made a strong representation to me that they really cannot any longer vote with government unless the Treasury a.s.sists them in satisfying their const.i.tuents.”
<script>