HORSELEECHES.
The honour of representing the borough of Percycross in Parliament
was very great, and Sir Thomas, no doubt, did enjoy it after a
fashion; but it was by no means an unalloyed pleasure. While he
was still in bed with his broken arm at the Percy Standard, many
applications for money had been made to him. This man wanted a
sovereign, that man a five-pound-note, and some poor starving wretch
a half-a-crown; and they all came to him with notes from Trigger,
or messages from Spicer or Spiveycomb, to the effect that as the
election was now over, the money ought to be given. The landlord of
the Percy Standard was on such occasions very hard upon him. "It
really will do good, Sir Thomas." "It is wanted, Sir Thomas." "It
will make a good feeling in the town, Sir Thomas, and we don't know
how soon we may have to go to work again." Sir Thomas was too weak in
health to refuse. He gave the sovereigns, the five-pound-notes, and
the half-crowns, and hurried back home as quickly as he was able.
But things were almost worse with him at home than at Percycross.
The real horseleeches felt that they could hardly get a good hold
of him while he was lying at the Percycross inn. Attacks by letter
were, they well knew, more fatal than those made personally, and they
waited. The first that came was from Mr. Pabsby. Mr. Pabsby had at
last seen his way clear, and had voted for Underwood and Westmacott,
absolutely throwing away his vote as far as the cause was concerned.
But Mr. Pabsby had quarrelled with Griffenbottom, who once, when
pressed hard for some favours, had answered the reverend gentleman
somewhat roughly. "You may go and be ----," said Mr. Griffenbottom
in his wrath, "and tell everybody in Percycross that I said so."
Mr. Pabsby had smiled, had gone away, and had now voted for Mr.
Westmacott. Mr. Pabsby was indeed a horseleech of the severest
kind. There had been some outward show of reconciliation between
Griffenbottom and Pabsby; but Pabsby had at last voted for Underwood
and Westmacott. Sir Thomas had not been home two days before he
received a letter from Mr. Pabsby. "It had been with infinite
satisfaction,"--so Mr. Pabsby now said,--"that he had at length seen
his way clearly, and found himself able to support his friend Sir
Thomas. And he believed that he might take upon himself to say that
when he once had seen his way clearly, he had put his shoulder to the
wheel gallantly." In fact, it was to be inferred from the contents of
Mr. Pabsby's letter that Sir Thomas's return had been due altogether
to Mr. Pabsby's flock, who had, so said Mr. Pabsby, been guided in
the matter altogether by his advice. Then he sent a list of his
"hearers," who had voted for Sir Thomas. From this the slight
change of subject needed to bring him to the new chapel which
he was building, and his desire that Sir Thomas should head the
subscription-list in so good a cause, was easy enough. It might be
difficult to say in what Mr. Pabsby's strength lay, but it certainly
was the case that the letter was so written as to defy neglect and
almost to defy refusal. Such is the power of horseleeches. Sir Thomas
sent Mr. Pabsby a cheque for twenty pounds, and received Mr. Pabsby's
acknowledgment, thanking him for his "first" subscription. The
thanks were not very cordial, and it was evident that Mr. Pabsby had
expected a good deal more than twenty pounds in return for all that
he had done.
Mr. Pabsby was simply the first. Before Christmas had come, it seemed
to Sir Thomas that there was not a place of divine worship in the
whole of Percycross that was not falling to the ground in ruins. He
had not observed it when he was there, but now it appeared that funds
were wanted for almost every such edifice in the borough. And the
schools were in a most destitute condition. He was informed that the
sitting member had always subscribed to all the schools, and that if
he did not continue such subscription the children would literally be
robbed of their education. One gentleman, whose name he did not even
remember to have heard, simply suggested to him that he would, as
a matter of course, continue to give "the £50" towards the general
Christmas collection on behalf of the old women of the borough. The
sitting members had given it time out of mind. Mr. Roodylands had a
political project of his own, which in fact, if carried out, would
amount to a prohibition on the import of French boots, and suggested
that Sir Thomas should bring in a bill to that effect on the meeting
of Parliament. If Sir Thomas would not object to the trouble of
visiting Amiens, Lille, Beauvais, and three or four other French
towns which Mr. Roodylands mentioned, he would be able to ascertain
how much injury had been done to Percycross by the Cobden treaty.
Mr. Spiveycomb had his own ideas about Italian rags,--Mr. Spiveycomb
being in the paper line,--and wrote a very long letter to Sir Thomas,
praying the member to make himself master of a subject so vitally
important to the borough which he represented. Mr. Spicer also
communicated to him the astounding fact that some high official
connected with the army was undoubtedly misbehaving himself in regard
to mustard for the troops. The mustard contracts were not open as
they should be open. The mustard was all supplied by a London house,
and Mr. Spicer was very anxious that Sir Thomas should move for a
committee to inquire of the members of that London firm as to the
manner in which the contracts were obtained by them. Mr. Spicer was
disposed to think that this was the most important matter that would
be brought forward in the next session of Parliament.
Mr. Pabsby had got his cheque before the other applications were
received; but when they came in shoals, Sir Thomas thought that it
might be well to refer them to Mr. Trigger for advice. Sir Thomas had
not loved Griffenbottom during the election, and was not inclined to
ask his colleague for counsel. Griffenbottom had obtained a name for
liberality in Percycross, and had shown symptoms,--so thought Sir
Thomas,--of an intention to use his reputation as a means of throwing
off further burdens from his own shoulders. "I have spent a treasure
in the borough. Let my colleague begin now." Words spoken by Mr.
Griffenbottom in that strain had been repeated to Sir Thomas; and,
after many such words, Sir Thomas could not go to Mr. Griffenbottom
for advice as to what he should give, or refuse to give. He doubted
whether better reliance could be placed on Mr. Trigger;--but to
some one he must go for direction. Were he once to let it be known
in Percycross that demands made would be satisfied, he might sign
cheques to the extent of his whole fortune, during his first session.
He did write to Mr. Trigger, enclosing the various Percycross
applications; and Mr. Trigger duly replied to him. Mr. Trigger
regretted that money had been given to Mr. Pabsby. Mr. Pabsby had
been of no use, and could be of no use. Mr. Griffenbottom, who knew
the borough better than any one else, had understood this well when
on one occasion he had been "a little short" with Mr. Pabsby. Sir
Thomas ought not to have sent that cheque to Mr. Pabsby. The sending
it would do infinite harm, and cause dissensions in the borough,
which might require a considerable expenditure to set right. As to
the other clerical demands, it seemed to Sir Thomas that Mr. Trigger
was of opinion that they should all be gratified. He had, in fact,
sent his money to the only person in Percycross who ought not to have
received money. The £50 for the old women was a matter of course,
and would not be begrudged, as it was the only payment which was
absolutely annual. In regard to the schools, Sir Thomas could do
what he pleased; but the sitting members had always been liberal to
the schools. Schools were things to which sitting members were, no
doubt, expected to subscribe. As to the question of French boots, Mr.
Trigger thought that there was something in it, and said that if Sir
Thomas could devote his Christmas holidays to getting up the subject
in Lille and Amiens, it would have a good effect in the borough, and
show that he was in earnest. This might be the more desirable, as
there was no knowing as yet what might be done about the petition.
There no doubt was a strong feeling in the borough as to the Cobden
treaty, and Sir Thomas would probably feel it to be his duty to get
the question up. In regard to the mustard, Mr. Trigger suggested that
though there was probably nothing in it, it might be as well to ask
the Secretary at War a question or two on the subject. Mr. Spicer
was, no doubt, a moving man in Percycross. Sir Thomas could at
any rate promise that he would ask such questions, as Mr. Spicer
certainly had friends who might be conducive to the withdrawal
of the petition. Sir Thomas could at any rate put himself into
correspondence with the War Office. Mr. Trigger also thought that
Sir Thomas might judiciously study the subject of Italian rags,
in reference to the great paper trade of the country. No doubt
the manufacture of paper was a growing business at Percycross. Mr.
Trigger returned all the applications, and ended his letter by
hinting that the cheques might as well be sent at once. Mr. Trigger
thought that "a little money about the borough," would do good at the
present moment.
It need hardly be said that this view of things was not pleasant to
the sitting member, who was still confined to his house at Fulham
by an arm broken in the cause. Sir Thomas had at once sent the £50
towards the Christmas festivities for the poor of the borough, and
had declared his purpose of considering the other matters. Then
had come a further letter from Mr. Trigger, announcing his journey
to London, and Mr. Trigger and Sir Thomas had their first meeting
after the election, immediately upon Mr. Neefit's departure from the
chambers. "And is it to be?" asked Stemm, as soon as he had closed
the door behind Mr. Trigger's back.
"Is what to be?"
"Them petitions, Sir Thomas? Petitions costs a deal of money they
tell me, Sir Thomas." Sir Thomas winced. "I suppose you must go on
now as your hand is in," continued Stemm.
"I don't know that at all," said Sir Thomas.
"You'll find as you must. There ain't no way out of it;--not now as
you are the sitting member."
"I am not going to ruin myself, Stemm, for the sake of a seat in
Parliament."
"I don't know how that may be, Sir Thomas. I hope not, Sir Thomas.
But I don't see how you're not to go on now, Sir Thomas. If it wasn't
for petitions, one wouldn't mind."
"There must be petitions, of course; and if there be good cause for
them, they should succeed."
"No doubt, Sir Thomas. They say the bribery at Percycross was
tremenjous;--but I suppose it was on the other side."
"If it was on our side, Stemm, it was not so with my knowledge. I did
all I could to prevent it. I spoke against it whenever I opened my
mouth. I would not have given a shilling for a single vote, though it
would have got me the election."
"But they were not all that way, Sir Thomas;--was they?"
"How can I tell? No;--I know that they were not. I fear they were
not. I cannot say that money was given, but I fear it."
"You must go on now, Sir Thomas, any way," said Stemm with a groan
that was not reassuring.
"I wish I had never heard the name of Percycross," said Sir Thomas.
"I dare say," replied Stemm.
"I went there determined to keep my hands clean."
"When one puts one's hand into other people's business, they won't
come out clean," said the judicious Stemm. "But you must go on with
it now, any way, Sir Thomas."
"I don't know what I shall do," said the unhappy member.
On the next morning there came another application from Percycross.
The postmaster in that town had died suddenly, and the competitors
for the situation, which was worth about £150 per annum, were very
numerous. There was a certain Mr. O'Blather, only known in Percycross
as cousin to one Mrs. Givantake, the wife of a liberal solicitor in
the borough. Of Mr. O'Blather the worst that could be said was that
at the age of forty he had no income on which to support himself.
Mrs. Givantake was attached to her cousin, and Mr. Givantake had
become sensible of a burden. That the vacant office was just
the thing for him appeared at a glance to all his friends. Mrs.
Givantake, in her energy on the subject, expressed an opinion that
the whole Cabinet should be impeached if the just claims of Mr.
O'Blather were not conceded. But it was felt that the justice of
the claims would not prevail without personal interest. The liberal
party was in power, and application, hot and instant, was made to Mr.
Westmacott. Mr. Westmacott was happy enough to have his answer ready.
The Treasury had nothing to do with the matter. It was a Post Office
concern; and he, simply as the late liberal member, and last liberal
candidate for the borough, was not entitled to intrude, even in a
matter of patronage, upon the Postmaster-General, with whom he was
not acquainted. But Mr. Westmacott was malicious as well as secure.
He added a postscript to his letter, in which he said that he
believed the present sitting member, Sir Thomas Underwood, was
intimately acquainted with the noble lord who presided at the Post
Office. There were various interests at Percycross moved, brought
together, weighed against each other, and balanced to a grain,
and finally dovetailed. If Sir Thomas Underwood would prevail on
Lord ---- to appoint Mr. O'Blather to the vacant office, then all
the Givantake influence at Percycross should be used towards the
withdrawal of the petition. Such was the communication now made to
Sir Thomas by a gentleman who signed his name as Peter Piper, and who
professed himself authorised to act on behalf of Mr. Givantake. Sir
Thomas's answer was as follows;--
Southampton Buildings, December 31, 186--.
SIR,--
I can have nothing to do with Mr. O'Blather and the
post-office at Percycross.
I am,
Your obedient servant,
THOMAS UNDERWOOD.
MR. PETER PIPER, Post-office, Percycross.
Christmas had passed,--and had passed uncomfortably enough at Popham
Villa, in which retreat neither of the three young ladies was at
present very happy,--when Sir Thomas was invited by Mr. Trigger
to take further steps with reference to the petitions. It was
thought necessary that there should be a meeting in the conservative
interest, and it was suggested that this meeting should take place in
Sir Thomas's chambers. Mr. Trigger in making the proposition seemed
to imply that a great favour was thereby conferred on Sir Thomas,--as
that country is supposed to be most honoured which is selected
as the meeting-ground for plenipotentiaries when some important
international point requires to be settled. Sir Thomas could not see
the arrangement in that light, and would have shuffled out of the
honour had it been possible. But it was not possible. At this period
of the year Mr. Griffenbottom had no house in town, and Mr. Trigger
explained that it was inexpedient that such meetings should take
place at hotels. There was no place so fitting as a lawyer's
chambers. Sir Thomas, who regarded as a desecration the entrance
of one such man as Mr. Trigger into his private room, and who
was particularly anxious not to fall into any intimacy with Mr.
Griffenbottom, was driven to consent, and at one o'clock on the
29th, Stemm was forced to admit the deputation. The deputation from
Percycross consisted of Mr. Trigger, Mr. Spicer, and Mr. Pile; but
with them came also the senior sitting member. At first they were all
very grave, and Sir Thomas asked them, indiscreetly, whether they
would take a glass of sherry. Pile and Spicer immediately acceded
to this proposition, and sherry was perhaps efficacious in bringing
about speedy conversation.
"Well, Underwood," said Mr. Griffenbottom, "it seems that after all
we are to have these d---- petitions." Sir Thomas lifted his left
foot on his right knee, and nursed his leg,--but said nothing. On one
point he was resolved;--nothing on earth should induce him to call
his colleague Griffenbottom.
"No doubt about that, Mr. Griffenbottom," said Mr. Pile, "--that is,
unless we can make Westmacott right. T'other chap wouldn't be of much
account."
"Mr. Pile, you're going a little too fast," said Trigger.
"No, I ain't," said Mr. Pile. But for the moment he allowed himself
to be silenced.
"We don't like the looks of it at Percycross," said Mr. Spicer.
"And why don't we like the looks of it?" asked Sir Thomas.
"I don't know what your idea of pleasure is," said Mr. Griffenbottom,
"but I don't take delight in spending money for nothing. I have spent
enough, I can tell you, and I don't mean to spend much more. My seat
was as safe as the Church."
"But they have petitioned against that as well as mine," said Sir
Thomas.
"Yes;--they have. And now what's to be done?"
"I don't know whether Sir Thomas is willing to take the whole cost of
the defence upon himself," said Mr. Trigger, pouring out for himself
a second glass of sherry.
"No, I am not," said Sir Thomas. Whereupon there was a pause, during
which Pile and Spicer also took second glasses of sherry. "Why should
I pay the cost of defending Mr. Griffenbottom's seat?"
"Why should I pay it?" said Griffenbottom. "My seat was safe enough.
The fact is, if money was paid,--as to which I know nothing,--it was
paid to get the second seat. Everybody knows that. Why should any
one have paid money for me? I was safe. I never have any difficulty;
everybody knows that. I could come in for Percycross twenty times
running, without buying a vote. Isn't that true, Trigger?"
"I believe you could, Mr. Griffenbottom."
"Of course I could. Look here, Underwood--"
"I beg your pardon for one moment, Mr. Griffenbottom," said Sir
Thomas. "Will you tell me, Mr. Trigger, whether votes were bought
on my behalf?" Mr. Trigger smiled, and put his head on one side,
but made no answer. "I wish I might be allowed to hear the truth,"
continued Sir Thomas. Whereupon Spicer grinned, and Mr. Pile looked
as though he were about to be sick. How was it that a set of
gentlemen, who generally knew their business so well as did the
political leaders at Percycross, had got themselves into the same
boat with a man silly enough to ask such a question as that?
"I shan't spend money," said Griffenbottom; "it's out of the
question. They can't touch me. I've spent my money, and got my
article. If others want the article, they must spend theirs."
Mr. Trigger thought it might be as well to change the subject for a
moment, or, at any rate, to pass on to another clause of the same
bill. "I was very sorry, Sir Thomas," said he, "that you wrote that
letter to Mr. Givantake."
"I wrote no letter to Mr. Givantake. A man named Piper addressed me."
"Well, well, well; that's the same thing. It was Givantake, though of
course he isn't going to sign his name to everything. If you could
just have written a line to your friend the Postmaster-General, I
really think we could have squared it all."
"I wouldn't have made a request so improper for all Percycross," said
Sir Thomas.
"Patronage is open to everybody," suggested Mr. Griffenbottom.
"Those sort of favours are asked every day," said Trigger.
"We live in a free country," said Spicer.
"Givantake is a d---- scoundrel all the same," said Mr. Pile; "and
as for his wife's Irish cousin, I should be very sorry to leave my
letters in his hands."
"It wouldn't have come off, Mr. Pile," said Trigger, "but the request
might have been made. If Sir Thomas will allow me to say as much, the
request ought to have been made."
"I will allow nothing of the kind, Mr. Trigger," said Sir Thomas,
with an assumption of personal dignity which caused everyone in the
room to alter his position in his chair. "I understand these things
are given by merit." Mr. Trigger smiled, and Mr. Griffenbottom
laughed outright. "At any rate, they ought to be, and in this office
I believe they are." Mr. Griffenbottom, who had had the bestowal of
some local patronage, laughed again.
"The thing is over now, at any rate," said Mr. Trigger.
"I saw Givantake yesterday," said Spicer. "He won't stir a finger
now."
"He never would have stirred a finger," said Mr. Pile; "and if he'd
stirred both his fistesses, he wouldn't have done a ha'porth of good.
Givantake, indeed! He be blowed!" There was a species of honesty
about Mr. Pile which almost endeared him to Sir Thomas.
"Something must be settled," said Trigger.
"I thought you'd got a proposition to make," said Spicer.
"Well, Sir Thomas," began Mr. Trigger, as it were girding his loins
for the task before him, "we think that your seat wouldn't stand
the brunt. We've been putting two and two together and that's what
we think." A very black cloud came over the brow of Sir Thomas
Underwood, but at the moment he said nothing. "Of course it can be
defended. If you choose to fight the battle you can defend it. It
will cost about £1,500,--or perhaps a little more. That is, the two
sides, for both will have to be paid." Mr. Trigger paused again, but
still Sir Thomas said not a word. "Mr. Griffenbottom thinks that he
should not be asked to take any part of this cost."
"Not a shilling," said Mr. Griffenbottom.
"Well," continued Mr. Trigger, "that being the case, of course we
have got to see what will be our best plan of action. I suppose, Sir
Thomas, you are not altogether indifferent about the money."
"By no means," said Sir Thomas.
"I don't know who is. Money is money all the world over."
"You may say that," put in Mr. Spicer.
"Just let me go on for a moment, Mr. Spicer, till I make this thing
clear to Sir Thomas. That's how we stand at present. It will cost
us,--that is to say you,--about £1,500, and we should do no good. I
really don't think we should do any good. Here are these judges, and
you know that new brooms sweep clean. I suppose we may allow that
there was a little money spent somewhere. They do say now that a
glass of beer would lose a seat."
Sir Thomas could not but remember all that he had said to prevent
there being even a glass of beer, and the way in which he had
been treated by all the party in that matter, because he had so
endeavoured. But it was useless to refer to all that at the present
moment. "It seems to me," he said, "that if one seat be vacated, both
must be vacated."
"It doesn't follow at all," said Mr. Griffenbottom.
"Allow me just for a moment longer," continued Trigger, who rose from
his seat as he came to the real gist of his speech. "A proposition
has been made to us, Sir Thomas, and I am able to say that it is
one which may be trusted. Of course our chief anxiety is for the
party. You feel that, Sir Thomas, of course." Sir Thomas would not
condescend to make any reply to this. "Now the Liberals will be
content with one seat. If we go on it will lead to disfranchising the
borough, and we none of us want that. It would be no satisfaction
to you, Sir Thomas, to be the means of robbing the borough of its
privilege after all that the borough has done for you."
"Go on, Mr. Trigger," said Sir Thomas.
"The Liberals only want one seat. If you'll undertake to accept
the Hundreds, the petition will be withdrawn, and Mr. Westmacott
will come forward again. In that case we shouldn't oppose. Now, Sir
Thomas, you know what the borough thinks will be the best course for
all of us to pursue."
Sir Thomas did know. We may say that he had known for some minutes
past. He had perceived what was coming, and various recollections had
floated across his mind. He especially remembered that £50 for the
poor old women which Mr. Trigger only a week since had recommended
that he should give,--and he remembered also that he had given it.
He recollected the sum which he had already paid for his election
expenses, as to which Mr. Trigger had been very careful to get
the money before this new proposition was made. He remembered Mr.
Pabsby and his cheque for £20. He remembered his broken arm, and
that fortnight of labour and infinite vexation in the borough. He
remembered all his hopes, and his girls' triumph. But he remembered
also that he had told himself a dozen times since his return that he
wished that he might rid himself altogether of Percycross and the
seat in Parliament. Now a proposition that would have this effect was
made to him.
"Well, Sir Thomas, what do you think of it?" asked Mr. Trigger.
Sir Thomas required the passing of a few moments that he might think
of it, and yet there was a feeling strong at his heart telling him
that it behoved him not even to seem to doubt. He was a man not
deficient in spirit when roused as he now was roused. He knew that he
was being ill used. From the first moment of his entering Percycross
he had felt that the place was not fit for him, that it required a
method of canvassing of which he was not only ignorant, but desirous
to remain ignorant,--that at Percycross he would only be a catspaw in
the hands of other men. He knew that he could not safely get into the
same boat with Mr. Griffenbottom, or trust himself to the steering of
such a coxswain as Mr. Trigger. He had found that there could be no
sympathy between himself and any one of those who constituted his own
party in the borough. And yet he had persevered. He had persevered
because in such matters it is so difficult to choose the moment in
which to recede. He had persevered,--and had attained a measure of
success. As far as had been possible for him to do so, he had fought
his battle with clean hands, and now he was member of Parliament for
Percycross. Let what end there might come to this petition,--even
though his seat should be taken from him,--he could be subjected to
no personal disgrace. He could himself give evidence, the truth of
which no judge in the land would doubt, as to the purity of his own
intentions, and as to the struggle to be pure which he had made. And
now they asked him to give way in order that Mr. Griffenbottom might
keep his seat!
He felt that he and poor Moggs had been fools together. At this
moment there came upon him a reflection that such men as he and Moggs
were unable to open their mouths in such a borough as Percycross
without having their teeth picked out of their jaws. He remembered
well poor Moggs's legend, "Moggs, Purity, and the Rights of Labour;"
and he remembered thinking at the time that neither Moggs nor he
should have come to Percycross. And now he was told of all that the
borough had done for him, and was requested to show his gratitude by
giving up his seat,--in order that Griffenbottom might still be a
member of Parliament, and that Percycross might not be disfranchised!
Did he feel any gratitude to Percycross or any love to Mr.
Griffenbottom? In his heart he desired that Mr. Griffenbottom might
be made to retire into private life, and he knew that it would be
well that the borough should be disfranchised.
These horrid men that sat around him,--how he hated them! He could
get rid of them now, now and for ever, by acceding to the proposition
made to him. And he thought that in doing so he could speak a few
words which would be very agreeable to him in the speaking. And then
all that Mr. Trigger had said about the £1,500 had been doubtless
true. If he defended his seat money must be spent, and he did not
know how far he might be able to compel Mr. Griffenbottom to share
the expense. He was not so rich but what he was bound to think of the
money, for his children's sake. And he did believe Mr. Trigger, when
Mr. Trigger told him that the seat could not be saved.
Yet he could not bring himself to let these men have their way with
him. To have to confess that he had been their tool went so much
against the grain with him that anything seemed to him to be
preferable to that. The passage across his brain of all these
thoughts had not required many seconds, and his guests seemed to
acknowledge by their silence that some little space of time should be
allowed to him. Mr. Pile was leaning forward on his stick with his
eyes fixed upon Sir Thomas's face. Mr. Spicer was amusing himself
with a third glass of sherry. Mr. Griffenbottom had assumed a look of
absolute indifference, and was sitting with his eyes fixed upon the
ceiling. Mr. Trigger, with a pleasant smile on his face, was leaning
back in his chair with his hands in his trousers pockets. He had done
his disagreeable job of work, and upon the whole he thought that he
had done it well.
"I shall do nothing of the kind," said Sir Thomas at last.
"You'll be wrong, Sir Thomas," said Mr. Trigger.
"You'll disfranchise the borough," said Mr. Spicer.
"You'll not be able to keep your seat," said Mr. Trigger.
"And there'll be all the money to pay," said Mr. Spicer.
"Sir Thomas don't mind that," said Mr. Griffenbottom.
"As for paying the money, I do mind it very much," said Sir Thomas.
"As for disfranchising the borough, I cannot say that I regard it in
the least. As to your seat, Mr. Griffenbottom--"
"My seat is quite safe," said the senior member.
"As to your seat, which I am well aware must be jeopardised if mine
be in jeopardy, it would have been matter of more regret to me, had
I experienced from you any similar sympathy for myself. As it is, it
seems that each of us is to do the best he can for himself, and I
shall do the best I can for myself. Good morning."
"What then do you mean to do?" said Mr. Trigger.
"On that matter I shall prefer to converse with my friends."
"You mean," said Mr. Trigger, "that you will put it into other
hands."
"You have made a proposition to me, Mr. Trigger, and I have given you
my answer. I have nothing else to say. What steps I may take I do not
even know at present."
"You will let us hear from you," said Mr. Trigger.
"I cannot say that I will."
"This comes of bringing a gentleman learned in the law down into the
borough," said Mr. Griffenbottom.
"Gentlemen, I must ask you to leave me," said Sir Thomas, rising from
his chair and ringing the bell.
"Look here, Sir Thomas Underwood," said Mr. Griffenbottom. "This to
me is a very important matter."
"And to me also," said Sir Thomas.
"I do not know anything about that. Like a good many others, you may
like to have a seat in Parliament, and may like to get it without any
trouble and without any money. I have sat for Percycross for many
years, and have spent a treasure, and have worked myself off my legs.
I don't know that I care much for anything except for keeping my
place in the House. The House is everything to me,--meat and drink;
employment and recreation; and I can tell you I'm not going to lose
my seat if I can help it. You came in for the second chance, Sir
Thomas; and a very good second chance it was if you'd just have
allowed others who knew what they were about to manage matters for
you. That chance is over now, and according to all rules that ever I
heard of in such matters, you ought to surrender. Isn't that so, Mr.
Trigger?"
"Certainly, Mr. Griffenbottom, according to my ideas," said Mr.
Trigger.
"That's about it," said Mr. Spicer.
Sir Thomas was still standing. Indeed they were all standing now.
"Mr. Griffenbottom," he said, "I have nothing further that I can
say at the present moment. To the offer made to me by Mr. Trigger I
at present positively decline to accede. I look upon that offer as
unfriendly, and can therefore only wish you a good morning."
"Unfriendly," said Mr. Griffenbottom with a sneer.
"Good-bye, Sir Thomas," said Mr. Pile, putting out his hand. Sir
Thomas shook hands with Mr. Pile cordially. "It's my opinion that
he's right," said Mr. Pile. "I don't like his notions, but I do like
his pluck. Good-bye, Sir Thomas." Then Mr. Pile led the way out of
the room, and the others followed him.
"Oh!" said Stemm, as soon as he had shut the door behind their backs.
"That's a deputation from Percycross, is it, Sir Thomas? You were
saying as how you didn't quite approve of the Percycrossians." To
this, however, Sir Thomas vouchsafed no reply.