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Words of dark import gave suspicion birth.—POTTER.
Luce. Is the wind there?
That makes for me.
Isab. Come, I forget a business.
Wit without Money.
LORD VARGRAVE'S travelling-carriage was at his door, and he himself wasputting on his greatcoat in his library, when Lord Saxingham entered.
"What! you are going into the country?"
"Yes; I wrote you word,—to see Lisle Court."
"Ay, true; I had forgot. Somehow or other my memory is not so good as itwas. But, let me see, Lisle Court is in ——-shire. Why, you will passwithin ten miles of C——-."
"C——-! Shall I? I am not much versed in the geography ofEngland,—never learned it at school. As for Poland, Kamschatka, Mexico,Madagascar, or any other place as to which knowledge would be useful, Ihave every inch of the way at my finger's end. But a propos of C——-,it is the town in which my late uncle made his fortune."
"Ah, so it is. I recollect you were to have stood for C——-, but gaveit up to Staunch; very handsome in you. Have you any interest therestill?"
"I think my ward has some tenants,—a street or two,—one called RichardStreet, and the other Templeton Place. I had intended some weeks ago tohave gone down there, and seen what interest was still left to ourfamily; but Staunch himself told me that C——- was a sure card."
"So he thought; but he has been with me this morning in great alarm: henow thinks he shall be thrown out. A Mr. Winsley, who has a great dealof interest there, and was a supporter of his, hangs back on account ofthe ——- question. This is unlucky, as Staunch is quite with us; andif he were to rat now it would be most unfortunate."
"Winsley! Winsley!—my poor uncle's right-hand man. A greatbrewer,—always chairman of the Templeton Committee. I know the name,though I never saw the man."
"If you could take C——- in your way?"
"To be sure. Staunch must not be lost. We cannot throw away a singlevote, much more one of such weight,—eighteen stone at the least! I'llstop at C——- on pretence of seeing after my ward's houses, and have aquiet conference with Mr. Winsley. Hem! Peers must not interfere inelections, eh? Well, good-by: take care of yourself. I shall be back ina week, I hope,—perhaps less."
In a minute more Lord Vargrave and Mr. George Frederick Augustus Howard,a slim young gentleman of high birth and connections, but who, having, asa portionless cadet, his own way to make in the world, condescended to behis lordship's private secretary, were rattling over the streets thefirst stage to C——-.
It was late at night when Lord Vargrave arrived at the head inn of thatgrave and respectable cathedral city, in which once Richard Templeton,Esq.,—saint, banker, and politician,—had exercised his dictatorialsway. "Sic transit gloria mundi!" As he warmed his hands by the fire inthe large wainscoted apartment into which he was shown, his eye met afull length engraving of his uncle, with a roll of papers in hishand,—meant for a parliamentary bill for the turnpike trusts in theneighbourhood of C——-. Th