doorof
the
music
room
slowly
opened
.
It
was
Sidonia
.
His
hat
was
in
his
hand
;
he
was
evidently
on
the
point
of
departure
.
"
Those
sounds
assured
me
,
"
he
said
very
calmly
,
but
kindly
,
as
he
advanced
,
"
that
I
might
find
you
here
,
on
which
I
scarcely
counted
,
at
so
early
an
hour
.
"
"
You
are
going
then
?
"
said
the
Princess
.
"
My
carriage
is
at
the
door
;
the
Marquess
has
delayed
me
;
I
must
be
in
London
to-night
.
I
conclude
more
abruptly
than
I
could
have
wished
one
of
the
most
agreeable
visits
I
ever
made
;
and
I
hope
you
will
permit
me
to
express
to
you
how
much
I
am
indebted
to
you
for
a
society
which
those
should
deem
themselves
fortunate
,
who
can
more
frequently
enjoy
.
"
He
held
forth
his
hand
;
she
extended
hers
,
cold
as
marble
,
which
he
bent
over
,
but
did
not
press
to
his
lips
.
"
Lord
Monmouth
talks
of
remaining
here
some
time
,
"
he
observed
;
"
but
I
suppose
next
year
,
if
not
this
,
we
shall
all
meet
in
some
city
of
the
earth
.
"
Lucretia
bowed
,
and
Sidonia
with
a
graceful
reverence
withdrew
.
The
Princess
Lucretia
stood
for
some
moments
motionless
;
a
sound
attracted
her
to
the
window
;
she
perceived
the
equipage
of
Sidonia
whirling
along
the
winding
roads
of
the
park
.
She
watched
it
till
it
disappeared
;
then
quitting
the
window
,
she
threw
herself
into
a
chair
and
buried
her
face
in
her
shawl
.
END
OF
BOOK
IV
.
BOOK
V.
CHAPTER
I
.
An
University
life
did
not
bring
to
Coningsby
that
feeling
of
emancipation
usually
experienced
by
freshmen
.
The
contrast
between
school
and
college
life
is
perhaps
under
any
circumstances
less
striking
to
the
Etonian
than
to
others
:
he
has
been
prepared
for
becoming
his
own
master
by
the
liberty
so
wisely
entrusted
to
him
in
his
boyhood
,
and
which
is
in
general
so
discreetly
exercised
.
But
there
were
also
other
reasons
why
Coningsby
should
have
been
less
impressed
with
the
novelty
of
his
life
,
and
have
encountered
less
temptations
than
commonly
are
met
with
in
the
new
existence
which
an
University
opens
to
youth
.
In
the
interval
,
which
had
elapsed
between
quitting
Eton
and
going
to
Cambridge
,
brief
as
the
period
may
comparatively
appear
,
Coningsby
had
seen
much
of
the
world
.
Three
or
four
months
indeed
may
not
seem
,
at
the
first
blush
,
a
course
of
time
which
can
very
materially
influence
the
formation
of
character
;
but
time
must
not
be
counted
by
calendars
,
but
by
sensations
,
by
thought
.
Coningsby
had
felt
a
good
deal
,
reflected
more
.
He
had
encountered
a
great
number
of
human
beings
,
offering
a
vast
variety
of
character
for
his
observation
.
It
was
not
merely
manners
,
but
even
the
intellectual
and
moral
development
of
the
human
mind
,
which
in
a
great
degree
unconsciously
to
himself
had
been
submitted
to
his
study
and
his
scrutiny
.
New
trains
of
ideas
had
been
opened
to
him
;
his
mind
was
teeming
with
suggestions
.
The
horizon
of
his
intelligence
had
insensibly
expanded
.
He
perceived
that
there
were
other
opinions
in
the
world
besides
those
to
which
he
had
been
habituated
.
The
depths
of
his
intellect
had
been
stirred
.
He
was
a
wiser
man
.
He
distinguished
three
individuals
whose
acquaintance
had
greatly
influenced
his
mind
;
Eustace
Lyle
,
the
elder
Millbank
,
above
all
,
Sidonia
.
He
curiously
meditated
over
the
fact
,
that
three
English
subjects
,
one
of
them
a
principal
landed
proprietor
,
another
one
of
the
most
eminent
manufacturers
,
and
the
third
the
greatest
capitalist
in
the
kingdom
,
all
of
them
men
of
great
intelligence
,
and
doubtless
of
a
high
probity
and
conscience
,
were
in
their
hearts
,
disaffected
with
the
political
constitution
of
the
country
.
Yet
unquestionably
these
were
the
men
among
whom
we
ought
to
seek
for
some
of
our
first
citizens
.
What
then
was
this
repulsive
quality
in
those
institutions
which
we
persisted
in
calling
national
,
and
which
once
were
so
?
Here
was
a
great
question
.
There
was
another
reason
also
,
why
Coningsby
should
feel
a
little
fastidious
among
his
new
habits
,
and
without
being
aware
of
it
,
a
little
depressed
.
For
three
or
four
months
,
and
for
the
first
time
in
his
life
,
he
had
passed
his
time
in
the
continual
society
of
refined
and
charming
women
.
It
is
an
acquaintance
which
when
habitual
exercises
a
great
influence
over
the
tone
of
the
mind
,
even
if
it
does
not
produce
any
more
violent
effects
.
It
refines
the
taste
,
quickens
the
perception
,
and
gives
,
as
it
were
,
a
grace
and
flexibility
to
the
intellect
.
Coningsby
in
his
solitary
rooms
arranging
his
books
,
sighed
when
he
recalled
the
Lady
Everinghams
and
the
Lady
Theresas
;
the
gracious
Duchess
;
the
frank
,
good-tempered
Madame
Colonna
;
that
deeply
interesting
enigma
,
the
Princess
Lucretia
;
and
the
gentle
Flora
.
He
thought
with
disgust
of
the
impending
dissipation
of
an
University
,
which
could
only
be
an
exaggeration
of
their
coarse
frolics
at
school
.
It
seemed
rather
vapid
this
mighty
Cambridge
over
which
they
had
so
often
talked
in
the
playing
fields
of
Eton
with
such
anticipations
of
its
vast
and
absorbing
interest
.
And
those
University
honours
that
once
were
the
great
object
of
his
aspirations
,
they
did
not
figure
in
that
grandeur
with
which
they
once
haunted
his
imagination
.
What
Coningsby
determined
to
conquer
was
knowledge
.
He
had
watched
the
influence
of
Sidonia
in
society
with
an
eye
of
unceasing
vigilance
.
Coningsby
perceived
that
all
yielded
to
him
;
that
Lord
Monmouth
even
,
who
seemed
to
respect
none
,
gave
place
to
his
intelligence
;
appealed
to
him
,
listened
to
him
,
was
guided
by
him
.
What
was
the
secret
of
this
influence
?
Knowledge
.
On
all
subjects
his
views
were
prompt
and
clear
,
and
this
not
more
from
his
native
sagacity
and
reach
of
view
,
than
from
the
aggregate
of
facts
which
rose
to
guide
his
judgment
,
and
illustrate
his
meaning
from
all
countries
and
all
ages
instantly
at
his
command
.
The
friends
of
Coningsby
were
now
hourly
arriving
.
It
seemed
when
he
met
them
again
,
that
they
had
all
suddenly
become
men
since
they
had
separated
;
Buckhurst
especially
.
He
had
been
at
Paris
,
and
returned
with
his
mind
very
much
opened
,
and
trowsers
made
quite
in
a
new
style
.
All
his
thoughts
were
how
soon
he
could
contrive
to
get
back
again
;
and
he
told
them
endless
stories
of
actresses
and
dinners
at
fashionable
cafés
.
Vere
enjoyed
Cambridge
most
,
because
he
had
been
staying
with
his
family
since
he
quitted
Eton
.
Henry
Sydney
was
full
of
church
architecture
,
national
sports
,
restoration
of
the
order
of
the
Peasantry
,
and
was
to
maintain
a
constant
correspondence
on
these
and
similar
subjects
with
Eustace
Lyle
.
Finally
however
they
all
fell
into
a
very
fair
,
regular
,
routine
life
.
They
all
read
a
little
,
but
not
with
the
enthusiasm
which
they
had
once
projected
.
Buckhurst
drove
four-in-hand
,
and
they
all
of
them
sometimes
assisted
him
;
but
not
immoderately
.
Their
suppers
were
sometimes
gay
,
but
never
outrageous
;
and
among
all
of
them
,
the
school
friendship
was
maintained
unbroken
,
and
even
undisturbed
.
The
fame
of
Coningsby
had
preceded
him
at
Cambridge
.
No
man
ever
went
up
from
whom
more
was
expected
in
every
way
.
The
dons
awaited
a
sucking
member
for
the
University
,
the
undergraduates
were
prepared
to
welcome
a
new
Alcibiades
.
He
was
neither
:
neither
a
prig
nor
a
profligate
;
but
a
quiet
,
gentleman-like
,
yet
spirited
young
man
,
gracious
to
all
,
but
intimate
only
with
his
old
friends
,
and
giving
always
an
impression
in
his
general
tone
that
his
soul
was
not
absorbed
in
his
University
.
And
yet
perhaps
he
might
have
been
coddled
into
a
prig
,
or
flattered
into
a
profligate
,
had
it
not
been
for
the
intervening
experience
which
he
had
gained
between
his
school
and
college
life
.
That
had
visibly
impressed
upon
him
what
before
he
had
only
faintly
acquired
from
books
,
that
there
was
a
greater
and
more
real
world
awaiting
him
,
than
to
be
found
in
those
bowers
of
Academus
to
which
youth
is
apt
at
first
to
attribute
an
exaggerated
importance
.
A
world
of
action
and
passion
,
of
power
and
peril
;
a
world
for
which
a
great
preparation
was
indeed
necessary
,
severe
and
profound
,
but
not
altogether
such
an
one
as
was
now
offered
to
him
.
Yet
this
want
must
be
supplied
,
and
by
himself
.
Coningsby
had
already
acquirements
sufficiently
considerable
with
some
formal
application
to
ensure
him
at
all
times
his
degree
.
He
was
no
longer
engrossed
by
the
intention
he
once
proudly
entertained
of
trying
for
honours
,
and
he
chalked
out
for
himself
that
range
of
reading
,
which
,
digested
by
his
thought
,
should
furnish
him
in
some
degree
with
that
various
knowledge
of
the
history
of
man
to
which
he
aspired
.
No
,
we
must
not
for
a
moment
believe
that
accident
could
have
long
diverted
the
course
of
a
character
so
strong
.
The
same
desire
that
prevented
the
Castle
of
his
grandfather
from
proving
a
Castle
of
Indolence
to
him
,
that
saved
him
from
a
too
early
initiation
into
the
seductive
distractions
of
a
refined
and
luxurious
society
,
would
have
preserved
Coningsby
from
the
puerile
profligacy
of
a
college
life
,
or
from
being
that
idol
of
private
tutors
,
a
young
pedant
.
It
was
that
noble
ambition
,
the
highest
and
the
best
,
that
must
be
born
in
the
heart
and
organized
in
the
brain
,
which
will
not
let
a
man
be
content
unless
his
intellectual
power
is
recognised
by
his
race
,
and
desires
that
it
should
contribute
to
their
welfare
.
It
is
the
heroic
feeling
;
the
feeling
that
in
old
days
produced
demi-gods
;
without
which
no
State
is
safe
;
without
which
political
institutions
are
meat
without
salt
;
the
Crown
a
bauble
,
the
Church
an
establishment
,
Parliaments
debating
clubs
,
and
Civilization
itself
but
a
fitful
and
transient
dream
.
CHAPTER
II
.
Less
than
a
year
after
the
arrival
of
Coningsby
at
Cambridge
,
and
which
he
had
only
once
quitted
in
the
interval
,
and
that
to
pass
a
short
time
in
Berkshire
with
his
friend
Buckhurst
,
occurred
the
death
of
King
William
IV
.
This
event
necessarily
induced
a
dissolution
of
the
Parliament
elected
under
the
auspices
of
Sir
Robert
Peel
in
1834
,
and
after
the
publication
of
the
Tamworth
manifesto
.
The
death
of
the
King
was
a
great
blow
to
what
had
now
become
to
be
generally
styled
the
"
Conservative
Cause
.
"
It
was
quite
unexpected
;
within
a
fortnight
of
his
death
eminent
persons
still
believed
that
"
it
was
only
the
hay
fever
.
"
Had
his
Majesty
lived
until
after
the
then
impending
Registration
,
the
Whigs
would
have
been
again
dismissed
.
Nor
is
there
any
doubt
that
under
these
circumstances
the
"
Conservative
Cause
"
would
have
secured
for
the
new
ministers
a
Parliamentary
majority
.
What
would
have
been
the
consequences
to
the
country
if
the
four
years
of
Whig
rule
from
1837
to
1841
had
not
occurred
?
It
is
easier
to
decide
what
would
have
been
the
consequences
to
the
Whigs
.
Some
of
their
great
friends
might
have
lacked
blue
ribbons
and
Lord
Lieutenantcies
;
and
some
of
their
little
friends
comfortable
places
in
the
Customs
and
Excise
.
They
would
have
lost
undoubtedly
the
distributions
of
four
years
patronage
;
we
can
hardly
say
the
exercise
of
four
years
power
;
but
they
would
have
existed
at
this
moment
as
the
most
powerful
and
popular
opposition
that
ever
flourished
in
this
country
,
if
indeed
the
course
of
events
had
not
long
ere
this
carried
them
back
to
their
old
posts
in
a
proud
and
intelligible
position
.
The
Reform
Bill
did
not
do
more
injury
to
the
Tories
than
the
attempt
to
govern
this
country
without
a
decided
Parliamentary
majority
did
the
Whigs
.
The
greatest
of
all
evils
is
a
weak
government
.
They
cannot
carry
good
measures
,
they
are
forced
to
carry
bad
ones
.
The
twelve-hundred-a-yearers
were
in
despair
about
the
King
's
death
.
Their
loyal
souls
were
sorely
grieved
that
his
gracious
Majesty
had
not
outlived
the
registration
.
All
their
happy
inventions
about
"
hay-fever
,
"
circulated
in
confidence
and
sent
by
post
to
chairmen
of
conservative
associations
,
followed
by
a
royal
funeral
!
General
election
about
to
take
place
with
the
old
registration
;
government
boroughs
against
them
,
and
the
young
Queen
for
a
cry
.
What
a
cry
!
Youth
,
beauty
,
and
a
Queen
!
Taper
grew
pale
at
the
thought
.
What
could
they
possibly
get
up
to
countervail
it
?
Even
Church
and
Corn
Laws
together
,
would
not
do
;
and
then
Church
was
sulky
,
for
"
the
Conservative
Cause
"
had
just
made
it
a
present
of
a
Commission
,
and
all
that
the
country
gentlemen
knew
of
Conservativism
was
that
it
would
not
repeal
the
malt
tax
,
and
had
made
them
repeal
their
pledges
.
Yet
a
cry
must
be
found
.
A
dissolution
without
a
cry
,
in
the
Taper
philosophy
,
would
be
a
world
without
a
sun
.
A
rise
might
be
got
by
"
Independence
of
the
House
of
Lords
;
"
and
Lord
Lyndhurst
's
summaries
might
be
well
circulated
at
one
penny
per
hundred
,
large
discount
allowed
to
Conservative
Associations
and
endless
credit
.
Tadpole
however
was
never
very
fond
of
the
House
of
Lords
;
besides
it
was
too
limited
.
Tadpole
wanted
the
young
Queen
brought
in
;
the
rogue
!
At
length
one
morning
,
Taper
came
up
to
him
with
a
slip
of
paper
and
a
smile
of
complacent
austerity
on
his
dull
visage
,
"
I
think
Mr.
Tadpole
that
will
do
.
"
Tadpole
took
the
paper
and
read
"
Our
young
Queen
,
and
our
old
Institutions
!
"
The
eyes
of
Tadpole
sparkled
as
if
they
had
met
a
gnomic
sentence
of
Periander
or
Thales
;
then
turning
to
Taper
,
he
said
,
"
What
do
you
think
of
'
ancient
,
'
instead
of
'
old
'
?
"
"
You
cannot
have
'
Our
modern
Queen
,
and
our
ancient
Institutions
,
'
"
said
Mr.
Taper
.
The
dissolution
was
soon
followed
by
an
election
for
the
borough
of
Cambridge
.
The
"
Conservative
Cause
"
candidate
was
an
old
Etonian
.
That
was
a
bond
of
sympathy
which
imparted
zeal
even
to
those
who
were
a
little
sceptical
of
the
essential
virtues
of
Conservativism
.
Every
under-graduate
especially
who
remembered
"
the
distant
spires
,
"
became
enthusiastic
.
Buckhurst
took
a
very
decided
part
.
He
cheered
,
he
canvassed
,
he
brought
men
to
the
poll
whom
none
could
move
;
he
influenced
his
friends
and
his
companions
.
Even
Coningsby
caught
the
contagion
,
and
Vere
,
who
had
imbibed
much
of
Coningsby
's
political
sentiment
,
prevailed
on
himself
to
be
neutral
.
The
Conservative
Cause
triumphed
in
the
person
of
its
Eton
champion
.
The
day
the
member
was
chaired
,
several
men
in
Coningsby
's
rooms
were
talking
over
their
triumph
.
"
By
Jove
,
"
said
the
panting
Buckhurst
,
throwing
himself
on
the
sofa
,
"
it
was
well
done
;
never
was
anything
better
done
.
An
immense
triumph
!
The
greatest
triumph
the
Conservative
Cause
has
had
.
And
yet
,
"
he
added
,
laughing
,
"
if
any
fellow
were
to
ask
me
what
the
Conservative
Cause
was
,
I
am
sure
I
should
not
know
what
to
say
.
"
"
Why
it
's
the
cause
of
our
glorious
institutions
,
"
said
Coningsby
.
"
A
Crown
robbed
of
its
prerogatives
;
a
Church
controlled
by
a
commission
;
and
an
Aristocracy
that
does
not
lead
.
"
"
Under
whose
genial
influence
,
the
order
of
the
Peasantry
,
'
a
country
's
pride
,
'
has
vanished
from
the
face
of
the
land
,
"
said
Henry
Sydney
,
"
and
is
succeeded
by
a
race
of
serfs
,
who
are
called
labourers
and
who
burn
ricks
.
"
"
Under
which
,
"
continued
Coningsby
,
"
the
crown
has
become
a
cipher
;
the
church
a
sect
;
the
nobility
drones
;
and
the
people
drudges
.
"
"
It
is
the
great
constitutional
cause
,
"
said
Lord
Vere
,
"
that
refuses
everything
to
opposition
;
yields
everything
to
agitation
:
conservative
in
Parliament
,
destructive
out
of
doors
;
that
has
no
objection
to
any
change
provided
only
it
be
effected
by
unauthorized
means
.
"
"
The
first
public
association
of
men
,
"
said
Coningsby
,
"
who
have
worked
for
an
avowed
end
,
without
enunciating
a
single
principle
.
"
"
And
who
have
established
political
infidelity
throughout
the
land
,
"
said
Lord
Henry
.
"
By
Jove
!
"
said
Buckhurst
,
"
what
infernal
fools
we
have
made
ourselves
this
last
week
!
"
"
Nay
,
"
said
Coningsby
,
smiling
,
"
it
was
our
last
schoolboy
weakness
.
Floreat
Etona
,
under
all
circumstances
.
"
"
I
certainly
,
Coningsby
,
"
said
Lord
Vere
,
"
shall
not
assume
the
Conservative
Cause
,
instead
of
the
Cause
for
which
Hampden
died
in
the
field
,
and
Sydney
on
the
scaffold
.
"
"
The
cause
for
which
Hampden
died
in
the
field
,
and
Sydney
on
the
scaffold
,
"
said
Coningsby
,
"
was
the
cause
of
the
Venetian
Republic
.
"
"
How
—
how
?
"
said
Buckhurst
.
"
I
repeat
it
,
"
said
Coningsby
.
"
The
great
object
of
the
Whig
leaders
in
England
from
the
first
movement
under
Hampden
to
the
last
more
successful
one
in
1688
,
was
to
establish
in
England
a
high
aristocratic
republic
on
the
model
of
the
Venetian
,
then
the
study
and
admiration
of
all
speculative
politicians
.
Read
Harrington
;
turn
over
Algernon
Sydney
;
and
you
will
see
how
the
minds
of
the
English
leaders
in
the
seventeenth
century
were
saturated
with
the
Venetian
type
.
And
they
at
length
succeeded
.
William
III
.
found
them
out
in
an
instant
.
He
told
the
Whig
leaders
'
I
will
not
be
a
Doge
.
'
He
balanced
parties
;
he
baffled
them
as
the
Puritans
baffled
them
fifty
years
before
.
The
reign
of
Anne
was
a
struggle
between
the
Venetian
and
the
English
systems
.
Two
great
Whig
nobles
,
Argyle
and
Shrewsbury
,
worthy
of
seats
in
the
Council
of
Ten
,
forced
their
Sovereign
on
her
death-bed
to
change
the
ministry
.
They
accomplished
their
object
.
They
brought
in
a
new
family
on
their
own
terms
.
George
I
.
was
a
Doge
;
George
II
.
was
a
Doge
;
they
were
what
William
III
.
,
a
great
man
,
would
not
be
.
George
III
.
tried
not
to
be
a
Doge
,
but
it
was
impossible
materially
to
resist
the
deeply
laid
combination
.
He
might
get
rid
of
the
Whig
magnificoes
,
but
he
could
not
rid
himself
of
the
Venetian
constitution
.
And
a
Venetian
constitution
did
govern
England
from
the
accession
of
the
House
of
Hanover
until
1832.
Now
I
do
not
ask
you
,
Vere
,
to
relinquish
the
political
tenets
which
in
ordinary
times
would
have
been
your
inheritance
.
All
I
say
is
,
the
constitution
introduced
by
your
ancestors
having
been
subverted
by
their
descendants
your
contemporaries
,
beware
of
still
holding
Venetian
principles
of
government
when
you
have
not
a
Venetian
constitution
to
govern
with
.
Do
what
I
am
doing
,
what
Henry
Sydney
and
Buckhurst
are
doing
,
what
other
men
that
I
could
mention
are
doing
,
hold
yourself
aloof
from
political
parties
which
,
from
the
necessity
of
things
,
have
ceased
to
have
distinctive
principles
,
and
are
therefore
practically
only
factions
;
and
wait
and
see
,
whether
with
patience
,
energy
,
honour
,
and
Christian
faith
,
and
a
desire
to
look
to
the
national
welfare
and
not
to
sectional
and
limited
interests
;
whether
,
I
say
,
we
may
not
discover
some
great
principles
to
guide
us
,
to
which
we
may
adhere
,
and
which
then
,
if
true
,
will
ultimately
guide
and
control
others
.
"
"
The
Whigs
are
worn
out
,
"
said
Vere
,
"
Conservativism
is
a
sham
,
and
Radicalism
is
pollution
.
"
"
I
certainly
,
"
said
Buckhurst
,
"
when
I
get
into
the
House
of
Commons
,
shall
speak
my
mind
without
reference
to
any
party
whatever
;
and
all
I
hope
is
,
we
may
all
come
in
at
the
same
time
,
and
then
we
may
make
a
party
of
our
own
.
"
"
I
have
always
heard
my
father
say
,
"
said
Vere
,
"
that
there
was
nothing
so
difficult
as
to
organize
an
independent
party
in
the
House
of
Commons
.
"
"
Ay
!
but
that
was
in
the
Venetian
period
,
Vere
,
"
said
Henry
Sydney
smiling
.
"
I
dare
say
,
"
said
Buckhurst
,
"
the
only
way
to
make
a
party
in
the
House
of
Commons
is
just
the
one
that
succeeds
anywhere
else
.
Men
must
associate
together
.
When
you
are
living
in
the
same
set
,
dining
together
every
day
,
and
quizzing
the
Dons
,
it
is
astonishing
how
well
men
agree
.
As
for
me
,
I
never
would
enter
into
a
conspiracy
,
unless
the
conspirators
were
fellows
who
had
been
at
Eton
with
me
;
and
then
there
would
be
no
treachery
.
"
"
Let
us
think
of
principles
,
and
not
of
parties
,
"
said
Coningsby
.
"
For
my
part
,
"
said
Buckhurst
,
"
whenever
a
political
system
is
breaking
up
,
as
in
this
country
at
present
,
I
think
the
very
best
thing
is
to
brush
all
the
old
Dons
off
the
stage
.
They
never
take
to
the
new
road
kindly
.
They
are
always
hampered
by
their
exploded
prejudices
and
obsolete
traditions
.
I
do
n't
think
a
single
man
,
Vere
,
that
sat
in
the
Venetian
Senate
ought
to
be
allowed
to
sit
in
the
present
English
House
of
Commons
.
"
"
Well
no
one
does
in
our
family
except
my
uncle
Philip
,
"
said
Lord
Henry
;
"
and
the
moment
I
want
it
,
he
will
resign
;
for
he
detests
Parliament
.
It
interferes
so
with
his
hunting
.
"
"
Well
,
we
have
all
fair
parliamentary
prospects
,
"
said
Buckhurst
.
"
That
is
something
.
I
wish
we
were
in
now
.
"
"
Heaven
forbid
,
"
said
Coningsby
.
"
I
tremble
at
the
responsibility
of
a
seat
at
any
time
.
With
my
present
unsettled
and
perplexed
views
,
there
is
nothing
from
which
I
should
recoil
so
much
as
the
House
of
Commons
.
"
"
I
quite
agree
with
you
,
"
said
Henry
Sydney
.
"
The
best
thing
we
can
do
is
to
keep
as
clear
of
political
party
as
we
possibly
can
.
How
many
men
waste
the
best
part
of
their
lives
in
painfully
apologising
for
a
conscientious
deviation
from
a
parliamentary
course
which
they
adopted
when
they
were
boys
,
without
thought
,
or
prompted
by
some
local
connexion
or
interest
to
secure
a
seat
.
"
It
was
the
midnight
following
the
morning
when
this
conversation
took
place
,
that
Coningsby
alone
,
and
having
just
quitted
a
rather
boisterous
party
of
wassailers
who
had
been
celebrating
at
Buckhurst
's
rooms
the
triumph
of
"
Eton
Statesmen
,
"
if
not
of
Conservative
principles
,
stopped
in
the
precincts
of
that
Royal
College
,
that
reminded
him
of
his
school-days
,
to
cool
his
brow
in
the
summer
air
,
that
even
at
that
hour
was
soft
,
and
to
calm
his
mind
in
the
contemplation
of
the
still
,
the
sacred
,
and
the
beauteous
scene
that
surrounded
him
.
There
rose
that
fane
,
the
pride
and
boast
of
Cambridge
,
not
unworthy
to
rank
among
the
chief
temples
of
Christendom
.
Its
vast
form
was
exaggerated
in
the
uncertain
hour
;
part
shrouded
in
the
deepest
darkness
,
while
a
flood
of
silver
light
suffused
its
southern
side
,
distinguished
with
revealing
beam
the
huge
ribs
of
its
buttresses
,
and
bathed
with
mild
lustre
its
airy
pinnacles
.
"
Where
is
the
spirit
that
raised
these
walls
?
"
thought
Coningsby
.
"
Is
it
indeed
extinct
?
Is
then
this
civilization
,
so
much
vaunted
,
inseparable
from
moderate
feelings
and
little
thoughts
?
If
so
,
give
me
back
barbarism
!
But
I
cannot
believe
it
.
Man
that
is
made
in
the
image
of
the
Creator
,
is
made
for
God-like
deeds
.
Come
what
come
may
,
I
will
cling
to
the
heroic
principle
.
It
can
alone
satisfy
my
soul
.
"
CHAPTER
III
.
We
must
now
revert
to
the
family
,
or
rather
the
household
of
Lord
Monmouth
,
in
which
considerable
changes
and
events
had
occurred
since
the
visit
of
Coningsby
to
the
Castle
in
the
preceding
autumn
.
In
the
first
place
,
the
earliest
frost
of
the
winter
had
carried
off
the
aged
proprietor
of
Hellingsley
,
that
contiguous
estate
which
Lord
Monmouth
so
much
coveted
,
the
possession
of
which
was
indeed
one
of
the
few
objects
of
his
life
,
and
to
secure
which
,
he
was
prepared
to
pay
far
beyond
its
intrinsic
value
,
great
as
that
undoubtedly
was
.
Yet
Lord
Monmouth
did
not
become
its
possessor
.
Long
as
his
mind
had
been
intent
upon
the
subject
,
skilful
as
had
been
his
combinations
to
secure
his
prey
,
and
unlimited
the
means
which
were
to
achieve
his
purpose
,
another
stepped
in
,
and
without
his
privity
,
without
even
the
consolation
of
a
struggle
,
stole
away
the
prize
;
and
this
too
a
man
whom
he
hated
,
almost
the
only
individual
out
of
his
own
family
that
he
did
hate
;
a
man
who
had
crossed
him
before
in
similar
enterprises
;
who
was
his
avowed
foe
;
had
lavished
treasure
to
oppose
him
in
elections
;
raised
associations
against
his
interest
;
established
journals
to
assail
him
;
denounced
him
in
public
;
agitated
against
him
in
private
;
had
declared
more
than
once
that
he
would
make
"
the
county
too
hot
for
him
;
"
his
personal
,
inveterate
,
indomitable
foe
,
Mr.
Millbank
of
Millbank
.
The
loss
of
Hellingsley
was
a
bitter
disappointment
to
Lord
Monmouth
;
but
the
loss
of
it
to
such
an
adversary
touched
him
to
the
quick
.
He
did
not
seek
to
control
his
anger
;
he
could
not
succeed
even
in
concealing
his
agitation
.
He
threw
upon
Rigby
that
glance
so
rare
with
him
,
but
under
which
men
always
quailed
;
that
play
of
the
eye
which
Lord
Monmouth
shared
in
common
with
Henry
VIII
.
that
struck
awe
into
the
trembling
Commons
when
they
had
given
an
obnoxious
vote
,
as
the
King
entered
the
gallery
of
his
palace
,
and
looked
around
him
.
It
was
a
look
which
implied
the
dreadful
question
:
"
Why
have
I
bought
you
that
such
thing
should
happen
?
Why
have
I
unlimited
means
and
unscrupulous
agents
?
"
It
made
even
Rigby
feel
;
even
his
brazen
tones
were
hushed
.
To
fly
from
everything
disagreeable
was
the
practical
philosophy
of
Lord
Monmouth
;
but
he
was
as
brave
as
he
was
sensual
.
He
would
not
shrink
before
the
new
proprietor
of
Hellingsley
.
He
therefore
remained
at
the
castle
with
an
aching
heart
,
and
redoubled
his
hospitalities
.
An
ordinary
mind
might
have
been
soothed
by
the
unceasing
consideration
and
the
skilful
and
delicate
flattery
that
ever
surrounded
Lord
Monmouth
;
but
his
sagacious
intelligence
was
never
for
a
moment
the
dupe
of
his
vanity
.
He
had
no
self-love
,
and
as
he
valued
no
one
,
there
were
really
no
feelings
to
play
upon
.
He
saw
through
everybody
and
everything
;
and
when
he
had
detected
their
purpose
,
discovered
their
weakness
or
their
vileness
,
he
calculated
whether
they
could
contribute
to
his
pleasure
or
his
convenience
in
a
degree
which
counter-balanced
the
objections
which
might
be
urged
against
their
intentions
,
or
their
less
pleasing
and
profitable
qualities
.
To
be
pleased
was
always
a
principal
object
with
Lord
Monmouth
;
but
when
a
man
wants
vengeance
,
gay
amusement
is
not
exactly
a
satisfactory
substitute
.
A
month
elapsed
,
Lord
Monmouth
with
a
serene
or
smiling
visage
to
his
guests
,
but
in
private
taciturn
and
morose
.
He
scarcely
ever
gave
a
word
to
Mr.
Rigby
,
but
continually
bestowed
on
him
glances
which
painfully
affected
the
appetite
of
that
gentleman
.
In
a
hundred
ways
it
was
intimated
to
Mr.
Rigby
that
he
was
not
a
welcome
guest
,
and
yet
something
was
continually
given
him
to
do
which
rendered
it
impossible
for
him
to
take
his
departure
.
In
this
state
of
affairs
,
another
event
occurred
which
changed
the
current
of
feeling
,
and
by
its
possible
consequences
,
distracted
the
Marquess
from
his
brooding
meditations
over
his
discomfiture
in
the
matter
of
Hellingsley
.
The
Prince
Colonna
,
who
,
since
the
steeple-chase
,
had
imbibed
a
morbid
predilection
for
such
amusements
,
and
indeed
for
every
species
of
rough
riding
,
was
thrown
from
his
horse
and
killed
on
the
spot
.
This
calamity
broke
up
the
party
at
Coningsby
,
which
was
not
at
the
moment
very
numerous
.
Mr.
Rigby
,
by
command
,
instantly
seized
the
opportunity
of
preventing
other
guests
who
were
expected
from
arriving
.
This
catastrophe
was
the
cause
of
Mr.
Rigby
resuming
in
a
great
measure
his
old
position
in
the
castle
.
There
were
a
great
many
things
to
be
done
,
and
all
disagreeable
;
he
achieved
them
all
,
and
studied
everybody
's
convenience
.
Coroner
's
inquests
,
funerals
especially
,
weeping
women
,
these
were
all
spectacles
which
Lord
Monmouth
could
not
endure
,
but
he
was
so
high-bred
,
that
he
would
not
for
the
world
that
there
should
be
in
manner
or
degree
the
slightest
deficiency
of
propriety
or
even
sympathy
.
But
he
wanted
somebody
to
do
everything
that
was
proper
;
to
be
considerate
and
consoling
and
sympathetic
.
Mr.
Rigby
did
it
all
;
gave
evidence
at
the
inquest
,
was
chief
mourner
at
the
funeral
,
and
arranged
everything
so
well
that
not
a
single
emblem
of
death
crossed
the
sight
of
Lord
Monmouth
;
while
Madame
Colonna
found
submission
in
his
exhortations
,
and
the
Princess
Lucretia
,
a
little
more
pale
and
pensive
than
usual
,
listened
with
tranquillity
to
his
discourse
on
the
vanity
of
all
sublunary
things
.
When
the
tumult
had
subsided
,
and
habits
and
feelings
had
fallen
into
their
old
routine
,
and
relapsed
into
their
ancient
channels
,
the
Marquess
proposed
that
they
should
all
return
to
London
,
and
with
great
formality
,
though
with
great
warmth
,
begged
that
Madame
Colonna
would
ever
consider
his
roof
as
her
own
.
All
were
glad
to
quit
the
castle
,
which
now
presented
a
scene
so
different
to
its
former
animation
,
and
Madame
Colonna
,
weeping
,
accepted
the
hospitality
of
her
friend
,
until
the
impending
expansion
of
the
spring
would
permit
her
to
return
to
Italy
.
This
notice
of
her
return
to
her
own
country
seemed
to
occasion
the
Marquess
great
disquietude
.
After
they
had
remained
about
a
month
in
London
,
Madame
Colonna
sent
for
Mr.
Rigby
one
morning
to
tell
him
how
very
painful
it
was
to
her
feelings
to
remain
under
the
roof
of
Monmouth
House
without
the
sanction
of
a
husband
;
that
the
circumstance
of
being
a
foreigner
,
under
such
unusual
affliction
,
might
have
excused
,
though
not
authorized
,
the
step
at
first
,
and
for
a
moment
;
but
that
the
continuance
of
such
a
course
was
quite
out
of
the
question
;
that
she
owed
it
to
herself
,
to
her
step-child
,
no
longer
to
trespass
on
this
friendly
hospitality
;
that
if
persisted
in
,
might
be
liable
to
misconstruction
.
Mr.
Rigby
listened
with
great
attention
to
this
statement
,
and
never
in
the
least
interrupted
Madame
Colonna
;
and
then
offered
to
do
that
which
he
was
convinced
the
lady
desired
,
namely
to
make
the
Marquess
acquainted
with
the
painful
state
of
her
feelings
.
This
he
did
according
to
his
fashion
,
and
with
sufficient
dexterity
.
Mr.
Rigby
himself
was
extremely
anxious
to
know
which
way
the
wind
blew
,
and
the
mission
with
which
he
had
been
entrusted
,
fell
in
precisely
with
his
inclinations
and
necessities
.
The
Marquess
listened
to
the
communication
and
sighed
,
then
turned
gently
round
and
surveyed
himself
in
the
mirror
and
sighed
again
,
then
said
to
Rigby
:
"
You
understand
exactly
what
I
mean
,
Rigby
.
It
is
quite
ridiculous
their
going
,
and
infinitely
distressing
to
me
.
They
must
stay
.
"
Rigby
repaired
to
the
Princess
full
of
mysterious
bustle
,
and
with
a
face
beaming
with
importance
and
satisfaction
.
He
made
much
of
the
two
sighs
;
fully
justified
the
confidence
of
the
Marquess
in
his
comprehension
of
unexplained
intentions
;
prevailed
on
Madame
Colonna
to
have
some
regard
for
the
feelings
of
one
so
devoted
;
expatiated
on
the
insignificance
of
worldly
misconstructions
,
when
replied
to
by
such
honourable
intentions
;
and
fully
succeeded
in
his
mission
.
They
did
stay
.
Month
after
month
rolled
on
,
and
still
they
stayed
;
every
month
all
the
family
becoming
more
resigned
or
more
content
,
and
more
cheerful
.
As
for
the
Marquess
himself
,
Mr.
Rigby
never
remembered
him
more
serene
and
even
joyous
.
His
Lordship
scarcely
ever
entered
general
society
.
The
Colonna
family
remained
in
strict
seclusion
;
and
he
preferred
the
company
of
these
accomplished
and
congenial
friends
to
the
mob
of
the
great
world
.
Between
Madame
Colonna
and
Mr.
Rigby
there
had
always
subsisted
considerable
confidence
.
Now
,
that
gentleman
seemed
to
have
achieved
fresh
and
greater
claims
to
her
regard
.
In
the
pleasure
with
which
he
looked
forward
to
her
approaching
alliance
with
his
patron
,
he
reminded
her
of
the
readiness
with
which
he
had
embraced
her
suggestions
for
the
marriage
of
her
daughter
with
Coningsby
.
Always
obliging
,
she
was
never
wearied
of
chaunting
his
praises
to
her
noble
admirer
,
who
was
apparently
much
gratified
she
should
have
bestowed
her
esteem
on
one
of
whom
she
would
necessarily
in
after
life
see
so
much
.
It
is
seldom
the
lot
of
husbands
that
their
confidential
friends
gain
the
regards
of
their
brides
.
"
I
am
delighted
you
all
like
Rigby
,
"
said
Lord
Monmouth
,
"
as
you
will
see
so
much
of
him
.
"
The
remembrance
of
the
Hellingsley
failure
seemed
to
be
quite
erased
from
the
memory
of
the
Marquess
.
Rigby
never
recollected
him
more
cordial
and
confidential
,
and
more
equable
in
his
manner
.
He
told
Rigby
one
day
,
that
he
wished
that
Monmouth
House
should
possess
the
most
sumptuous
and
the
most
fanciful
boudoir
in
London
or
Paris
.
What
a
hint
for
Rigby
!
That
gentleman
consulted
the
first
artists
,
and
gave
them
some
hints
in
return
;
his
researches
on
domestic
decoration
ranged
through
all
ages
;
he
even
meditated
a
rapid
tour
to
mature
his
inventions
;
but
his
confidence
in
his
native
taste
and
genius
,
ultimately
convinced
him
that
this
movement
was
unnecessary
.
The
summer
advanced
;
the
death
of
the
King
occurred
;
the
dissolution
summoned
Rigby
to
Coningsby
and
the
borough
of
Darlford
.
His
success
was
marked
certain
in
the
secret
books
of
Tadpole
and
Taper
.
A
manufacturing
town
,
enfranchised
under
the
Reform
Act
,
already
gained
by
the
Conservative
cause
!
Here
was
reaction
—
here
influence
of
property
!
Influence
of
character
,
too
;
for
no
one
was
so
popular
as
Lord
Monmouth
;
a
most
distinguished
nobleman
,
of
strict
Conservative
principles
,
who
,
if
he
carried
the
county
and
the
manufacturing
borough
also
,
merited
the
straw-berry
-leaf
.
"
There
will
be
no
holding
Rigby
,
"
said
Taper
;
"
I
'm
afraid
he
will
be
looking
for
something
very
high
.
"
"
The
higher
the
better
,
"
rejoined
Tadpole
,
"
and
then
he
will
not
interfere
with
us
.
I
like
your
high-fliers
;
it
is
your
plodders
I
detest
,
wearing
old
hats
and
high-lows
,
speaking
in
committee
,
and
thinking
they
are
men
of
business
:
d
—
n
them
!
"
Rigby
went
down
,
and
made
some
very
impressive
speeches
;
at
least
they
read
very
well
in
some
of
his
second-rate
journals
,
where
all
the
uproar
figured
as
loud
cheering
,
and
the
interruption
of
a
cabbage-stalk
was
represented
as
a
question
from
some
intelligent
individual
in
the
crowd
.
The
fact
is
,
Rigby
bored
his
audience
too
much
with
history
,
especially
with
the
French
Revolution
,
which
he
fancied
was
his
"
forte
,
"
so
that
the
people
at
last
,
whenever
he
made
any
allusion
to
the
subject
,
were
almost
as
much
terrified
as
if
they
had
seen
the
guillotine
.
Rigby
had
as
yet
one
great
advantage
;
he
had
no
opponent
;
and
without
personal
opposition
,
no
contest
can
be
very
bitter
.
It
was
for
some
days
Rigby
versus
Liberal
principles
;
and
Rigby
had
much
the
best
of
it
;
for
he
abused
Liberal
principles
roundly
in
his
harangues
,
who
not
being
represented
on
the
occasion
made
no
reply
;
while
plenty
of
ale
,
and
some
capital
songs
by
Lucian
Gay
,
who
went
down
express
,
gave
the
right
cue
to
the
mob
,
who
declared
in
chorus
,
beneath
the
windows
of
Rigby
's
hotel
,
that
he
was
"
a
fine
old
English
gentleman
!
"
But
there
was
to
be
a
contest
;
no
question
about
that
,
and
a
sharp
one
,
although
Rigby
was
to
win
,
and
well
.
The
liberal
party
had
been
so
fastidious
about
their
new
candidate
,
that
they
had
none
ready
though
several
biting
.
Jawster
Sharp
thought
at
one
time
that
sheer
necessity
would
give
him
another
chance
still
;
but
even
Rigby
was
preferable
to
Jawster
Sharp
,
who
,
finding
it
would
not
do
,
published
his
long-prepared
valedictory
address
,
in
which
he
told
his
constituents
,
that
having
long
sacrificed
his
health
to
their
interests
,
he
was
now
obliged
to
retire
into
the
bosom
of
his
family
.
And
a
very
well
provided
for
family
,
too
.
All
this
time
the
Liberal
deputation
from
Darlford
—
two
aldermen
,
three
town
counsellors
,
and
the
Secretary
of
the
Reform
Association
,
were
walking
about
London
like
mad
things
,
eating
luncheons
and
looking
for
a
candidate
.
They
called
at
the
Reform
Club
twenty
times
in
the
morning
,
badgered
whips
and
red-tapers
,
were
introduced
to
candidates
,
badgered
candidates
;
examined
would-be
members
as
if
they
were
at
a
cattle
show
,
listened
to
political
pedigrees
,
dictated
political
pledges
,
referred
to
Hansard
to
see
how
men
had
voted
,
inquired
whether
men
had
spoken
,
finally
discussed
terms
.
But
they
never
could
hit
the
right
man
.
If
the
principles
were
right
,
there
was
no
money
;
and
if
money
were
ready
,
money
would
not
take
pledges
.
In
fact
they
wanted
a
Phoenix
;
a
very
rich
man
,
who
would
do
exactly
as
they
liked
,
with
extremely
low
opinions
and
with
very
high
connexions
.
"
If
he
would
go
for
the
ballot
and
had
a
handle
to
his
name
,
it
would
have
the
best
effect
,
"
said
the
secretary
of
the
Reform
Association
,
"
because
you
see
we
are
fighting
against
a
Right
Honourable
,
and
you
have
no
idea
how
that
takes
with
the
mob
.
"
The
deputation
had
been
three
days
in
town
,
and
urged
by
despatches
by
every
train
to
bring
affairs
to
a
conclusion
,
jaded
,
perplexed
,
confused
,
they
were
ready
to
fall
into
the
hands
of
the
first
jobber
or
bold
adventurer
.
They
discussed
over
their
dinner
at
a
Strand
Coffee-house
the
claims
of
the
various
candidates
who
had
presented
themselves
.
Mr.
Donald
Macpherson
Macfarlane
,
who
would
only
pay
the
legal
expenses
:
he
was
soon
dispatched
.
Mr.
Gingerly
Browne
of
Jermyn
Street
,
the
younger
son
of
a
Baronet
,
who
would
go
as
far
as
a
£
1000
,
provided
the
seat
was
secured
.
Mr.
Juggins
,
a
distiller
,
£
2000
man
;
but
would
not
agree
to
any
annual
subscriptions
.
Sir
Baptist
Placid
,
vague
about
expenditure
,
but
repeatedly
declaring
that
"
there
could
be
no
difficulty
on
that
head
.
"
He
however
had
a
moral
objection
to
subscribing
to
the
races
,
—
and
that
was
a
great
point
at
Darlford
.
Sir
Baptist
would
subscribe
a
guinea
per
annum
to
the
Infirmary
,
and
the
same
to
all
religious
Societies
,
without
any
distinction
of
sects
—
but
races
,
it
was
not
the
sum
,
£
100
per
annum
,
but
the
principle
.
He
had
a
moral
objection
.
In
short
the
deputation
began
to
suspect
what
was
the
truth
,
that
they
were
a
day
after
the
fair
,
and
that
all
the
electioneering
rips
that
swarm
in
the
purlieus
of
political
clubs
during
an
impending
dissolution
of
Parliament
,
men
who
become
political
characters
in
their
small
circle
,
because
they
have
been
talked
of
as
once
having
an
intention
to
stand
for
places
for
which
they
never
offered
themselves
,
or
for
having
stood
for
places
,
where
they
never
could
by
any
circumstance
have
succeeded
,
were
in
fact
nibbling
at
their
dainty
morsel
.
At
this
moment
of
despair
,
a
ray
of
hope
was
imparted
to
them
by
a
confidential
note
from
a
secretary
of
the
Treasury
,
who
wished
to
see
them
at
the
Reform
Club
on
the
morrow
.
You
may
be
sure
they
were
punctual
to
their
appointment
.
The
secretary
received
them
with
great
consideration
.
He
had
got
them
a
candidate
,
and
one
of
high
mark
—
the
son
of
a
Peer
,
and
connected
with
the
highest
Whig
houses
.
Their
eyes
sparkled
.
A
real
honourable
.
If
they
liked
he
would
introduce
them
immediately
to
the
Honourable
Alberic
de
Crecy
.
He
had
only
to
introduce
them
,
as
there
was
no
difficulty
either
as
to
means
or
opinions
,
expenses
or
pledges
.
The
secretary
returned
with
a
young
gentleman
whose
diminutive
stature
would
seem
,
from
his
smooth
and
singularly
puerile
countenance
,
to
be
merely
the
consequence
of
his
very
tender
years
,
but
Mr.
de
Crecy
was
really
of
age
,
or
at
least
would
be
by
the
nomination
day
.
He
did
not
say
a
word
,
but
looked
like
the
rosebud
which
dangled
in
the
button-hole
of
his
frock
coat
.
The
Aldermen
and
Town
Counsellors
were
what
is
sometimes
emphatically
styled
flabbergasted
;
they
were
speechless
from
bewilderment
.
"
Mr.
de
Crecy
will
go
for
the
ballot
,
"
said
the
secretary
of
the
Treasury
with
an
audacious
eye
and
a
demure
look
,
"
and
for
Total
and
Immediate
if
you
press
him
hard
;
but
do
n't
if
you
can
help
it
,
because
he
has
an
uncle
,
an
old
county
member
who
has
prejudices
,
and
might
disinherit
him
.
However
,
we
answer
for
him
.
And
I
am
very
happy
that
I
have
been
the
means
of
bringing
about
an
arrangement
,
which
I
feel
will
be
mutually
advantageous
.
"
And
so
saying
the
secretary
effected
his
escape
.
Circumstances
,
however
,
retarded
for
a
season
the
political
career
of
the
Honourable
Alberic
de
Crecy
.
While
the
Liberal
party
at
Darlford
were
suffering
under
the
daily
inflictions
of
Mr.
Rigby
's
slashing
style
,
and
the
post
brought
them
very
unsatisfactory
prospects
of
a
champion
,
one
offered
himself
,
and
in
an
address
which
intimated
that
he
was
no
man
of
straw
,
likely
to
recede
from
any
contest
in
which
he
chose
to
embark
.
The
town
was
suddenly
placarded
with
a
letter
to
the
Independent
Electors
from
Mr.
Millbank
the
new
proprietor
of
Hellingsley
.
He
expressed
himself
as
one
not
anxious
to
obtrude
himself
on
their
attention
and
founding
no
claim
to
their
confidence
on
his
recent
acquisition
;
but
at
the
same
time
as
one
resolved
that
the
free
and
enlightened
community
,
with
which
he
must
necessarily
hereafter
be
much
connected
,
should
not
become
the
nomination
Borough
of
any
Peer
of
the
realm
without
a
struggle
if
they
chose
to
make
one
.
And
so
he
offered
himself
if
they
could
not
find
a
better
candidate
without
waiting
for
the
ceremony
of
a
requisition
.
He
was
exactly
the
man
they
wanted
;
and
though
he
had
"
no
handle
to
his
name
,
"
and
was
somewhat
impracticable
about
pledges
,
his
fortune
was
so
great
,
and
his
character
so
high
,
that
it
might
be
hoped
that
the
people
would
be
almost
as
content
as
if
they
were
appealed
to
by
some
obscure
scion
of
factitious
nobility
subscribing
to
political
engagements
which
he
could
not
comprehend
,
and
which
in
general
are
vomited
with
as
much
facility
as
they
are
swallowed
.
CHAPTER
IV
.
The
people
of
Darlford
who
,
as
long
as
the
contest
for
their
representation
remained
between
Mr.
Rigby
and
the
abstraction
called
Liberal
Principles
,
appeared
to
be
very
indifferent
about
the
result
,
the
moment
they
learned
that
for
the
phrase
had
been
substituted
a
substance
,
and
that
too
in
the
form
of
a
gentleman
,
who
was
soon
to
figure
as
their
resident
neighbour
,
became
excited
,
speedily
enthusiastic
.
All
the
bells
of
all
the
churches
rang
when
Mr.
Millbank
commenced
his
canvass
;
the
Conservatives
,
on
the
alert
,
if
not
alarmed
,
insisted
on
their
champion
also
showing
himself
in
all
directions
;
and
in
the
course
of
four-and-twenty
hours
,
such
is
the
contagion
of
popular
feeling
,
the
town
was
divided
into
two
parties
,
the
vast
majority
of
which
were
firmly
convinced
that
the
country
could
only
be
saved
by
the
return
of
Mr.
Rigby
,
or
preserved
from
inevitable
destruction
by
the
election
of
Mr.
Millbank
.
The
results
of
the
two
canvasses
were
such
as
had
been
anticipated
from
the
previous
reports
of
the
respective
agents
and
supporters
.
In
these
days
the
personal
canvass
of
a
candidate
is
a
mere
form
.
The
whole
country
that
is
to
be
invaded
has
been
surveyed
and
mapped
out
before
entry
;
every
position
reconnoitered
;
the
chain
of
communications
complete
.
In
the
present
case
as
is
not
unusual
,
both
candidates
were
really
supported
by
numerous
and
reputable
adherents
;
and
both
had
very
good
grounds
for
believing
that
they
would
be
ultimately
successful
.
But
there
was
a
body
of
the
electors
sufficiently
numerous
to
turn
the
election
who
would
not
promise
their
votes
:
conscientious
men
who
felt
the
responsibility
of
the
duty
that
the
constitution
had
entrusted
to
their
discharge
,
and
who
would
not
make
up
their
minds
without
duly
weighing
the
respective
merits
of
the
two
rivals
.
This
class
of
deeply
meditative
individuals
are
distinguished
not
only
by
their
pensive
turn
of
mind
;
but
by
a
charitable
vein
that
seems
to
pervade
their
being
.
Not
only
will
they
think
of
your
request
,
but
for
their
parts
they
wish
both
sides
equally
well
.
Decision
indeed
,
as
it
must
dash
the
hopes
of
one
of
their
solicitors
,
seems
infinitely
painful
to
them
;
they
have
always
a
good
reason
for
postponing
it
.
If
you
seek
their
suffrage
during
the
canvass
,
they
reply
that
the
writ
not
having
come
down
,
the
day
of
election
is
not
yet
fixed
.
If
you
call
again
to
inform
them
that
the
writ
has
arrived
,
they
rejoin
that
perhaps
after
all
there
may
not
be
a
contest
.
If
you
call
a
third
time
half
dead
with
fatigue
,
to
give
them
friendly
notice
that
both
you
and
your
rival
have
pledged
yourselves
to
go
to
the
poll
,
they
twitch
their
trowsers
,
rub
their
hands
,
and
with
a
dull
grin
observe
,
"
Well
,
sir
,
we
shall
see
.
"
"
Come
,
Mr.
Jobson
,
"
says
one
of
the
committee
with
an
insinuating
smile
,
"
give
Mr.
Millbank
one
.
"
"
Jobson
,
I
think
you
and
I
know
each
other
,
"
says
a
most
influential
supporter
with
a
knowing
nod
.
"
Yes
,
Mr.
Smith
,
I
should
think
we
did
.
"
"
Come
,
come
,
give
us
one
.
"
"
Well
,
I
have
not
made
up
my
mind
yet
,
gentlemen
.
"
"
Jobson
!
"
says
a
solemn
voice
.
"
Did
n't
you
tell
me
the
other
night
you
wished
well
to
this
gentleman
?
"
"
So
I
do
;
I
wish
well
to
everybody
,
"
replies
the
imperturbable
Jobson
.
"
Well
,
Jobson
,
"
exclaims
another
member
of
the
committee
with
a
sigh
,
"
who
could
have
supposed
that
you
would
have
been
an
enemy
!
"
"
I
do
n't
wish
to
be
no
enemy
to
no
man
,
Mr.
Trip
.
"
"
Come
,
Jobson
,
"
says
a
jolly
tanner
,
"
if
I
wanted
to
be
a
Parliament
man
,
I
do
n't
think
you
could
refuse
me
one
!
"
"
I
do
n't
think
I
could
Mr.
Oakfield
.
"
"
Well
then
give
it
to
my
friend
.
"
"
Well
,
sir
,
I
'll
think
about
it
.
"
"
Leave
him
to
me
,
"
says
another
member
of
the
committee
with
a
significant
look
.
"
I
know
how
to
get
round
him
.
It
's
all
right
.
"
"
Yes
,
leave
him
to
Hayfield
,
Mr.
Millbank
,
he
knows
how
to
manage
him
.
"
But
all
the
same
,
Jobson
continues
to
look
as
little
tractable
and
lamb-like
as
can
be
well
fancied
.
And
here
in
a
work
,
which
in
an
unpretending
shape
aspires
to
take
neither
an
uninformed
nor
a
partial
view
of
the
political
history
of
the
ten
eventful
years
of
the
Reform
struggle
,
we
should
pause
for
a
moment
to
observe
the
strangeness
,
that
only
five
years
after
the
reconstruction
of
the
electoral
body
by
the
Whig
party
,
in
a
borough
called
into
political
existence
by
their
policy
,
a
manufacturing
town
too
,
their
candidate
comprising
in
his
person
every
quality
and
circumstance
which
could
recommend
him
to
the
constituency
,
and
his
opponent
the
worst
specimen
of
the
Old
Generation
,
a
political
adventurer
,
who
owed
the
least
disreputable
part
of
his
notoriety
to
his
opposition
to
the
Reform
Bill
;
that
in
such
a
borough
under
such
circumstances
there
should
be
a
contest
,
and
that
too
one
of
a
very
doubtful
issue
.
What
was
the
cause
of
this
?
Are
we
to
seek
it
in
the
"
Re-action
"
of
the
Tadpoles
and
the
Tapers
?
That
would
not
be
a
very
satisfactory
solution
.
Re-action
to
a
certain
extent
is
the
law
of
human
existence
.
In
the
particular
state
of
affairs
before
us
;
England
after
the
Reform
Act
;
it
never
could
be
doubtful
,
that
Time
would
gradually
,
and
in
some
instances
,
rapidly
,
counteract
the
national
impulse
of
1832.
There
never
could
have
been
a
question
,
for
example
,
that
the
English
counties
would
have
reverted
to
their
natural
allegiance
to
their
proprietors
;
but
the
results
of
the
appeals
to
the
third
Estate
in
1835
and
1837
are
not
to
be
accounted
for
by
a
mere
re-adjustment
of
legitimate
influences
.
The
truth
is
,
that
considerable
as
are
the
abilities
of
the
Whig
leaders
;
highly
accomplished
as
many
of
them
unquestionably
must
be
acknowledged
in
parliamentary
debate
;
experienced
in
council
;
sedulous
in
office
;
eminent
as
scholars
;
powerful
from
their
position
;
the
absence
of
individual
influence
,
of
the
pervading
authority
of
a
commanding
mind
,
has
been
the
cause
of
the
fall
of
the
Whig
party
.
Such
a
supremacy
was
generally
acknowledged
in
Lord
Grey
on
the
accession
of
this
party
to
power
;
but
it
was
the
supremacy
of
a
tradition
rather
than
of
a
fact
.
Almost
at
the
outset
of
his
authority
his
successor
was
indicated
.
When
the
crisis
arrived
,
the
intended
successor
was
not
in
the
Whig
ranks
.
It
is
in
this
virtual
absence
of
a
real
and
recognised
leader
,
almost
from
the
moment
that
they
passed
their
great
measure
,
that
we
must
seek
a
chief
cause
of
all
that
insubordination
,
all
those
distempered
ambitions
,
and
all
those
dark
intrigues
,
that
finally
broke
up
not
only
the
Whig
government
,
but
the
Whig
party
;
demoralised
their
ranks
;
and
sent
them
to
the
country
,
both
in
1835
and
1837
with
every
illusion
,
which
had
operated
so
happily
in
their
favour
in
1832
,
scattered
to
the
winds
.
In
all
things
we
trace
the
irresistible
influence
of
the
individual
.
And
yet
the
interval
that
elapsed
between
1835
and
1837
proved
,
that
there
was
all
this
time
in
the
Whig
array
one
entirely
competent
to
the
office
of
leading
a
great
party
,
though
his
capacity
for
that
fulfilment
was
too
tardily
recognised
.
Lord
John
Russell
has
that
degree
of
imagination
which
though
evinced
rather
in
sentiment
than
expression
,
still
enables
him
to
generalize
from
the
details
of
his
reading
and
experience
;
and
to
take
those
comprehensive
views
,
which
however
easily
depreciated
by
ordinary
men
in
an
age
of
routine
,
are
indispensable
to
a
statesman
in
the
conjunctures
in
which
we
live
.
He
understands
therefore
his
position
;
and
he
has
the
moral
intrepidity
which
prompts
him
ever
to
dare
that
which
his
intellect
assures
him
is
politic
.
He
is
consequently
at
the
same
time
,
sagacious
and
bold
,
in
council
.
As
an
administrator
,
he
is
prompt
and
indefatigable
.
He
is
not
a
natural
orator
;
and
labours
under
physical
deficiencies
which
even
a
Demosthenic
impulse
could
scarcely
overcome
.
But
he
is
experienced
in
debate
;
quick
in
reply
,
fertile
in
resource
;
takes
large
views
;
and
frequently
compensates
for
a
dry
and
hesitating
manner
by
the
expression
of
those
noble
truths
,
that
flash
across
the
fancy
,
and
rise
spontaneously
to
the
lip
,
of
men
of
poetic
temperament
when
addressing
popular
assemblies
.
If
we
add
to
this
a
private
life
of
dignified
repute
;
the
accidents
of
his
birth
and
rank
,
which
never
can
be
severed
from
the
man
,
the
scion
of
a
great
historic
family
,
and
born
as
it
were
to
the
hereditary
service
of
the
State
;
it
is
difficult
to
ascertain
at
what
period
,
or
under
what
circumstances
,
the
Whig
party
have
ever
possessed
,
or
could
obtain
,
a
more
efficient
leader
.
But
we
must
return
to
the
Darlford
election
.
The
class
of
thoughtful
voters
was
sufficiently
numerous
in
that
borough
to
render
the
result
of
the
contest
doubtful
to
the
last
,
and
on
the
eve
of
the
day
of
nomination
both
parties
were
equally
sanguine
.
Nomination
day
altogether
is
a
most
unsatisfactory
affair
.
There
is
little
to
be
done
,
and
that
little
mere
form
.
The
tedious
hours
remain
;
and
no
one
can
settle
his
mind
to
any
thing
.
It
is
not
a
holiday
,
for
every
one
is
serious
;
it
is
not
business
,
for
no
one
can
attend
to
it
;
it
is
not
a
contest
,
for
there
is
no
canvassing
;
nor
an
election
,
for
there
is
no
poll
.
It
is
a
day
of
lounging
without
an
object
,
and
luncheons
without
an
appetite
;
of
hopes
and
fears
;
confidence
and
dejection
;
bravado
bets
and
secret
hedging
;
and
about
midnight
,
of
furious
suppers
of
grilled
bones
,
brandy-and-water
,
and
recklessness
.
The
president
and
vice-president
of
the
Conservative
Association
,
the
secretary
and
the
four
solicitors
who
were
agents
,
had
impressed
upon
Mr.
Rigby
that
it
was
of
the
utmost
importance
,
and
must
produce
a
great
moral
effect
if
he
obtained
the
show
of
hands
.
With
his
powers
of
eloquence
and
their
secret
organisation
they
flattered
themselves
it
might
be
done
.
With
this
view
Rigby
inflicted
a
speech
of
more
than
two
hours
'
duration
on
the
electors
,
who
bore
it
very
kindly
,
as
the
mob
likes
above
all
things
that
the
ceremonies
of
nomination
day
should
not
be
cut
short
:
moreover
there
is
nothing
that
the
mob
likes
so
much
as
a
speech
.
Rigby
therefore
had
on
the
whole
a
far
from
unfavourable
audience
,
and
he
availed
himself
of
their
forbearance
.
He
brought
in
his
crack
theme
the
guillotine
,
and
dilated
so
elaborately
upon
its
qualities
,
that
one
of
the
gentlemen
below
could
not
refrain
from
exclaiming
:
"
I
wish
you
may
get
it
.
"
This
exclamation
gave
Mr.
