inits
pages
was
not
so
distinguished
as
that
of
human
nature
generally
,
this
was
a
deficiency
obvious
only
to
a
comparatively
limited
circle
of
its
readers
.
Lord
Montfort
had
reminded
Endymion
of
his
promise
to
introduce
the
distinguished
author
to
him
,
and
accordingly
,
after
due
researches
as
to
his
dwelling-place
,
Mr.
Ferrars
called
in
Jermyn
Street
and
sent
up
his
card
,
to
know
whether
Mr.
St.
Barbe
would
receive
him
.
This
was
evidently
not
a
matter-of-course
affair
,
and
some
little
time
had
elapsed
when
the
maid-servant
appeared
,
and
beckoned
to
Endymion
to
follow
her
upstairs
.
In
the
front
drawing-room
of
the
first
floor
,
robed
in
a
flaming
dressing-gown
,
and
standing
with
his
back
to
the
fire
and
to
the
looking-glass
,
the
frame
of
which
was
encrusted
with
cards
of
invitation
,
the
former
colleague
of
Endymion
received
his
visitor
with
a
somewhat
haughty
and
reserved
air
.
“
Well
,
I
am
delighted
to
see
you
again
,
”
said
Endymion
.
No
reply
but
a
ceremonious
bow
.
“
And
to
congratulate
you
,
”
Endymion
added
after
a
moment’s
pause
.
“
I
hear
of
nothing
but
of
your
book
;
I
suppose
one
of
the
most
successful
that
have
appeared
for
a
long
time
.
”
“
Its
success
is
not
owing
to
your
friends
,
”
said
Mr.
St.
Barbe
tartly
.
“
My
friends
!
”
said
Endymion
;
“
what
could
they
have
done
to
prevent
it
?
”
“
They
need
not
have
dissolved
parliament
,
”
said
Mr.
St.
Barbe
with
irritation
.
“
It
was
nearly
fatal
to
me
;
it
would
have
been
to
anybody
else
.
I
was
selling
forty
thousand
a
month
;
I
believe
more
than
Gushy
ever
reached
;
and
so
they
dissolved
parliament
.
The
sale
went
down
half
at
once
—
and
now
you
expect
me
to
support
your
party
!
”
“
Well
,
it
was
unfortunate
,
but
the
dissolution
could
hardly
have
done
you
any
permanent
injury
,
and
you
could
scarcely
expect
that
such
an
event
could
be
postponed
even
for
the
advantage
of
an
individual
so
distinguished
as
yourself
.
”
“
Perhaps
not
,
”
said
St.
Barbe
,
apparently
a
little
mollified
,
“
but
they
might
have
done
something
to
show
their
regret
at
it
.
”
“
Something
!
”
said
Endymion
,
“
what
sort
of
thing
?
”
“
The
prime
minister
might
have
called
on
me
,
or
at
least
written
to
me
a
letter
.
I
want
none
of
their
honours
;
I
have
scores
of
letters
every
day
,
suggesting
that
some
high
distinction
should
be
conferred
on
me
.
I
believe
the
nation
expects
me
to
be
made
a
baronet
.
By
the
by
,
I
heard
the
other
day
you
had
got
into
parliament
.
I
know
nothing
of
these
matters
;
they
do
not
interest
me
.
Is
it
the
fact
?
”
“
Well
,
I
was
so
fortunate
,
and
there
are
others
of
your
old
friends
,
Trenchard
,
for
example
.
”
“
You
do
not
mean
to
say
that
Trenchard
is
in
parliament
!
”
said
St.
Barbe
,
throwing
off
all
his
affected
reserve
.
“
Well
,
it
is
too
disgusting
!
Trenchard
in
parliament
,
and
I
obliged
to
think
it
a
great
favour
if
a
man
gives
me
a
frank
!
Well
,
representative
institutions
have
seen
their
day
.
That
is
something
.
”
“
I
have
come
here
on
a
social
mission
,
”
said
Endymion
in
a
soothing
tone
.
“
There
is
a
great
admirer
of
yours
who
much
wishes
to
make
your
acquaintance
.
Trusting
to
our
old
intimacy
,
of
which
of
course
I
am
very
proud
,
it
was
even
hoped
that
you
might
waive
ceremony
,
and
come
and
dine
.
”
“
Quite
impossible
!
”
exclaimed
St.
Barbe
,
and
turning
round
,
he
pointed
to
the
legion
of
invitations
before
him
.
“
You
see
,
the
world
is
at
my
feet
.
I
remember
that
fellow
Seymour
Hicks
taking
me
to
his
rooms
to
show
me
a
card
he
had
from
a
countess
.
What
would
he
say
to
this
?
”
“
Well
,
but
you
cannot
be
engaged
to
dinner
every
day
,
”
said
Endymion
;
“
and
you
really
may
choose
any
day
you
like
.
”
“
Well
,
there
are
not
many
dinners
among
them
,
to
be
sure
,
”
said
St.
Barbe
.
“
Small
and
earlies
.
How
I
hate
a
‘small
and
early’
!
Shown
into
a
room
where
you
meet
a
select
few
who
have
been
asked
to
dinner
,
and
who
are
chewing
the
cud
like
a
herd
of
kine
,
and
you
are
expected
to
tumble
before
them
to
assist
their
digestion
!
Faugh
!
No
,
sir
;
we
only
dine
out
now
,
and
we
think
twice
,
I
can
tell
you
,
before
we
accept
even
an
invitation
to
dinner
.
Who’s
your
friend
?
”
“
Well
,
my
friend
is
Lord
Montfort
.
”
“
You
do
not
mean
to
say
that
!
And
he
is
an
admirer
of
mine
?
”
“
An
enthusiastic
admirer
.
”
“
I
will
dine
with
Lord
Montfort
.
There
is
no
one
who
appreciates
so
completely
and
so
highly
the
old
nobility
of
England
as
myself
.
They
are
a
real
aristocracy
.
None
of
the
pinchbeck
pedigrees
and
ormolu
titles
of
the
continent
.
Lord
Montfort
is
,
I
think
,
an
earl
.
A
splendid
title
,
earl
!
an
English
earl
;
count
goes
for
nothing
.
The
Earl
of
Montfort
!
An
enthusiastic
admirer
of
mine
!
The
aristocracy
of
England
,
especially
the
old
aristocracy
,
are
highly
cultivated
.
Sympathy
from
such
a
class
is
to
be
valued
.
I
care
for
no
other
—
I
have
always
despised
the
million
of
vulgar
.
They
have
come
to
me
,
not
I
to
them
,
and
I
have
always
told
them
the
truth
about
themselves
,
that
they
are
a
race
of
snobs
,
and
they
rather
like
being
told
so
.
And
now
for
your
day
?
”
“
Why
not
this
day
if
you
be
free
?
I
will
call
for
you
about
eight
,
and
take
you
in
my
brougham
to
Montfort
House
.
”
“
You
have
got
a
brougham
!
Well
,
I
suppose
so
,
being
a
member
of
parliament
,
though
I
know
a
good
many
members
of
parliament
who
have
not
got
broughams
.
But
your
family
,
I
remember
,
married
into
the
swells
.
I
do
not
grudge
it
you
.
You
were
always
a
good
comrade
to
me
.
I
never
knew
a
man
more
free
from
envy
than
you
,
Ferrars
,
and
envy
is
an
odious
vice
.
There
are
people
I
know
,
who
,
when
they
hear
I
have
dined
with
the
Earl
of
Montfort
,
will
invent
all
sorts
of
stories
against
me
,
and
send
them
to
what
they
call
the
journals
of
society
.
”
“
Well
,
then
,
it
shall
be
to-day
,
”
said
Endymion
,
rising
.
“
It
shall
be
to-day
,
and
to
tell
the
truth
,
I
was
thinking
this
morning
where
I
should
dine
to-day
.
What
I
miss
here
are
the
cafes
.
Now
in
Paris
you
can
dine
every
day
exactly
as
it
suits
your
means
and
mood
.
You
may
dine
for
a
couple
of
francs
in
a
quiet
,
unknown
street
,
and
very
well
;
or
you
may
dine
for
a
couple
of
napoleons
in
a
flaming
saloon
,
with
windows
opening
on
a
crowded
boulevard
.
London
is
deficient
in
dining
capability
.
”
“
You
should
belong
to
a
club
.
Do
you
not
?
”
“
So
I
was
told
by
a
friend
of
mine
the
other
day
,
—
one
of
your
great
swells
.
He
said
I
ought
to
belong
to
the
Athenaeum
,
and
he
would
propose
me
,
and
the
committee
would
elect
me
as
a
matter
of
course
.
They
rejected
me
and
selected
a
bishop
.
And
then
people
are
surprised
that
the
Church
is
in
danger
!
”
CHAPTER
X
The
condition
of
England
at
the
meeting
of
Parliament
in
1842
was
not
satisfactory
.
The
depression
of
trade
in
the
manufacturing
districts
seemed
overwhelming
,
and
continued
increasing
during
the
whole
of
the
year
.
A
memorial
from
Stockport
to
the
Queen
in
the
spring
represented
that
more
than
half
the
master
spinners
had
failed
,
and
that
no
less
than
three
thousand
dwelling-houses
were
untenanted
.
One-fifth
of
the
population
of
Leeds
were
dependent
on
the
poor-rates
.
The
state
of
Sheffield
was
not
less
severe
—
and
the
blast
furnaces
of
Wolverhampton
were
extinguished
.
There
were
almost
daily
meetings
,
at
Liverpool
,
Manchester
,
and
Leeds
,
to
consider
the
great
and
increasing
distress
of
the
country
,
and
to
induce
ministers
to
bring
forward
remedial
measures
;
but
as
these
were
impossible
,
violence
was
soon
substituted
for
passionate
appeals
to
the
fears
or
the
humanity
of
the
government
.
Vast
bodies
of
the
population
assembled
in
Staleybridge
,
and
Ashton
,
and
Oldham
,
and
marched
into
Manchester
.
For
a
week
the
rioting
was
unchecked
,
but
the
government
despatched
a
strong
military
force
to
that
city
,
and
order
was
restored
.
The
state
of
affairs
in
Scotland
was
not
more
favourable
.
There
were
food
riots
in
several
of
the
Scotch
towns
,
and
in
Glasgow
the
multitude
assembled
,
and
then
commenced
what
they
called
a
begging
tour
,
but
which
was
really
a
progress
of
not
disguised
intimidation
.
The
economic
crisis
in
Ireland
was
yet
to
come
,
but
the
whole
of
that
country
was
absorbed
in
a
harassing
and
dangerous
agitation
for
the
repeal
of
the
union
between
the
two
countries
.
During
all
this
time
,
the
Anti-Corn
Law
League
was
holding
regular
and
frequent
meetings
at
Manchester
,
at
which
statements
were
made
distinguished
by
great
eloquence
and
little
scruple
.
But
the
able
leaders
of
this
confederacy
never
succeeded
in
enlisting
the
sympathies
of
the
great
body
of
the
population
.
Between
the
masters
and
the
workmen
there
was
an
alienation
of
feeling
,
which
apparently
never
could
be
removed
.
This
reserve
,
however
,
did
not
enlist
the
working
classes
on
the
side
of
the
government
;
they
had
their
own
object
,
and
one
which
they
themselves
enthusiastically
cherished
.
And
this
was
the
Charter
,
a
political
settlement
which
was
to
restore
the
golden
age
,
and
which
the
master
manufacturers
and
the
middle
classes
generally
looked
upon
with
even
more
apprehension
than
Her
Majesty’s
advisers
.
It
is
hardly
necessary
to
add
,
that
in
a
state
of
affairs
like
that
which
is
here
faintly
but
still
faithfully
sketched
,
the
rapid
diminution
of
the
revenue
was
inevitable
,
and
of
course
that
decline
mainly
occurred
in
the
two
all-important
branches
of
the
customs
and
excise
.
There
was
another
great
misfortune
also
which
at
this
trying
time
hung
over
England
.
The
country
was
dejected
.
The
humiliating
disasters
of
Afghanistan
,
dark
narratives
of
which
were
periodically
arriving
,
had
produced
a
more
depressing
effect
on
the
spirit
of
the
country
than
all
the
victories
and
menaces
of
Napoleon
in
the
heyday
of
his
wild
career
.
At
home
and
abroad
,
there
seemed
nothing
to
sustain
the
national
spirit
;
financial
embarrassment
,
commercial
and
manufacturing
distress
,
social
and
political
agitation
on
the
one
hand
,
and
on
the
other
,
the
loss
of
armies
,
of
reputation
,
perhaps
of
empire
.
It
was
true
that
these
external
misfortunes
could
hardly
be
attributed
to
the
new
ministry
—
but
when
a
nation
is
thoroughly
perplexed
and
dispirited
,
it
soon
ceases
to
make
distinctions
between
political
parties
.
The
country
is
out
of
sorts
,
and
the
“
government
”
is
held
answerable
for
the
disorder
.
Thus
it
will
be
seen
,
that
,
though
the
new
ministry
were
supported
by
a
commanding
majority
in
parliament
,
and
that
,
too
,
after
a
recent
appeal
to
the
country
,
they
were
not
popular
,
it
may
be
truly
said
they
were
even
the
reverse
.
The
opposition
,
on
the
other
hand
,
notwithstanding
their
discomfiture
,
and
,
on
some
subjects
,
their
disgrace
,
were
by
no
means
disheartened
,
and
believed
that
there
were
economical
causes
at
work
,
which
must
soon
restore
them
to
power
.
The
minister
brought
forward
his
revision
of
the
tariff
,
which
was
denounced
by
the
League
as
futile
,
and
in
which
anathema
the
opposition
soon
found
it
convenient
to
agree
.
Had
the
minister
included
in
his
measure
that
“
total
and
immediate
repeal
”
of
the
existing
corn
laws
which
was
preached
by
many
as
a
panacea
,
the
effect
would
have
been
probably
much
the
same
.
No
doubt
a
tariff
may
aggravate
,
or
may
mitigate
,
such
a
condition
of
commercial
depression
as
periodically
visits
a
state
of
society
like
that
of
England
,
but
it
does
not
produce
it
.
It
was
produced
in
1842
,
as
it
had
been
produced
at
the
present
time
,
by
an
abuse
of
capital
and
credit
,
and
by
a
degree
of
production
which
the
wants
of
the
world
have
not
warranted
.
And
yet
all
this
time
,
there
were
certain
influences
at
work
in
the
great
body
of
the
nation
,
neither
foreseen
,
nor
for
some
time
recognised
,
by
statesmen
and
those
great
capitalists
on
whose
opinion
statesmen
much
depend
,
which
were
stirring
,
as
it
were
,
like
the
unconscious
power
of
the
forces
of
nature
,
and
which
were
destined
to
baffle
all
the
calculations
of
persons
in
authority
and
the
leading
spirits
of
all
parties
,
strengthen
a
perplexed
administration
,
confound
a
sanguine
opposition
,
render
all
the
rhetoric
,
statistics
,
and
subscriptions
of
the
Anti-Corn
Law
League
fruitless
,
and
absolutely
make
the
Chartists
forget
the
Charter
.
“
My
friends
will
not
assist
themselves
by
resisting
the
government
measures
,
”
said
Mr.
Neuchatel
,
with
his
usual
calm
smile
,
half
sceptical
,
half
sympathetic
.
“
The
measures
will
do
no
good
,
but
they
will
do
no
harm
.
There
are
no
measures
that
will
do
any
good
at
this
moment
.
We
do
not
want
measures
;
what
we
want
is
a
new
channel
.
”
That
is
exactly
what
was
wanted
.
There
was
abundant
capital
in
the
country
and
a
mass
of
unemployed
labour
.
But
the
markets
on
which
they
had
of
late
depended
,
the
American
especially
,
were
overworked
and
overstocked
,
and
in
some
instances
were
not
only
overstocked
,
but
disturbed
by
war
,
as
the
Chinese
,
for
example
—
and
capital
and
labour
wanted
“
a
new
channel
.
”
The
new
channel
came
,
and
all
the
persons
of
authority
,
alike
political
and
commercial
,
seemed
quite
surprised
that
it
had
arrived
;
but
when
a
thing
or
a
man
is
wanted
,
they
generally
appear
.
One
or
two
lines
of
railway
,
which
had
been
long
sleepily
in
formation
,
about
this
time
were
finished
,
and
one
or
two
lines
of
railway
,
which
had
been
finished
for
some
time
and
were
unnoticed
,
announced
dividends
,
and
not
contemptible
ones
.
Suddenly
there
was
a
general
feeling
in
the
country
,
that
its
capital
should
be
invested
in
railways
;
that
the
whole
surface
of
the
land
should
be
transformed
,
and
covered
,
as
by
a
network
,
with
these
mighty
means
of
communication
.
When
the
passions
of
the
English
,
naturally
an
enthusiastic
people
,
are
excited
on
a
subject
of
finance
,
their
will
,
their
determination
,
and
resource
,
are
irresistible
.
This
was
signally
proved
in
the
present
instance
,
for
they
never
ceased
subscribing
their
capital
until
the
sum
entrusted
to
this
new
form
of
investment
reached
an
amount
almost
equal
to
the
national
debt
;
and
this
too
in
a
very
few
years
.
The
immediate
effect
on
the
condition
of
the
country
was
absolutely
prodigious
.
The
value
of
land
rose
,
all
the
blast
furnaces
were
relit
,
a
stimulant
was
given
to
every
branch
of
the
home
trade
,
the
amount
suddenly
paid
in
wages
exceeded
that
ever
known
in
this
country
,
and
wages
too
at
a
high
rate
.
Large
portions
of
the
labouring
classes
not
only
enjoyed
comfort
,
but
commanded
luxury
.
All
this
of
course
soon
acted
on
the
revenue
,
and
both
customs
and
especially
excise
soon
furnished
an
ample
surplus
.
It
cannot
be
pretended
that
all
this
energy
and
enterprise
were
free
in
their
operation
from
those
evils
which
,
it
seems
,
must
inevitably
attend
any
extensive
public
speculation
,
however
well
founded
.
Many
of
the
scenes
and
circumstances
recalled
the
days
of
the
South
Sea
Scheme
.
The
gambling
in
shares
of
companies
which
were
formed
only
in
name
was
without
limit
.
The
principal
towns
of
the
north
established
for
that
purpose
stock
exchanges
of
their
own
,
and
Leeds
especially
,
one-fifth
of
whose
population
had
been
authoritatively
described
in
the
first
session
of
the
new
parliament
as
dependent
on
the
poor-rates
,
now
boasted
a
stock
exchange
which
in
the
extent
of
its
transactions
rivalled
that
of
the
metropolis
.
And
the
gambling
was
universal
,
from
the
noble
to
the
mechanic
.
It
was
confined
to
no
class
and
to
no
sex
.
The
scene
which
took
place
at
the
Board
of
Trade
on
the
last
day
on
which
plans
could
be
lodged
,
and
when
midnight
had
arrived
while
crowds
from
the
country
were
still
filling
the
hall
,
and
pressing
at
the
doors
,
deserved
and
required
for
its
adequate
representation
the
genius
of
a
Hogarth
.
This
was
the
day
on
which
it
was
announced
that
the
total
number
of
railway
projects
,
on
which
deposits
had
been
paid
,
had
reached
nearly
to
eight
hundred
.
What
is
remarkable
in
this
vast
movement
in
which
so
many
millions
were
produced
,
and
so
many
more
promised
,
is
,
that
the
great
leaders
of
the
financial
world
took
no
part
in
it
.
The
mighty
loan-mongers
,
on
whose
fiat
the
fate
of
kings
and
empires
sometimes
depended
,
seemed
like
men
who
,
witnessing
some
eccentricity
of
nature
,
watch
it
with
mixed
feelings
of
curiosity
and
alarm
.
Even
Lombard
Street
,
which
never
was
more
wanted
,
was
inactive
,
and
it
was
only
by
the
irresistible
pressure
of
circumstances
that
a
banking
firm
which
had
an
extensive
country
connection
was
ultimately
forced
to
take
the
leading
part
that
was
required
,
and
almost
unconsciously
lay
the
foundation
of
the
vast
fortunes
which
it
has
realised
,
and
organise
the
varied
connection
which
it
now
commands
.
All
seemed
to
come
from
the
provinces
,
and
from
unknown
people
in
the
provinces
.
But
in
all
affairs
there
must
be
a
leader
,
and
a
leader
appeared
.
He
was
more
remarkable
than
the
movement
itself
.
He
was
a
London
tradesman
,
though
a
member
of
parliament
returned
for
the
first
time
to
this
House
of
Commons
.
This
leader
was
Mr.
Vigo
.
Mr.
Vigo
had
foreseen
what
was
coming
,
and
had
prepared
for
it
.
He
agreed
with
Mr.
Neuchatel
,
what
was
wanted
was
“
a
new
channel
.
”
That
channel
he
thought
he
had
discovered
,
and
he
awaited
it
.
He
himself
could
command
no
inconsiderable
amount
of
capital
,
and
he
had
a
following
of
obscure
rich
friends
who
believed
in
him
,
and
did
what
he
liked
.
His
daily
visits
to
the
City
,
except
when
he
was
travelling
over
England
,
and
especially
the
north
and
midland
counties
,
had
their
purpose
and
bore
fruit
.
He
was
a
director
,
and
soon
the
chairman
and
leading
spirit
,
of
a
railway
which
was
destined
to
be
perhaps
our
most
important
one
.
He
was
master
of
all
the
details
of
the
business
;
he
had
arrived
at
conclusions
on
the
question
of
the
gauges
,
which
then
was
a
pons
asinorum
for
the
multitude
,
and
understood
all
about
rolling
stock
and
permanent
ways
,
and
sleepers
and
branch
lines
,
which
were
then
cabalistic
terms
to
the
general
.
In
his
first
session
in
parliament
he
had
passed
quietly
and
almost
unnoticed
several
bills
on
these
matters
,
and
began
to
be
recognised
by
the
Committee
of
Selection
as
a
member
who
ought
to
be
“
put
on
”
for
questions
of
this
kind
.
The
great
occasion
had
arrived
,
and
Mr.
Vigo
was
equal
to
it
.
He
was
one
of
those
few
men
who
awake
one
day
and
find
themselves
famous
.
Suddenly
it
would
seem
that
the
name
of
Mr.
Vigo
was
in
everybody’s
mouth
.
There
was
only
one
subject
which
interested
the
country
,
and
he
was
recognised
as
the
man
who
best
understood
it
.
He
was
an
oracle
,
and
,
naturally
,
soon
became
an
idol
.
The
tariff
of
the
ministers
was
forgotten
,
the
invectives
of
the
League
were
disregarded
,
their
motions
for
the
repeal
of
the
corn
laws
were
invariably
defeated
by
large
and
contemptuous
majorities
.
The
House
of
Commons
did
nothing
but
pass
railway
bills
,
measures
which
were
welcomed
with
unanimity
by
the
House
of
Lords
,
whose
estates
were
in
consequence
daily
increasing
in
value
.
People
went
to
the
gallery
to
see
Mr.
Vigo
introduce
bills
,
and
could
scarcely
restrain
their
enthusiasm
at
the
spectacle
of
so
much
patriotic
energy
,
which
secured
for
them
premiums
for
shares
,
which
they
held
in
undertakings
of
which
the
first
sod
was
not
yet
cut
.
On
one
morning
,
the
Great
Cloudland
Company
,
of
which
he
was
chairman
,
gave
their
approval
of
twenty-six
bills
,
which
he
immediately
introduced
into
parliament
.
Next
day
,
the
Ebor
and
North
Cloudland
sanctioned
six
bills
under
his
advice
,
and
affirmed
deeds
and
agreements
which
affected
all
the
principal
railway
projects
in
Lancashire
and
Yorkshire
.
A
quarter
of
an
hour
later
,
just
time
to
hurry
from
one
meeting
to
another
,
where
he
was
always
received
with
rampant
enthusiasm
,
Newcastle
and
the
extreme
north
accepted
his
dictatorship
.
During
a
portion
of
two
days
,
he
obtained
the
consent
of
shareholders
to
forty
bills
,
involving
an
expenditure
of
ten
millions
;
and
the
engagements
for
one
session
alone
amounted
to
one
hundred
and
thirty
millions
sterling
.
Mr.
Neuchatel
shrugged
his
shoulders
,
but
no
one
would
listen
even
to
Mr.
Neuchatel
,
when
the
prime
minister
himself
,
supposed
to
be
the
most
wary
of
men
,
and
especially
on
financial
subjects
,
in
the
very
white
heat
of
all
this
speculation
,
himself
raised
the
first
sod
on
his
own
estate
in
a
project
of
extent
and
importance
.
Throughout
these
extraordinary
scenes
,
Mr.
Vigo
,
though
not
free
from
excitement
,
exhibited
,
on
the
whole
,
much
self-control
.
He
was
faithful
to
his
old
friends
,
and
no
one
profited
more
in
this
respect
than
Mr.
Rodney
.
That
gentleman
became
the
director
of
several
lines
,
and
vice-chairman
of
one
over
which
Mr.
Vigo
himself
presided
.
No
one
was
surprised
that
Mr.
Rodney
therefore
should
enter
parliament
.
He
came
in
by
virtue
of
one
of
those
petitions
that
Tadpole
was
always
cooking
,
or
baffling
.
Mr.
Rodney
was
a
supporter
of
the
ministry
,
and
Mr.
Vigo
was
a
Liberal
,
but
Mr.
Vigo
returned
Mr.
Rodney
to
parliament
all
the
same
,
and
no
one
seemed
astonished
or
complained
.
Political
connection
,
political
consistency
,
political
principle
,
all
vanished
before
the
fascination
of
premiums
.
As
for
Endymion
,
the
great
man
made
him
friendly
and
earnest
overtures
,
and
offered
,
if
he
would
give
his
time
to
business
,
which
,
as
he
was
in
opposition
,
would
be
no
great
sacrifice
,
to
promote
and
secure
his
fortune
.
But
Endymion
,
after
due
reflection
,
declined
,
though
with
gratitude
,
these
tempting
proposals
.
Ferrars
was
an
ambitious
man
,
but
not
too
imaginative
a
one
.
He
had
a
main
object
in
life
,
and
that
was
to
regain
the
position
which
had
been
forfeited
,
not
by
his
own
fault
.
His
grandfather
and
his
father
before
him
had
both
been
privy
councillors
and
ministers
of
state
.
There
had
,
indeed
,
been
more
than
the
prospect
of
his
father
filling
a
very
prominent
position
.
All
had
been
lost
,
but
the
secret
purpose
of
the
life
of
Endymion
was
that
,
from
being
a
clerk
in
a
public
office
,
he
should
arrive
by
his
own
energies
at
the
station
to
which
he
seemed
,
as
it
were
,
born
.
To
accomplish
this
he
felt
that
the
entire
devotion
of
his
labour
and
thought
was
requisite
.
His
character
was
essentially
tenacious
,
and
he
had
already
realised
no
inconsiderable
amount
of
political
knowledge
and
official
experience
.
His
object
seemed
difficult
and
distant
,
but
there
was
nothing
wild
or
visionary
in
its
pursuit
.
He
had
achieved
some
of
the
first
steps
,
and
he
was
yet
very
young
.
There
were
friends
about
him
,
however
,
who
were
not
content
with
what
they
deemed
his
moderate
ambition
,
and
thought
they
discerned
in
him
qualities
which
might
enable
him
to
mount
to
a
higher
stage
.
However
this
might
be
,
his
judgment
was
that
he
must
resist
the
offers
of
Mr.
Vigo
,
though
they
were
sincerely
kind
,
and
so
he
felt
them
.
In
the
meantime
,
he
frequently
met
that
gentleman
,
and
not
merely
in
the
House
of
Commons
.
Mr.
St.
Barbe
would
have
been
frantically
envious
could
he
have
witnessed
and
perused
the
social
invitations
that
fell
like
a
continuous
snow-storm
on
the
favoured
roof
of
Mr.
Vigo
.
Mr.
Vigo
was
not
a
party
question
.
He
dined
with
high
patricians
who
forgot
their
political
differences
,
while
they
agreed
in
courting
the
presence
of
this
great
benefactor
of
his
country
.
The
fine
ladies
were
as
eager
in
their
homage
to
this
real
patriot
,
and
he
might
be
seen
between
rival
countesses
,
who
emulated
each
other
in
their
appreciation
of
his
public
services
.
These
were
Mr.
Vigo’s
dangerous
suitors
.
He
confessed
to
Endymion
one
day
that
he
could
not
manage
the
great
ladies
.
“
Male
swells
,
”
he
would
say
laughingly
,
“
I
have
measured
physically
and
intellectually
.
”
The
golden
youth
of
the
country
seemed
fascinated
by
his
society
,
repeated
his
sententious
bons-mot
,
and
applied
for
shares
in
every
company
which
he
launched
into
prosperous
existence
.
Mr.
Vigo
purchased
a
splendid
mansion
in
St.
James’
Square
,
where
invitations
to
his
banquets
were
looked
upon
almost
as
commands
.
His
chief
cook
was
one
of
the
celebrities
of
Europe
,
and
though
he
had
served
emperors
,
the
salary
he
received
from
Mr.
Vigo
exceeded
any
one
he
had
hitherto
condescended
to
pocket
.
Mr.
Vigo
bought
estates
,
hired
moors
,
lavished
his
money
,
not
only
with
profusion
,
but
with
generosity
.
Everything
was
placed
at
his
command
,
and
it
appeared
that
there
was
nothing
that
he
refused
.
“
When
this
excitement
is
over
,
”
said
Mr.
Bertie
Tremaine
,
“
I
hope
to
induce
him
to
take
India
.
”
In
the
midst
of
this
commanding
effulgence
,
the
calmer
beam
of
Mr.
Rodney
might
naturally
pass
unnoticed
,
yet
its
brightness
was
clear
and
sustained
.
The
Rodneys
engaged
a
dwelling
of
no
mean
proportion
in
that
favoured
district
of
South
Kensington
,
which
was
then
beginning
to
assume
the
high
character
it
has
since
obtained
.
Their
equipages
were
distinguished
,
and
when
Mrs.
Rodney
entered
the
Park
,
driving
her
matchless
ponies
,
and
attended
by
outriders
,
and
herself
bright
as
Diana
,
the
world
leaning
over
its
palings
witnessed
her
appearance
with
equal
delight
and
admiration
.
CHAPTER
XI
We
have
rather
anticipated
,
for
the
sake
of
the
subject
,
in
our
last
chapter
,
and
we
must
now
recur
to
the
time
when
,
after
his
return
from
Paris
,
Endymion
entered
into
what
was
virtually
his
first
session
in
the
House
of
Commons
.
Though
in
opposition
,
and
with
all
the
delights
of
the
most
charming
society
at
his
command
,
he
was
an
habitual
and
constant
attendant
.
One
might
have
been
tempted
to
believe
that
he
would
turn
out
to
be
,
though
a
working
,
only
a
silent
member
,
but
his
silence
was
only
prudence
.
He
was
deeply
interested
and
amused
in
watching
the
proceedings
,
especially
when
those
took
part
in
them
with
whom
he
was
acquainted
.
Job
Thornberry
occupied
a
leading
position
in
the
debates
.
He
addressed
the
House
very
shortly
after
he
took
his
seat
,
and
having
a
purpose
and
a
most
earnest
one
,
and
being
what
is
styled
a
representative
man
of
his
subject
,
the
House
listened
to
him
at
once
,
and
his
place
in
debate
was
immediately
recognised
.
The
times
favoured
him
,
especially
during
the
first
and
second
session
,
while
the
commercial
depression
lasted
;
afterwards
,
he
was
always
listened
to
,
because
he
had
great
oratorical
gifts
,
a
persuasive
style
that
was
winning
,
and
,
though
he
had
no
inconsiderable
powers
of
sarcasm
,
his
extreme
tact
wisely
guided
him
to
restrain
for
the
present
that
dangerous
,
though
most
effective
,
weapon
.
The
Pythagorean
school
,
as
Waldershare
styled
Mr.
Bertie
Tremaine
and
his
following
,
very
much
amused
Endymion
.
The
heaven-born
minister
air
of
the
great
leader
was
striking
.
He
never
smiled
,
or
at
any
rate
contemptuously
.
Notice
of
a
question
was
sometimes
publicly
given
from
this
bench
,
but
so
abstruse
in
its
nature
and
so
quaint
in
its
expression
,
that
the
House
never
comprehended
it
,
and
the
unfortunate
minister
who
had
to
answer
,
even
with
twenty-four
hours’
study
,
was
obliged
to
commence
his
reply
by
a
conjectural
interpretation
of
the
query
formally
addressed
to
him
.
But
though
they
were
silent
in
the
House
,
their
views
were
otherwise
powerfully
represented
.
The
weekly
journal
devoted
to
their
principles
was
sedulously
circulated
among
members
of
the
House
.
It
was
called
the
“
Precursor
,
”
and
systematically
attacked
not
only
every
institution
,
but
,
it
might
be
said
,
every
law
,
and
all
the
manners
and
customs
,
of
the
country
.
Its
style
was
remarkable
,
never
excited
or
impassioned
,
but
frigid
,
logical
,
and
incisive
,
and
suggesting
appalling
revolutions
with
the
calmness
with
which
one
would
narrate
the
ordinary
incidents
of
life
.
The
editor
of
the
“
Precursor
”
was
Mr.
Jawett
,
selected
by
that
great
master
of
human
nature
,
Mr.
Bertie
Tremaine
.
When
it
got
about
,
that
the
editor
of
this
fearful
journal
was
a
clerk
in
a
public
office
,
the
indignation
of
the
government
,
or
at
least
of
their
supporters
,
was
extreme
,
and
there
was
no
end
to
the
punishments
and
disgrace
to
which
he
was
to
be
subjected
;
but
Waldershare
,
who
lived
a
good
deal
in
Bohemia
,
was
essentially
cosmopolitan
,
and
dabbled
in
letters
,
persuaded
his
colleagues
not
to
make
the
editor
of
the
“
Precursor
”
a
martyr
,
and
undertook
with
their
authority
to
counteract
his
evil
purposes
by
literary
means
alone
.
Being
fully
empowered
to
take
all
necessary
steps
for
this
object
,
Waldershare
thought
that
there
was
no
better
mode
of
arresting
public
attention
to
his
enterprise
than
by
engaging
for
its
manager
the
most
renowned
pen
of
the
hour
,
and
he
opened
himself
on
the
subject
in
the
most
sacred
confidence
to
Mr.
St.
Barbe
.
That
gentleman
,
invited
to
call
upon
a
minister
,
sworn
to
secrecy
,
and
brimful
of
state
secrets
,
could
not
long
restrain
himself
,
and
with
admirable
discretion
consulted
on
his
views
and
prospects
Mr.
Endymion
Ferrars
.
“
But
I
thought
you
were
one
of
us
,
”
said
Endymion
;
“
you
asked
me
to
put
you
in
the
way
of
getting
into
Brooks’
!
”
“
What
of
that
?
”
said
Mr.
St.
Barbe
;
“
and
when
you
remember
what
the
Whigs
owe
to
literary
men
,
they
ought
to
have
elected
me
into
Brooks’
without
my
asking
for
it
.
”
“
Still
,
if
you
be
on
the
other
side
?
”
“
It
is
nothing
to
do
with
sides
,
”
said
Mr.
St.
Barbe
;
“
this
affair
goes
far
beyond
sides
.
The
‘Precursor’
wants
to
put
down
the
Crown
;
I
shall
put
down
the
‘Precursor.’
It
is
an
affair
of
the
closet
,
not
of
sides
—
an
affair
of
the
royal
closet
,
sir
.
I
am
acting
for
the
Crown
,
sir
;
the
Crown
has
appealed
to
me
.
I
save
the
Crown
,
and
there
must
be
personal
relations
with
the
highest
,
”
and
he
looked
quite
fierce
.
“
Well
,
you
have
not
written
your
first
article
yet
,
”
said
Endymion
.
“
I
shall
look
forward
to
it
with
much
interest
.
”
After
Easter
,
Lord
Roehampton
said
to
Endymion
that
a
question
ought
to
be
put
on
a
subject
of
foreign
policy
of
importance
,
and
on
which
he
thought
the
ministry
were
in
difficulties
;
“
and
I
think
you
might
as
well
ask
it
,
Endymion
.
I
will
draw
up
the
question
,
and
you
will
give
notice
of
it
.
It
will
be
a
reconnaissance
.
”
The
notice
of
this
question
was
the
first
time
Endymion
opened
his
mouth
in
the
House
of
Commons
.
It
was
an
humble
and
not
a
very
hazardous
office
,
but
when
he
got
on
his
legs
his
head
swam
,
his
heart
beat
so
violently
,
that
it
was
like
a
convulsion
preceding
death
,
and
though
he
was
only
on
his
legs
for
a
few
seconds
,
all
the
sorrows
of
his
life
seemed
to
pass
before
him
.
When
he
sate
down
,
he
was
quite
surprised
that
the
business
of
the
House
proceeded
as
usual
,
and
it
was
only
after
some
time
that
he
became
convinced
that
no
one
but
himself
was
conscious
of
his
sufferings
,
or
that
he
had
performed
a
routine
duty
otherwise
than
in
a
routine
manner
.
The
crafty
question
,
however
,
led
to
some
important
consequences
.
When
asked
,
to
the
surprise
of
every
one
the
minister
himself
replied
to
it
.
Waldershare
,
with
whom
Endymion
dined
at
Bellamy’s
that
day
,
was
in
no
good
humour
in
consequence
.
When
Lord
Roehampton
had
considered
the
ministerial
reply
,
he
said
to
Endymion
,
“
This
must
be
followed
up
.
You
must
move
for
papers
.
It
will
be
a
good
opportunity
for
you
,
for
the
House
is
up
to
something
being
in
the
wind
,
and
they
will
listen
.
It
will
be
curious
to
see
whether
the
minister
follows
you
.
If
so
,
he
will
give
me
an
opening
.
”
Endymion
felt
that
this
was
the
crisis
of
his
life
.
He
knew
the
subject
well
,
and
he
had
all
the
tact
and
experience
of
Lord
Roehampton
to
guide
him
in
his
statement
and
his
arguments
.
He
had
also
the
great
feeling
that
,
if
necessary
,
a
powerful
arm
would
support
him
.
It
was
about
a
week
before
the
day
arrived
,
and
Endymion
slept
very
little
that
week
,
and
the
night
before
his
motion
not
a
wink
.
He
almost
wished
he
was
dead
as
he
walked
down
to
the
House
in
the
hope
that
the
exercise
might
remedy
,
or
improve
,
his
languid
circulation
;
but
in
vain
,
and
when
his
name
was
called
and
he
had
to
rise
,
his
hands
and
feet
were
like
ice
.
Lady
Roehampton
and
Lady
Montfort
were
both
in
the
ventilator
,
and
he
knew
it
.
It
might
be
said
that
he
was
sustained
by
his
utter
despair
.
He
felt
so
feeble
and
generally
imbecile
,
that
he
had
not
vitality
enough
to
be
sensible
of
failure
.
He
had
a
kind
audience
,
and
an
interested
one
.
When
he
opened
his
mouth
,
he
forgot
his
first
sentence
,
which
he
had
long
prepared
.
In
trying
to
recall
it
and
failing
,
he
was
for
a
moment
confused
.
But
it
was
only
for
a
moment
;
the
unpremeditated
came
to
his
aid
,
and
his
voice
,
at
first
tremulous
,
was
recognised
as
distinct
and
rich
.
There
was
a
murmur
of
sympathy
,
and
not
merely
from
his
own
side
.
Suddenly
,
both
physically
and
intellectually
,
he
was
quite
himself
.
His
arrested
circulation
flowed
,
and
fed
his
stagnant
brain
.
His
statement
was
lucid
,
his
arguments
were
difficult
to
encounter
,
and
his
manner
was
modest
.
He
sate
down
amid
general
applause
,
and
though
he
was
then
conscious
that
he
had
omitted
more
than
one
point
on
which
he
had
relied
,
he
was
on
the
whole
satisfied
,
and
recollected
that
he
might
use
them
in
reply
,
a
privilege
to
which
he
now
looked
forward
with
feelings
of
comfort
and
confidence
.
The
minister
again
followed
him
,
and
in
an
elaborate
speech
.
The
subject
evidently
,
in
the
opinion
of
the
minister
,
was
of
too
delicate
and
difficult
a
character
to
trust
to
a
subordinate
.
Overwhelmed
as
he
was
with
the
labours
of
his
own
department
,
the
general
conduct
of
affairs
,
and
the
leadership
of
the
House
,
he
still
would
undertake
the
representation
of
an
office
with
whose
business
he
was
not
familiar
.
Wary
and
accurate
he
always
was
,
but
in
discussions
on
foreign
affairs
,
he
never
exhibited
the
unrivalled
facility
with
which
he
ever
treated
a
commercial
or
financial
question
,
or
that
plausible
promptness
with
which
,
at
a
moment’s
notice
,
he
could
encounter
any
difficulty
connected
with
domestic
administration
.
All
these
were
qualities
which
Lord
Roehampton
possessed
with
reference
to
the
affairs
over
which
he
had
long
presided
,
and
in
the
present
instance
,
following
the
minister
,
he
was
particularly
happy
.
He
had
a
good
case
,
and
he
was
gratified
by
the
success
of
Endymion
.
He
complimented
him
and
confuted
his
opponent
,
and
,
not
satisfied
with
demolishing
his
arguments
,
Lord
Roehampton
indulged
in
a
little
raillery
which
the
House
enjoyed
,
but
which
was
never
pleasing
to
the
more
solemn
organisation
of
his
rival
.
No
language
can
describe
the
fury
of
Waldershare
as
to
the
events
of
this
evening
.
He
looked
upon
the
conduct
of
the
minister
,
in
not
permitting
him
to
represent
his
department
,
as
a
decree
of
the
incapacity
of
his
subordinate
,
and
of
the
virtual
termination
of
the
official
career
of
the
Under-Secretary
of
State
.
He
would
have
resigned
the
next
day
had
it
not
been
for
the
influence
of
Lady
Beaumaris
,
who
soothed
him
by
suggesting
,
that
it
would
be
better
to
take
an
early
opportunity
of
changing
his
present
post
for
another
.
The
minister
was
wrong
.
He
was
not
fond
of
trusting
youth
,
but
it
is
a
confidence
which
should
be
exercised
,
particularly
in
the
conduct
of
a
popular
assembly
.
If
the
under-secretary
had
not
satisfactorily
answered
Endymion
,
which
no
one
had
a
right
to
assume
,
for
Waldershare
was
a
brilliant
man
,
the
minister
could
have
always
advanced
to
the
rescue
at
the
fitting
time
.
As
it
was
,
he
made
a
personal
enemy
of
one
who
naturally
might
have
ripened
into
a
devoted
follower
,
and
who
from
his
social
influence
,
as
well
as
from
his
political
talents
,
was
no
despicable
foe
.
CHAPTER
XII
Notwithstanding
the
great
political
,
and
consequently
social
,
changes
that
had
taken
place
,
no
very
considerable
alteration
occurred
in
the
general
life
of
those
chief
personages
in
whose
existence
we
have
attempted
to
interest
the
reader
.
However
vast
may
appear
to
be
the
world
in
which
we
move
,
we
all
of
us
live
in
a
limited
circle
.
It
is
the
result
of
circumstances
;
of
our
convenience
and
our
taste
.
Lady
Beaumaris
became
the
acknowledged
leader
of
Tory
society
,
and
her
husband
was
so
pleased
with
her
position
,
and
so
proud
of
it
,
that
he
in
a
considerable
degree
sacrificed
his
own
pursuits
and
pleasures
for
its
maintenance
.
He
even
refused
the
mastership
of
a
celebrated
hunt
,
which
had
once
been
an
object
of
his
highest
ambition
,
that
he
might
be
early
and
always
in
London
to
support
his
wife
in
her
receptions
.
Imogene
herself
was
universally
popular
.
Her
gentle
and
natural
manners
,
blended
with
a
due
degree
of
self-respect
,
her
charming
appearance
,
and
her
ready
but
unaffected
sympathy
,
won
every
heart
.
Lady
Roehampton
was
her
frequent
guest
.
Myra
continued
her
duties
as
a
leader
of
society
,
as
her
lord
was
anxious
that
the
diplomatic
world
should
not
forget
him
.
These
were
the
two
principal
and
rival
houses
.
The
efforts
of
Lady
Montfort
were
more
fitful
,
for
they
were
to
a
certain
degree
dependent
on
the
moods
of
her
husband
.
It
was
observed
that
Lady
Beaumaris
never
omitted
attending
the
receptions
of
Lady
Roehampton
,
and
the
tone
of
almost
reverential
affection
with
which
she
ever
approached
Myra
was
touching
to
those
who
were
in
the
secret
,
but
they
were
few
.
No
great
change
occurred
in
the
position
of
Prince
Florestan
,
except
that
in
addition
to
the
sports
to
which
he
was
apparently
devoted
,
he
gradually
began
to
interest
himself
in
the
turf
.
He
had
bred
several
horses
of
repute
,
and
one
,
which
he
had
named
Lady
Roehampton
,
was
the
favourite
for
a
celebrated
race
.
His
highness
was
anxious
that
Myra
should
honour
him
by
being
his
guest
.
This
had
never
occurred
before
,
because
Lord
Roehampton
felt
that
so
avowed
an
intimacy
with
a
personage
in
the
peculiar
position
of
Prince
Florestan
was
hardly
becoming
a
Secretary
of
State
for
Foreign
Affairs
;
but
that
he
was
no
longer
,
and
being
the
most
good-natured
man
that
ever
lived
,
and
easily
managed
in
little
things
,
he
could
not
refuse
Myra
when
she
consulted
him
,
as
they
call
it
,
on
the
subject
,
and
it
was
settled
that
Lord
and
Lady
Roehampton
were
to
dine
with
Prince
Florestan
.
The
prince
was
most
anxious
that
Mr.
Sidney
Wilton
should
take
this
occasion
of
consenting
to
a
reconciliation
with
him
,
and
Lady
Roehampton
exerted
herself
much
for
this
end
.
Mr.
Sidney
Wilton
was
in
love
with
Lady
Roehampton
,
and
yet
on
this
point
he
was
inexorable
.
Lord
and
Lady
Beaumaris
went
,
and
Lady
Montfort
,
to
whom
the
prince
had
addressed
a
private
note
of
his
own
that
quite
captivated
her
,
and
Mr.
and
Mrs.
Neuchatel
and
Adriana
.
Waldershare
,
Endymion
,
and
Baron
Sergius
completed
the
guests
,
who
were
received
by
the
Duke
of
St.
Angelo
and
a
couple
of
aides-de-camp
.
When
the
prince
entered
all
rose
,
and
the
ladies
curtseyed
very
low
.
Lord
Roehampton
resumed
his
seat
immediately
,
saying
to
his
neighbour
,
“
I
rose
to
show
my
respect
to
my
host
;
I
sit
down
to
show
that
I
look
upon
him
as
a
subject
like
myself
.
”
“
A
subject
of
whom
?
”
inquired
Lady
Montfort
.
“
There
is
something
in
that
,
”
said
Lord
Roehampton
,
smiling
.
The
Duke
of
St.
Angelo
was
much
disturbed
by
the
conduct
of
Lord
Roehampton
,
which
had
disappointed
his
calculations
,
and
he
went
about
lamenting
that
Lord
Roehampton
had
a
little
gout
.
They
had
assembled
in
the
library
and
dined
on
the
same
floor
.
The
prince
was
seated
between
Lady
Montfort
,
whom
he
accompanied
to
dinner
,
and
Lady
Roehampton
.
Adriana
fell
to
Endymion’s
lot
.
She
looked
very
pretty
,
was
beautifully
dressed
,
and
for
her
,
was
even
gay
.
Her
companion
was
in
good
spirits
,
and
she
seemed
interested
and
amused
.
The
prince
never
spoke
much
,
but
his
remarks
always
told
.
He
liked
murmuring
to
women
,
but
when
requisite
,
he
could
throw
a
fly
over
the
table
with
adroitness
and
effect
.
More
than
once
during
the
dinner
he
whispered
to
Lady
Roehampton
:
“
This
is
too
kind
—
your
coming
here
.
But
you
have
always
been
my
best
friend
.
”
The
dinner
would
have
been
lively
and
successful
even
if
Waldershare
had
not
been
there
,
but
he
to-day
was
exuberant
and
irresistible
.
His
chief
topic
was
abuse
of
the
government
of
which
he
was
a
member
,
and
he
lavished
all
his
powers
of
invective
and
ridicule
alike
on
the
imbecility
of
their
policy
and
their
individual
absurdities
.
All
this
much
amused
Lady
Montfort
,
and
gave
Lord
Roehampton
an
opportunity
to
fool
the
Under-Secretary
of
State
to
the
top
of
his
bent
.
“
If
you
do
not
take
care
,
”
said
Mr.
Neuchatel
,
“
they
will
turn
you
out
.
”
“
I
wish
they
would
,
”
said
Waldershare
.
“
That
is
what
I
am
longing
for
.
I
should
go
then
all
over
the
country
and
address
public
meetings
.
It
would
be
the
greatest
thing
since
Sacheverell
.
”
“
Our
people
have
not
behaved
well
to
Mr.
Waldershare
,
”
whispered
Imogene
to
Lord
Roehampton
,
“
but
I
think
we
shall
put
it
all
right
.
”
“
Do
you
believe
it
?
”
inquired
Lady
Montfort
of
Lord
Roehampton
.
He
had
been
speaking
to
her
for
some
little
time
in
a
hushed
tone
,
and
rather
earnestly
.
“
Indeed
I
do
;
I
cannot
well
see
what
there
is
to
doubt
about
it
.
We
know
the
father
very
well
—
an
excellent
man
;
he
was
the
parish
priest
of
Lady
Roehampton
before
her
marriage
,
when
she
lived
in
the
country
.
And
we
know
from
him
that
more
than
a
year
ago
something
was
contemplated
.
The
son
gave
up
his
living
then
;
he
has
remained
at
Rome
ever
since
.
And
now
I
am
told
he
returns
to
us
,
the
Pope’s
legate
and
an
archbishop
in
partibus
!
”
“
It
is
most
interesting
,
”
said
Lady
Montfort
.
“
I
was
always
his
great
admirer
.
”
“
I
know
that
;
you
and
Lady
Roehampton
made
me
go
and
hear
him
.
The
father
will
be
terribly
distressed
.
”
“
I
do
not
care
at
all
about
the
father
,
”
said
Lady
Montfort
;
“
but
the
son
had
such
a
fine
voice
and
was
so
very
good-looking
.
I
hope
I
shall
see
him
.
”
They
were
speaking
of
Nigel
Penruddock
,
whose
movements
had
been
a
matter
of
much
mystery
during
the
last
two
years
.
Rumours
of
his
having
been
received
into
the
Roman
Church
had
been
often
rife
;
sometimes
flatly
,
and
in
time
faintly
,
contradicted
.
Now
the
facts
seemed
admitted
,
and
it
would
appear
that
he
was
about
to
return
to
England
not
only
as
a
Roman
Catholic
,
but
as
a
distinguished
priest
of
the
Church
,
and
,
it
was
said
,
even
the
representative
of
the
Papacy
.
All
the
guests
rose
at
the
same
time
—
a
pleasant
habit
—
and
went
upstairs
to
the
brilliantly
lighted
saloons
.
Lord
Roehampton
seated
himself
by
Baron
Sergius
,
with
whom
he
was
always
glad
to
converse
.
“
We
seem
here
quiet
and
content
?
”
said
the
ex-minister
inquiringly
.
“
I
hope
so
,
and
I
think
so
,
”
said
Sergius
.
“
He
believes
in
his
star
,
and
will
leave
everything
to
its
influence
.
There
are
to
be
no
more
adventures
.
”
“
It
must
be
a
great
relief
to
Lord
Roehampton
to
have
got
quit
of
office
,
”
said
Mrs.
Neuchatel
to
Lady
Roehampton
.
“
I
always
pitied
him
so
much
.
I
never
can
understand
why
people
voluntarily
incur
such
labours
and
anxiety
.
”
“
You
should
join
us
,
”
said
Mr.
Neuchatel
to
Waldershare
.
“
They
would
be
very
glad
to
see
you
at
Brooks’
.
”
“
Brooks’
may
join
the
October
Club
which
I
am
going
to
revive
,
”
said
Waldershare
.
“
I
never
heard
of
that
club
,
”
said
Mr.
Neuchatel
.
“
It
was
a
much
more
important
thing
than
the
Bill
of
Rights
or
the
Act
of
Settlement
,
”
said
Waldershare
,
“
all
the
same
.
”
“
I
want
to
see
his
mother’s
portrait
in
the
farther
saloon
,
”
said
Lady
Montfort
to
Myra
.
“
Let
us
go
together
.
”
And
Lady
Roehampton
rose
,
and
they
went
.
It
was
a
portrait
of
Queen
Agrippina
by
a
master
hand
,
and
admirably
illumined
by
reflected
light
,
so
that
it
seemed
to
live
.
“
She
must
have
been
very
beautiful
,
”
said
Lady
Montfort
.
“
Mr.
Sidney
Wilton
was
devotedly
attached
to
her
,
my
lord
has
told
me
,
”
said
Lady
Roehampton
.
“
So
many
were
devotedly
attached
to
her
,
”
said
Lady
Montfort
.
“
Yes
;
she
was
like
Mary
of
Scotland
,
whom
some
men
are
in
love
with
even
to
this
day
.
Her
spell
was
irresistible
.
There
are
no
such
women
now
.
”
“
Yes
;
there
is
one
,
”
said
Lady
Montfort
,
suddenly
turning
round
and
embracing
Lady
Roehampton
;
“
and
I
know
she
hates
me
,
because
she
thinks
I
prevent
her
brother
from
marrying
.
”
“
Dear
Lady
Montfort
,
how
can
you
use
such
strong
expressions
?
I
am
sure
there
can
be
only
one
feeling
of
Endymion’s
friends
to
you
,
and
that
is
gratitude
for
your
kindness
to
him
.
”
“
I
have
done
nothing
for
him
;
I
can
do
nothing
for
him
.
I
felt
that
when
we
were
trying
to
get
him
into
parliament
.
If
he
could
marry
,
and
be
independent
,
and
powerful
,
and
rich
,
it
would
be
better
,
perhaps
,
for
all
of
us
.
”
“
I
wish
he
were
independent
,
and
powerful
,
and
rich
,
”
said
Myra
musingly
.
“
That
would
be
a
fairy
tale
.
At
present
,
he
must
be
content
that
he
has
some
of
the
kindest
friends
in
the
world
.
”
“
He
interests
me
very
much
;
no
one
so
much
.
I
am
sincerely
,
even
deeply
attached
to
him
;
but
it
is
like
your
love
,
it
is
a
sister’s
love
.
There
is
only
one
person
I
really
love
in
the
world
,
and
alas
!
he
does
not
love
me
!
”
And
her
voice
was
tremulous
.
“
Do
not
say
such
things
,
dear
Lady
Montfort
.
I
never
can
believe
what
you
sometimes
intimate
on
that
subject
.
Do
you
know
,
I
think
it
a
little
hallucination
.
”
Lady
Montfort
shook
her
head
with
a
truly
mournful
expression
,
and
then
suddenly
,
her
beautiful
face
wreathed
with
smiles
,
she
said
in
a
gay
voice
,
“
We
will
not
think
of
such
sorrows
.
I
wish
them
to
be
entombed
in
my
heart
,
but
the
spectres
will
rise
sometimes
.
Now
about
your
brother
.
I
do
not
mean
to
say
that
it
would
not
be
a
great
loss
to
me
if
he
married
,
but
I
wish
him
to
marry
if
you
do
.
For
myself
,
I
must
have
a
male
friend
,
and
he
must
be
very
clever
,
and
thoroughly
understand
politics
.
You
know
you
deprived
me
of
Lord
Roehampton
,
”
she
continued
smilingly
,
“
who
was
everything
I
could
desire
;
and
the
Count
of
Ferroll
would
have
suited
me
excellently
,
but
then
he
ran
away
.
Now
Endymion
could
not
easily
run
away
,
and
he
is
so
agreeable
and
so
intelligent
,
that
at
last
I
thought
I
had
found
a
companion
worth
helping
—
and
I
meant
,
and
still
mean
,
to
work
hard
—
until
he
is
prime
minister
.
”
“
I
have
my
dreams
too
about
that
,
”
said
Lady
Roehampton
,
“
but
we
are
all
about
the
same
age
,
and
can
wait
a
little
.
”
“
He
cannot
be
minister
too
soon
,
”
said
Lady
Montfort
.
“
It
was
not
being
minister
soon
that
ruined
Charles
Fox
.
”
The
party
broke
up
.
The
prince
made
a
sign
to
Waldershare
,
which
meant
a
confidential
cigar
,
and
in
a
few
minutes
they
were
alone
together
.
“
What
women
!
”
exclaimed
the
prince
.
“
Not
to
be
rivalled
in
this
city
,
and
yet
quite
unlike
each
other
.
”
“
And
which
do
you
admire
most
,
sir
?
”
said
Waldershare
.
The
prince
trimmed
his
cigar
,
and
then
he
said
,
“
I
will
tell
you
this
day
five
years
.
”
CHAPTER
XIII
The
ecclesiastical
incident
mentioned
at
the
dinner
described
in
our
last
chapter
,
produced
a
considerable
effect
in
what
is
called
society
.
Nigel
Penruddock
had
obtained
great
celebrity
as
a
preacher
,
while
his
extreme
doctrines
and
practices
had
alike
amazed
,
fascinated
,
and
alarmed
a
large
portion
of
the
public
.
For
some
time
he
had
withdrawn
from
the
popular
gaze
,
but
his
individuality
was
too
strong
to
be
easily
forgotten
,
even
if
occasional
paragraphs
as
to
his
views
and
conduct
,
published
,
contradicted
,
and
reiterated
,
were
not
sufficient
to
sustain
,
and
even
stimulate
,
curiosity
.
That
he
was
about
to
return
to
his
native
land
,
as
the
Legate
of
His
Holiness
,
was
an
event
which
made
many
men
look
grave
,
and
some
female
hearts
flutter
.
The
memory
of
Lady
Roehampton
could
not
escape
from
the
past
,
and
she
could
not
recall
it
and
all
the
scenes
at
Hurstley
without
emotion
;
and
Lady
Montfort
remembered
with
some
pride
and
excitement
,
that
the
Legate
of
the
Pope
had
been
one
of
her
heroes
.
It
was
evident
that
he
had
no
wish
to
avoid
his
old
acquaintances
,
for
shortly
after
his
arrival
,
and
after
he
had
assembled
his
suffragans
,
and
instructed
the
clergy
of
his
district
,
for
dioceses
did
not
then
exist
,
Archbishop
Penruddock
,
for
so
the
Metropolitan
of
Tyre
simply
styled
himself
,
called
upon
both
these
ladies
.
His
first
visit
was
to
Myra
,
and
notwithstanding
her
disciplined
self-control
,
her
intense
pride
,
and
the
deep
and
daring
spirit
which
always
secretly
sustained
her
,
she
was
nervous
and
agitated
,
but
only
in
her
boudoir
.
When
she
entered
the
saloon
to
welcome
him
,
she
seemed
as
calm
as
if
she
were
going
to
an
evening
assembly
.
Nigel
was
changed
.
Instead
of
that
anxious
and
moody
look
which
formerly
marred
the
refined
beauty
of
his
countenance
,
his
glance
was
calm
and
yet
radiant
.
He
was
thinner
,
it
might
almost
be
said
emaciated
,
which
seemed
to
add
height
to
his
tall
figure
.
Lady
Roehampton
need
not
have
been
nervous
about
the
interview
,
and
the
pain
of
its
inevitable
associations
.
Except
one
allusion
at
the
end
of
his
visit
,
when
his
Grace
mentioned
some
petty
grievance
,
of
which
he
wished
to
relieve
his
clergy
,
and
said
,
“
I
think
I
will
consult
your
brother
;
being
in
the
opposition
,
he
will
be
less
embarrassed
than
some
of
my
friends
in
the
government
,
or
their
supporters
,
”
he
never
referred
to
the
past
.
All
he
spoke
of
was
the
magnitude
of
his
task
,
the
immense
but
inspiring
labours
which
awaited
him
,
and
his
deep
sense
of
his
responsibility
.
Nothing
but
the
Divine
principle
of
the
Church
could
sustain
him
.
He
was
at
one
time
hopeful
that
His
Holiness
might
have
thought
the
time
ripe
for
the
restoration
of
the
national
hierarchy
,
but
it
was
decreed
otherwise
.
Had
it
been
accorded
,
no
doubt
it
would
have
assisted
him
.
A
prelate
in
partibus
is
,
in
a
certain
sense
,
a
stranger
,
whatever
his
duties
,
and
the
world
is
more
willing
when
it
is
appealed
to
by
one
who
has
“
a
local
habitation
and
a
name
;
”
he
is
identified
with
the
people
among
whom
he
lives
.
There
was
much
to
do
.
The
state
of
the
Catholic
poor
in
his
own
district
was
heartrending
.
He
never
could
have
conceived
such
misery
,
and
that
too
under
the
shadow
of
the
Abbey
.
The
few
schools
which
existed
were
wretched
,
and
his
first
attention
must
be
given
to
this
capital
deficiency
.
He
trusted
much
to
female
aid
.
He
meant
to
invite
the
great
Catholic
ladies
to
unite
with
him
in
a
common
labour
of
love
.
In
this
great
centre
of
civilisation
,
and
wealth
,
and
power
,
there
was
need
of
the
spirit
of
a
St.
Ursula
.
No
one
seemed
more
pleased
by
the
return
of
Archbishop
Penruddock
than
Lord
Montfort
.
He
appeared
to
be
so
deeply
interested
in
his
Grace’s
mission
,
sought
his
society
so
often
,
treated
him
with
such
profound
respect
,
almost
ceremony
,
asked
so
many
questions
about
what
was
happening
at
Rome
,
and
what
was
going
to
be
done
here
—
that
Nigel
might
have
been
pardoned
if
he
did
not
despair
of
ultimately
inducing
Lord
Montfort
to
return
to
the
faith
of
his
illustrious
ancestors
.
And
yet
,
all
this
time
,
Lord
