n. I should seriously doubt whether in the whole
of the United Kingdom there is a man who has more. I know myself of a
million or so who would welcome the news of your death to-morrow. I
know of a select few who have opened, and will open their newspapers
to-morrow, and for the next few days, in the hope of seeing your obituary
notice."
A light commenced to break in upon Mannering. He looked towards his
companion incredulously.
"You mean political opponents!" he exclaimed. "Is that what you are
driving at all the time?"
The man laughed softly.
"My friend," he said--"excuse me, Mr. Mannering--you remind me
irresistibly of _Punch's_ cartoon last week--the ostrich politician with
his head in the sand. You have thrust yours very deep down indeed, when
you talk of political opponents. Do you know what they call you in the
North, sir?"
"No!"
"The enemy of the people! It isn't a pleasant title, is it?"
"It is a false one!" Mannering declared, with a little note of passion
quivering in his tone.
"It is as true and certain as the judgment of God!" his companion
answered, with almost lightning-like rapidity.
There was a moment's silence. They passed a lamp-post, and Mannering,
turning his head, scrutinized the other's features closely.
"I should like to know who you are," he said, "and what your name is."
"It is a reasonable curiosity," the man answered. "My name is Fardell,
Richard Fardell, and I am a retired bookmaker."
"A bookmaker!" Mannering repeated, incredulously.
"Precisely. I should imagine from what I know of you, Mr. Mannering, that
my occupation, or rather my late occupation, is not one which would
appeal to you favourably. Very likely not! I don't see why it should
myself. But at any rate, it taught me a lot about my fellow men. I did my
business in shillings and half-crowns, you see. Did it with the working
classes, the sort who used to go to a race-meeting for a jaunt, and just
have a bit on for the sake of the sport. Took their missus generally, and
made a holiday of it, and if they lost they'd grin and come and chaff me,
and if they won they'd spend the money like lords. I made money, of
course, bought houses, and made a lot more. Then business fell off. I
didn't seem to meet with that cheerful holiday-making crew at any of the
meetings up in the North, and I got sick of it. You see, I'd made sort
of friends with them. They all knew Dicky Fardell, and I knew hundreds
of 'em by sight.
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