"I don't know
an honester man than Tifto anywhere."

"I dare say. Or rather, I don't dare say. I know nothing about the
Major's honesty, and I doubt whether you do. He rides very well."

"What has that to do with it?"

"Nothing on earth. Therefore I advise you not to take him to
Silverbridge."

"You needn't preach."

"You may call it what you like. Tifto would not hold his tongue,
and there is nothing he could say there which would not be to your
prejudice."

"Will you go?"

"If you wish it," said Tregear.

"What will the governor say?"

"That must be your look-out. In a political point of view I
shall not disgrace you. I shall hold my tongue and look like a
gentleman,--neither of which is in Tifto's power."

And so it was settled, that on the day but one after this
conversation Lord Silverbridge and Tregear should go together to
Silverbridge. But the Major, when on the same night his noble
friend's altered plans were explained to him, did not bear the
disappointment with equanimity. "Isn't that a little strange?" he
said, becoming very red in the face.

"What do you call strange?" said the Lord.

"Well;--I'd made all my arrangements. When a man has been asked to do
a thing like that, he doesn't like to be put off."

"The truth is, Tifto, when I came to think of it, I saw that, going
down to these fellows about Parliament and all that sort of thing, I
ought to have a political atmosphere, and not a racing or a betting
or a hunting atmosphere."

"There isn't a man in London who cares more about politics than I
do;--and not very many perhaps who understand them better. To tell
you the truth, my Lord, I think you are throwing me over."

"I'll make it up to you," said Silverbridge, meaning to be kind.
"I'll go down to Newmarket with you and stick to you like wax."

"No doubt you'll do that," said Tifto, who, like a fool, failed to
see where his advantage lay. "I can be useful at Newmarket, and so
you'll stick to me."

"Look here, Major Tifto," said Silverbridge; "if you are
dissatisfied, you and I can easily separate ourselves."

"I am not dissatisfied," said the little man, almost crying.

"Then don't talk as though you were. As to Silverbridge, I shall
not want you there. When I asked you I was only thinking what would
be pleasant to both of us; but since that I have remembered that
business must be business." Even this did not reconcile the angry
little man, who as he turned away declared with