as a
Dissenter. But notwithstanding this lack of patronage from the
one great family in the neighbourhood, the business flourished,
increased, and spread wide; and the Dissenting head thereof
looked around, about the time of which I speak, and felt himself
powerful enough to defy the great Cranworth interest even in their
hereditary stronghold, and, by so doing, avenge the slights of many
years--slights which rankled in Mr Bradshaw's mind as much as if he
did not go to chapel twice every Sunday, and pay the largest pew-rent
of any member of Mr Benson's congregation.

Accordingly, Mr Bradshaw had applied to one of the Liberal
parliamentary agents in London--a man whose only principle was to do
wrong on the Liberal side; he would not act, right or wrong, for a
Tory, but for a Whig the latitude of his conscience had never yet
been discovered. It was possible Mr Bradshaw was not aware of the
character of this agent; at any rate, he knew he was the man for his
purpose, which was to hear of some one who would come forward as
a candidate for the representation of Eccleston on the Dissenting
interest.

"There are in round numbers about six hundred voters," said he; "two
hundred are decidedly in the Cranworth interest--dare not offend Mr
Cranworth, poor souls! Two hundred more we may calculate upon as
pretty certain--factory hands, or people connected with our trade
in some way or another--who are indignant at the stubborn way in
which Cranworth has contested the right of water; two hundred are
doubtful."

"Don't much care either way," said the parliamentary agent. "Of
course, we must make them care."

Mr Bradshaw rather shrunk from the knowing look with which this was
said. He hoped that Mr Pilson did not mean to allude to bribery; but
he did not express this hope, because he thought it would deter the
agent from using this means, and it was possible it might prove to
be the only way. And if he (Mr Bradshaw) once embarked on such an
enterprise, there must be no failure. By some expedient or another,
success must be certain, or he could have nothing to do with it.

The parliamentary agent was well accustomed to deal with all kinds
and shades of scruples. He was most at home with men who had none;
but still he could allow for human weakness; and he perfectly
understood Mr Bradshaw.

"I have a notion I know of a man who will just suit your purpose.
Plenty of money--does not know what to do with it, in fact--tired of
yach