the academical art
of the day, which had been fed by his personal hatred of one
particularly successful exponent of it, was fanned into fury. And,
at the same time, as he proceeded, with short, hasty steps, amply
armed for the vindication of his friend, in his grim fatalism he
seemed to himself immensely the instrument of destiny, which had so
given his enemy into his hands.

He paused when he reached Fleet Street; entering the first
public-house, at haphazard, to order six pennyworth of brandy, which
he drank neat across the counter, with slow, appreciative sips, as
he reminded himself that, the excellence of his ammunition
notwithstanding, he was still without any definite plan of campaign.

Would his luck desert him again? Would Sylvester be away, or refuse
to see him? or, while receiving him, contrive by some sinuous legal
device, adroitly to divert his attack? The mere contemplation of any
such frustration dulled him strangely.

He called for his glass to be replenished, and emptied it sharply:
and immediately the generous spirit moved his pulse, rebuked him for
his depression, sent him briskly on on his way.

As he lifted the ponderous knocker upon Sylvester's door, he
remembered vividly the only other occasion upon which he had visited
those chambers. With the member for Mallow, too, indiscreet busybody
that he was, had he not a reckoning to settle? The choice of him as
an instrument of his punishment, which, if it was primarily directed
against another, should not leave him wholly unscathed, gave a zest
to his malice, and increased firmness to his manner, as he curtly
ordered the clerk to take in his card.

"Is it an appointment?" this youth had asked dubiously, "because if
it isn't----"

"Mr. Sylvester will see me," said Oswyn with irritation, "if you
will have the goodness to do as you are told, and give him my name."

At which the youth had smiled loftily and retired, only to return
five minutes later with an air of greater humility and information
that the legislator was disengaged.

Charles looked up at him from the table at which he was sitting,
with an open volume of Hansard before him, coldly waving him to a
chair--an offer which Oswyn, mentally damning his superciliousness,
ignored.

"My business is very brief," he said quickly; "I can explain it
standing."

"I understand that it is urgent, Mr.--Mr. Oswyn. Otherwise, you
know, I am a busy man."

"You mean that my call is inconvenient? I