r. Griffenbottom. Mr. Griffenbottom understood enough of all this
to answer Mr. Trigger without inserting in his letter any of those
anathemas which he uttered in the privacy of his own closet. He
did, indeed, expostulate, saying, that he would of course suggest
a colleague, if a colleague were required; but did not Mr. Trigger
and his other friends in the dear old borough think that just at
the present moment a pacific line of action would be best for the
interests of the dear old borough? Mr. Trigger answered him very
quickly, and perhaps a little sharply. The Liberals had decided upon
having two men in the field, and therefore a pacific line of action
was no longer possible. Mr. Griffenbottom hurried over to the dear
old borough, still hoping,--but could do nothing. The scent of the
battle was in the air, and the foolish men of Percycross were keen
for blood. Mr. Griffenbottom smiled and promised, and declared to
himself that there was no peace for the politician on this side
the grave. He made known his desires,--or the desire rather of the
borough,--to a certain gentleman connected with a certain club in
London, and the gentleman in question on the following day waited
upon Sir Thomas. Sir Thomas had always been true "to the party,"--so
the gentleman in question was good enough to say. Everybody had
regretted the loss of Sir Thomas from the House. The present
opportunity of returning to it was almost unparalleled, seeing that
thing was so nearly a certainty. Griffenbottom had always been at the
top of the poll, and the large majority of the new voters were men in
the employment of conservative masters. The gentleman in question was
very clear in his explanation that there was a complete understanding
on this matter between the employers and employed at Percycross. It
was the nature of the Percycross artizan to vote as his master voted.
They made boots, mustard, and paper at Percycross. The men in the
mustard and paper trade were quite safe;--excellent men, who went
in a line to the poll, and voted just as the master paper-makers
and master mustard-makers desired. The gentleman from the club
acknowledged that there was a difficulty about the boot-trade. All
the world over, boots do affect radical sentiments. The master
bootmakers,--there were four in the borough,--were decided; but the
men could not be got at with any certainty.

"Why should you wish to get at them?" demanded Sir Thomas.

"No;--of course not; one