who act
with me in this matter," said Sir Thomas. "At any rate I will not be
petitioned against."

"Petitions never come to much at Percycross," said Mr. Trigger. He
certainly ought to have known, as he had had to do with a great many
of them. Then they started to call upon two or three of the leading
conservative gentlemen. "If I were you, I wouldn't say anything about
that, Sir Thomas."

"About what?"

"Well;--bribery and petitions, and the rest of it. Gentlemen when
they're consulted don't like to be told of those sort of things.
There has been a little of it, perhaps. Who can say?" Who, indeed, if
not Mr. Trigger,--in regard to Percycross? "But it's better to let
all that die out of itself. It never came to much in Percycross. I
don't think there was ever more than ten shillings to be had for a
vote. And I've known half-a-crown a piece buy fifty of 'em," he added
emphatically. "It never was of much account, and it's best to say
nothing about it."

"It's best perhaps to make one's intentions known," said Sir Thomas
mildly. Mr. Trigger hummed and hawed, and shook his head, and put
his hands into his trousers pockets;--and in his heart of hearts he
despised Sir Thomas.

On that day Sir Thomas was taken to see four gentlemen of note in
Percycross,--a mustard-maker, a paper-maker, and two bootmakers. The
mustard-maker was very cordial in offering his support. He would do
anything for the cause. Trigger knew him. The men were all right
at his mills. Then Sir Thomas said a word. He was a great foe to
intimidation;--he wouldn't for worlds have the men coerced. The
mustard-maker laughed cheerily. "We know what all that comes to at
Percycross; don't we, Trigger? We shall all go straight from this
place;--shan't we, Trigger? And he needn't ask any questions;--need
he, Trigger?" "Lord 'a mercy, no," said Trigger, who was beginning to
be disgusted. Then they went on to the paper-maker's.

The paper-maker was a very polite gentleman, who seemed to take
great delight in shaking Sir Thomas by the hand, and who agreed
with energy to every word Sir Thomas said. Trigger stood a little
apart at the paper-maker's, as soon as the introduction had been
performed,--perhaps disapproving in part of the paper-maker's
principles. "Certainly not, Sir Thomas; not for the world, Sir
Thomas. I'm clean against anything of that kind, Sir Thomas," said
the paper-maker. Sir Thomas assured the paper-maker that he was glad
to hear it;--and he