now
at its climax it seemed to have lost its grip of me. I watched the
_denoument_ of the game with keenness and interest indeed, but as though
I were not immediately and personally concerned. I felt that I had done
my best to win, and no longer cared whether my efforts ended in success
or failure. Possibly this was the result of the apathy that falls upon
overstrained nerves. Possibly I was oppressed by the fear of victory
and of that Nemesis which almost invariably dogs the steps of our
accomplished desires, of what the French writer calls _la page
effrayante . . . des desirs accomplis_. At least just then I cared
nothing whether I won or lost, only I reflected that in the latter event
it would be sad to have told so many falsehoods to no good purpose.

"How does it stand?" asked the head Conservative agent of the officer.

The clerk took the last numbers from the counters and added up the
figures.

"Colford, 4303; Therne, 4291, and two more bundles to count."

Another packet was counted out.

"How does it stand?" asked the agent.

"Colford, 4349; Therne, 4327, and one more bundle of fifty to count,"
answered the clerk.

The agent gave a sigh of relief and smiled; I saw him press Sir Thomas's
hand in congratulations, for now he was sure that victory was theirs.

"The game is up," I whispered to Strong, who, as my principal supporter,
had been admitted with me to the hall.

He ground his teeth and I noticed in the gaslight that his face was
ghastly pale and his lips were blue.

"You had better go out," I said, "you are overtaxing that dilated heart
of yours. Go home and take a sleeping draught."

"Damn you, no," he answered fiercely in my ear, "those papers come from
the Little Martha ward, where I thought there wasn't a wrong 'un in the
crowd. If they've sold me, I'll be even with them, as sure as my name is
Strong."

"Come," I said with a laugh, "a good Radical shouldn't talk like that."
For me the bitterness was over, and, knowing the worst, I could afford
to laugh.

The official opened the last packet and began to count aloud.

The first vote was for "Therne," but bad, for the elector had written
his name upon the paper. Then in succession came nine for "Colford." Now
all interest in the result had died away, and a hum of talk arose from
those present in the room, a whispered murmur of congratulations and
condolences. No wonder, seeing that to win I must put to my credit
thirty-two of the forty r