an be trusted to the hands of a great man than that of
exposing the sins of the rulers of the nation? So thought Mr. Slide.
But he knew that he was in advance of the people, and that the matter
would not be seen in the proper light by those who ought so to see
it. There might be a difficulty in getting any peer to ask the
question in the House in which the Prime Minister himself sat, and
even in the other House there was now but little of that acrid,
indignant opposition upon which, in Mr. Slide's opinion, the safety
of the nation altogether depends.

When the statement was first made in the "People's Banner," Lopez had
come to Mr. Slide at once and had demanded his authority for making
it. Lopez had found the statement to be most injurious to himself. He
had been paid his election expenses twice over, making a clear profit
of L500 by the transaction; and, though the matter had at one time
troubled his conscience, he had already taught himself to regard
it as one of those bygones to which a wise man seldom refers. But
now Mr. Wharton would know that he had been cheated, should this
statement reach him. "Who gave you authority to publish all this?"
asked Lopez, who at this time had become intimate with Mr. Slide.

"Is it true, Lopez?" asked the editor.

"Whatever was done was done in private,--between me and the Duke."

"Dukes, my dear fellow, can't be private, and certainly not when they
are Prime Ministers."

"But you've no right to publish these things about me."

"Is it true? If it's true I have got every right to publish it. If
it's not true, I've got the right to ask the question. If you will
'ave to do with Prime Ministers you can't 'ide yourself under a
bushel. Tell me this;--is it true? You might as well go 'and in 'and
with me in the matter. You can't 'urt yourself. And if you oppose
me,--why, I shall oppose you."

"You can't say anything of me."

"Well;--I don't know about that. I can generally 'it pretty 'ard if I
feel inclined. But I don't want to 'it you. As regards you I can tell
the story one way,--or the other, just as you please." Lopez, seeing
it in the same light, at last agreed that the story should be told in
a manner not inimical to himself. The present project of his life was
to leave his troubles in England,--Sexty Parker being the worst of
them,--and get away to Guatemala. In arranging this the good word of
Mr. Slide might not benefit him, but his ill word might injure him.
And then, l