Scully: we can have him any day we want him. He
talks very big at present, and says he would not take anything under
a... This is absurd. He has a Yorkshire nephew coming up to town, and
wants a place for him. There is one vacant in the Tape Office, he says:
have you not a promise of it?"

"I can't--I can't believe it," said John; "this, sir, is some weak
invention of the enemy. Scully is the most honourable man breathing."

"Mr. Scully is a gentleman in a very fair way to make a fortune,"
answered Mr. Crampton. "Look you, John--it is just as well for your sake
that I should give you the news a few weeks before the papers, for I
don't want you to be ruined, if I can help it, as I don't wish to have
you on my hands. We know all the particulars of Scully's history. He was
a Tory attorney at Oldborough; he was jilted by the present Lady Gorgon,
turned Radical, and fought Sir George in his own borough. Sir George
would have had the peerage he is dying for, had he not lost that second
seat (by-the-by, my Lady will be here in five minutes), and Scully
is now quite firm there. Well, my dear lad, we have bought your
incorruptible Scully. Look here,"--and Mr. Crampton produced three
Morning Posts.

"'THE HONOURABLE HENRY HAWKSBY'S DINNER-PARTY.--Lord So-and-So--Duke of
So-and-So--W. Pitt Scully, Esq. M.P.'

"Hawksby is our neutral, our dinner-giver.

"'LADY DIANA DOLDRUM'S ROUT.--W. Pitt Scully, Esq,' again.

"'THE EARL OF MANTRAP'S GRAND DINNER.'--A Duke--four Lords--'Mr. Scully,
and Sir George Gorgon.'"

"Well, but I don't see how you have bought him; look at his votes."

"My dear John," said Mr. Crampton, jingling his watch-seals very
complacently, "I am letting you into fearful secrets. The great common
end of party is to buy your opponents--the great statesman buys them for
nothing."

Here the attendant genius of Mr. Crampton made his appearance, and
whispered something, to which the little gentleman said, "Show her
Ladyship in,"--when the attendant disappeared.

"John," said Mr. Crampton, with a very queer smile, "you can't stay in
this room while Lady Gorgon is with me; but there is a little clerk's
room behind the screen there, where you can wait until I call you."

John retired, and as he closed the door of communication, strange to
say, little Mr. Crampton sprang up and said, "Confound the young ninny,
he has shut the door!"

Mr. Crampton then, remembering that he wanted a map in the next room,
sprang in