the feelings of the man
who saw beauty such as yours--I am a plain man and must speak--virtue
such as yours, in the possession of a rival. By heavens, madam, I think
he was RIGHT to hate Sir George Gorgon! Would you have him allow such a
prize to be ravished from him without a pang on his part?"

"He was, I believe, very much attached to me," said Lady Gorgon, quite
delighted; "but you must be aware that a young man of his station in
life could not look up to a person of my rank."

"Surely not: it was monstrous pride and arrogance in Mr. Scully. But
que voulez-vous? Such is the world's way. Scully could not help loving
you--who that knows you can? I am a plain man, and say what I think.
He loves you still. Why make an enemy of him, who would at a word be at
your feet? Dearest Lady Gorgon, listen to me. Sir George Gorgon and Mr.
Scully have already met--their meeting was our contrivance. It is for
our interest, for yours, that they should be friends. If there were two
Ministerial Members for Oldborough, do you think your husband's peerage
would be less secure? I am not at liberty to tell you all I know on this
subject; but do, I entreat you, be reconciled to him."

And after a little more conversation, which was carried on by Mr.
Crampton in the same tender way, this important interview closed, and
Lady Gorgon, folding her shawl round her, threaded certain mysterious
passages and found her way to her carriage in Whitehall.

"I hope you have not been listening, you rogue?" said Mr. Crampton to
his nephew, who blushed most absurdly by way of answer. "You would have
heard great State secrets, if you had dared to do so. That woman is
perpetually here, and if peerages are to be had for the asking, she
ought to have been a duchess by this time. I would not have admitted her
but for a reason that I have. Go you now and ponder upon what you have
heard and seen. Be on good terms with Scully, and, above all, speak not
a word concerning our interview--no, not a word even to your mistress.
By the way, I presume, sir, you will recall your resignation?"

The bewildered Perkins was about to stammer out a speech, when his
uncle, cutting it short, pushed him gently out of the door.

* * *

At the period when the important events occurred which have been
recorded here, parties ran very high, and a mighty struggle for the
vacant Speakership was about to come on. The Right Honourable Robert
Pinc