ed Conservative with
broken back and broken heart,--a measure which he himself would only
be too willing to carry were he allowed the privilege of passing over
to the other side of the House for the purpose. In these encounters,
Phineas Finn had already exhibited his prowess, and, in spite of his
declarations at Tankerville, had become prominent as an opponent to
Mr. Daubeny's bill. He had, of course, himself been taunted, and held
up in the House to the execration of his own constituents; but he had
enjoyed his fight, and had remembered how his friend Mr. Monk had
once told him that the pleasure lay all on the side of opposition.
But on this evening he declined to speak. "I suppose you have hardly
recovered from Kennedy's pistol," said Mr. Ratler, who had, of
course, heard the whole story. "That, and the whole affair together
have upset me," said Phineas. "Fitzgibbon will do it for you; he's in
the House." And so it happened that on that occasion the Honourable
Laurence Fitzgibbon made a very effective speech against the
Government.

On the next morning from the columns of the _People's Banner_ was
hurled the first of those thunderbolts with which it was the purpose
of Mr. Slide absolutely to destroy the political and social life of
Phineas Finn. He would not miss his aim as Mr. Kennedy had done. He
would strike such blows that no constituency should ever venture to
return Mr. Finn again to Parliament; and he thought that he could
also so strike his blows that no mighty nobleman, no distinguished
commoner, no lady of rank should again care to entertain the
miscreant and feed him with the dainties of fashion. The first
thunderbolt was as follows:--

We abstained yesterday from alluding to a circumstance
which occurred at a small hotel in Judd Street on Sunday
afternoon, and which, as we observe, was mentioned by one
of our contemporaries. The names, however, were not given,
although the persons implicated were indicated. We can
see no reason why the names should be concealed. Indeed,
as both the gentlemen concerned have been guilty of very
great criminality, we think that we are bound to tell the
whole story,--and this the more especially as certain
circumstances have in a very peculiar manner placed us in
possession of the facts.

It is no secret that for the last two years Lady
Laura Kennedy has been separated from her husband,
the Honourable Robert Kennedy, who, in th