ind."

"As a man and also a brother. I suppose you know that I've got the
_Banner_ into my own 'ands now." Phineas was obliged to explain that
he had not hitherto been made acquainted with this great literary
and political secret. "Oh dear, yes, altogether so. We've got rid of
old Rusty as I used to call him. He wouldn't go the pace, and so we
stripped him. He's doing the _West of England Art Journal_ now, and
he 'angs out down at Bristol."

"I hope he'll succeed, Mr. Slide."

"He'll earn his wages. He's a man who will always earn his wages, but
nothing more. Well, now, Mr. Finn, I will just offer you one word of
apology for our little severities."

"Pray do nothing of the kind."

"Indeed I shall. Dooty is dooty. There was some things printed which
were a little rough, but if one isn't a little rough there ain't no
flavour. Of course I wrote 'em. You know my 'and, I dare say."

"I only remember that there was some throwing of mud."

"Just so. But mud don't break any bones; does it? When you turned
against us I had to be down on you, and I was down upon you;--that's
just about all of it. Now you're coming among us again, and so I come
to you with a calumet of peace."

"But I am not coming among you."

"Yes you are, Finn, and bringing Monk with you." It was now becoming
very disagreeable, and Phineas was beginning to perceive that it
would soon be his turn to say something rough. "Now I'll tell you
what my proposition is. If you'll do us two leaders a week through
the session, you shall have a cheque for L16 on the last day of every
month. If that's not honester money than what you got in Downing
Street, my name is not Quintus Slide."

"Mr. Slide," said Phineas,--and then he paused.

"If we are to come to business, drop the Mister. It makes things go
so much easier."

"We are not to come to business, and I do not want things to go easy.
I believe you said some things of me in your newspaper that were very
scurrilous."

"What of that? If you mind that sort of thing--"

"I did not regard it in the least. You are quite welcome to continue
it. I don't doubt but you will continue it. But you are not welcome
to come here afterwards."

"Do you mean to turn me out?"

"Just that. You printed a heap of lies--"

"Lies, Mr. Finn! Did you say lies, sir?"

"I said lies;--lies;--lies!" And Phineas walked over at him as though
he were going to pitch him instantly out of the window. "You may go
and write as many m