who had only been a lawyer at the back
of Holborn really be, now, such a very, very great man--greatest man of
the day? Nonsense!

"Ma'am," said one pale, puff-cheeked, flat-nosed gentleman, in a very
large white waistcoat, who was waiting by her side till a vacancy in
one of the two whist-tables should occur. "Ma'am, I'm an enthusiastic
admirer of Mr. Darrell. You say he is a connection of yours? Present me
to him."

Mrs. Haughton nodded flutteringly, for, as the gentleman closed his
request, and tapped a large gold snuff-box, Darrell stood before
her--Lionel close at his side, looking positively sheepish. The great
man said a few civil words, and was gliding into the room to make way
for the press behind him, when he of the white waistcoat, touching Mrs.
Haughton's arm, and staring Darrell full in the face, said, very loud:
"In these anxious times, public men dispense with ceremony. I crave an
introduction to Mr. Darrell." Thus pressed, poor Mrs. Haughton, without
looking up, muttered out: "Mr. Adolphus Poole--Mr. Darrell," and turned
to welcome fresh comers.

"Mr. Darrell," said Mr. Poole, bowing to the ground, "this is an
honour."

Darrell gave the speaker one glance of his keen eye, and thought to
himself: "If I were still at the bar I should be sorry to hold a brief
for that fellow." However, he returned the bow formally, and, bowing
again at the close of a highly complimentary address with which
Mr. Poole followed up his opening sentence, expressed himself "much
flattered," and thought he had escaped; but wherever he went through
the crowd, Mr. Poole contrived to follow him, and claim his notice by
remarks on the affairs of the day--the weather--the funds--the crops.
At length Darrell perceived, sitting aloof in a corner, an excellent man
whom indeed it surprised him to see in a London drawing-room, but who,
many years ago, when Darrell was canvassing the enlightened constituency
of Ouzelford, had been on a visit to the chairman of his committee--an
influential trader--and having connections in the town--and, being a
very high character, had done him good service in the canvass. Darrell
rarely forgot a face, and never a service. At any time he would have
been glad to see the worthy man once more, but at that time he was
grateful indeed.

"Excuse me," he said bluntly to Mr. Poole, "but I see an old friend." He
moved on, and thick as the crowd had become, it made way, with respect
as to royalty for the dist