th these sharp strictures
on the article brought Beauchamp to a stop.

Timothy waited for him; then, smoothing his prickly cheek, remarked:
'If I'd guessed your errand, Commander Beauchamp, I'd have called in
the barber before I came down, just to make myself decent for a 'first
introduction.'

Beauchamp was not insensible to the slyness of the poke at him. 'You
see, I come to the borough unknown to it, and as quietly as possible,
and I want to be taken as a politician,' he continued, for the sake
of showing that he had sufficient to say to account for his hasty and
peremptory summons of the writer of that article to his presence. 'It's
excessively disagreeable to have one's family lugged into notice in a
newspaper--especially if they are of different politics. I feel it.'

All would, sir,' said Timothy.

'Then why the deuce did you do it?'

Timothy drew a lading of air into his lungs. 'Politics, Commander
Beauchamp, involves the doing of lots of disagreeable things to
ourselves and our relations; it 's positive. I'm a soldier of the Great
Campaign: and who knows it better than I, sir? It's climbing the greasy
pole for the leg o' mutton, that makes the mother's heart ache for the
jacket and the nether garments she mended neatly, if she didn't make
them. Mutton or no mutton, there's grease for certain! Since it's sure
we can't be disconnected from the family, the trick is to turn the
misfortune to a profit; and allow me the observation, that an old
family, sir, and a high and titled family, is not to be despised for a
background of a portrait in naval uniform, with medal and clasps, and
some small smoke of powder clearing off over there:--that's if we're to
act sagaciously in introducing an unknown candidate to a borough that
has a sneaking liking for the kind of person, more honour to it. I'm
a political veteran, sir; I speak from experience. We must employ our
weapons, every one of them, and all off the grindstone.'

'Very well,' said Beauchamp. 'Now understand; you are not in future to
employ the weapons, as you call them, that I have objected to.'

Timothy gaped slightly.

'Whatever you will, but no puffery,' Beauchamp added. 'Can I by any
means arrest--purchase--is it possible, tell me, to lay an embargo--stop
to-day's issue of the Gazette?'

'No more--than the bite of a mad dog,' Timothy replied, before he had
considered upon the monstrous nature of the proposal.

Beauchamp humphed, and tossed his head.