n the next day.

"There," he said, as he sent it off, "drink and politics will help me to
forget," but he did not dream of what would happen before the morrow
came to an end.

CHAPTER XIII

DEGRADATION

"I hope you don't mind, Mr. Leicester, but I was obliged to make
arrangements. As soon as I got the telegram saying that Parliament had
dissolved, I thought I had better take the bull by the horns, and----"

"It's all right, Smith, all right. I don't feel like election speeches,
but they've got to be made, and we'll fight this affair for all it's
worth."

"Thank you, Mr. Leicester, you relieve my mind very much. Of course I
saw that paragraph in the newspaper yesterday, and I knew that you must
be greatly upset. I sincerely hope it's nothing serious, and that Miss
Castlemaine will soon be well."

"We'll drop Miss Castlemaine, please."

Smith was Leicester's election agent, and seemed anxious to make certain
explanations.

"Certainly, sir. I only thought----"

"All right, but there are certain subjects I wish avoided--that's one."

The man knew nothing but what had appeared in the papers; but Leicester
had a feeling that he knew everything and spoke accordingly. Besides, he
had scarcely slept through the night, and he was a prey to dark fancies.

Smith looked at him wonderingly. He had many doubts about telegraphing
Leicester, and had feared that he would not come to Taviton at all.
There had been a great deal of gossip in the town about the postponed
wedding, and already the opposition party had been seeking to make
capital out of it.

"Forgive me, Mr. Leicester," he said, "but my own opinion is that,
properly worked, this should bring us a good many votes. Of course we
had hoped that when the election took place Mrs. Leicester would appear
on the platform with you, and be a kind of leader among the ladies. I
have only had the pleasure of meeting her once, but from an
electioneering standpoint, I should say she was just perfect, sir, just
perfect. Well, if a judicious statement were made at the meeting
to-night--I repeat the word judicious, sir--and delicately put, to the
effect that, that is--well, sir, she is very ill, but is greatly grieved
that she is not able to be with you, and that the doctors hope that in a
few months, perhaps less, sir, the wedding will come off, I believe it
would work wonders. Of course I don't press it, sir, but if she could
send a message to be read at one of the pub