lic meetings, it would----"

But Leicester did not let him finish the sentence. At first he had
listened in a dazed sort of way, scarcely realising what he was saying,
but as the man continued he lost his self-control.

"Curse it, Smith," he said, "haven't I told you to drop that question."

But Smith was one of those persistent men who will not be turned aside
from his purpose.

"I know it must be painful to you, sir, and you being so fond of each
other, too. But the truth is, the other side is talking,--too much for
your good, I am inclined to think."

"Let it talk," said Leicester angrily.

"Yes, sir, but I have my own reputation to think of, as well as yours.
I've never lost an election yet, sir, and I don't mean to leave any
stone unturned in order to win this. It was at my suggestion that Mr.
Grayburn wired to you last night, and I've been working like a slave
ever since. Judiciously managed, sir, the fact of the postponement of
your wedding may do us a lot of good. Judiciously managed, sir, of
course. Weak heart, sir, I was thinking about, and then excess of joy at
the thought of the wedding, brought on dangerous complications which
made a journey out of the country inevitable. That is what I suggest,
sir. And may I also say, sir, that you made a bad move in not coming
down by the six o'clock train, as I wired this morning. I could then
have got a big turn-out to meet you. The proper thing was what I wanted.
I had arranged for a lot of men to take the horses out of the carriage I
had engaged, and have drawn you up to town in style. Your wire an hour
ago, saying you would be here earlier, gave me no time, sir. Still, I
must get over that; but I do urge the other, sir. I quite appreciate the
delicacy of your feelings, but we must put our feelings in the
background at electioneering times. In fact, as you may know, Miss
Castlemaine had her photograph taken when she was down here, and I've
had a slide made of it for a magic lantern. My idea is that her picture
be thrown on a screen to-night before the chairman speaks, and that an
explanation be made about the postponement of the wedding. I can explain
about your coming down unexpectedly. I can say that after your great
trouble, although your sense of duty made you overcome it in order to
come down early, you did not feel like being met by a crowd of your
loyal supporters. That would be a good card, sir, and it would tell with
the voters."

The man's words ang