ered him, but he controlled himself. After all, why
shouldn't he let him have his way? The whole thing was a bit of
play-acting, a farce, a mockery--why not play the game thoroughly then?

He had been drinking freely through the day, and while, as of old, it
did not affect him outwardly, it influenced him far more than it would
have done a few months before. His abstinence had made him far more
susceptible to the power of whisky. Under its influence, moreover, he
felt like consenting to things which without it he would have scorned.
What had taken place had utterly destroyed the feelings which Olive
Castlemaine had caused to take root in his heart. Besides, this would be
one method of paying off old scores. Let the farce be kept up. Nothing
mattered now. Even if the truth were discovered he did not care.

"Of course the notice is short," went on the election agent, "but I
thought it better to strike while the iron was hot. The dissolution
yesterday came upon us like a bombshell, but I determined to make
capital out of it, and I tell you, sir, there'll be a tremendous crowd
to hear you to-night. There'll be two cards to play, sir. First we shall
arouse a tremendous amount of sympathy for you, on account of Miss
Castlemaine being taken ill, that is if the matter is judiciously
worked; and then, second, the people are just burning to hear about the
causes which led to the Government's downfall. Of course you've got
everything first hand, sir. That's enough for to-night, and if we play
our game well, the battle is nearly won before the other side have had a
chance to get a look in."

"All right," said Leicester desperately, "anything to win."

"That's the proper spirit, anything to win. But I've a bit of unpleasant
news, sir--perhaps you can explain it?"

"What?" asked Leicester.

"Well, you know, sir, you have generally stayed with Mr. Osborne at The
Grange when you've visited the constituency. Accordingly, I took the
liberty of calling upon him to-day, suggesting that he should invite
you, as on other occasions, but he refused to do so."

"Just so," said Leicester; "did he tell you why?"

"Not a word, sir; as a consequence I engaged rooms for you here at the
Red Lion."

"That's all right," he said. "Mr. Osborne is a little out of sympathy
with us just now; but on the whole I am very glad. I would much rather
be here in the hotel."

"Still, it's a bit of a knock-down blow. Mr. Osborne is the most
influential ma