ese rascals are like the witches in Macbeth, and they never meet
without there 's mischief in the wind.'"

"The way he put it was so strong, there was something so home in it,
that I burst out and told him the whole story, and that it was exactly
himself, and no other, was the man we were discussing.

"'And you thought,' said he, 'you thought that, if you had a hold of my
acceptances, you 'd put the screw on me and squeeze me as flat as
you pleased. Oh, generation of silkworms, ain't you soft!' cried he,
laughing. 'Order up another bottle of this, for I want to drink your
healths. You 've actually made my fortune! The thing will now be first
rate. The Culduff inquiry was a mere matter of public morals; but here,
here is a direct attempt to coerce or influence a member of Parliament.
I 'll have you both at the Bar of the House as sure as my name is
Norton.'

"He then arose and began to rehearse the speech he 'd make when we were
arraigned, and a spicier piece of abuse I never listened to. The noise
he made brought the other fellows in from the next room, and he ordered
them to make a house; and one was named speaker and another black rod,
and we were taken into custody and duly purged of our contempt by
paying for all the wine drank by the entire company,--a trifle of
five-and-thirty pounds odd. The only piece of comfort I got at all was
getting into the rail to go back to town, when Norton whispered me,
'It's all right about Culduff. Parliament is dissolved; the House rises
on Tuesday, and he 'll not be mentioned.'"

"But does all this bear on the question of marriage?"

"Quite naturally. Your father pulls Culduff out of the mire, and the
Viscount proposes for your sister. It's all contract business the whole
world over. By the way, where is our noble friend? I suppose, all things
considered, I owe him a visit."

"You 'll find him in his room. He usually dines alone, and I believe
Temple is the only one admitted."

"I 'll send up my name," said he, rising to ring the bell for the
servant: "and I 'll call myself lucky if he'll refuse to see me."

"His Lordship will be glad to see Mr. Cutbill as soon as convenient to
him," replied the servant on his return.

"All my news for him is not so favorable as this," whispered Cutbill, as
he moved away. "They won't touch the mine in the City. That last murder,
though it was down in Tipperary, a hundred and fifty miles away from
this, has frightened them all; and they say