ain, it was in an altered tone.

"I beg your pardon, my Lord, I am sure. Of course, I can say nothing
disrespectful of your friend,--very sorry that he is your friend. In
that case, I am almost afraid that nothing is to be done. But Mr. Audley
Egerton has not a chance.

"Let me convince you of this." And Dick pulled out a little book, bound
neatly in red.

"Canvass book, my Lord. I am no aristocrat. I don't pretend to carry a
free and independent constituency in my breeches' pocket. Heaven forbid!
But as a practical man of business, what I do is done properly. Just
look at this book.

"Well kept, eh? Names, promises, inclinations, public opinions, and
private interests of every individual Lansmere elector! Now, as one man
of honour to another, I show you this book, and I think you will see
that we have a clear majority of at least eighty votes as against Mr.
Egerton."

"That is your view of the question," said Harley, taking the book
and glancing over the names catalogued and ticketed therein. But his
countenance became serious as he recognized many names familiar to his
boyhood as those of important electors on the Lansmere side, and which
he now found transferred to the hostile. "But surely there are persons
here in whom you deceive yourself,--old friends of my family, stanch
supporters of our party."

"Exactly so. But this new question has turned all old things
topsy-turvy. No relying on any friend of yours. No reliance except in
this book!" said Dick, slapping the red cover with calm but ominous
emphasis.

"Now, what I want to propose is this: Don't let the Lansmere interest be
beaten; it would vex the old earl,--go to his heart, I am sure."

Harley nodded.

"And the Lansmere interest need not be beaten, if you'll put up another
man instead of this red-tapist. (Beg pardon.) You see I only want to get
in one man, you want to get in another. Why not? Now, there 's a smart
youth,--connection of Mr. Egerton's,--Randal Leslie. I have no objection
to him, though he is of your colours. Withdraw Mr. Egerton, and I 'll
withdraw my second man before it comes to the poll; and so we shall
halve the borough slick between us. That's the way to do business,--eh,
my Lord?"

"Randal Leslie! Oh, you wish to bring in Mr. Leslie? But he stands with
Egerton, not against him."

"Ah," said Dick, smiling as if to himself, "so I hear; and we could
bring him in over Egerton without saying a word to you. But all our
family res