r his nephew, still holds in his hands the choice of
the candidate upon our side. I cannot attack him; I cannot attack his
insolent nephew--"

"Insolent!--not that, but bitterly eloquent. He hits you hard. You are
no match for him, Randal, before a popular audience; though, en petit
comite, the devil himself were hardly a match for you. But now to a
somewhat more serious point. Your election you will win, your bride is
promised to you; but the old Leslie lands, in the present possession of
Squire Thornhill, you have not gained,--and your chance of gaining them
is in great jeopardy. I did not like to tell you this morning,--it would
have spoiled your temper for canvassing; but I have received a letter
from Thornhill himself. He has had an offer for the property, which is
only L1000 short of what he asks. A city alderman, called Jobson, is the
bidder; a man, it seems, of large means and few words. The alderman has
fixed the date on which he must have a definite answer; and that date
falls on the --th, two days after that fixed for the poll at Lansmere.
The brute declares he will close with another investment, if Thornhill
does not then come in to his terms. Now, as Thornhill will accept these
terms unless I can positively promise him better, and as those funds on
which you calculated (had the marriage of Peschiera with Violante, and
Frank Hazeldean with Madame di Negra, taken place) fail you, I see no
hope for your being in time with the money,--and the old lands of the
Leslies must yield their rents to a Jobson."

"I care for nothing on earth like those old lands of my forefathers,"
said Randal, with unusual vehemence; "I reverence so little amongst the
living, and I do reverence the dead. And my marriage will take place so
soon; and the dower would so amply cover the paltry advance required."

"Yes; but the mere prospect of a marriage to the daughter of a man whose
lands are still sequestered would be no security to a money-lender."

"Surely," said Randal, "you, who once offered to assist me when my
fortunes were more precarious, might now accommodate me with this loan,
as a friend, and keep the title-deeds of the estate as--"

"As a money-lender," added the baron, laughing pleasantly. "No, mon
cher, I will still lend you half the sum required in advance, but
the other half is more than I can afford as friend, or hazard as
money-lender; and it would damage my character,--be out of all
rule,--if, the estates falling