by your default of payment into my own
hands, I should appear to be the real purchaser of the property of my
own distressed client. But, now I think of it, did not Squire Hazeldean
promise you his assistance in this matter?"

"He did so," answered Randal, "as soon as the marriage between Frank
and Madame di Negra was off his mind. I meant to cross over to Hazeldean
immediately after the election. How can I leave the place till then?"

"If you do, your election is lost. But why not write to the squire?"

"It is against my maxim to write where I can speak. However, there is
no option; I will write at once. Meanwhile, communicate with Thornhill;
keep up his hopes; and be sure, at least, that he does not close with
this greedy alderman before the day fixed for decision."

"I have done all that already, and my letter is gone. Now, do your part:
and if you write as cleverly as you talk, you would coax the money
out from a stonier heart than poor Mr. Hazeldean's. I leave you now;
good-night."

Levy took up his candlestick, nodded, yawned, and went. Randal still
suspended the completion of his speech, and indited the following
epistle:--

MY DEAR MR. HAZELDEAN,--I wrote to you a few hasty lines on leaving
town, to inform you that the match you so dreaded was broken off,
and proposing to defer particulars till I could visit your kind and
hospitable roof, which I trusted to do for a few hours during my
stay at Lansmere, since it is not a day's journey hence to
Hazeldean. But I did not calculate on finding so sharp a contest.
In no election throughout the kingdom do I believe that a more
notable triumph, or a more stunning defeat, for the great landed
interest can occur. For in this town--so dependent on agriculture--
we are opposed by a low and sordid manufacturer, of the most
revolutionary notions, who has, moreover, the audacity to force his
own nephew--that very boy whom I chastised for impertinence on your
village green, son of a common carpenter--actually the audacity, I
say, to attempt to force this peasant of a nephew, as well as
himself, into the representation of Lansmere, against the earl's
interest, against your distinguished brother,--of myself I say
nothing. You should hear the language in which these two men
indulge against all your family! If we are beaten by such persons
in a borough supposed to be so loyal as Lansmere, every one with a
stake in th