RANDAL.--"Yellow. Not a doubt of it."

DICK.--"Good-night. Ha, ha! humbug, eh?"

RANDAL.--"Humbug! Between men like us,--oh, no. Good-night, my dear
friend, I rely on you."

DICK.--"Yes; but mind, I promise nothing if Leonard Fairfield does not
stand."

RANDAL.--"He must stand; keep him to it. Your affairs, your business,
your mill--"

DICK.--"Very true. He must stand. I have great faith in Parson Dale."

Randal glided back through the park. When he came on the terrace, he
suddenly encountered Lord L'Estrange. "I have just been privately into
the town, my dear Lord, and heard a strange rumour, that Mr. Fairfield
was so annoyed by some remarks in your Lordship's admirable speech, that
he talks of retiring from the contest. That would give a new feature
to the election, and perplex all our calculations; and I fear, in that
case, there might be some secret coalition between Avenel's friends
and our Committee, whom, I am told, I displeased by the moderate speech
which your Lordship so eloquently defended,--a coalition by which Avenel
would come in with Mr. Egerton, whereas, if we all four stand, Mr.
Egerton, I presume, will be quite safe,--and I certainly think I have an
excellent chance."

LORD L'ESTRANGE.--"SO Mr. Fairfield would retire in consequence of my
remarks! I am going into the town, and I intend to apologize for those
remarks, and retract them."

RANDAL (joyously).--"Noble!"

Lord L'Estrange looked at Leslie's face, upon which the stars gleamed
palely. "Mr. Egerton has thought more of your success than of his own,"
said he, gravely, and hurried on.

Randal continued on the terrace. Perhaps Harley's last words gave him
a twinge of compunction. His head sunk musingly on his breast, and he
paced to and fro the long gravel-walk, summoning up all his intellect to
resist every temptation to what could injure his self-interest.

"Skulking knave!" muttered Harley. "At least there will be nothing to
repent, if I can do justice on him. That is not revenge. Come, that must
be a fair retribution. Besides, how else can I deliver Violante?"

He laughed gayly, his heart was so light; and his foot bounded on as
fleet as the deer that he startled amongst the fern.

A few yards from the turnstile he overtook Richard Avenel, disguised in
a rough great-coat and spectacles. Nevertheless, Harley's eye detected
the Yellow candidate at the first glance. He caught Dick familiarly by
the arm. "Well met! I was going to