ving little chance, the
Yellows will not waste their second votes on him, but will transfer them
to you, in order to keep out Egerton. If you retire, Egerton will be
safe. There is reason to suppose that Leonard would, in that case, also
be withdrawn."

"You can hope and fear nothing more from Egerton," whispered Levy. "He
is utterly ruined; and, if he lose, will sleep in a prison. The bailiffs
are waiting for him."

Randal was still silent, and at that silence an indignant murmur ran
through the more influential members of the Committee. For, though
Audley was not personally very popular, still a candidate so eminent was
necessarily their first object, and they would seem very small to
the Yellows, if their great man was defeated by the very candidate
introduced to aid him,--a youth unknown. Vanity and patriotism
both swelled that murmur. "You see, young sir," cried a rich, blunt
master-butcher, "that it was an honourable understanding that Mr.
Egerton was to be safe. You had no claim on us, except as fighting
second to him. And we are all astonished that you don't say at once,
'Save Egerton, of course.' Excuse my freedom, sir. No time for palaver."

"Lord L'Estrange," said Randal, turning mildly from the butcher, "do
you, as the first here in rank and influence, and as Mr. Egerton's
especial friend, call upon me to sacrifice my election, and what appear
to be the inclinations of the majority of the constituents, in order to
obtain what is, after all, a doubtful chance of returning Mr. Egerton in
my room?

"I do not call upon you, Mr. Leslie. It is a matter of feeling or of
honour, which a gentleman can very well decide for himself."

"Was any such compact made between your Lordship and myself, when you
first gave me your interest and canvassed for me in person?"

"Certainly not. Gentlemen, be silent. No such compact was mentioned by
me."

"Neither was it by Mr. Egerton. Whatever might be the understanding
spoken of by the respected elector who addressed me, I was no party to
it. I am persuaded that Mr. Egerton is the last person who would wish
to owe his election to a trick upon the electors in the midst of
the polling, and to what the world would consider a very unhandsome
treatment of myself, upon whom all the toil of the canvass has
devolved."

Again the murmur rose; but Randal had an air so determined, that it
quelled resentment, and obtained a continued, though most chilling and
half-contemptuous heari