; I could
cause you to lose this election, and I can make you win it."

"How?" asked the other. His voice was keen and sharp.

"I will not tell you how," replied Ned. "But I can make you win it.
Perhaps there's not another man but myself that can. And you shall,
too, if you'll promise to do your best for me with Mary. Is it a
bargain?"

Mr. Bolitho did not speak. For the moment he was under great
excitement. The fear that he would lose the seat had entered his
heart, and, as he had more than once said, the desire to win in
everything he undertook was a kind of passion with him. He would do a
great deal, and give a great deal, to win this election, not because he
thought it would add much either to his fame or to his position, but
because the eagerness to be conqueror was almost like a disease.

"Come, now," repeated Ned. "Is it a bargain? If I win you this
election, will you do your best for me with Mary. Of course, I don't
ask you to force her--she's not a girl to be forced--but will you do
your best? Mind you, I love her like my own life, and I'll devote
every power I have to make her happy!"

"I'll say this," said Mr. Bolitho, still labouring under great
excitement, "I'll not oppose you, and if I can make the way easy for
you, I will--there!"

"Very well," cried Ned, with flashing eyes. "That's a bargain, then.
You may regard the seat as safe!"

Within a week from that time there were strange rumours in Brunford.
It was said that the financial position of Stepaside and Preston was
not safe. They were only rumours at first, and people paid little
attention to them, but they grew in volume, grew in directness of
statement. Five days before the election Preston came to Paul with a
white face. He looked as though he had spent a sleepless night. "Look
here, Paul," he said. "You must give up this political business!"

"Give it up!" said Paul. "I cannot. We are only five days from
polling, and I cannot spare a minute for anything else."

"I tell you you must give it up!" cried Preston. "And even now you
must come and give me two hours right away!"

Paul shook his head. "I've got to meet my committees, my canvassers.
I wouldn't lose this fight now for a thousand pounds."

"It means more than the loss of a thousand pounds, it means the loss of
everything!"

"Everything!"

"Yes, everything. Look here, Paul, you know we've kept ourselves hard,
and we've overdrawn at the bank, because we fe