ice had executed on his behalf,--or
rather, had received the full value of three out of the four bills,
and a part of the value of the fourth, on which he had been driven
to raise what immediate money he had wanted by means of a Jew
bill-discounter. One thousand pounds he had paid over at once into
the hands of Mr Scruby, his Parliamentary election agent, towards
the expenses of his election; and when the day of polling arrived
had exactly in his hands the sum of five hundred pounds. Where
he was to get more when this was gone he did not know. If he
were successful,--if the enlightened constituents of the Chelsea
Districts, contented with his efforts on behalf of the River Bank,
should again send him to Parliament, he thought that he might still
carry on the war. A sum of ready money he would have in hand; and, as
to his debts, he would be grandly indifferent to any consideration
of them. Then there might be pickings in the way of a Member of
Parliament of his calibre. Companies,--mercantile companies,--would
be glad to have him as a director, paying him a guinea a day,
or perhaps more, for his hour's attendance. Railways in want of
vice-chairmen might bid for his services; and in the City he might
turn that "M.P." which belonged to him to good account in various
ways. With such a knowledge of the City world as he possessed, he
thought that he could pick up a living in London, if only he could
retain his seat in Parliament.

But what was he to do if he could not retain it? No sooner had Mr
Scruby got the thousand pounds into his clutches than he pressed for
still more money. George Vavasor, with some show of justice on his
side, pointed out to this all-devouring agent that the sum demanded
had already been paid. This Mr Scruby admitted, declaring that he was
quite prepared to go on without any further immediate remittance,
although by doing so might subject himself to considerable risk. But
another five hundred pounds, paid at once, would add greatly to the
safety of the seat; whereas eight hundred judiciously thrown in at
the present moment would make the thing quite secure. But Vavasor
swore to himself that he would not part with another shilling. Never
had he felt such love for money as he did for that five hundred
pounds which he now held in his pocket. "It's no use," he said to Mr
Scruby. "I have done what you asked, and would have done more had you
asked for more at that time. As it is, I cannot make another paym