ctions.

Mr. Die soon understood the whole matter. His young friend Harcourt
was going into Parliament with the special object of becoming a
solicitor-general as soon as possible. He could so become by means
only of two moving powers. He must be solicitor-general either to
the Whigs or to the Tories. To which he should be so was a question
mainly indifferent to Mr. Harcourt himself, and also to Mr. Die in
framing his advice.

Mr. Die himself of course regarded corn-law repeal as an invention
of the devil. He had lived long enough to have regarded Catholic
emancipation and parliamentary reform in the same light. Could you
have opened his mind, you would probably have found there a settled
conviction that the world was slowly coming to an end, that end being
brought about by such devilish works as these. But you would also
have found a conviction that the Three per Cents. would last his
time, and that his fear for the future might with safety be thrown
forward, so as to appertain to the fourth or fifth, or, perhaps,
even to the tenth or twelfth coming generation. Mr. Die was not,
therefore, personally wretched under his own political creed.

"I should be inclined to support the government if I were going into
Parliament as a young man," said Mr. Die.

"There are nine seniors of mine in the House who now do so." By
seniors, Mr. Harcourt alluded to his seniors at the bar.

"Yes; but they like young blood nowadays. I think it's the safest."

"I shall never carry the Battersea Hamlets unless I pledge myself on
this corn-law question."

"Well," said Mr. Die--"well; a seat is certainly a great thing, and
not to be had at any moment. I think I should be inclined to yield to
the electors."

"And commit myself to the repeal of the corn laws?"

"Commit yourself!" said Mr. Die, with a gentle smile. "A public man
has to commit himself to many things nowadays. But my opinion is,
that--that you may hold the popular opinion about free trade, and be
not a whit the less useful to Sir Robert on that account."

Mr. Harcourt was still a young man, and was, therefore, excusable in
not seeing to the depth of Mr. Die's wisdom. He certainly did not see
to the depth of it; but he had come to his oracle with faith, and
wisely resolved to be guided by wisdom so much superior to his own.

"Never bind yourself wantonly to an expiring policy," said Mr. Die.
"The man who does so has surely to unbind himself; and, to say the
least of it, t