clerks, and Mr. Tappitt, before he sat down to dinner, signed a
letter to Mr. Hart on behalf of the electors of Baslehurst. When
the work of the meeting was completed it still wanted half an hour
to dinner, during which the nine electors of Baslehurst sauntered
about the yard of the inn, looked into the stables, talked to the
landlady at the bar, indulged themselves with gin and bitters,
and found the time very heavy on their hands. They were nine
decent-looking, middle-aged men, dressed in black not of the newest,
in swallow-tailed coats and black trousers, with chimney-pot hats,
and red faces; and as they pottered about the premises of the Dragon
they seemed to be very little at their ease.

"What's up, Jim?" said one of the postboys to the ostler.

"Sharpit's got 'em all here to get some more money out of that ere
Jew gent;--that's about the ticket," said the ostler.

"He's a clever un," said the postboy.

At last the dinner was ready; and the total number of the party
having now completed itself, the liberal electors of Baslehurst
prepared to enjoy themselves. No bargain had been made on the
subject, but it was understood by them all that they would not be
asked to pay for their dinner. Sharpit would see to that. He would
probably know how to put it into his little bill; and if he failed in
that the risk was his own.

But while the body of the liberal electors was peeping into the
stables and drinking gin and bitters, Mr. Sharpit and Mr. Tappitt
were engaged in a private conference.

"If you come to me," said Sharpit, "of course I must take it up. The
etiquette of the profession don't allow me to decline."

"But why should you wish to decline?" said Tappitt, not altogether
pleased by Mr. Sharpit's manner.

"Oh, by no means; no. It's just the sort of work I like;--not much to
be made by it, but there's injury to be redressed and justice to be
done. Only you see poor Honyman hasn't got much of a practice left to
him, and I don't want to take his bread out of his mouth."

"But I'm not to be ruined because of that!"

"As I said before, if you bring the business to me I must take it up.
I can't help myself, if I would. And if I do take it up I'll see you
through it. Everybody who knows me knows that of me."

"I suppose I shall find you at home about ten to-morrow?"

"Yes; I'll be in my office at ten;--only you should think it
well over, you know, Mr. Tappitt. I've nothing to say against Mr.
Honyman,--not a