"Yes. Of course, he has been out of sympathy with them for a long while. So have twenty or thirty more, if the truth were known."
"As you know it!" Dalton interjected.
"Well, I know some things. The line of cleavage in the Liberal party is tolerably well marked, if you have eyes to see."
"Why does Tourmaline leave the House? I hear he would stand an excellent chance if he went to Vanebury and started as an Independent."
"No doubt he would; but in a weak moment he pledged himself down there not to do it."
"What hard lines!" said Tom Willoughby. "Just one pledge too many!"
"And so," continued Pynsent, without noticing the interruption, "we have had to look out for another candidate. I settled the matter this afternoon, and I am glad to say that Campion has promised to go down."
"Just the man for the job," said Milton, who looked upon Sydney as sure to be a formidable rival in Parliament, and more likely than any other young Conservative to cut him out of the Solicitorship. "He has tongue, and he has tact—and he has something else, Sir John, which is worth the two put together—good friends!"
"We think very highly of Campion," said Sir John Pynsent, "and I am very glad you confirm our opinion."
"I certainly think he will make his mark," said Dalton. "He comes of a very able family."