"On that matter I shall prefer to converse with my friends."
"You mean," said Mr. Trigger, "that you will put it into other hands."
"You have made a proposition to me, Mr. Trigger, and I have given you my answer. I have nothing else to say. What steps I may take I do not even know at present."
"You will let us hear from you," said Mr. Trigger.
"I cannot say that I will."
"This comes of bringing a gentleman learned in the law down into the borough," said Mr. Griffenbottom.
"Gentlemen, I must ask you to leave me," said Sir Thomas, rising from his chair and ringing the bell.
"Look here, Sir Thomas Underwood," said Mr. Griffenbottom. "This to me is a very important matter."
"And to me also," said Sir Thomas.
"I do not know anything about that. Like a good many others, you may like to have a seat in Parliament, and may like to get it without any trouble and without any money. I have sat for Percycross for many years, and have spent a treasure, and have worked myself off my legs. I don't know that I care much for anything except for keeping my place in the House. The House is everything to me,—meat and drink; employment and recreation; and I can tell you I'm not going to lose my seat if I can help it. You came in for the second chance, Sir Thomas; and a very good second chance it was if you'd just have allowed others who knew what they were about to manage matters for you. That chance is over now, and according to all rules that ever I heard of in such matters, you ought to surrender. Isn't that so, Mr. Trigger?"