Four smoking posters, harnessed to the neatest and lightest of travelling-carriages, had just deposited Mr. Hankes at the Hermitage; and he now sat in Mr. Dunn's dressing-room, arranging papers and assorting documents in preparation for his arrival.
It was easy to perceive that as Dunn entered the room he was very far from feeling pleased at his lieutenant's presence there.
“What was there so very pressing, Mr. Hankes,” said he, “that could not have awaited my return to town?”
“A stormy meeting of the Lough Allen Tin Company yesterday, sir,—a very stormy meeting indeed. Shares down to twenty-seven and an eighth,—unfavorable report on the ore, and a rumor—mere rumor, of course—that the last dividend was paid out of capital.”
“Who says this?” asked Dunn, angrily.
“The 'True Blue,' sir, hinted as much in the evening edition, and the suggestion was at once caught up by the Tory Press.”
“Macken—isn't that the man's name—edits the 'True Blue'?”
“Yes, sir; Michael Macken.”
“What answer shall I give him, then?” asked Hankes.
“Tell him—explain to him that the exigencies of party—No, that won't do. Send down Harte to conduct his election, let him be returned for the borough, and tell Joe Harte to take care to provide a case that will unseat him on a petition; before the petition comes on, we shall have the sale completed. The Colonel shall be taught that our tactics are somewhat sharper than his own.”