‘Another thousand will do it.’
‘Why, you have had one thousand already.’
‘Never mind,’ said the election agent. ‘What’s the good of having money if you don’t spend it. You’ll be sure to get it all back again. Nobody is so popular as a man who spends his money freely.’
‘That may be; but money is hard to get.’
‘Oh, leave that to me,’ said the agent.
‘Well, I suppose I must. But,’ added the Baronet, ‘at any rate you might send up to London and see what the Reform Club will do.’
‘Of course, we must apply to them. A stranger came down from town last night. He has not shown his face, but I’ve pumped the boots at the “Old Swan,” and I find that he is from the Carlton, and has brought a trunk full of sovereigns with him. The voters must have got an inkling of it, and are in ecstasies, and are now keeping off till the last moment. I believe I spotted the fellow in the disguise of an old woman working in the slums this morning’. I could not see his face because he put up his handkerchief; but I do believe it was no other than Shrouder.’
‘Oh, no: it can’t be him. I am told he is at Birmingham.’
‘You may depend upon it, Sir Watkin, he is here, and we shall have the devil to pay.’
‘Devil take him,’ said the Baronet angrily.