“Oh, surely, you know my grand object. You my son-in-law, and forget my grand object?—The marquisate, you know; the marquisate, the marquisate! Did not I always tell you that I would make government, sooner or later, change my earldom into a marquisate? Well! the thing is done—that is, as good as done; they have sent to treat with me upon my own terms.”
“I give you joy, my dear lord!” said Vivian.
“Joy!—to be sure you do, my sober sir:—one would think you had no concern or interest in the business. Joy! to be sure you give me joy; but, I can tell you, you must give me something more than joy—you must give me support.”
“How he looks!” continued Lord Glistonbury, “as if he did not know what is meant by support. Vivian, did you never hear of parliamentary support?”
“I hope, my dear lord,” replied Vivian, gravely, “that you have not entered into any engagements, or made any promises for me, which I cannot have it in my power to perform.”
Lord Glistonbury hesitated in some confusion; and then, forcing a look of effrontery, in an assured tone, replied, “No. I have not made any engagements or promises for you which you cannot perform, Vivian, I am clear; nor any which I have not a right to expect my son-in-law will confirm with alacrity.”
“What have you engaged?—what have you promised for me, my lord?” said Vivian, earnestly.
“Only, my dear boy,” said Lord Glistonbury, assuming a facetious tone, “only that you will be always one of us—And are not you one of us?—my son-in-law?—the deuce is in it if he is not one of us!—In short, you know, to be serious, a party must go together, that is, a family party must go together; and, if a ministry do my business, of course I do theirs. If I have my marquisate, they have my votes.”
“But not my vote—pardon me, my lord—my vote cannot be bartered in this manner.”
“But, you know, Mr. Vivian, you know it is for your interest as much as for mine; for, you know, the marquisate will probably descend, in due course of time, to your son. So your interest is full as much concerned as mine; and besides, let me tell you, I have not forgotten your immediate interest: I have stipulated that you should have the valuable place which Mr. C—— was to have had.”