"Well! I say 'Well?' too."
"Well, suppose it were a fraud—which I feel able to deny—would it be the first one?"
"You take a body's breath away! Would you—did you wish me to vote for it? Was that what you wanted to see me about?"
"Your instinct is correct. I did want you—I do want you to vote for it."
"Vote for a fr—for a measure which is generally believed to be at least questionable? I am afraid we cannot come to an understanding, Miss Hawkins."
"No, I am afraid not—if you have resumed your principles, Mr. Trollop."
"Did you send for we merely to insult me? It is time for me to take my leave, Miss Hawkins."
"No-wait a moment. Don't be offended at a trifle. Do not be offish and unsociable. The Steamship Subsidy bill was a fraud on the government. You voted for it, Mr. Trollop, though you always opposed the measure until after you had an interview one evening with a certain Mrs. McCarter at her house. She was my agent. She was acting for me. Ah, that is right—sit down again. You can be sociable, easily enough if you have a mind to. Well? I am waiting. Have you nothing to say?"
"Miss Hawkins, I voted for that bill because when I came to examine into it—"
"Ah yes. When you came to examine into it. Well, I only want you to examine into my bill. Mr. Trollop, you would not sell your vote on that subsidy bill—which was perfectly right—but you accepted of some of the stock, with the understanding that it was to stand in your brother-in-law's name."