“How is that sir?” asked Val.
“Send me that poteen you spoke of, and ignore the Bills against these M'Caffreys.”
“No, sir,” replied Val, looking with his own peculiar beetle-browed smile at Sir William, “I shall not; for by G—, we will find true Bills against the four M'Caffreys. We might do something for humanity, Mr. Hartley; but we are not to be made fools of before our own faces.”
“I do not understand you,” replied Hartley.
“He is nothing but a scoundrel, as I said,” returned Sir William—“that is all; a low-born scoundrel; and it is a disgrace to see such a fellow's name upon any Grand Jury list.”
“Hartley,” replied Spavin, “we do not wish to refuse either Sir William or you in such a matter as this; but the fact is, M'Clutchy is right. This is at bottom a party matter—a political matter, and you know it is.”
“No, sir; on my own part and on Sir William's I disclaim any such knowledge.”
“You know, Hartley, you are canvassing the county.”
“Yes, but what has that to do with these; men or their affairs?”
“What—why you know that if we ignore the Bills against them, they will be out and ready to vote for you at the forthcoming election.”