Authors: George W. M. Reynolds,James Malcolm Rymer
waist of the frail fair one, and
drawing her close to him as they stood before the fire.
"I am delighted with this result," said Lady
Cecilia; " although my own father has sustained a defeat in the
person of his candidate."
"All fair in the political world, dear Cecilia,"
replied the new Member of Parliament. " But you have not yet appeared to
understand that I came hither the moment I returned from Rottenborough,- to
bear to you, first and foremost, the news of my success."
"Ah! dearest George, how can I ever sufficiently
testify my gratitude to thee for all thy proofs of ardent love?" whispered
Lady Cecilia, in a soft and melting tone.
"Yes - I love you - I love you well," answered
Greenwood, who in a moment of tenderness declared with the lips far more than
he really felt with the heart; and he imprinted a thousand kisses upon her
mouth, her cheeks, and her brow.
She returned them, while her countenance glowed with a deep
crimson dye;- but neither the kisses nor the blushes were those of a pure and
sacred affection; they were the offspring of a licentious and illicit flame.
A slight noise in the room startled the guilty pair.
They hastily withdrew from each other's embrace, and glanced
around.
Mr. Chichester was advancing towards the table in the middle
of the apartment.
Lady Cecilia uttered a faint cry, and sank upon the sofa.
"I beg you a thousand pardons," said Chichester,
affecting the utmost indifference of manner, "but I had left this parcel
behind me;" - and, taking up the small package containing his dice and
cards, he withdrew.
"Merciful heavens!" ejaculated Lady Cecilia:
"we are discovered - we are betrayed! That wretch will ruin us!"
"Do not fear - do not alarm yourself, sweetest
lady," returned Greenwood: "I will undertake to stop that man's
mouth! One moment - and I return."
He hurried after Mr. Chichester, whom he over-took half-way
down the stairs.
"Chichester, one word with you," said Greenwood.
"A dozen, if you like, my dear fellow. "
"You came into the drawing-room a minute ago -
unexpectedly —"
"And I apologised for my rudeness."
"Yes - but you are not the less possessed of a secret
which involves the honour of a lady - the a happiness of an entire family
—"
"Greenwood, I am a man of the world: you can rely upon
me," interrupted Chichester. "Fear nothing on that score. You have
now asked your favour, and obtained is of me: let me request one of you."
"Command me in any way you choose."
"I am at this moment embarrassed for a hundred pounds
or so —"
"Say no more: they are yours," returned Greenwood;
and he forthwith handed a bank-note for the amount mentioned, to Mr.
Chichester.
"Thank you," said that individual; and he hastened
to rejoin the baronet, who was waiting for him in the square.
"Well - have you found your implements?" said Sir
Rupert, as he took his friend's arm.
"Yes - and a hundred pounds into the bargain,"
returned Chichester drily.
"A hundred pounds! Impossible!"
"There is the bank-note. It is just what we
required."
"But how—"
"Greenwood was coming down stairs, and I mustered up
courage to ask him for a loan. He complied without a moment's hesitation.
Indeed," added Chichester, with a sneer, "I almost think that I shall
be enabled, in case of emergency, to obtain another supply from the same quarter."
"This is fortunate - most fortunate!"
exclaimed Harborough. "Let us go and dine at Long's or Stephen's
this evening,, and see if we can pick up a flat."
THE "WHIPPERS-IN"
HAVING
reassured Lady Cecilia Harborough relative to the alarm inspired by the
intrusion of Chichester at so critical a moment, Mr. Greenwood returned to his
own residence in Spring Gardens.
"Any one called,
Lafleur?" he said to his favourite valet, as he ascended to his
study.
"Two gentlemen;
sir. Their cards are upon your desk. They both declared that they would call
again to day."
Mr. Greenwood hastened
to inspect the cards of his two visitors. One contained the following name and
address
THE HON V. W. Y. SAWDER, M.P.
Reform Club.
The other presented the annexed
superscription to view :-
SIR T. M. B. MUZZLEHEM, BART., M.P.
Carlton Club
"Ah! ha!" exclaimed Mr.
Greenwood, chuckling audibly: "I understand what this mean : Already at
work, eh? No time to be lost, I see." Then turning towards Lalleur, he
added, "You see, my good fellow, that when a man like me - a man of - of -
consideration, in a word - becomes entrusted with the interests of a free,
enlightened, and independent constituency, like that of Rottenborough, the
Ministerial party and the Opposition each endeavour to secure me to their cause
- you understand, Lafleur - eh?"
"Perfectly, sir," answered the imperturbable
valet, with his usual bow.
"Well, then, Lafleur," continued Mr.
Greenwood, "you must know farther that each party has its whipper-in. The
whippers-in keep lists of those who belong respectively to their own parties,
and collect them together when their support is absolutely necessary on a
division of the House. In fact, the whippers-in are the huntsmen of the pack:
and the members all collect at the sound of their bugles. Do you comprehend,
Lafleur!"
"Yes, sir - thank you, sir."
"I must therefore see both these gentlemen - but
separately, mind. If they should happen to call at the same time, show one into
the drawing-room while I receive the other here."
"Yes, sir,"
"And now, Lafleur," proceeded Mr. Greenwood,
" while we are upon the subject, I may as well give you a few instructions
relative to that deportment which my altered position renders
necessary."
Lafleur bowed.
"Placed in a situation of high responsibility and
trust, by the confidence of an intelligent and enlightened constituency,"
resumed Mr Greenwood, "I am bound to maintain a position which may inspire
respect and confidence. In the first place, as it cannot be supposed that I
shall receive many epistolary communications until my opinions upon particular
measures and questions become known through my parliamentary conduct, - and as,
at the same time, it would be disgraceful for the neighbourhood to imagine that
my correspondence is limited, you must take care that the two-penny postman
never passes my door without leaving a letter."
"Yes, sir. I will have a letter, addressed to you,
posted every two hours, sir, so that you cannot fail to receive one by each
delivery."
"Good, Lafleur; and you can tell the
postman," added Mr. Greenwood, "to knock louder than he has been in
the habit of doing —"
"Yes, sir; because it is difficult to hear from
the servants' offices."
"Precisely, Lafleur. And you can tell our newsman
to bring me all the second editions of the newspapers whenever there are any;
and mind you always keep the news-boy waiting a long time at the door. Tell
him, moreover, to bawl out 'second edition' of whatever paper it may be, as
loud as he can."
"I will take care he shall do so, sir," answered
Lafleur.
"And once a week, or so," proceeded Greenwood,
after a pause, "let an express-courier gallop at full speed up to the
house, and ring and knock furiously until the door is opened. But, mind that he
comes from at least three or four miles distant, so that his horse may be
covered with foam, and himself with mud or dust, according to the state of the
weather."
" I understand, sir."
"Moreover, Lafleur, at least three or four times a
week, go to Leadenhall Market and purchase the game and poultry which we may
require for the house, and send it home by the London Parcels Delivery Company,
so that the neighbours may say, '
More presents for Mr. Greenwood. Dear me!
how popular he must be with his constituents!
'"
"I fully comprehend, sir."
"You can send fish home, too,- and haunches of
venison in the same manner," continued the new Member of Parliament;
" but mind that the feathers of the pheasants, the tails of the fish, and
the feet of the haunches always hang out of the baskets in which they are
packed."
"Oh! certainly, sir."
"If you could possibly get a charity-school to
wait upon me some morning, to solicit me to become a patron, or any thing of
that sort, it would do good, and I should make a handsome donation to the
funds."
"That can be managed, sir. I can safely promise
that seventy boys and ninety girls shall wait upon you in procession any day
you choose to appoint."
"Well and good, Lafleur. And mind that they are
kept standing for three quarters of an hour in the street before they are
admitted."
"As a matter of course, sir."
"And now I will just mention a few things,"
continued Mr. Greenwood, "that you most manage with very great
nicety. Indeed, I know I can rely upon you in every thing."
Lafleur bowed.
"You must turn away all Italian organ-players. The
moment one shows himself under our windows, let one of the footmen rush out and
order him off. It is not proper to encourage such vagabonds: the aristocracy
don't like them."
"Certainly not, sir."
"Organ-playing is a thing I am determined to put
an end to. There is also the hoop nuisance. Give any boy into charge, whatever
may be his age, who is caught trundling a hoop in Spring Gardens. That is
another thing I am resolved to put an end to. Ballad-singers and broom-girls
you will of course have taken into custody without hesitation. In fact you had
better give the policeman upon the beat general instructions upon this head;
and you can slip a guinea into his hand at the same time."
"Very good, sir."
"At the same time we must be charitable, Lafleur -
we must be charitable."
"Decidedly, sir."
"You must find out some decent woman with half a
dozen children, to whom the broken victuals can be given every day at about
three o'clock, when there are plenty of people in the street;- a woman who does
not exactly want the food, but who will not refuse it. The respectability of
her appearance will be set down to my benevolence, Lafleur; and she must be
careful always to come with her children. By these means we shall gain the
reputation of being judiciously particular in respect to vagabonds and
impostors, but charitable in the extreme to the deserving poor."
"Just so, sir."
"One word more, Lafleur. When any person calls
whom you know I do not want to see, say, '
Mr. Greenwood is engaged with a
deputation from his constituents
;' or else, '
Mr. Greenwood has just received
very important dispatches, and cannot be disturbed
;' - or, again, '
Mr.
Greenwood has just stepped down as far as the Home Office
.' You fully
comprehend."
"Perfectly, sir."
"Then you may retire, Lafleur. But - by the bye -
Lafleur!"
"Yes, sir? "
"I shall add twenty guineas a year to your wages
from this date, Lafleur," said Mr. Greenwood.
"Thank you, sir, answered the valet; and, with a
low bow, he retired.
"Another step gained in the ladder of
ambition!" said Greenwood to himself, when he was alone. "A Member of
Parliament - and in spite of Lord Tremordyn! ha! ha! ha! In spite of Lord
Tremordyn! Oh most intelligent and independent electors of Rottenborough: I
bought your suffrages with gold, with fine words, with clowns and mountebanks;
and with pots of beer! Free and enlightened electors! ha! ha! I shall turn
against the very interest in which I was elected; but if my constituents
grumble, I will silence them with more gold ;- if they reproach, I will use all
the sophistry of which language is capable-and that is not a little;- if they
repine, I will win them back to good humour with fresh sights, and buffoons,
and galas; - if they grow dry with talking against me, I will have whole
pipes of wine and butts of beer broached in their streets! Yes - I must join
the Tory interest: I see that it is now upon the rise. And yet I know-
I feel in my heart - I have the conviction that the popular cause is the
true one, the just one. But what of that? I stood forward as a candidate
to suit myself, and not for the sake of the free and independent electors of
Rottenborough! Yes, all goes well with me! An occasional annoyance - such as my
failure in obtaining possession of the person of Eliza Sydney, and of the hand
of Isabella, the lovely Italian - cannot be avoided;- but in all great points -
in all my important views, I am successful I And yet, Isabella - Isabella! Upon
her the eye that is wearied with the contemplation of the rude and discordant
scenes of life, could rest - could rest with unfeigned, with ineffable delight!
O Isabella, there are times when thine image comes before me, like the vision
of a holy and chaste Madonna to the sleep-bound mind of the pious Catholic; -
and there have been solitary hours in which the whole earth has seemed to me to
be covered with flowers beneath the sweet sunlight of thine eyes! And yet - who
knows? The day may come when even thou shalt he mine! I longed to languish in
the arms of Diana Arlington;- and I had my wish. I coveted the patrician loveliness
of Cecilia Harborough;- and, behold! my wealth purchased it. I sought for
change; and accident - a strange accident - surrendered to my embraces another
- yes, another - whom I have never seen since that day - now more than two
months ago, - but who, I have since learnt through the medium of my faithful
Lafleur, dwells in the same house with —"
Mr. Greenwood's reverie was interrupted by the entrance
of his valet, who introduced the Honourable Mr. Sawder into the study. The new
Member of Parliament received the Whig whipper-in with his usual courtesy of
manner; and, when they were both seated, Mr. Sawder felicitated Mr. Greenwood
upon the successful result of the Rottenborough election.
"The liberal cause triumphed most signally,"
said Mr. Sawder: "the result was hailed with enthusiasm at the Reform
Club, I can assure you."
"I have no doubt," answered Mr. Greenwood,
already adopting the method of evasion so much in vogue amongst diplomatic and
political circles,- "I have no doubt that every true lover of his country
must be rejoiced at the victory achieved by straightforward conduct over the
system of bribery, intimidation, and corruption practised by the nominee of
Lord Tremordyn and his agents."
"Oh! certainly - certainly," returned Mr.
Sawder. "The object of my present visit is to ascertain whether you will
permit me to introduce you to the House this evening?"
"It is my intention to take the oaths and my seat
this evening," answered Mr. Greenwood.
"And my services as
chaperon
—"
"You really confer a great honour upon
me."
"Then I may consider that you accept —"
"My dear sir, how can I sufficiently thank you for
this kind interest which you take in my behalf?"
"Pray do not mention it, Mr.
Greenwood."
"No, Mr. Sawder, I will not allude to it; since it
is the more to be appreciated, inasmuch as I never had the pleasure of being
known to you previous to this occasion."
"I am therefore to understand," said the
whipper-in, who could not precisely fathom the new member through the depths of
these ambiguous phrases, "that you will allow me the honour of introducing
you —"
"The honour, my dear sir, would be with me,"
observed Mr. Greenwood, with a gracious bow.
"At what hour, then, will you be prepared —"
"My time shall henceforth always be devoted to the
interests of my constituents."
"A very noble sentiment, my dear Mr.
Greenwood," said the whipper-in. "Shall we then fix the ceremony for
five o'clock?"
"Five o clock is an excellent hour, Mr. Sawder -
an excellent hour. I know no hour that I like more than five o'clock,"
exclaimed Mr. Greenwood.
"Be it five, then," said the whipper in."
And now, relative to the Reform club - when will it please you to be proposed a
member?"
"It will please me, my dear sir, at any time, to
join that fraternity of honourable gentlemen with whom I shall in future
co-operate."
"Well and good, my dear sir," said Mr. Sawder
and he slowly and reluctantly took his leave, not knowing what to make of the
new member for Rotten borough, nor whether to calculate upon his adhesion to
the Whig cause, or not.
Scarcely had the Honourable Mr. V. W. Y. Sawder, M. P.,
driven away in his beautiful cabriolet from Mr. Greenwood's door, when Sir T.
M. B. Muzzlehem, Bart., M. P. arrived in his brougham at the same point. But if
Mr. Greenwood were evasive and ambiguous to the Whig whipper-in, he was clear
and lucid to the Tory one.
Sir T. Muzzlehem began by felicitating him upon his
election, and in a verbose harangue, expressed his hopes that Mr. Greenwood
would support that cause "the object of which was to maintain the glorious
old constitution inviolate, and uphold the Established Church in its unity and
integrity."
"Those are precisely my intentions," said Mr.
Greenwood.
"I am delighted to hear you say so, my dear
sir," resumed the Tory whipper-in; "but I have one deep cause of
uneasiness, which is that you may not entertain precisely the same views of
what is necessary to maintain these honourable and ancient institutions, as the
men who would gladly lay down their lives to benefit their country."
"I believe, Sir Thomas Muzzlehem," answered
Mr. Greenwood, "that I shall act according to the wishes of my
constituents, the dictates of my own conscience, and the views of the
illustrious men of whom you speak."
" In which case, my dear Mr. Greenwood, I am of
course to understand that you will be one of
us
- one of the
true defenders of the Throne, the Constitution, and the Church —"
"In other words, a Conservative," added Mr.
Greenwood.
"Bravo!" ejaculated the whipper-in, unable to
conceal his joy at this unexpected result of a visit whose object he had at
first deemed certain of defeat then, shaking Mr. Greenwood heartily by the
hand, he said, "At what hour shall I have the pleasure of introducing you
this evening?"
"At a quarter to five precisely," replied Mr.
Greenwood.
"And of course you will become a member of the
Carlton?" added the whipper-in.