in his very heart of hearts,—­to extinguish all such Parliamentary influence, to root out for ever the last vestige of close borough nominations; but while the thing remained it was better that the thing should contribute to the liberal than to the conservative strength of the House,—­and if to the liberal, how was this to be achieved but by the acceptance of such influence by some liberal candidate?  And if it were right that it should be accepted by any liberal candidate,—­then, why not by him?  The logic of this argument seemed to him to be perfect.  He felt something like a sting of reproach as he told himself that in truth this great offer was made to him, not on account of the excellence of his politics, but because he had been instrumental in saving Lord Brentford’s son-in-law from the violence of garrotters.  But he crushed these qualms of conscience as being over-scrupulous, and, as he told himself, not practical.  You must take the world as you find it, with a struggle to be something more honest than those around you.  Phineas, as he preached to himself this sermon, declared to himself that they who attempted more than this flew too high in the clouds to be of service to men and women upon earth.

As he did not see Lord Brentford that day he postponed writing to his father for twenty-four hours.  On the following morning he found the Earl at home in Portman Square, having first discussed the matter fully with Lord Chiltern.  “Do not scruple about me,” said Lord Chiltern; “you are quite welcome to the borough for me.”

“But if I did not stand, would you do so?  There are so many reasons which ought to induce you to accept a seat in Parliament!”

“Whether that be true or not, Phineas, I shall not accept my father’s interest at Loughton, unless it be offered to me in a way in which it never will be offered.  You know me well enough to be sure that I shall not change my mind.  Nor will he.  And, therefore, you may go down to Loughton with a pure conscience as far as I am concerned.”

Phineas had his interview with the Earl, and in ten minutes everything was settled.  On his way to Portman Square there had come across his mind the idea of a grand effort of friendship.  What if he could persuade the father so to conduct himself towards his son, that the son should consent to be a member for the borough?  And he did say a word or two to this effect, setting forth that Lord Chiltern would condescend to become a legislator, if only his father would condescend to acknowledge his son’s fitness for such work without any comments on the son’s past life.  But the Earl simply waived the subject away with his hand.  He could be as obstinate as his son.  Lady Laura had been the Mercury between them on this subject, and Lady Laura had failed.  He would not now consent to employ another Mercury.  Very little,—­hardly a word indeed,—­was said between the Earl and Phineas about politics.  Phineas was to be the Saulsby candidate at Loughton for the next election,