Mr. Turnbull had proclaimed that the clause as it now stood was a faineant clause, capable of doing, and intended to do, no good in the proper direction; a clause put into the bill to gull ignorant folk who had not eyes enough to recognise the fact that it was faineant; a make-believe clause,—­so said Mr. Turnbull,—­to be detested on that account by every true reformer worse than the old Philistine bonds and Tory figments of representation, as to which there was at least no hypocritical pretence of popular fitness.  Mr. Turnbull had been very loud and very angry,—­had talked much of demonstrations among the people, and had almost threatened the House.  The House in its present mood did not fear any demonstrations,—­but it did fear that Mr. Turnbull might help Mr. Daubeny, and that Mr. Daubeny might help Mr. Turnbull.  It was now May,—­the middle of May,—­and ministers, who had been at work on their Reform Bill ever since the beginning of the session, were becoming weary of it.  And then, should these odious clauses escape the threatened Turnbull-Daubeny alliance,—­then there was the House of Lords!  “What a pity we can’t pass our bills at the Treasury, and have done with them!” said Laurence Fitzgibbon.  “Yes, indeed,” replied Mr. Ratler.  “For myself, I was never so tired of a session in my life.  I wouldn’t go through it again to be made,—­no, not to be made Chancellor of the Exchequer.”

Lord Brentford’s note to Phineas Finn was as follows:—­

   House of Lords, 16th May, 186—.

   MY DEAR MR. FINN,

You are no doubt aware that Lord Bosanquet’s death has taken Mr. Mottram into the Upper House, and that as he was Under-Secretary for the Colonies, and as the Under-Secretary must be in the Lower House, the vacancy must be filled up.

The heart of Phineas Finn at this moment was almost in his mouth.  Not only to be selected for political employment, but to be selected at once for an office so singularly desirable!  Under-Secretaries, he fancied, were paid two thousand a year.  What would Mr. Low say now?  But his great triumph soon received a check.  “Mr. Mildmay has spoken to me on the subject,” continued the letter, “and informs me that he has offered the place at the colonies to his old supporter, Mr. Laurence Fitzgibbon.”  Laurence Fitzgibbon!

I am inclined to think that he could not have done better, as Mr. Fitzgibbon has shown great zeal for his party.  This will vacate the Irish seat at the Treasury Board, and I am commissioned by Mr. Mildmay to offer it to you.  Perhaps you will do me the pleasure of calling on me to-morrow between the hours of eleven and twelve.

   Yours very sincerely,

   BRENTFORD.