But no sooner had the offer been made by Lord Silverbridge than he saw his own indiscretion.  Tifto was very well for Chester or Newmarket, very well perhaps for the Beargarden, but not very well for an electioneering expedition.  An idea came to the young nobleman that if it should be his fate to represent Silverbridge in Parliament for the next twenty years, it would be well that Silverbridge should entertain respecting him some exalted estimation,—­that Silverbridge should be taught to regard him as a fit son of his father and a worthy specimen of the British political nobility.  Struck by serious reflection of this nature he did open his mind to Tregear.  ‘I am very fond of Tifto,’ he said, ’but I don’t know whether he’s just the sort of fellow to take down to an election.’

‘I should think not,’ said Tregear very decidedly.

‘He’s a very good fellow, you know,’ said Silverbridge.  ’I don’t know an honester man than Tifto anywhere.’

’I dare say.  Or rather, I don’t dare say.  I know nothing about the Major’s honesty, and I doubt whether you do.  He rides very well.’

‘What has that to do with it?’

’Nothing on earth.  Therefore I advise you not to take him to Silverbridge.’

‘You needn’t preach.’

’You may call it what you like.  Tifto would not hold his tongue, and there is nothing he could say there which would not be to your prejudice.’

‘Will you go?’

‘If you wish it,’ said Tregear.

‘What will the governor say?’

’That must be your look out.  In a political point of view I shall not disgrace you.  I shall hold my tongue and look like a gentleman,—­neither of which is in Tifto’s power.’

And so it was settled, that on the day but one after this conversation Lord Silverbridge and Tregear should go together to Silverbridge.  But the Major, when on that same night his noble friend’s altered plans were explained to him, did not bear the disappointment with equanimity.  ‘Isn’t that a little strange?’ he said, becoming very red in the face.

‘What do you call strange?’ said the Lord.

’Well;—­I’d made all my arrangements.  When a man has been asked to do a thing like that, he doesn’t like to be put off.’

’The truth is, Tifto, when I came to think of it, I saw that, going down to these fellows about Parliament and all that sort of thing, I ought to have a political atmosphere, and not a racing or a betting or a hunting atmosphere.’

’There isn’t a man in London who cares more about politics than I do,—­and not many perhaps who understand them better.  To tell you the truth, my Lord, I think you are throwing me over.’

‘I’ll make it up to you,’ said Silverbridge, meaning to be kind.  ‘I’ll go down to Newmarket with you and stick to you like wax.’

‘No doubt you’ll do that,’ said Tifto, who, like a fool, failed to see where his advantage lay.  ’I can be useful at Newmarket, and so you’ll stick to me.’