‘Beauchamp will head the poll to a certainty,’ Palmet replied.

‘Still,’ said Miss Halkett, ’you should not forget that you are not in the house of a Liberal.  Did you canvass in the town or the suburbs?’

’Everywhere.  I assure you, Miss Halkett, there’s a feeling for Beauchamp—­they’re in love with him!’

‘He promises them everything, I suppose?’

’Not he.  And the odd thing is, it isn’t the Radicals he catches.  He won’t go against the game laws for them, and he won’t cut down army and navy.  So the Radicals yell at him.  One confessed he had sold his vote for five pounds last election:  “you shall have it for the same,” says he, “for you’re all humbugs.”  Beauchamp took him by the throat and shook him—­metaphorically, you know.  But as for the tradesmen, he’s their hero; bakers especially.’

‘Mr. Austin may be right, then!’ Cecilia reflected aloud.

She went to Mrs. Lespel to repeat what she had extracted from Palmet, after warning the latter not, in common loyalty, to converse about his canvass with Beauchamp.

‘Did you speak of Mr. Lydiard as Captain Beauchamp’s friend?’ Mrs. Devereux inquired of him.

‘Lydiard? why, he was the man who made off with that pretty Miss Denham,’ said Palmet.  ’I have the greatest trouble to remember them all; but it was not a day wasted.  Now I know politics.  Shall we ride or walk?  You will let me have the happiness?  I’m so unlucky; I rarely meet you!’

‘You will bring Captain Beauchamp to me the moment he comes?’

‘I’ll bring him.  Bring him?  Nevil Beauchamp won’t want bringing.’

Mrs. Devereux smiled with some pleasure.

Grancey Lespel, followed at some distance by Mr. Ferbrass, the Tory lawyer, stepped quickly up to Palmet, and asked whether Beauchamp had seen Dollikins, the brewer.

Palmet could recollect the name of one Tomlinson, and also the calling at a brewery.  Moreover, Beauchamp had uttered contempt of the brewer’s business, and of the social rule to accept rich brewers for gentlemen.  The man’s name might be Dollikins and not Tomlinson, and if so, it was Dollikins who would not see Beauchamp.  To preserve his political importance, Palmet said, ‘Dollikins! to be sure, that was the man.’

‘Treats him as he does you,’ Mr. Lespel turned to Ferbrass.  ’I’ve sent to Dollikins to come to me this morning, if he’s not driving into the town.  I’ll have him before Beauchamp sees him.  I’ve asked half-a-dozen of these country gentlemen-tradesmen to lunch at my table to-day.’

‘Then, sir,’ observed Ferbrass, ’if they are men to be persuaded, they had better not see me.’

‘True; they’re my old supporters, and mightn’t like your Tory face,’ Mr. Lespel assented.

Mr. Ferbrass congratulated him on the heartiness of his espousal of the Tory cause.

Mr. Lespel winced a little, and told him not to put his trust in that.