Alice, or the Mysteries — Book 07

								


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BOOK VII.


Words of dark import gave suspicion birth.--POTTER.

CHAPTER I.


Luce.  Is the wind there?

           That makes for me.
Isab.  Come, I forget a business.

                 Wit without Money.
LORD VARGRAVE'S travelling-carriage was at his door, and he himself was
putting on his greatcoat in his library, when Lord Saxingham entered.
"What! you are going into the country?"
"Yes; I wrote you word,--to see Lisle Court."
"Ay, true; I had forgot.  Somehow or other my memory is not so good as it
was.  But, let me see, Lisle Court is in -----shire.  Why, you will pass
within ten miles of C-----."
"C-----!  Shall I?  I am not much versed in the geography of
England,--never learned it at school.  As for Poland, Kamschatka, Mexico,
Madagascar, or any other place as to which knowledge would be useful, I
have every inch of the way at my finger's end.  But a propos of C-----,
it is the town in which my late uncle made his fortune."
"Ah, so it is.  I recollect you were to have stood for C-----, but gave
it up to Staunch; very handsome in you.  Have you any interest there
still?"
"I think my ward has some tenants,--a street or two,--one called Richard
Street, and the other Templeton Place.  I had intended some weeks ago to
have gone down there, and seen what interest was still left to our
family; but Staunch himself told me that C----- was a sure card."
"So he thought; but he has been with me this morning in great alarm: he
now thinks he shall be thrown out.  A Mr. Winsley, who has a great deal
of interest there, and was a supporter of his, hangs back on account of
the ----- question.  This is unlucky, as Staunch is quite with us; and
if he were to rat now it would be most unfortunate."
"Winsley!  Winsley!--my poor uncle's right-hand man.  A great
brewer,--always chairman of the Templeton Committee.  I know the name,
though I never saw the man."
"If you could take C----- in your way?"
"To be sure.  Staunch must not be lost.  We cannot throw away a single
vote, much more one of such weight,--eighteen stone at the least!  I'll
stop at C----- on pretence of seeing after my ward's houses, and have a
quiet conference with Mr. Winsley.  Hem!  Peers must not interfere in
elections, eh?  Well, good-by: take care of yourself.  I shall be back in
a week, I hope,--perhaps less."
In a minute more Lord Vargrave and Mr. George Frederick Augustus Howard,
a slim young gentleman of high birth and connections, but who, having, as
a portionless cadet, his own way to make in the world, condescended to be
his lordship's private secretary, were rattling over the streets the
first stage to C-----.
It was late at night when Lord Vargrave arrived at the head inn of that