81 lines
2.0 KiB
Plaintext
81 lines
2.0 KiB
Plaintext
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<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Middleton, by Anthony Eliot</title>
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MIDDLETON
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by Anthony Eliot
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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I. The Roots of the Enmity
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II. An Unhappy Meeting
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III. Middleton's Resolve
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IV. The Election
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CHAPTER III
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MIDDLETON'S RESOLVE
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"I shall go down to Wokingham", said Middleton, "a few days
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before the election, and the Major will stay here. I
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understand that there will be no other candidate, and _I_
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shall take the seat.
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"The Major is a . . . _flaneur_. He has no interest beyond
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his own advancement. I can buy him for a hundred pounds.
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_Here_ is his answer."
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Wallace wondered at the _hubris_ of his friend, and
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examined the note Middleton thrust upon him.
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"Sir,
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No consideration would induce me to
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change my resolve in this matter, but I am
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willing to engage your services as my agent
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for a fee of 100 pounds.
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H. Middleton"
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CHAPTER IV
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THE ELECTION
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Now hatred is by far the longest pleasure;
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Men love in haste, but they detest at leisure.
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---- BYRON
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On hearing of Middleton's visit, Mr. Wentworth began his
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preparations. Meeting with Thomas Lake and Riley at the
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back of the tap-room of The Bull & Gate--where the landlord
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saw to it that they remained undisturbed--he laid out their
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plan of campaign.
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"That d---l Middleton shall not have the seat," he raved,
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"not for Lord H------; no, nor for a hundred Lords! We
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shall see to it that every man's hand is turned against
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him when he arrives."
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Lake unfolded a paper from his vest-pocket and smoothed it
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on the table. "Here are the expenses we should undertake."
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Doran L13 10s.
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Titwell L 8 7s. 6d.
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St. Charles L25
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