You may rely on
that. For the tories will make none, and I have some thoughts
of retiring from business."
It is difficult to express the astonishment, the perplexity,
the agitation, that pervaded the countenance of Sir Vavasour
while his companion thus coolly delivered himself. High hopes
extinguished and excited at the same moment; cherished
promises vanishing, mysterious expectations rising up;
revelations of astounding state secrets; chief ministers
voluntarily renouncing their highest means of influence, and
an obscure private individual distributing those distinctions
which sovereigns were obliged to hoard, and to obtain which
the first men in the country were ready to injure their
estates and to sacrifice their honour! At length Sir Vavasour
said, "You amaze me Mr Hatton. I could mention to you twenty
members of Boodle's, at least, who believe they will be made
peers the moment the tories come in."
"Not a man of them," said Hatton peremptorily. "Tell me one
of their names, and I will tell you whether they will be made
peers."
"Well then there is Mr Tubbe Sweete, a county member, and his
son in parliament too--I know he has a promise."
"I repeat to you, Sir Vavasour, the tories will not make a
single peer; the candidates must come to me; and I ask you
what can I do for a Tubbe Sweete, the son of a Jamaica cooper?
Are there any old families among your twenty members of
Brookes'?"
"Why I can hardly say," said Sir Vavasour; "there is Sir
Charles Featherly, an old baronet.
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