He
was mean, evasive, callously indifferent to his country's interests, a
cheat, a man who habitually broke his word, and who was responsible, with
his associates, for most of the poverty, misery, crime, and national
degradation with which the country was afflicted. He was also a
candidate for Parliament, it seemed, and as there was only one seat in
this particular locality, it was obvious that the success of either
Robert or Sir John would mean a check to the ambitions of the other,
hence, no doubt, the rivalry and enmity between these otherwise kindred
souls. One was seeking to have his enemy done to death, the other was
apparently trying to stir up his supporters to an act of "Lynch law". All
this in order that there might be an unopposed election, that one or
other of the candidates might go into Parliament with honeyed eloquence
on his lips and blood on his heart. Were men really so vile?
"I must go back to Webblehinton at once," Alethia informed her astonished
hostess at lunch time; "I have had a telegram. A friend is very
seriously ill and I have been sent for."
It was dreadful to have to concoct lies, but it would be more dreadful to
have to spend another night under that roof.
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