"The wily rascal calculated upon your
forbearance and easiness of disposition, and so imagined that he might
do what he pleased with impunity. We shall undeceive him, however."
"Well, but you forget that he, had some cause of displeasure against us,
in consequence of having neglected his memorial to the Commissioners of
Excise."
"Yes; but as I said before, how could we with credit involve ourselves
in the illegal villany of a smuggler? It is actually a discredit to have
such a fellow upon the estate. He is, in the first place, a bad
example, and calculated by his conduct and influence to spread dangerous
principles among the tenantry. However, as it is, he is, fortunately for
us, rather well known at present. It is now perfectly notorious--and I
have it from the best authority--one of the parties who was cognizant
of his conduct--that his vote against you was the result of a deliberate
compact with our enemy, Vanston, and that he received a bribe of fifty
pounds from him. This he has had the audacity to acknowledge himself,
being the very amount of the sum to which the penalty against him was
mitigated by Vanston's interference. In fact the scoundrel is already
infamous in the country."
"What, for receiving a bribe!" exclaimed Chevydale, looking at the agent
with a significant smile; "and what, pray, is the distinction between
him who gives and him who takes a bribe? Let us look at home a little,
my good Fethertonge, and learn a little charity to those who err as we
do.
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