him from his Parliamentary seat, and no news could be more acceptable to her than that of a possible change in the political temper of Hollingford.  The town is Tory, from of old.  Mr. Robb is sitting in his second Parliament, and doubtless hopes to enter a third.  But he is nearly seventy years old, and we hear that his constituents would not be sorry if he gave place to a more active man.  The hope that Hollingford may turn Liberal does not seem to me to be very well founded, and yet I don’t regard the thing as an impossibility.  Lady Ogram has persuaded herself that a thoroughly good man might carry the seat.  That man she is continually seeking, and she carries on a correspondence on the subject with party leaders, whips, caucus directors, and all manner of such folk.  If she lives until the next general election, heaven and earth will be moved against Mr. Robb, and I believe she would give the half of her substance to anyone who defeated him.”

This epistle caused a commotion in Lashmar’s mind.  The last paragraph opened before him a vista of brilliant imaginings.  He read it times innumerable; day and night he could think of nothing else.  Was not here the occasion for which he had been waiting?  Had not fortune turned a shining face upon him?

If only he had still been in enjoyment of his three hundred a year.  There, indeed, was a troublesome reflection.  He thought of writing to his father, of laying before him the facts of his position, and asking seriously whether some financial arrangement could not be made, which would render him independent for a year or two.  Another thought occurred to him—­but he did not care to dwell upon it for the present.  Twenty-four hours’ consideration decided him to go down to Hollingford without delay.  When he had talked with Lady Ogram, he would be in a better position for making up his mind as to the practical difficulty which beset him.

He esteemed it very friendly on Connie Bride’s part to have written such a letter of advice.  Why had she taken the trouble?  Notwithstanding the coldness of her language, Connie plainly had his interests at heart, and gave no little thought to him.  This was agreeable, but no matter of surprise; it never surprised Lashmar that anyone should regard him as a man of importance; and he felt a pleasant conviction that the boyish philandering of years ago would stand him in good stead now that he understood what was due to women—­and to himself.

CHAPTER V

So next morning he packed his bag, drove to Euston, and by mid-day was at Hollingford.  The town, hitherto known to him only by name, had little charm of situation or feature, but Dyce, on his way to a hotel, looked about him with lively interest, and persuaded himself that the main streets had a brisk progressive air; he imagined Liberalism in many faces, and noted cheerfully the publishing office of a Liberal newspaper.  If his interview with Lady Ogram proved encouraging, he would stay here over the next day, and give himself time to make acquaintance with the borough.