vegetables, simply because they were of foreign growth.  But the officials of the War Office and the Admiralty declared that the potted peas in question were hardly fit for swine.  The motion for the Committee had been made by a gentleman of the opposition, and Phineas had been put upon it as an independent member.  He had resolved to give it all his mind, and, as far as he was concerned, to reach a just decision, in which there should be no favour shown to the Government side.  New brooms are proverbial for thorough work, and in this Committee work Phineas was as yet a new broom.  But, unfortunately, on this day his mind was so harassed that he could hardly understand what was going on.  It did not, perhaps, much signify, as the witnesses examined were altogether agricultural.  They only proved the production of peas in Holstein,—­a fact as to which Phineas had no doubt.  The proof was naturally slow, as the evidence was given in German, and had to be translated into English.  And the work of the day was much impeded by a certain member who unfortunately spoke German, who seemed to be fond of speaking German before his brethren of the Committee, and who was curious as to agriculture in Holstein generally.  The chairman did not understand German, and there was a difficulty in checking this gentleman, and in making him understand that his questions were not relevant to the issue.

Phineas could not keep his mind during the whole afternoon from the subject of his misfortune.  What should he do if this horrid man came to him once or twice a week?  He certainly did owe the man the money.  He must admit that to himself.  The man no doubt was a dishonest knave who had discounted the bill probably at fifty per cent; but, nevertheless, Phineas had made himself legally responsible for the amount.  The privilege of the House prohibited him from arrest.  He thought of that very often, but the thought only made him the more unhappy.  Would it not be said, and might it not be said truly, that he had incurred this responsibility,—­a responsibility which he was altogether unequal to answer,—­because he was so protected?  He did feel that a certain consciousness of his privilege had been present to him when he had put his name across the paper, and there had been dishonesty in that very consciousness.  And of what service would his privilege be to him, if this man could harass every hour of his life?  The man was to be with him again in a day or two, and when the appointment had been proposed, he, Phineas, had not dared to negative it.  And how was he to escape?  As for paying the bill, that with him was altogether impossible.  The man had told him,—­and he had believed the man,—­that payment by Fitzgibbon was out of the question.  And yet Fitzgibbon was the son of a peer, whereas he was only the son of a country doctor!  Of course Fitzgibbon must make some effort,—­some great effort,—­and have the thing settled.  Alas, alas!  He knew enough of the world already to feel that the hope was vain.