“They say they’ve promised them both peerages.”

“Yes;—­if they remain in.  But they know they’re going out.”

“They must go, with such a majority against them,” said Barrington Erle.

“Of course they must,” said Mr. Ratler.  “Lord de Terrier wants nothing better, but it is rather hard upon poor Daubeny.  I never saw such an unfortunate old Tantalus.”

“He gets a good drop of real water now and again, and I don’t pity him in the least.  He’s clever of course, and has made his own way, but I’ve always a feeling that he has no business where he is.  I suppose we shall know all about it at Brooks’s by one o’clock to-morrow.”

Phineas, though it had been past five before he went to bed,—­for there had been much triumphant talking to be done among liberal members after the division,—­was up at his breakfast at Mrs. Bunce’s lodgings by nine.  There was a matter which he was called upon to settle immediately in which Mrs. Bunce herself was much interested, and respecting which he had promised to give an answer on this very morning.  A set of very dingy chambers up two pairs of stairs at No. 9, Old Square, Lincoln’s Inn, to which Mr. Low had recommended him to transfer himself and all his belongings, were waiting his occupation, should he resolve upon occupying them.  If he intended to commence operations as a barrister, it would be necessary that he should have chambers and a clerk; and before he had left Mr. Low’s house on Sunday evening he had almost given that gentleman authority to secure for him these rooms at No. 9.  “Whether you remain in Parliament or no, you must make a beginning,” Mr. Low had said; “and how are you even to pretend to begin if you don’t have chambers?” Mr. Low hoped that he might be able to wean Phineas away from his Parliament bauble;—­that he might induce the young barrister to give up his madness, if not this session or the next, at any rate before a third year had commenced.  Mr. Low was a persistent man, liking very much when he did like, and loving very strongly when he did love.  He would have many a tug for Phineas Finn before he would allow that false Westminster Satan to carry off the prey as altogether his own.  If he could only get Phineas into the dingy chambers he might do much!

But Phineas had now become so imbued with the atmosphere of politics, had been so breathed upon by Lady Laura and Barrington Erle, that he could no longer endure the thought of any other life than that of a life spent among the lobbies.  A desire to help to beat the Conservatives had fastened on his very soul, and almost made Mr. Low odious in his eyes.  He was afraid of Mr. Low, and for the nonce would not go to him any more;—­but he must see the porter at Lincoln’s Inn, he must write a line to Mr. Low, and he must tell Mrs. Bunce that for the present he would still keep on her rooms.  His letter to Mr. Low was as follows:—­

   Great Marlborough Street, May, 186—.