At this time he received some counsel from two friends.  One was Laurence Fitzgibbon, and the other was Barrington Erle.  Laurence had always been true to him after a fashion, and had never resented his intrusion at the Colonial Office.  “Phineas, me boy,” he said, “if all this is thrue, you’re about up a tree.”

“It is true that I shall support Monk’s motion.”

“Then, me boy, you’re up a tree as far as office goes.  A place like that niver suited me, because, you see, that poker of a young lord expected so much of a man; but you don’t mind that kind of thing, and I thought you were as snug as snug.”

“Troubles will come, you see, Laurence.”

“Bedad, yes.  It’s all throubles, I think, sometimes.  But you’ve a way out of all your throubles.”

“What way?”

“Pop the question to Madame Max.  The money’s all thrue, you know.”

“I don’t doubt the money in the least,” said Phineas.

“And it’s my belief she’ll take you without a second word.  Anyways, thry it, Phinny, my boy.  That’s my advice.”  Phineas so far agreed with his friend Laurence that he thought it possible that Madame Goesler might accept him were he to propose marriage to her.  He knew, of course, that that mode of escape from his difficulties was out of the question for him, but he could not explain this to Laurence Fitzgibbon.

“I am sorry to hear that you have taken up a bad cause,” said Barrington Erle to him.

“It is a pity;—­is it not?”

“And the worst of it is that you’ll sacrifice yourself and do no good to the cause.  I never knew a man break away in this fashion, and not feel afterwards that he had done it all for nothing.”

“But what is a man to do, Barrington?  He can’t smother his convictions.”

“Convictions!  There is nothing on earth that I’m so much afraid of in a young member of Parliament as convictions.  There are ever so many rocks against which men get broken.  One man can’t keep his temper.  Another can’t hold his tongue.  A third can’t say a word unless he has been priming himself half a session.  A fourth is always thinking of himself, and wanting more than he can get.  A fifth is idle, and won’t be there when he’s wanted.  A sixth is always in the way.  A seventh lies so that you never can trust him.  I’ve had to do with them all, but a fellow with convictions is the worst of all.”

“I don’t see how a fellow is to help himself,” said Phineas.  “When a fellow begins to meddle with politics they will come.”

“Why can’t you grow into them gradually as your betters and elders have done before you?  It ought to be enough for any man, when he begins, to know that he’s a Liberal.  He understands which side of the House he’s to vote, and who is to lead him.  What’s the meaning of having a leader to a party, if it’s not that?  Do you think that you and Mr. Monk can go and make a government between you?”