At about two o’clock, he himself succeeded in moving the adjournment of the debate.  This he did from a seat below the gangway, to which he had removed himself from the Treasury bench.  Then the House was up, and he walked home with Mr. Monk.  Mr. Monk, since he had been told positively by Phineas that he had resolved upon resigning his office, had said nothing more of his sorrow at his friend’s resolve, but had used him as one political friend uses another, telling him all his thoughts and all his hopes as to this new measure of his, and taking counsel with him as to the way in which the fight should be fought.  Together they had counted over the list of members, marking these men as supporters, those as opponents, and another set, now more important than either, as being doubtful.  From day to day those who had been written down as doubtful were struck off that third list, and put in either the one or the other of those who were either supporters or opponents.  And their different modes of argument were settled between these two allied orators, how one should take this line and the other that.  To Mr. Monk this was very pleasant.  He was quite assured now that opposition was more congenial to his spirit, and more fitting for him than office.  There was no doubt to him as to his future sitting in Parliament, let the result of this contest be what it might.  The work which he was now doing, was the work for which he had been training himself all his life.  While he had been forced to attend Cabinet Councils from week to week, he had been depressed.  Now he was exultant.  Phineas seeing and understanding all this, said but little to his friend of his own prospects.  As long as this pleasant battle was raging, he could fight in it shoulder to shoulder with the man he loved.  After that there would be a blank.

“I do not see how we are to fail to have a majority after Daubeny’s speech to-night,” said Mr. Monk, as they walked together down Parliament Street through the bright moonlight.

“He expressly said that he only spoke for himself,” said Phineas.

“But we know what that means.  He is bidding for office, and of course those who want office with him will vote as he votes.  We have already counted those who would go into office, but they will not carry the whole party.”

“It will carry enough of them.”

“There are forty or fifty men on his side of the House, and as many perhaps on ours,” said Mr. Monk, “who have no idea of any kind on any bill, and who simply follow the bell, whether into this lobby or that.  Argument never touches them.  They do not even look to the result of a division on their own interests, as the making of any calculation would be laborious to them.  Their party leader is to them a Pope whom they do not dream of doubting.  I never can quite make up my mind whether it is good or bad that there should be such men in Parliament.”

“Men who think much want to speak often,” said Phineas.