Probably he would be defeated, and it might cost him five hundred pounds.  On the other hand it would certainly make his name known as a politician, and he was now in a fair way to earn so large an income that he could well afford to risk the money.  The only great objection which he saw, was that if he happened to get in, it must mean that he would have to work all day and all night too.  Well, he was strong and the more work he did the better—­it kept him from thinking.

In due course Beatrice’s answer came.  Her view coincided with his own; she recommended him to take the opportunity, and pointed out that with his growing legal reputation there was no office in the State to which he might not aspire, when he had once proved himself a capable member of Parliament.  Geoffrey read the letter through; then immediately sat down and wrote to his friend the whip, accepting the suggestion of the Government.

The next fortnight was a hard one for him, but Geoffrey was as good a man on the platform as in court, and he had, moreover, the very valuable knack of suiting himself to his audience.  As his canvass went on it was generally recognised that the seat which had been considered hopeless was now doubtful.  A great amount of public interest was concentrated on the election, both upon the Unionist and the Separatist side, each claiming that the result of the poll would show to their advantage.  The Home Rule party strained every nerve against him, being most anxious to show that the free and independent electors of this single division, and therefore of the country at large, held the Government policy in particular horror.  Letters were obtained from great authorities and freely printed.  Irish members, fresh from gaol, were brought down to detail their grievances.  It was even suggested that one of them should appear on the platform in prison garb—­in short, every electioneering engine known to political science was brought to bear to forward the fortunes of either side.

As time went on Lady Honoria, who had been somewhat indifferent at first, grew quite excited about the result.  For one thing she found that the contest attached an importance to herself in the eyes of the truly great, which was not without its charm.  On the day of the poll she drove about all day in an open carriage under a bright blue parasol, having Effie (who had become very bored) by her side, and two noble lords on the front seat.  As a consequence the result was universally declared by a certain section of the press to be entirely due to the efforts of an unprincipled but titled and lovely woman.  It was even said that, like another lady of rank in a past generation, she kissed a butcher in order to win his vote.  But those who made the remark did not know Lady Honoria; she was incapable of kissing a butcher, or indeed anybody else.  Her inclinations did not lie in that direction.