The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 331: what you’re looking at

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300 REYNOLDS’ WORKS the borough is mine, and no gentleman can continue to represent it if once he forfeits my confidence.”’ “ Quite right, my lord, certainly not,” ejaculated the Member for Viviandale, and then he smiled with a forced complacency, as if he meant it to be inferred that he had not by any means forfeited his ducal patron’s confidence. “Tf you consider that I am right, Mr. Hyde,” proceeded Marchmont, “‘ you will not be astonished if I frankly intimate that unless your conduct undergoes a change, you will at the next general election cease to be the representative of Viviandale. There.were passages in your speech, sir, which unmistakably indicated a tendency toward what is generally known as ratting — ‘‘ Astonishing, quite astonishing, ’ pon my honour,” cried the honourable gentleman, holding up his hands in amaze- ment. ‘‘ Really, my lord, if your Grace had only heard the cheers which my speech elicited — ”’ ‘“T care nothing for the cheers, sir,’’ interrupted March- mont, haughtily. ‘‘ There may perhaps be some few of my tenant farmers as well as of the tradesmen of Viviandale who are infected with revolutionary notions, and who in their hearts rebel against my authority. They may therefore cheer, sir, what are called liberal sentiments, although they dare not fly in my face and give their votes in the same sense. But I tell you that I care nothing for the cheers so long as the votes are always of the right sort. Your speech, Mr. Hyde, savoured of treachery, and there is positively a rumour afloat—I must speak out plainly — that you have sold yourself to the Whigs.”’ ‘“‘ Astonishing, quite astonishing, ’pon my honour,” ejac- ulated the honourable gentleman. ‘ Really, my lord, I am surprised that your Graceshould give credit to such rumours.” “Take care that they do not prove true, Mr. Hyde. Remember the understanding on which you were first brought in for Viviandale, the conditions on which I paid your elec- tioneering expenses, the terms on which for three Parlia- ments you have represented my borough. By Heaven, sir, if you deceive me, you shall be turned out next time, and I will put in my steward or my butler, — ay, or even one of my footmen, rather than stand the chance of being turned around upon. You solemnly pledged yourself to stand by Church and State in all things, to denounce the people 1) 19 1) ECORNIELIOIOOKS,(E0)