Still how am I to act ?" "In either case, Bryan, precisely as I said.

Keep the letter and the bank-note; say nothing about it--that is clearly your safest plan; do not let them out of your hands, for the time may come when it will be necessary to your own character to show them." "Well, then, I will be guided by you, Hycy.

As you say no one knows the secret but yourself and me; if it has come from a friend he will say nothing about it, but if it has come from an enemy it will be whispered about; but at all events I have you as proof that it did not come to me by any bargain of mine." Hycy spoke not a word, but clapped him approvingly on the shoulder, as much as to say--"Exactly so, that is precisely the fact," and thus ended the dialogue.
We all know that the clearer the mirror the slighter will be the breath necessary to stain it; on the breast of an unsullied shirt the most minute speck will be offensively visible.

So it is with human character and integrity.

Had Bryan M'Mahon belonged to a family of mere ordinary reputation--to a family who had generally participated in all the good and evil of life, as they act upon and shape the great mass of society, his vote might certainly have created much annoyance to his party for a very brief period--just as other votes given from the usual motives--sometimes right and honorable--sometimes wrong and corrupt--usually do.