Mr.Ruddles, acting with wondrous energy, succeeded in knocking off the necessary votes, and succeeded also in proving that these votes were void by reason of gross bribery.

He astonished Phineas by the cool effrontery with which he took credit to himself for not having purchased votes in the Fallgate on the Liberal side, but Phineas was too wise to remind him that he himself had hinted at one time that it would be well to lay out a little money in that way.

No one at the present moment was more clear than was Ruddles as to the necessity of purity at elections.

Not a penny had been misspent by the Finnites.

A vote or two from their score was knocked off on grounds which did not touch the candidate or his agents.